college bound - an idea to make pill taking easier - need opinions

My son is heading off to college next month and we've been trying to think of ways to make the daily CF pill-taking regimen simpler.

One idea we have is to pre-package his pills for each meal in 3 mil. mini Amber ziplock bags which will protect from UV rays. We are thinking of doing only two weeks worth at a time. I called Solvay and spoke to a pharmacist about whether the Creon 20 would be ok but they didn't have any info other than to keep them moisture proof.

Besides the Creon-20 (7 with meals), the other pills in the baggies for each meal would be: ranitidine (generic Zantac), a multi-vit (SourceCF softgels), focalin (not CF related, this is for ADD) and when prescribed, an antiobiotic such as Cipro or Bactrim. Also, occasionally the anti-inflammatory Prednisone.

Any feedback would be appreciated and any other helpful college hints for CFers would be too!

Thanks for reading.

Sandra,

Thanks for responding! By the way - I have a daughter who will be a junior college, too, (no CF) so I know the whole FAFSA routine!!! (Ugh) We shopped Target for her stuff and it was fun! Boys are so different - my son could care less about getting stuff for his room so I bought everything for him - the only thing left is a small window ac unit - the college doesn't rent or sell them.

Back to the pills, around how much were the pill containers you bought? The amber bags are close to $30.00 for 1000 which works out to be 3 cents a bag. So approx 9 cents a day ain't bad....

We've also applied for every scholarship known to man. As far as the CF specific scholarships, we still have to submit something for the Boomer Eseisian one - they do it 4 times a year. We got turned down by the CF foundation, Elizabeth Nash Foundation and just yesterday, the Bonnie Strangio scholarship which is administered by the Boomer foundation. Still waiting to hear from Solvay. I think that our income is the problem because Bill's grades and extracurricular/community activities are numerous.  He did get one CF scholarship - the Missy and Angela Woolsey education award (need to be PA. residents.)

That's all for now. Write again!

               Sue

Hi Sandra.

Just as an FYI, my son is Mr. Enzyme (Bill). After I found this forum I told him about it. I think it will be really good for him to talk to people his age with CF.

We live in southeastern PA, about 25 miles west of Philadelphia. We go to the CF Center at Children's Hospital of Phila.

Thanks for your encouragement.

   Sue