oxy | lights cancer action!

I’m not someone who has ever taken a lot of medications. Before my surgery, I took one prescription. One.

After my recurrence in 2019, I started taking a new aromatase inhibitor and that’s it. I do also take some vitamins (B12, D3, etc.) but only one Rx.

So imagine me coming home from the hospital with, count them, NINE prescriptions. A few I knew I would never take, but I humored them anyway. At Penn Presby, you stop at the pharmacy on your way out the door, as they want to ensure that you have all your meds when you get home. These 9 drugs cost me a whopping $36 and change, which actually surprised me.

I try to be a model patient and follow all my doctors’ instructions, so I did agree to get them all filled. I have an Excel spreadsheet with all the dates and times for taking them, and I use my i-Watch to set alarms to make sure I don’t forget. I mean, there are nine (well, six that I’m actually taking…) so the spreadsheet was the easiest way to keep track, and I do love an Excel spreadsheet!

Here are the 9, in order of cost (just for some interesting context):

Oxycodone for pain. $0.68
Nope, probably not ever going to take this one. And surprisingly, it’s the cheapest of all of them. Granted, it’s only for a few doses, but it seems like maybe opioids shouldn’t be this cheap… Just my opinion.
Senna-Time $1.00
This one is a stool softener. Since part of my lung was removed, there is now a hole/space in my abdomen, that my body will try to fill with whatever. Including intestines pushing up into the space. As such, they want to make sure you are moving your bowels to reduce that likelihood of that happening. I have been taking this but you do reach a point where it’s problematic to keep taking it, if you get my drift, so I took a break on this one!
Metoprolol $1.13
This is a beta blocker to lower my blood pressure. Historically, my blood pressure runs on the healthy lower end, so it’s weird to be taking this one. However, one of the risks of this type of surgery is the onset of atrial fibrillation (a fib). Sometimes it is temporary; sometimes it is permanent. So the doctors are very cautious about watching blood pressure and heart rate and all that good stuff. I’m not sure how long I need to be on this one. I am to consult with my family doctor about duration, but for now, it’s at least two weeks, to be safe.
Cyclobenzaprine $1.51
This one is a muscle relaxant (Flexeril) and was provided as a pain option for me outside of the oxy. Not taking this one either.
Amoxicillin $3.00
Obviously, we all know this one is an antibiotic. Just precautionary, as a lung infection would be bad news. This particular antibiotic was selected “based on the flora in my lung”.
Acetaminophen $3.00
Tylenol. My big pain med! 🙂 Go, me!
Prochlorperazine $3.90
This one is for nausea, which I would really only need if I took the Oxy. And actually, I felt a little nauseous the other day from too many stinking pills in my belly, but I settled it by chewing a handful of papaya enzymes. I will always look for a natural alternative where I can.
Gabapentin $5.23
Also part of my pain management regiment. I’m not really sure how much it’s helping me, but I’ll continue this one, since it doesn’t make me sick. And I’ll wean off, as instructed.
Mucinex $16.69
Does it make sense to ANYone that Mucinex should cost 3x more than the next most expensive drug I’m taking? Mucines $16+. Opioids <$1.00…
The Mucinex is obviously to break up any mucus in my lungs and help me expel it, as an avoidance of pneumonia. In the hospital I did receive breathing treatments, as I have mentioned, and they also did “cupping” on my back. Basically, it felt like slapping (with a cupped hand) as a way to loosen any phlegm so it can be coughed up. David is continuing this for me at home after a very brief tutorial at the hospital!