A Medical Update And A Frustrated Me

Note: If you have a suggestion, a comment, anything, I'd love to hear it..I'm at my wit's end.

I thought I'd hit a home run when a week and a half ago I noticed there was lactose in one of my medications that I took numerous times daily (I can't have any dairy.) I called the pharmacist and had them look up the rest of my medications for evidence of lactose as well.

7 or 8 of the 11 came out positive with lactose usually being the second or third ingredient. I am apparently one of the few people who are so incredibly sensitive to food allergies that that small of an amount of lactose effects me-big time.

So, once again I thought that I was in a great place. I now knew of the situation, could stop taking those medications and start taking ones that didn't have lactose.

Heh, not so much. Each and every batch of medications has different inactive ingredients, even if it's the same medication. The cheapest at the time is always bought. So there is no way for the doctor to know the ingredients before prescribing them. It's purely a guessing game. And not a fun one at that.

Lactose is used in 98% of tablets (medications in pill form) as a bonding agent. There's no way to separate the medication from the lactose. Therefore, there are no options for me in many medications.

I was able to get two of my medications in liquid form (and may be getting a third one soon) but one of them must be refrigerated and the others I rarely take at home. For example, I have anxiety and panic attack disorder. I don't think I've ever had a panic attack when I was at home near my refrigerator. So in theory, yes I still have a couple of the medications but in reality, chances are I won't have them when and where I need them.

I am at such a loss of what to do at this point and just want to scream. I'm supposed to go on a road trip with my sister on Monday down to Disneyland but am currently, constantly in so much pain and discomfort and have no medical relief in sight that I'm getting scared.

If anyone has any ideas, suggestions, or even know of anything herbal for nausea (even morning sickness!), anxiety, stomach pain, dizziness or cramps I'm willing to take any advice or suggestion or bit of hope and hold on with all my might.

Thanks for letting me do my little rant. I'm now off to sleep.

Oh! P.S. I'm taking my first driving lesson tomorrow (yes I know I started late, I've also had my permit for 6 months now) and I'm really nervous. If you wouldn't mind wishing me a bit of luck that would be amazing. =]

G' Night and Sweet Dreams.