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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think my cleaner may have stolen my drugs?

75 replies

Mehfruittea · 28/06/2017 11:36

Prescription medicine from my doctor.

I have had a cleaner for about 6 months, but it is a small company run by a very lovely and attentive women. She's also very particular and will pop round sometimes to check on the work her girls are doing.

I dont know who she sends each week, it just gets done.

Recently, I've been unable to find 2 different medicines that I take irregularly. I've 'lost' a half full 300ml bottle of Oramorph - morphine that I use for acute pain. It's not every day, I try not to use it whenever possible. But I was in massive pain with a dislocated hip last week and couldn't find it. I only ever take it when I'm in bed, due to side effects, and it is literally nowhere.

Yesterday I was unable to find another medicine I take, when I get my periods. It's not a pain killer or anywhere near as serious a drug as morphine, just really fucking shit that I can't take the drugs when I need them.

I can't shake the feeling that the cleaner has taken these. I've now moved all drugs in to a metal case with a lock, hidden the key. Should I say anything to the owner of the cleaning company or not?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mehfruittea · 28/06/2017 13:30

I love with DH and DS. Always keep both meds in or on my bedside table, or DH might leave the Oramorph in my ensuit bathroom 2 feet away. If he measures the dose for me, he'll wander to get the best light. We have both ransacked the house looking for it. DH first as I was injured and needed it. I had a proper 'mum' look once I was feeling better. It's a controlled drug where I am, I have to sign an extra bit for it at the chemist.

The other drugs had the full box in my bedside draw and one strip tucked in to my sanitary towels as I only take them for my periods. I can't find the box and now feel like I'm going mad tbh. I don't know exactly when they went. Also, the cleaners aren't casual members of staff. They are all perm, many are her friends or become friends and are a tight nit little team.

I'm disabled and work full time, live with excruciating pain at times and my house can be a right pig sty. My bedroom is often the worst as I try to concentrate on the other areas of the house first. I'm always so grateful for the job they do, they keep me sane! I can understand if something gets thrown out by accident or doesn't get binned when it should. I really don't want to lose this cleaner and I really do trust the owner.

I think I will email her asking if she knows about meds being moved. I don't want her to take it the wrong way and not tidy up if meds are on the bedside table!

OP posts:
FruitCider · 28/06/2017 13:36

Oramorph isn't a controlled drug but it's very desirable and I would be worried about it going missing. Business needs to investigate it and I would report it straight to the police to be honest.

TheFatOfTheLand · 28/06/2017 13:37

Definitely email her and make a point about how one of them is a controlled opiate. I'd also say that if it can't be located you'll have to report the fact it's missing due to it being a controlled drug.

Hopefully the cleaner has just put it somewhere 'safe', knowing that you have children in the house.

The packet of period pills going missing is quite odd though, unless they've been stashed in the same place for some reason Confused

TheFatOfTheLand · 28/06/2017 13:39

Oramorph isn't a controlled drug

The OP said "It's a controlled drug where I am, I have to sign an extra bit for it at the chemist"

QueenofEsgaroth · 28/06/2017 13:49

Email her casually in case they have been tidied away to a safe place. I would take this as a nudge to get your health care at home a bit more organised and under control.

Get a locking cabinet next to your bed and keep a pen torch or two in it complete with measuring spoons, wipes for stickyness, bottled water and anything else you need to hand.

you can get keyless locking cabinets if the key may be lost too

It is really good to get into the habit of having everything secured in the one place and will make your life much easier. You will be able to get your own meds, see when you need to order more and won't have to concern yourself with safety if other dc etc are in your house. I use my phone alarm for meds too - helps keep track and remind of next dose.

CheesyWeez · 28/06/2017 13:50

I had a cleaner for many years who used to throw anything away if it had gone out of date. Could it be that? (she said optimistically)
I suppose you don't know if they were in date because they've gone now :-( Apart from the strip that's in with your STs.
OP I'm sorry this has happened.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 28/06/2017 13:53

How old is your ds? Is it possible he or someone he knows could have moved or taken the pills?

Obviously not likely if he's 5yo but if he's 15 or so it's more possible. I used to have some pretty horrible friends when I was 15 who might have taken pills like that, even though I would never have dreamed of doing so myself.

I would mention it to the cleaning people but also think about everyone who has access to your house.

kateclarke · 28/06/2017 13:54

Legally oramorph is a schedule 5 drug. So rules are not as stringent as for stronger morphines. However you wouldn't want to be accused of selling it or having a bottle in your possession without a good reason.
TBH this place is getting more and more arsy by the day.

FruitCider · 28/06/2017 14:11

The OP said "It's a controlled drug where I am, I have to sign an extra bit for it at the chemist"

It doesn't matter if her chemist chooses to treat it as a controlled drug, it still doesn't mean it's a controlled drug! I sign zopiclone in and out of a controlled drug book at work, it may be a desirable drug (hence recording the transactions) but the presence of the book alone does not make it controlled.

I handle huge quantities of controlled drugs every day. I would be a bit concerned if I didn't know which drugs were and weren't controlled...

WomblingThree · 28/06/2017 14:15

sashh you are saying it's only controlled if it's on prescription, but how would one get oramorph not on prescription?! Confused

@Mehfruittea are you absolutely sure your son or one of his friends haven't taken it, or have you had any other tradespeople in the house? I'm not particularly defending the cleaning company, just wondering if there were other options.

babybubblescomingsoon · 28/06/2017 14:17

I agree with PP's about emailing the owner. You never know, maybe a few people have sent the same email in and she'll know who it could be Smile hope your pain gets better Flowers

Pallisers · 28/06/2017 14:21

This is really common. Happened my mother. If your son is a teen, it is as likely to be one of his friends (or him) as the cleaner. Or as someone said, a tradesperson who was in. All it takes is for someone to use the bathroom, check the medicine cabinet or locker next to your bed (most likely places for drugs) and swipe them.

We have all of our prescription meds/strong painkillers under lock and key (in a box with a padlock). Prescription drug abuse is rife where we are.

OP I would say it to the owner of the business - you can't prove anything but she will know if there is a pattern. Then from now on, put your meds in a locked box.

UnbornMortificado · 28/06/2017 14:23

It's a bit worrying, I've been prescribed it recently for an infection. I've been on MH drugs and weaker painkillers for years with some tolerance but my god that stuff knocked me on my arse.

Could she/he have not realised what it was (is there any language barrier maybe?) and it's been chucked out by accident?

LilyLongtree · 28/06/2017 14:24

It depends on the strength nothing to do with where it is dispensed. Oramorph oral solution 10mg/5ml is not a controlled drug. However, CD storage and CD records are a good practice recommendation and most would adhere to this.
Any strength of Oramorph other than this would be classed as a controlled drug.

KindleBueno · 28/06/2017 14:26

Could they have seen a half used bottle of meds and chucked it?

FruitCider · 28/06/2017 14:27

Yes, thanks for explaining this to me in great detail Lily, despite me being a detox nurse.

I give up with mumsnet this week!

Pallisers · 28/06/2017 14:34

Could they have seen a half used bottle of meds and chucked it?

It really is far more likely that someone pinched them. You can't prove it was the cleaners but I think the owner needs to know that meds went missing - if she is getting more reports of this then she will know she has a problem.

If the OP's son is a teen, I'd also be checking him out pretty carefully.

StarryCorpulentCunt · 28/06/2017 14:37

Or perhaps Lily was addressing one of the many other posters on this thread. You know, the people who aren't experts in everything and might appreciate the clarification without the side of bitchiness. Hmm

muddlefuck · 28/06/2017 14:51

Get a locking cabinet next to your bed and keep a pen torch or two in it complete with measuring spoons, wipes for stickyness, bottled water and anything else you need to hand

how...hospital ward like

HipsterHunter · 28/06/2017 14:55

@LilyLongtree thanks, that was really interesting about how drugs might be treated

FruitCider · 28/06/2017 15:03

You know, the people who aren't experts in everything

Oh! Look! The troll hunters are back out in full force again.

This is 3 times in 2 days. Must be something in the water...

QueenofEsgaroth · 28/06/2017 17:35

muddlefuck do you want to come over for coffee and cake? You'll find ours nice and welcoming, rudeness doesn't go far mind so you might want to bring your manners!

I have dc with complex care needs and speak from experience of trying to stay on top of a difficult home situation, I can assure you it is far from hospital like but I do find I am much more able to find the meds needed in crisis at 3am with this method and never find out we have run out of anything essential at friday teatime when the surgery is closed for new prescriptions.

I am trying to help OP by sharing what works for me, not sure what your aim is.

AndTakeYourHorseWithYou · 28/06/2017 17:39

It doesn't matter if her chemist chooses to treat it as a controlled drug, it still doesn't mean it's a controlled drug!

You don't know in which country the OP lives, so you have no idea if it is a controlled drug in her country, do you?

Original poster
Mehfruittea · 28/06/2017 18:30

Um...didn't mean to start a bun fight. Hmm

I know oramorph is strong shit, no matter what it's classed as, the amount that is missing could kill someone if ingested in one go. My DS is not a teen and really not under suspicion. I'm careful with meds because of him, but never felt the need to lock it away...yet. For safety it was always something I was going to do. He doesn't have free access to my bedroom without supervision.

I don't think my meds storage is bad, just the rest of my house messy. But as I said in my OP, I have everything in a lockable storage box now. Part of this problem is relying on others for help. DH to help measure doses when I'm in severe pain, and cleaners because I can't do it all myself. This is a fact of life when you're disabled. I have to accept others help, and the hinderence that also brings at times.

I will email the cleaning company. Thanks for all the advice everyone.

OP posts:
stopfuckingshoutingatme · 28/06/2017 22:00

Hell yes . 100 report scabby cows Angry

Sorry OP that's low