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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that my sister can't blame the doctors.

86 replies

Shootfirstaskquestionslater · 15/04/2018 22:17

My sister is 34 and she has been taking ibprophen for the last 16 years she has completely knackered her kidneys to the point that she just spent 2 weeks in hospital she is trying to blame the doctors for it by saying that they should've been checking her. Doctors are only human and they don't always get it right but am pretty sure that they expect people to be clever enough to be careful with what they are taking I probably am being unreasonable but I think my sister needs to take some reasonablilty for whats happened it's her body and she can't blame the doctors for what she choses to put in to it.

OP posts:
user1471530109 · 15/04/2018 22:19

I'm confused. Did the drs know she was taking them? Were they prescribed?

RavenclawRealist · 15/04/2018 22:19

Why was she taking ibuprofen regularly for 16 years? Were the drs aware?

Original poster
Shootfirstaskquestionslater · 15/04/2018 22:21

I think they where prescribed I'm not sure though for all I know she could've been buying them from the shop and now she's ill she's trying to blame the doctors but I don't think that they are to blame I think she should take some blame too.

OP posts:
lljkk · 15/04/2018 22:24

You don't seem to have full info.
Sorry for your sister & can also believe she's a difficult character. But keep your judgements reserved & help out as much as you can while keeping your sanity.

RavenclawRealist · 15/04/2018 22:25

No I think if they have been prescribed but the dr for that long she has a point! A dr shouldn't prescribe medication for that long without checking they aren't causing side effects! If she's been buying then over the counter and taking them without speaking to dr then yeah that's on her!

ERipley · 15/04/2018 22:26

Well depends if they were prescribed or not. Confused

Original poster
Shootfirstaskquestionslater · 15/04/2018 22:26

I'm trying to not to be judgemental but we know this is all down to ibprophen that's what she was told in the hospital and now she wants to blame the doctors for it because she really believes that they should've been checking her because they knew she was taking it I just can't get my head around why it's the doctors fault maybe I am wrong for thinking that she can't blame the doctors.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 15/04/2018 22:27

I agree. If prescribed the GP should monitor side effects. If she's been buying OTC then it's her own fault.

Glumglowworm · 15/04/2018 22:28

If she was taking them exactly as prescribed by a doctor then YABU, they should’ve monitored her for potential issues

If she was taking them long term without medical guidance or was taking more than she was prescribed then YANBU, how can a doctor effectively monitor a situation they’re not aware of?

Ibuprofen is so cheap and freely available that it’s easy to forget it’s a potent drug with side effects (same goes for paracetamol).

wfrances · 15/04/2018 22:28

if they are prescribed by a dr and for that long then she should have had checks/reviews.
i take drugs that need monitoring(white cell count and blood sugar).

drquin · 15/04/2018 22:28

Surely whether they've been prescribed or not is the crucial part here ......

Prescribed by doctor for 16 years .... then yes, I'd expect doctor / health service to have had regular reviews, be happy with ongoing prescription etc.

Buying them herself from Tesco and not telling the doctor ........ completely different state of affairs.

Original poster
Shootfirstaskquestionslater · 15/04/2018 22:29

I'm not even sure why she spent so long taking them and our mum didn't even know she was back on them because she was taken off all her tablets when she had her DD 4 years ago and she really struggled to get her tablets back after having her DD.

OP posts:
lljkk · 15/04/2018 22:29

Or maybe she had a prescription but took it completely wrong; 8 pills once a day instead of steady low doses. Maybe GP wrote letters asking for the sister to turn up & give blood samples, the sister ignored letters & only went occasionally, or had OTC pills as well as prescription. OP really does not have full info.

KurriKurri · 15/04/2018 22:30

It's hard to say without knowing if they were prescribed, and if so what they were prescribed for.

If she was buying them OTC and taking them continuously then it probably says on the packet your shoudln't take them long term.

However instructions usually say 'don't take for more than x days without consulting your doctor'
If she was consulting the doctor and if she was being given repeat medication for years and years that has harmed her, then she has a point.

Whatever the ins and outs, she may be feeling frightened and is looking for some mind of answer to her problem. I imagine a serious problem with your kidneys that requires you to be in hospital for 2 weeks is very scary. I would guess she could do with all the support she can get right now.

Mightymucks · 15/04/2018 22:30

If the doctors knew she was taking it then she is right, they should have been monitoring her.

Sweetpea15 · 15/04/2018 22:31

I’m prescribed Ibuprofen and I have to go for yearly blood tests and evaluations. It sound like she’s been talking them off her own back. I also get pulled in by the chemist every couple of months to make sure I understand what I’m taking/how to take it.

Popc0rn · 15/04/2018 22:33

I doubt they've been prescribed for the last 16 years...it's like 32p for a box of 16 ibuprofen, so if she's been paying the £8 odd prescription charge instead she's a little bit stupid for that fact alone.

Original poster
Shootfirstaskquestionslater · 15/04/2018 22:34

I did try and ask my mum if she has maybe taken more than she should've done if she's forgotten when she had the last dose but no one really knows for sure how many she was taking only my sister knows the answer to that question and she will never tell us if she was taking more than she was suppose to for all we know she could've been buying it and getting it from the doctors but she will never tells us whether or not she was doing that.

OP posts:
Dahlietta · 15/04/2018 22:35

I would just focus on the fact that your sister is apparently quite ill.

Original poster
Shootfirstaskquestionslater · 15/04/2018 22:36

Sweetpea15 she has never said that the chemist has ever questioned her over her tablets and she's never been pulled in for any kind of blood test so she could've been getting it from the shop and no one knew what she was doing.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 15/04/2018 22:37

Not your circus. Don't get involved.

SamandDean · 15/04/2018 22:37

I doubt they've been prescribed for the last 16 years...it's like 32p for a box of 16 ibuprofen, so if she's been paying the £8 odd prescription charge instead she's a little bit stupid for that fact alone
I agree but if she’s on benefits, they get prescriptions for free so maybe that’s the case here.

Pollaidh · 15/04/2018 22:38

If she's been prescribed ibuprofen long term she should have been monitored, but you don't seem to know if that's the case. I know GPs aren't keen on long-term ibuprofen because of it's effects on the stomach (potential to cause bleeds) amongst other things. They will often try to move people onto a safer NSAID and possibly prescribe a stomach-protecting drug alongside.

If she's been taking them herself or higher than the GP prescribed, then it's her own fault.

Original poster
Shootfirstaskquestionslater · 15/04/2018 22:38

Dahlietta she's fine now the hospital managed to get on top of it all she is at home now but she is still saying that the doctors are to blame for it all maybe I am wrong to think that she shouldn't be blaming the doctors for it all.

OP posts:
Pollaidh · 15/04/2018 22:38

its