Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To think its unnecessary to ask a customer what part of the body they need canestan for?

67 replies

Nancyclancy · 27/12/2014 22:28

I have a tough of thrush down below, so today I went into Boots to buy some Canestan, the basic tube.
When I got to the till and asked for the cream, the lady serving me asked if it was for me (fair enough) I said yes, she then asked where I needed to use it?? Bearing in mind there was a string of customers behind me.
Is that really necessary?

OP posts:

punygod · 28/12/2014 14:30

I once had an avuncular pharmacist in Boots ask me this question, complete with a mime.

"Is it for madam's mouth, or for her 'personal' area?" he asked, making a v-shape with his hands and placing them over his, well, cock.

It was very surprising.

NK346f2849X127d8bca260 · 28/12/2014 15:20

I had a problem with Boots and getting thrush treatment, they wouldn't sell it to me as it was my 2nd attack in four weeks and said I should see a doctor. At the time I was on my forth week of strong antibiotics and I only ever get Thrush when taking them. I just went to another chemist and said it was my first attack.

hiddenhome · 28/12/2014 15:55

I had to buy some Daktarin for a chicken once. That was an interesting experience

CoolCat2014 · 28/12/2014 16:36

YABU. You wouldn't want to put the ringworm one on your nether-regions, not a good idea at the best of times, very bad idea if you're trying for a baby anytime soon.

TopazRocks · 28/12/2014 16:56

naty, not necessarily safe to use tablets for everyone. e.g. I have liver disease so can't use oral fungicides. I know this though so wouldn't try to buy them OTC - though the stronger ones aren't OTC (as my toenails know ).

I've been thinking some more about this, and I think it's the Boots training really. I nearly always get mine from Boots and the 'interrogation' is more - ahem - wholesome. A few years ago I bought a pessary (last time I needed such, in case you're-thinking I'm always buying/needing canestan) I got some in a non-Boots pharmacy - Lloyd's I think - and the pharmacist (I always take a squint at the name badge pinned to their chest) asked just 2 questions: Was it for me? and had I had a similar attack in the last 6 months? If so, to see GP. My answers were Yes and No, and I was sold the item. All very straightforward and it ticked the boxes for them selling pharmacy products.

TopazRocks · 28/12/2014 17:02

puny, all I can say is - Oh dear. and give to-you a festive grin .... as I say, I think it's Boots' training. I just don't think you get the questions in quite the same manner elsewhere.

SistersOfPercy · 28/12/2014 17:12

I used to have a small westie who had ear problems. On a flare up I'd give him a piriton tablet.

Tesco pharmacy one afternoon I went to buy a box of Tesco own antihistamines... "what are they for?" she asked. "The dog" I replied honestly. When she'd finished laughing she said "no no, they are for you aren't they?" nodding. She quietly explained she couldn't sell them to me for the dog I said "oh, yes, for me" and she sold me the box.

Not sure the training covers Piriton for dogs but there you go, should you find yourself needing some for an animal, lie.

Tiptops · 28/12/2014 17:27

I bought some canesten from boots the other day (oral and cream) and just asked for the shop assistant to get it for me - was behind a glass cabinet. No questions asked. So it obviously isn't any type of legal requirement to ask.

Also had same issue as you sistersofpercy when the vet had recommended piriton for my dog. My sister was refused the sale as she answered honestly it was for the dog. I went in 5 minutes later, lied and got it.

ElsieMc · 28/12/2014 17:38

What is it about Boots and canesten? I went in a few weeks back to be served in a very busy store by a man who asked me which one I wanted from the large selection. I pointed to the pessary cream on the bottom row. He went through them all asking loudly "this one, this one" lifting them out to show me. He left out the one I wanted and said "Well, I've been through all of them now". I told him to just leave it and left the store red faced with shoppers clearly mystified about which cream it really was.

I went to a small, independent chemist who not only managed to serve me efficiently but also pointed out they had a generic pessary which was half the price of canesten. As I was on my second dose, I thought it was worth a try and lo and behold it worked. Cost 4.99.

TopazRocks · 28/12/2014 17:42

My mum used to buy meths in the 60s/70s - I think it was for cleaning the windows. I am the slattern daughter so wouldn't really know. They always asked her what it was for, and I can recall her being a bit annoyed and wanting to answer 'I drink it'. So maybe the annoyance at pharmacy staff just doing their job crosses the generations.

When ds2 was a baby/toddler (mid-90s) his diet was so poor we used to add powdered Vit C to his food, and always got asked about its purpose. Then it got taken off the market as it got too popular with heroin users. They are just doing what they have to do.

rembrandtsrockchick · 28/12/2014 17:51

It is not the questions that annoy but very often it is the way they are asked. Well trained counter staff know how to ask in a polite, non confrontational way. Badly trained staff often seem patronising, superior and rather rude.

I frequently buy Co-codamol and Ibuprofen at the same time. I don't mind explaining why I need both of them (one lot for me and one lot for DH who cannot take NSAIDs) but I do object to being treated like a child or a fool. If the counter staff are being difficult..."No, you cannot buy both at once, it is NOT ALLOWED"... I ask to speak to the pharmacist. I have never been refused the purchase by a qualified pharmacist.

Elysianfields · 28/12/2014 17:55

I had a nasty dose Of thrush after I had a hysterectomy. I went to Boots and asked the pharmacist if I could use canestan press arises despite healing internal stitches etc, explaining I had just had a hysterectomy. He said I could and offered me the boots own version and as he did said "I need to ask are you pregnant". I did say i had no idea where it would be if I was, having no uterus and all.......

ToniWol · 28/12/2014 17:56

Naty - the NHS advice is to not use the tablet when pregnant as it's a different active ingredient than the cream.

I think the best exchange I had with a Boots pharmacist was the chap who was reluctant to fulfil my script for aspirin at 12 weeks pregnant (a fact that the Dr had written on the prescription as my exemption card hadn't arrived). I said that it was NICE Guidelines and mentioned that I'd read the Guidance on the Internet. He replied that you shouldn't believe everything you read on the Internet and wouldn't actually give me the aspirin until I showed him that it was the bona fide NICE website.

tb · 28/12/2014 18:47

I was on holiday in rural France, some 15 years ago, and, unknown to me, my thyroid had just started to pack up. One of the symptoms of an auto-immune disorder is repeated thrush attacks. So, I got thrush, and on the Saturday afternoon found myself in the local pharmacy.

On Saturday afternoons the pharmacy was the place for all the local old biddies to gather for a gossip. I went in, up to the counter and asked for something for thrush in my best French. Until then, I'd only ever come across the vaginal kind. You could have heard a pin drop after the assistant asked me where it was.

Fortunately, I knew the word "vagin"

naty1 · 28/12/2014 19:10

Tb what sort of thyroid- hypo or hyper. As im hyper at moment

WeeFreeKings · 28/12/2014 20:04

My friend had vaginal thrush and was banging onto me about getting it diagnosed by her GP. I empathised with her how embarrassing it must have been and to then get the cream from the pharmacist (she was being very dramatic) I then went to my GP about some spots round my nose and upper lip. He diagnosed something or other and I picked up the prescription. When I handed it to the pharmacist I didn't look at the name of the cream. When I opened it at home it was Canesten cream! For my face! She pissed herself that we'd got the same stuff. I don't think it is exactly the same but mine does say Canesten thrush on it. So I guess it does matter where the cream will be used. Plus the pessary would be bugger all use for my face thrush. Unless I shove it up my nose??

Bean89 · 28/12/2014 20:38

I was one prescribed treatment for genital herpes, which is also used to treat chicken pox. As far as I'm aware those are the only things it's prescribed for.
When I went to the chemist the man behind the counter cheerfully asked "Chicken pox?!" "No." "Oh...right." THAT was embarrassing. And inappropriate.

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread