How To Stay Organized With IBD: Medications and Treatments

In a recent post, I talked about how I stay organized in managing the logistical part of living with IBD – including keeping track of important contacts, symptom fluctuations, appointments, and medication information.

Next, I want to share some suggestions on organizing medication, medical supplies, and ostomy supplies, including my refill system.

Organizing daily meds

For the medications I take daily, some have set times (AM, PM, or both) and others are flexible. I have tried to divide the total pills into a somewhat even "handful" and then I put them into an AM/PM pill sorter, so I can open one compartment at a time and take all of my medications at once.

I literally hate filling this organizer up, so what I’ve found over time to work best for me is to have 4 organizers on hand. I fill up the entire month at once, and it’s easy enough to go back and take one out or add one if something changes, but then I only have to go through the routine once every 4 weeks.

Most of my daily medications are shipped to me from a mail-order pharmacy mandated by my insurance, in a 90-day supply. I have auto-refills selected, but the process isn’t always as smooth as I’d hope. So each month when I do my refills, I note anything that’s running low and check its renewal/upcoming ship date. For anything I fill locally, I make the call to the pharmacy at that moment while I’m refilling my organizers to make sure I don’t forget.

PRN/as-needed meds for IBD

When I say I have several medications from several different specialists to take as needed, I’m not kidding. This honestly stresses me out the most, because what if I’m out of something I need, or what if I leave the house and don’t have on me something that could prevent my symptoms from escalating?

One suggestion a doctor gave me once was to take a travel pill case, with 6-8 compartments, and put a few pills of each medication in it. This was genius to me – rather than carrying around several bottles or risking not having what I needed. On each compartment’s lid, I put a label with the medication name, dose, and expiration date. I have one of these cases in my purse at all times, and this helps me to know I’ll have at least 1 or 2 doses of anything I might need if I’m not at home.

At home, I have a "command center" – a locked drawer in my dresser that has several dollar-store baskets inside. Each basket has PRN medication organized by indication. For me, this includes GI, joint, and migraine. I keep the medications here in their original containers, and I highlight the expiration date on the bottle. I also try really really hard to notice when I’m down to the last few in the bottle so I can renew it.

Medical and ostomy supplies

This system has become more developed over the last year as I transitioned from an infusion center to in-home infusions. There are supplies I keep "stocked" including port access kits, pump and gravity tubing, port needles, extension tubing, catheter caps, shower covers, saline and heparin flushes, etc.

While I am not an ostomate, I know that the amount of supplies required is quite large, and I believe my supply system can be adapted.

I purchased a fairly inexpensive set of drawers online. Each drawer holds 1 or 2 items and is labeled from the outside. On the top of the organizer, I have a label with the contact information for my infusion pharmacy and nurse, and any information I need when requesting refills.

The benefit to this is that everything is together, at a glance I can assess what I have on hand, grab what I need, and stay organized, plus the drawers close and then the medical supplies aren’t something I have to see when they’re not in use. I also keep my IV pole and pump in my closet, so when they’re not in use they’re out of sight. I’ve found this helps to keep my home from feeling like a hospital.

I’d love to know if any of these suggestions are helpful for you, or if there’s anything you’d add to the list!