With FA, spilled pills are a problem, but picking them up is worse

Last Monday morning, I sat up in bed to take my thyroid pill. But I accidentally dumped the pills into the covers. I managed to scoop most of them back into the bottle and popped my pill into my mouth. I figured I’d find the stray pills when I got out of bed.

Still, the thoughts “Was that sanitary?” and “Was it safe for me to take it?” kept running through my head. In the end, I decided my bed was relatively clean.

I have two medications to take first thing in the morning: my thyroid pill and Skyclarys (omaveloxolone) for Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). I take my thyroid pill first, wait half an hour, then take Skyclarys, and then wait an hour before eating.

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Pill pickup

Poor coordination and fine motor skills, symptoms of FA, make pill spills common in the Walsh household. I usually spill pills on the floor, not my bed. So my concerns about whether it’s safe to take spilled pills are more relevant when I drop them on the floor. Pills retrieved from the bathroom floor go into the trash, not my mouth.

Unlike spilling pills on the bed, where I can use the covers to guide them into the bottle, picking pills off the floor is very difficult. Twenty pills on the floor can easily mean an hour of tedious work for me as I pick up each one. Loss of dexterity, poor sensation, and diminished coordination due to FA all hinder my ability.

My amazing service dog, Wendy, can pick up most small items I drop. However, for her own safety, she can’t pick up pills. So if I’m alone in the house, even with Wendy, the task often falls to me. Sometimes, especially when my frustration builds, I leave the pills on the floor for my husband to pick up when he gets home from work.

I dislike doing that because Dave does a lot. So, mostly, I remind myself that it is what it is. Accepting that I have to deal with what is in front of me can help calm my frustration. Acceptance doesn’t mean I can’t change things, or that it’s fair or equitable that the pills it takes Dave 10 minutes to pick up takes me an hour. Unless I have other urgent time commitments, I can take the time to do what I need to do.

Do any of my readers have any hacks to solve this never-ending pill-spilling problem? Maybe you have a useful tool for picking up pills or a great pill bottle that prevents it from happening in the first place. I found this tool, which looks great, but is expensive. I also found this thread for folks with Parkinson’s disease that has some helpful ideas. I’d love to hear what works for you.

I plan to check with my doctor about a sanitary way to handle dropped pills.

Note: Friedreich’s Ataxia News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Friedreich’s Ataxia News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Friedreich’s ataxia.