Mom's back is still hurting from her fall and she's taking Diclofenac pills. My daughter said her neighbor had brought back an OTC (over the counter) topical ibuprofen gel (Voltaren) that is sold in Europe, but can only be had by prescription in the U.S. I called Walmart's pharmacy and they said one tube costs $46.55 and you can only get it through your doctor.
I called Kaiser and they said it was non-formulary whatever that means and isn't covered by insurance so it would be very expensive. I called the doctor and he said he'd rather she took the Diclofenac pills. When I talked to the Kaiser pharmacist, she said the gel has to go through skin and fat so wouldn't be as strong. I asked if it might be safer since it wouldn't have to go through her liver. She said, "Perhaps."
Anyway, the pill seems to be working... somewhat, along with a heating pad.
Now she's got a nasty cough! Arghhh.... What to do. Gave her Sudafed and she's taking Ricola lozenges. Where could she have caught this? At the ER?
Then I had this idea. I'd gotten several forwarded emails about marshmallows being a sure cure for a sore throat.
I mentioned it to Art and was planning to buy some. I knew mom would love this cure.
Art said to look it up online first.
Found this on the New York Daily News:
I called Kaiser and they said it was non-formulary whatever that means and isn't covered by insurance so it would be very expensive. I called the doctor and he said he'd rather she took the Diclofenac pills. When I talked to the Kaiser pharmacist, she said the gel has to go through skin and fat so wouldn't be as strong. I asked if it might be safer since it wouldn't have to go through her liver. She said, "Perhaps."
Anyway, the pill seems to be working... somewhat, along with a heating pad.
Now she's got a nasty cough! Arghhh.... What to do. Gave her Sudafed and she's taking Ricola lozenges. Where could she have caught this? At the ER?
I mentioned it to Art and was planning to buy some. I knew mom would love this cure.
Art said to look it up online first.
Found this on the New York Daily News:
"Dr. Voigt (otolaryngologist) said marshmallows "do not contain anything I would recommend to treat a sore throat." Marshmallows are simply sugar, water, air, and gelatin. Sometimes gelatin-based products, like Jell-O are suggested for sore throats, but there are few scientific reasons for why. So marshmallows won't irritate your burning red throat, but it will go down easy."It goes on to say this:
"However, there is some truth to the myth. Marshmallows as we know them aren't really the real deal. Marshmallows get their name from the marshmallow root — a plant hailing from Africa, Asia and Europe and a former ingredient to the sticky treat. Cultivators of the root used the plant to, you guessed it, soothe sore throats and stomachs. Over time, the root was removed from the marshmallow treat and replaced with gelatin."So OK... never mind. It's a good thing we have two lemon trees. I made her warm mugs of lemon and honey.
It sounds as though marshmallows have no medicinal value, but if they are soothing to swallow and your mom enjoys them, why not give a couple with that tea. Nothing wrong with treating the emotional mind along with the body.
ReplyDeleteLemon and honey seems to be the way to go. It get used around here in winter, even as a normal hot drink in place of tea at times.
ReplyDeleteLemon and honey sound good to me! There are a lot of OTC topical creams for arthritis that might help her back.
ReplyDeleteI believe it would be very difficult to swallow an entire marshmallow without choking...
ReplyDeleteSomehow I missed your post about your Mom's fall. I went back and found it. It's good you live with her or she with you. Without you there it would be much worse for her. An OTC my sister swears by is Arnicare gel. I have some I've used on my thumb. Doctor even mentioned it as an option.
ReplyDeleteArnicare would be for her back not her throat.
DeleteI am guessing your mother was carrying the germs and her illness weakened her immune system and her immobility for some time. I think with your care she will get better soon. Being at home is always the best place to heal.
ReplyDeletesounded too good to be true
ReplyDeletei hope she feels better soon! i grew march mallows when i first planted my gardens.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. She probably hopes she feels better soon also. You are a very caring daughter.
ReplyDeleteLike Olga said, they couldn't hurt and if she thinks they will help, they just might. I am a huge believer in the placebo effect.
ReplyDeleteAny daughter who wants to treat aches and pains with marshmallows, is just SWELL! Won't hurt, in small bites. Her back might feel better with a full-fledged s'more though: graham cracker, Hersey's chocolate and roasted marshmallow. Sudafed might be too strong; a cough drop will suppress the cough, and if she has stuff in her lungs to cough out, then the cough drop won't inspire her brain/lungs to cough. A catch-22. If she can't sleep at night due to the cough, the cough drop is good. Call her doc in a day or so if it doesn't improve. A stethoscope can tell if she's collecting fluids.
ReplyDeleteMany of my patients complain of back or rib pain for about 2 weeks after a fall.
Our blog buddy Cloudia recommended Arnicare gel to me and it really works. May want to put it on when Mom is NOT on the heating pad. OTC and you have to really search the CVS shelves or ask them.
"Non-formulary" means the med is not on your Mom's list of meds that they will provide. You would have to pay full price to get it. Voltaran is not being used as much because it is so expensive. I can't recall the name of the substitute but the substitute is useless.
If Mom's back hurts enough that she isn't breathing as deeply as before the fall, or if she clears her throat daily by coughing, she probably isn't coughing as hard due to the back/ribcage discomfort. May be the reason for the coughing.
Diclofenac Rx is probably dosed correctly by her doc so as not to injure any organs.
Hope she feels better soon; check her back for redness on the skin with the heating pad. It's much easier to cause a burn with elderly folks' thin skin.
You are REALLY staying on top of her care! Pick up your RN diploma soon!
Gentle, little hugz, Linda in Kansas
Oh dang! I wrote a long, long message and must have hit the wrong button. It just disappeared. Arrrghhh!
DeleteAnyway...
Thank you so much for your wonderful, helpful, caring, knowledgeable advice, Linda. Please know how much I value your information.
Marcia also mentioned the Arnicare gel. Blogger commenters are the BEST. I will definitely look for it since mom often has aches and pains even when she doesn't take a fall.
The doctor prescribed a cough medicine with codeine and it appears to be working. I trying to watch what she takes because I'm worried about side effects.
Art is just an angel. He's even more watchful, worried and constantly monitoring her care than me sometimes. I am so very grateful.
Thank you for being my other angel as well as all my wonderful blogger buddies.
Bless MoM!
ReplyDeleteOh I hope she improves soon!
ReplyDeleteInteresting post and comments, Kay.
ReplyDeleteI have some cough syrup with codeine in it. It was only $16.00 and it works! I took some the first week in May when I had that crud...whatever it was. It began with a sore throat, went on to dry heaves and then diarrhea. Finally, I was left with a racking cough. I was looking for a cough drop when I ran onto that cough syrup. That did it! It worked! I got it refilled and then put it in the medicine cabinet for the next time...if there is a next time.
ReplyDeleteI hope that your Mom recovers from these issues rapidly.
ReplyDeletei was taking prescription ibuprofen for my broken arm the first few days. great stuff but then i just received an email about ibuprofen increasing the risk of heart failure. yikes!
ReplyDeletein any case, glad that i don't need the pain relief anymore.
think your mom needs an adjustment? i discovered a marvelous healer - yasumi gojo. she does a combination of massage, body adjustments, and sort of reiki. the only problem is that her office is located upstairs in town, without an elevator.
hope things improve rapidly, on ALL fronts. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you will try that arnica gel. It also works for me. In fact, you just reminded me to get some out for my own sore back. And you can get marshmallow root from the health food store and could try giving her a little with her tea. Just a thought. :-)
ReplyDeleteGee! I'm really going to have to get some now. That's three people who vouch for it.
DeleteHi Kay, Dang, so sorry to hear that Aunty is still hurting from her fall, and that now she has a bad cough. Sending more healing thoughts her way! My mom had told me that Airborne helped her when she was starting to feel junky, so I have a large bottle of that, and Echinacea capsules that I take whenever I start to feel a tickle or have cold sores/little bumps in my mouth. Placebo or not, they work for me. Holly
ReplyDeleteShe was feeling a little better today, but we've told her to stay in the house until she's really better. Well, the codeine and the Diclofenac must have worked too well and she went outside and promptly fell again. I hate to tie her to the house, but this is really throwing me for a loop. I don't want her to get depressed, but....
DeleteDouble dang. Would Aunty be open to a senior exercise program? On Kaua'i we have different programs to help strengthen our kupuna. Of course my mom only liked the social part and not the exercise part. Holly
DeleteWhatever you do, she is lucky to have you there to care for her.
ReplyDeleteA fun party game: CHUBBY BUNNY. Line up the contestants, who must be good sports. Each one tries to put as many marshmallows in their mouths as possible while repeatedly saying "chubby bunny" for each marshmallow. No swallowing or chewing allowed, just popping them in and stuffing your mouth. The winner has put the most marshmallows in the mouth.
ReplyDeleteWe played this at a Humanities Department Party at UH-West Oahu. The winner was the Philosophy Professor who said his strategy was "to become ONE WITH THE MARSHMALLOWS."
Dear Kay, hope your dear Mom feels better today. Can totally relate to what you're going through. Take care of yourself, too.
ReplyDeleteI hope your mother is feeling better. I think lemon & honey is as good as anything.
ReplyDelete