Patient, Madam SA, a 44 year old Malay lady was admitted on 15th of March for cramping over both upper limbs, lower limbs and neck.
It was due to hypocalcaemia that she has been having since 3 years ago. Patient was put on long term calcium supplement after a thyroidectomy in year 2008. She claimed that since the operation, she had frequent cramps and was told that she developed hypocalcaemia as a complication of that surgery and needed life-long calcium supplement and to hospital for monthly calcium Injection.
However, things did not go well as very often, the hospital claimed that they ran out of stock. Even with calcium supplement patient was still having cramps very often and with inadequate supply, her condition got worse. She claimed that she has hoarseness of voice as a result of the operation as well also. She has one son studying KL and seldom visits her as he is busy with his studies. Her husband passed away 10 years ago in an accident. She currently stays alone and had stopped working since her thyroidectomy 3 years ago.
She said that she was feeling very sad and hopeless because all she wanted at that time when she went for the surgery was to be euthyroid but she ended up having all these complications instead. She regretted going for the surgery and has depressive symptoms because of that.
Lets focus on her problems. Firstly, the operation itself. She came in for what she came was hyperthyroidism and ended up having hoarseness of voice and frequent cramps as a result.
She was put on calcium supplements but in the end, the supply ran out not once, but continuously. She also developed depression in the end.
From a high hope of actually treating her hyperthroidism, she ended up with cramps every now and then, hoarseness of voice and also depression.
The least we can do now is to try to find a way to help her on getting an uninterrupted supply of medication.
Any comments?? Ways to ensure she gets her medication?
In my opinion, we can try talking to the pharmacist, try to work this out. Buying from pharmacies by herself is difficult due top her financial constraint. Maybe hospital buy for her or maybe getting emergency supply from other hospitals?
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