[tri-wings] Re: Totally off topic toothache - Karen

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sheila Helleson"
> Thanks for all of the info, Karen.   What kind of job do you do, besides
> being list mom for all of these lists?

LOL In my past life - that is before Alex I was an occupational therapist. 
Here in Australia its the occupational therapist who does the driving test 
and modifications for "disabled" drivers - which also includes assessing the 
ability of those with cancer who wish to continue driving :-) Consequently 
we need to know how certain drugs can influence driving.

Here we can have small amounts of codeine over the counter (10mg - 12mg 
maximum per tablet and always in combination with another drug eg asprin, 
nurofen or tylenol)
Anything larger and we need a prescription which is carefully monitored by 
the Federal Health Department.

Large quantities (that is more than 20 tablets every 3 months) require a 
special prescription and you have to have a really good reason. eg I suffer 
severe viral arthritis and post cancer pain so I have one of these special 
prescriptions for what I presume is the equivalent of your tylenol 3 (500mg 
of paracetamol or tylenol and 30mg of codeine per tablet). I need the 
special prescription because I have been taking this drug for the last 5 
years and usually take at least 2 tablets a day - on really bad days I take 
up to 8. In the beginning I also didn't drive, but these days I try not to 
take the meds when I know I am driving (eg whilst Mandy has been here) but 
the other issue is that if I try to drive when I am in so much pain then I 
am more of a danger than if I took them - believe me that after 5 years they 
have no effect!! I definitely didnt drive when I was taking morphine - even 
though my "test" cleared me as fit to drive. Thankfully the pain has settled 
enough to stop the morphine and is controlled fairly well with just codeine. 
I just send a few prayers every day that it never gets that bad again.

The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved.
-- Victor Hugo

Keep Looking For Rainbows!!
   _--_|\
 /Karen \
 \ _.--._ /
          v Karen, Mum to Alex (10 years, T-18 Mosaic)
http://members.optushome.com.au/karens

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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