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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Discharged post section and they've forgotten to give me my medication..

56 replies

Bloodylovely · 28/10/2021 21:19

I had a cesarian on Tuesday, hemmoraged so was kept in until today when I was discharged under strict instruction to take a high dosage of iron prescribed.

I was given blood thinning injections and said liquid iron to take home because I'm very anemic.

Before discharge a doctor came to the ward and asked for my bottle of iron so he could change the prescribed label on the bottle as they wanted to double my dose after reviewing the latest bloods.

They were super busy and he forgot to return my meds to me before I left. I didn't realise until i got home as we were rushed out.

I called the ward of the hospital (which is an hour away) and explained what happened, asking them if they could send a prescription to my local pharmacy as I really need the supplement and feel like death.

Midwife on the phone says they don't send prescriptions and I'll have to go back to the hospital in the morning and collect an outpatient prescription then collect it from the hospital pharmacy.

It's not possible, I'm not mobile enough to get 2 busses there and we don't drive. They asked if there's a family member who can go for me. DH could in theory but he's already doing 99% of the night feeds and caring for newborn alongside our other children as I can't lift etc. He doesn't particularly want to leave me with all 3 kids post section and spend a morning going there and back, not least because our eldest has severe special needs and I'm in no fit state.

AIBU to think they should just send the prescription?

Going through my GP will take days as you can't put in requests online or through the receptionist Sad

OP posts:
Lovelydovey · 28/10/2021 21:20

Do you know what your prescription was, what form of iron and what dose? You can usually buy iron over the counter.

SweetBabyCheeses99 · 28/10/2021 21:23

Yeah you can just buy it at the pharmacy. Or order it online from somewhere like Holland and Barrett.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 28/10/2021 21:24

YANBU. Stand firm on not being able to go back and see what they say. Are there any neighbours who might do it for you? There are 3 people in our street who work in the local hospitals, so it wouldn’t hurt to ask if you have a method.

TotallySuper · 28/10/2021 21:25

I think you need to suck it up for the sake of a few hours and let your DH go and get it. Sorry but you'll be fine, I had a c section with a similar outcome to you and was up and about day 2 doing all sorts and caring for my daughter. You'll be fine for a few hours.

Original poster
Bloodylovely · 28/10/2021 21:25

@Lovelydovey

Do you know what your prescription was, what form of iron and what dose? You can usually buy iron over the counter.
I have it on my discharge letters yes, I'll check now as I can't remember the name off the top of my head. It was given in place of ferrous sulphate (sp?) as my stomach doesn't handle that too well.

I wasn't aware I'd be able to buy this type OTC and was under the impression it was prescription only. I'll be so pleased if I can. Ugh I feel like a walking zombie Blush

OP posts:
spaghettisoup · 28/10/2021 21:26

Poor you. Sounds very tough. I would really stand your ground. Can you get an emergency telephone app with your gp and get them to prescribe it? Hope you feel better soon.

Lalastepmum · 28/10/2021 21:27

Call 111 they can usually do a small repeat prescription for things that you have been prescribed previously.
When is your midwife coming out you could also call the community team and ask whether they could assist.

Original poster
Bloodylovely · 28/10/2021 21:27

@TotallySuper

I think you need to suck it up for the sake of a few hours and let your DH go and get it. Sorry but you'll be fine, I had a c section with a similar outcome to you and was up and about day 2 doing all sorts and caring for my daughter. You'll be fine for a few hours.
I appreciate what you're saying, but DS is unpredictable. He has already charged at me a few times since I got home, not out of aggression it's excitement but he doesn't understand the need to be careful.

I also feel bad asking DH to go as he's already doing so much.

I'm going to ring the pharmacy in the morning and see if I can buy it directly. Fingers crossed.

OP posts:
Wtf1980 · 28/10/2021 21:28

I would phone your gp, explain the situation and they should be able to send a prescription to the local pharmacy (they might have to call the hospital ward to double check first though).

Original poster
Bloodylovely · 28/10/2021 21:29

Community midwife will be coming out tomorrow at some point. Good idea asking if they can arrange something.

OP posts:
AutumnLeaves21 · 28/10/2021 21:31

Ferrous fumerate?
It’s available over the counter. I’d just buy some. Or spatone, a liquid iron is usually very well tolerated by people who don’t agree with ferrous sulphate.

Cervicalflop · 28/10/2021 21:32

Maybe if you ring your GP and see if they will let DH take a copy of your discharge letter in and explain the situation, they may then be able to get a GP to prescribe whats on the letter and send an electronic prescription to a pharmacy of your choice. No guarantee but may be worth a try.

RustyCat · 28/10/2021 21:33

I would definitely call your doctors and request it. I had to do similar when I had my twins in April, the hospital gave me a large dose of iron tablets but sod all tablets to take so I ran out super quickly. It will be (or should be!) on your medical records for your doctor to see.

Olivegreenstrawberries · 28/10/2021 21:33

@TotallySuper

I think you need to suck it up for the sake of a few hours and let your DH go and get it. Sorry but you'll be fine, I had a c section with a similar outcome to you and was up and about day 2 doing all sorts and caring for my daughter. You'll be fine for a few hours.
Just because you were find doesn't mean OP will be.

I was not up and about on day 2 of either of my c sections.

And it's not just physical health it's mental health to consider too.

Lalastepmum · 28/10/2021 21:36

@Cervicalflop

Maybe if you ring your GP and see if they will let DH take a copy of your discharge letter in and explain the situation, they may then be able to get a GP to prescribe whats on the letter and send an electronic prescription to a pharmacy of your choice. No guarantee but may be worth a try.
111 can do this today. I work with ladies who quite frequently lose prescription medicine and had to use this service frequently. They will send to a late night pharmacy near by.
kitkatsky · 28/10/2021 21:37

If DS us unpredictable send him with DP abd then you only have one child and a newborn

Soontobe60 · 28/10/2021 21:41

@TestingTestingWonTooFree

YANBU. Stand firm on not being able to go back and see what they say. Are there any neighbours who might do it for you? There are 3 people in our street who work in the local hospitals, so it wouldn’t hurt to ask if you have a method.
It’s not a simple as this. The prescription they can give in the ward can only be filled in the hospital,pharmacy. Liquid iron can be purchased over the counter OP.
SnackSizeRaisin · 28/10/2021 21:41

Your GP can probably prescribe it, or recommend an equivalent to buy over the counter. It's not something that you need urgently - if it takes a few days to arrange it won't make any difference. So worst case get your DP to go in a few days once you're feeling better.

PinkPrawns2 · 28/10/2021 21:42

Phone your community midwife first thing, before they visit. Like a pp said they may be able to help ie collect and deliver but it depends on geography and workload. Phone your GP too or 111 for a replacement prescription. But your hospital is right, they wouldn't usually do an outpatient prescription for something which had already been dispensed in hospital. And I've not known it where they have been able to send the prescription to a local pharmacy. It's to do with the payment for the medication.

Honestly if it's just the iron you haven't got then I'd just send OH to buy it OTC. Any iron is better than none! It's different if you haven't got a number of meds especially pain relief or heparin as that's more urgent.

jayde28 · 28/10/2021 22:03

I work on a hospital ward and if someone is discharged before their meds are ready and have no one to collect them we can get them couriered to you or sent in a hospital taxi.

Ask your discharging ward about this.

TAKESNOSHITSHIRLEY · 28/10/2021 22:05

Ferrous fumerate i buy off amazon

SnugKnights · 28/10/2021 22:14

I would get some Spatone from Boots or Tesco or somewhere in the meantime, whilst also trying your GP and midwife to get it prescribed. I don’t think you should send your DH for all the reasons you’ve given. Try to work out the dose equivalent or ask a pharmacist for help with that so you know how much Spatone to take. The kind with Vit C in is supposed to be absorbed easier by the way. Tesco usually have it on a 3 for 2 offer and Boots often do as well.
I hope you recover as quickly as possible, glad to hear your DH is being so supportive, it’ll make you’re recovery quicker no doubt if you can rest initially.

SingingWaffleDoggy · 28/10/2021 22:15

Have you got your injections? They are super important. It’s likely it’s ferrous fumerate as others have suggested. This can definitely be bought OTC in tablet form. They may not keep Galfer (liquid form) in stock to sell but the tablets should work just as well. We only use galfer on patients with swallowing difficulties

Toomanyradishes · 28/10/2021 22:16

You can get floradix from amazon, personally i find that works better than spatone, but you can get spatone at a chemist or supermarkets to tide you over if you cant wait for amazon

SingingWaffleDoggy · 28/10/2021 22:16

Spatone is really good for maintaining iron or treating mild anaemia but won’t cut the mustard for severe blood loss