Brian: The attitudes of others – Taking ‘many’ medicines

Brian
Male
Age at interview: 75
Number of medicines: 16
Cultural background: Anglo/Irish-Australian

Brian was uncomfortable using an insulin pen at first, but he found that he can use it when he is in public without attracting attention.

So you time it and it's a little awkward on these trips, because you sit down and you talk and you're not sure when the food is going to come, so anyhow, at the time I elected, I took out the needle and gave myself the measured shot and as I put it away, the German opposite me reached into his pocket and pulled out his and waved it at me and did the same! [laughs] So that was quite funny and the inhibitions sort of go away then. 

But initially I went through the ritual and I can remember we went to the theatre at Paddington. And um this was the first night I'd done it outside and went down into the toilets and a fellow came in and he said, ‘What the ... ?’ [laughs] He thought I was taking drugs! So I gave that away and I do it at the table now which … and … people just go on as if nothing is happening. 

But that was quite an interesting period to get used to doing that with the insulin. It was mainly going out with friends. We have two quite close friends that we go to the theatre and we play cards with. We go to each other's places. As a matter of fact, we go to the gym and they were the ones that said, ‘Oh, a friend of ours takes insulin and he doesn't worry. He just takes it out of his pocket, shakes it up, puts it through his shirt and away he goes.’ What I was doing, was lifting my shirt up and having the problem of tucking it back in and doing what you do with it. 

But now, I'm quite comfortable with it, even if I'm at dinners and conferences and things. Then I'm quite casual about it.

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The Living with multiple medicines project was developed in collaboration with Healthtalk Australia.