Lucky to be at Foulkeways

Foulkeways 24/7 Care Relieved Our Stress

It hit my wife, Patty Ann, at 3:30 p.m. on a cold January afternoon. It all started like neuralgia, a shooting, pulsating pain from her upper back, terminating in a spiking, throbbing sensation on the side of her head. A slight rash appeared on her back.As a retired nurse, she self-prescribed Extra Strength Tylenol. But as day turned to night, the pain increased, precluding any sleep for Patty Ann. I, on the other hand, slept soundly beside her.

At 3:30 a.m., she had had enough and awaken me with a start, stating that she had taken six Extra Strength Tylenols and was convinced she would have permanent liver damage; one of the warnings on the label. A check in our Physicians Desk Reference stated that six pills in that period of time was not an overdose. A call to the nurse on duty in Resident Care, here at Foulkeways confirmed this. Ever cautious, it took a call to the Poison Center to convince Patty Ann.

By 9:00 a.m., the pain was excruciating, motivating a trip to Resident Care, where the nurse suggested we meet with the nurse practitioner, who took one look at my suffering wife and diagnosed the case as “Shingles.” A prescription was written and procured at our Foulkeways pharmacy and, within two hours, Patty Ann was on her way to recovery. She was relieved of all pain within 24 hours.

Once the pain had subsided, we investigated this painful disease further only to find that diagnosis and treatment need to start within 72 hours of its onset, otherwise the rash could spread, producing nasty pustules and increasing pain.

Need I remind the reader of another scenario?

Pretend you’re living in your own house and the disease strikes. Who do you call at 3:30 a.m.? At 9:00 a.m. the next day, you try your doctor’s office only to hear, “Sorry, the doctor is on vacation but his associate will call you back.” By 2:00 a.m. you’re told to come in and, after spending what sees like hours in the doctor’s waiting room, you get to see the doctor. By late afternoon you have a prescription in hand and head to your local druggist, only to be told that he “has two of the pills but not the third.” It takes another 24 hours to fill the prescription. (That’s cutting it mighty close to your 72 hour limit for diagnoses and treatment.)

Need I say more? “How lucky we are to be here,” with our excellent and helpful medical staff, who are available 24-7.

David A. Long,
Foulkeways Resident