Glenn: Messages to others – Support from others
Listen to patients and health professionals speak about their experience with taking multiple medicines.
Glenn
Male
Age at interview: 50
Number of medicines: 6
Cultural background: Anglo-Australian
Glenn believes support from the people around you is a vital component of managing multiple medicines successfully. He particularly encourages men to find the support they need.
Jacqueline:
So if you met someone who was having the same experiences with their medicines that you are with yours, what would you say to them?
Glenn:
I think I'd pat them on the back and have a drink. But just to be aware of the things that I've gone through that I've known that I've had ... my known problems. You know, they may not get the same things. But to let them know to confide in people, to find that person that can ... you give permission to ask the question, ‘Are you okay and have you taken your medication today?’ Because it's, as I said before, it can be very confronting for somebody who you don’t really know that well to come up and say, ‘Have you taken your medication? You seem to be off’. Find that person that will do it in the right way. Confide in family, confide in the doctor.
The biggest thing, my biggest plus that I think that I ever did when I went to the psychiatrist the first time was to ... well the whole time ... was to be 100 per cent completely honest with him. Tell him everything that you can tell him and that way they can make a full diagnosis. Because if you're embarrassed about something and you hold it back, that might be just the key that tells you whether it's this or that and it's important. I know myself that prior to that, even with GPs, I went to them and thought that I just had depression, there was things that I would hold back, you know? You've got to be honest with them. No one is ever going to know because it's all confidential. Or become part of a support group, either working as part of the support or working with them. There is a lot of people out there in the same boat. beyondblue has been great to be able to see how far they've come. The Men's Workshop ... they may not necessarily have a mental health issue but it keeps the mind active and you've got people to go and talk to.
You've got to find somebody; you can't do it by yourself, even if you live by yourself, you've got to find a work colleague or a friend that you can be honest with.
The Living with multiple medicines project was developed in collaboration with Healthtalk Australia.