Taking penicillin in Poland

ScreamingMonkey:

Since she arrived in Poland in September, my Turkish roommate has been suffering from terrible rheumatism, colds, and throat and bladder infections. She told me she's been taking penicillin every 20 days for the past 18 years of her life (she's 22), and that in order to prevent her condition from worstening, her doctor told her that she needs to continue taking these shots for the rest of her life.

ScreamingMonkey:

Now, I'm no medical expert, but I'm quite sure that penicillin is not the right drug for treating rheumatic disorders

ScreamingMonkey:

but I'm quite sure that penicillin is not the right drug for treating rheumatic disorders, and all the nurses at the various Polish clinics and hospitals I've taken her to have been shocked that she's even using the stuff. All have told me that Polish medicine has completely moved away from the use of penicillin, due to the dangerous side-effects

ScreamingMonkey:

and that no doctor in any clinic or hospital will risk giving her the shot.

ShelleyS:

As a side note: I have an acute allergy to penicillin and suffer with 2 of your room mates problems, so there are ways around it. Actually 3 because I get septic tonsillitis ever few years and can get something other than penicillin

ScreamingMonkeyThreads: 1 Posts: 2 Joined: Mar 27, 08	Oct 21, 09, 20:03 / #
Hi all, Since she arrived in Poland in September, my Turkish roommate has been suffering from terrible rheumatism, colds, and throat and bladder infections. She told me she's been taking penicillin every 20 days for the past 18 years of her life (she's 22), and that in order to prevent her condition from worstening, her doctor told her that she needs to continue taking these shots for the rest of her life. Now, I'm no medical expert, but I'm quite sure that penicillin is not the right drug for treating rheumatic disorders, and all the nurses at the various Polish clinics and hospitals I've taken her to have been shocked that she's even using the stuff. All have told me that Polish medicine has completely moved away from the use of penicillin, due to the dangerous side-effects, and that no doctor in any clinic or hospital will risk giving her the shot. Now it's starting to get colder, my roommate is becoming more and more ill, and I'm running out of ideas. I thought of taking her to a regular clinic to get a prescription for some Polish medication, but she insists on getting her penicillin. I speak Polish fluently, so getting around and looking for clinics is not a problem, but I've only been living here for half a year and I'm just not familiar with the healthcare system (neither are any of my Polish friends). I just don't know what to do anymore. I'd like to find a doctor who'll be willing to give her the shot before things get worse. Can anyone offer me any advice? Alicja

Wroclaw BoyThreads: 57 Posts: 5,467 Joined: Jul 3, 09 MEMBER	Oct 21, 09, 20:27 / #
They may use antibiotics for the throat and bladder infections but not rheumatism, seems a very strange long term treatment in anycase. If the penicillin has not cleared up the infection after 18 years it sounds like an MRSA or a recurring issue due to low blood cell levels and/or a poor imune system. One solution is to find out what other penicillin based medicine (antibiotics) such as amoxicillin could be used as a suitable treatment and fake an illness such as Broncitis in order to get the prescription, they would have to be in tablet form though over the counter. Has she always and only been treated with penicillin? also what were the dosages per shot? how many shots in a course?

ShelleySThreads: 18 Posts: 3,647 Joined: Jun 26, 07	Edited by: ShelleyS Oct 21, 09, 20:54 / #
Im no medical expert either, but I do know one thing, its not good for your health to take penicillin for such a prolonged period of time, you simply build up a resistance to it (OR can vouch for this) and the drugs dont work. As for her rheumatism, anti-Inflammatories will help along with pain killers - my mother has suffered for 20 years and I have it in my shoulder quite bad so I know a little bit about it. Her bladder infections can be helped by drinking plenty of water and if she can get concentrated cranberry juice (trust me it works, i know) she will never have another one again (I know - 5 years a glass a day and nothing!!). As for her colds, she needs to eat more garlic, this is the oldest and the best cure, especially in winter time, she can get the oderless capsuals. Her throwt, tell her to gargle with salt water twice a day (another old remedy but works) Im not surprised the doctors in Poland have been shocked, Ive never heard anything like it! As a side note: I have an acute allergy to penicillin and suffer with 2 of your room mates problems, so there are ways around it. Actually 3 because I get septic tonsillitis ever few years and can get something other than penicillin Feel free to PM me if you want more info

derek trotterThreads: 12 Posts: 252 Joined: Apr 10, 09	Oct 21, 09, 21:10 / #
ShelleyS: she needs to eat more garlic good old jewish solution :) :) :) but it works

szkotja2007Threads: 38 Posts: 2,544 Joined: Dec 29, 06	Oct 21, 09, 21:30 / #
ScreamingMonkey: she's been taking penicillin every 20 days for the past 18 years of her life (she's 22) ScreamingMonkey: suffering from terrible rheumatism, colds, and throat and bladder infections. Go figure. Stop the anti biotics and tell her to drink a fruit juice every morning and go for a walk.

ShelleySThreads: 18 Posts: 3,647 Joined: Jun 26, 07	Oct 21, 09, 23:55 / #
derek trotter: good old jewish solution :) :) :) Actually not only..do you see a Greek, Italian or Spaniard with a cold?

Trotter	Oct 22, 09, 00:03 / #
yes I have seen Greek or Spaniard with cold so? is that mean they use garlic?

OsiedleRuda	Edited by: OsiedleRuda Oct 22, 09, 00:19 / #
ScreamingMonkey: Since she arrived in Poland in September, my Turkish roommate has been suffering from terrible rheumatism, colds, and throat and bladder infections. She told me she's been taking penicillin every 20 days for the past 18 years of her life (she's 22), and that in order to prevent her condition from worstening, her doctor told her that she needs to continue taking these shots for the rest of her life. what condition? If she's had a splenectomy, lifelong antibiotics are appropriate and necessary. ScreamingMonkey: Now, I'm no medical expert, but I'm quite sure that penicillin is not the right drug for treating rheumatic disorders true, but... ScreamingMonkey: but I'm quite sure that penicillin is not the right drug for treating rheumatic disorders, and all the nurses at the various Polish clinics and hospitals I've taken her to have been shocked that she's even using the stuff. All have told me that Polish medicine has completely moved away from the use of penicillin, due to the dangerous side-effects such as? Penicillins are still saving thousands of lives in the UK, why should Poland be any different? ScreamingMonkey: and that no doctor in any clinic or hospital will risk giving her the shot. Probably because antibiotics are useless against viruses, and she may have a viral infection. ShelleyS: As a side note: I have an acute allergy to penicillin and suffer with 2 of your room mates problems, so there are ways around it. Actually 3 because I get septic tonsillitis ever few years and can get something other than penicillin yup, Erythromycin is an alternative in Penicillin allergy. szkotja2007: Stop the anti biotics Absolutely DO NOT do this until you find out EXACTLY WHY your friend needs a penicillin - it may be life-saving.

Grzegorz_Threads: 81 Posts: 6,213 Joined: Nov 16, 06	Oct 22, 09, 00:41 / #
ScreamingMonkey: She told me she's been taking penicillin every 20 days for the past 18 years of her life (she's 22) Hmm... Either there is some reason she really needs that or her doctors were idiots. Who were there ? Some village docs or proffesionals ? Does she have any medical documentation ?

szkotja2007Threads: 38 Posts: 2,544 Joined: Dec 29, 06	Oct 22, 09, 00:55 / #
OsiedleRuda: Absolutely DO NOT do this until you find out EXACTLY WHY your friend needs a penicillin - it may be life-saving. Fair comment.

one	Oct 22, 09, 16:34 / #
Any history of Sickle Cell Disease?

SzwedwPolsceThreads: 13 Posts: 1,915 Joined: Feb 21, 09	Edited by: SzwedwPolsce Oct 22, 09, 17:35 / #
ScreamingMonkey: All have told me that Polish medicine has completely moved away from the use of penicillin, due to the dangerous side-effects I am a medical student in Poland. I will try to explain something about this. No doctor has told you that, I'm 100% sure! Penicillin (a group of antibotics) is not 1 drug, but a group of drugs. Some of the drugs in this group are very effective and safe ways to treat some infections. ---------------------------------------- For some people it's necessary to give penicillin (or another antibiotic) as prophylaxis. But her schedule and route of administration sounds strange. Prophylaxis is usually given orally. You have get her whole medical history and present it to a doctor who can decide if antibiotic prophylaxis is needed or not. Good Luck!