Drugs and more drugs

Yesterday was the dermatologist. He was referred to us by our blood specialist doctor. He also works at the hospital. There is not a dermatologist in our local town, so I took Riley back up to the hospital for the appointment.

We filled out the new patient forms and waited. There was a very unhappy baby some where nearby screaming at the top of its lungs. But they soon called our names and we were swept down a hallway away from the waiting room.

The nurse weighed Riley. 125 pounds and 5 foot 8 inches tall. A young intern came into our room. She asked questions confirming Riley's medications. The doctor arrived and looked at Riley's forehead. What I learned was that this is one of the side effects of the cyclosporine. Not only is Riley having the overgrown gums, but his acne is caused by his medication also. The doctor didn't want to give him any oral prescriptions at this time. Most of those antibiotics go through the kidneys which are already working hard to expunge the cyclosporine. He prescribed a retinal cream and a antibiotic gel.

Tom said he remembers the doctor telling us the acne was a side effect. I missed that conversation I guess. I can only absorb so much. Riley is to put the gel on morning and evening and the retinal cream over that. Or visa versa, I'll read the bottles when I get them. The cream will cause pealing. The prescriptions were called into the pharmacy from the doctor's office.

When I got home the pharmacy called. They don't have the special antibiotic gel in stock and wont have it until Monday. They tell me it is very expensive and rare. They haven't much call for it so Riley has generated a new order with his prescription. They ask me to give them a week's notice when I call in this refill. I tell them this is the first day, but I will in the future.
We are a challenge for this pharmacy. They remind me of college nurses. Good for cough suppressants but not much else out of the ordinary. We keep throwing them curve balls with these exotic drugs.

So Monday we load up on drugs. I am also picking up his cyclosporine refill which will carry us through the next month with camps and trip. I already got the magnesium refill this week. Riley is also upsizing his pills for cyclosporine this time around. Once we started taking the antibiotic on the weekend which is a big horse pill, he has realized he can do the big pills now. Up sizing will cut the number of pills he takes in half. He will go from 8 to 4 twice a day. Eventually I hope to get him down to two twice a day, but we are sizing up the pills gradually.

So, Riley is getting medication to offset the side effects of medication. I am looking forward to his face being clean and beautiful again soon. The dermatoligist implied this is some magic stuff that should make all the acne go away. He also suggested a soap to get at Fred Meyer or Costco that is really expensive but very helpful. All I remember now is it started with an s. I'll remember the name when I see it.

Next week I am going to get Trevor football cleats at the outlet mall. I am going to Costco to get expensive soap. Trevor has his last day of school, then at the end of the week he has three days of football conditioning at the high school. The boys have a lot of plans this summer.

I have been invited to work out with a girlfriend. She wants to walk/run the track. I'll try it. I asked Trevor if he wants to join us in the mornings. He said he'll be sleeping still.