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My S takes numerous meds daily and has been able to handle it on his own so far (college soph). He sees his doctor every Aug and gets new prescriptions set up. His meds are "refilled" online (mostly 3 month supplies) and shipped directly to his college. He sorts them into those little daily/weekly containers, but he also uses little zip baggies we found at Walmart. They are really tiny and easily fit in his pocket. Much easier than lugging the weekly container if out and about for the day (or night).
I suggest having your child start handling meds now to get used to the responsibility. My son was at college three weeks before being sent to the emergency room (luckily just pneumonia). He has always kept his medical history, including updated medication listing, on the computer (and a copy with his meds) so he just grabs a copy on his way to the campus clinic (has been hospitalized 3 times now and this is just his soph yr). Now, if I can just get him to remember to carry $ and his medical and prescription cards. I am amazed the hospital admitted him the first time with neither school ID nor his med card. I guess they're used to stupid college kids. They called us to fax the info. I think arriving by college ambulance was what saved him. Twice the school has had to give him taxi vouchers to get BACK to the dorm. Fortunately, his school pharmacy provides short term meds or can order them if not in stock. During that first illness, he had IV meds in the hospital, then went without meds for a day or so because he didn't know where/how to get them (it was a Sunday when he was released I think). He finally got around to calling the school clinic or more likely, they called him to check up and that's how he found out he could get the meds right on campus. So, for all kids, it's good to have a plan BEFORE getting sick.
My son was in a single room, even as a freshman, so keeping meds in his room wasn't a real problem but when ill, being alone CAN be a problem. I made him contact me every so often and made him promise to have a friend check in on him a couple times a day or I threatened to call his RA. This year he's in a single, but it's within a suite, so there are definitely others around who would notice if his door isn't open at least some of the time.
It's definitely not fun being far away when you get that 3 am phone call, saying "I just wanted to let you know, pause, something's wrong. I'm losing feeling" That was my newest crisis. Waking up quickly, I was trying to recollect the House episode where a woman has a stroke and self diagnoses herself before she loses her speech...Crazy... it all worked out fine. He got himself to the hospital, it was a temporary condition and he has recovered. The upside is he found a great neurologist who I now have in my cell phone... I won't ask what else can happen because I'm afraid of the answer... the key is to stay calm and follow the plan.
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