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Don't flounce unless you are properly dressed.đŸ˜±

(86 Posts)
Sago Thu 18-Jul-24 16:49:07

I have thrush, I know I have thrush because I have had it numerous times before and I am an intelligent woman.

So I hurriedly dashed out to a big Boots this morning.
I stood by the medicines counter patiently only to be told to go to prescriptions.
When I stood there I was redirected to medicines.
By this time I’m in a filthy moodđŸ˜±.
I asked the male pharmacy assistant for Canasten, he asked if it was for “down below”. (FFS)
“Yes it’s for my vagina” I announced a bit too loud.
He then asked my age, I told him 61, I’m too old apparently to buy OTC thrush treatment and was told to ring my doctor.
I told him I was unlikely to get any kind of appointment for weeks.
He just shrugged, so I told him I would go to another pharmacy and lie about my age and flounced out.

I did go to another pharmacy told the lie and got the goods.

It was only when I got home I realised my trousers and t shirt were both inside out!

Don’t flounce unless you are properly dressed.

Truffle43 Tue 23-Jul-24 10:44:18

I was also refused canestan and booked an appointment with a nurse at the doctor’s surgery. It seems that you get refused as you may have some other problem that you may be unaware of, with me they were checking for cancer and I was referred to a gynaecologist . When I spoke with the gynaecologist he asked if I had tried canestan and I explained about the refusal he was genuinely surprised but I guess it is a way of catching some conditions in older people who may slip through the net. As it happens I did have a problem thankfully not cancer but it did need treatment and it was explained that the condition I have will be reoccurring am happy that I now know which treatment to request to help me. I have been advised that if I feel any lumps to get referred back immediately.

Spuddy Mon 22-Jul-24 11:29:11

I've had non-sexual thrush twice in my life. I'm 59 and first had it in my early 30s. Got some cream.

A few months ago I got it again, went to Boots and unfortunately ''the bimbo'' was serving, young blond bit with no personality.

I quietly asked ''have you got a tube of Canesten please?''

Her sharp reply was ''nope''.

I said that's OK, if you haven't got that particular one, have you got something similar?''

''Nope'' she replied, rolling her eyes and looking utterly bored and gormless.

I was stood there in sodding agony and needed it THAT DAY!

So I walked out and had to order online so I paid extra for same day delivery. The company delivered it the same day but to next door even though I put my proper name, address and postcode on the order form!

The bloke next door is a builder doing yonks of hours a day but thankfully he managed to catch my husband about 6pm and handed him the parcel!

I'm really happy that Boots are now Eden Pharmacy as that bimbo is no longer there!

NannaFirework Sun 21-Jul-24 22:52:09

That end but was funny, and as has been said previously - Thrush is blooming awful; as a fellow (?!) sufferer you have my sympathy 


Whiff Sun 21-Jul-24 22:16:50

I have brought thrush treatment from Boots and independent pharmacy no problem and I am 66. But anyone one on Flecainide DO NOT BUY THE TABLET and cream. As the tablet does not mix with Flecainide. Have the pessary and cream.

RosiesMaw2 Sun 21-Jul-24 21:50:52

netflixfan

Those pharmacy staff in boots think they are doctors!!

Why does their footwear make a difference?

win Sun 21-Jul-24 21:02:40

pascal30

win

pascal30

Where else would you use it? The assistant was inappropriate...

No he was not I am afraid, it is the general rule not his idea. We HAVE to have it on prescription from our GP if we are over 60 and can ring up and get it, but they need a urine test and a blood test first. I usually get an appointment same day as they know it is urgent

he should have quietly asked her whether it was vaginal.. not said down there..

Yes absolutely he should have

ruthiek Sun 21-Jul-24 19:53:11

Oh sago you made me laugh , and reminded me of getting thrush whilst on holiday in Spain in the early 70’s I went to a pharmacy asking if anyone spoke English , out popped this elderly lady so I said “I have thrush”. She looked blankly at me , I said “candida “ still the blank look so I pretended to be a bird flapping my arms-thrush ! By this time the assistant is looking at me as if I am mad as are the other customers and my husband is outside doubled up with laughter , by then I was so itchy I stood back and pointed to “down there “ and started scratching !! Big smile from the assistant , everyone clapped and the cream appeared on the counter , I paid and ran đŸ˜±

pascal30 Sun 21-Jul-24 17:44:04

win

pascal30

Where else would you use it? The assistant was inappropriate...

No he was not I am afraid, it is the general rule not his idea. We HAVE to have it on prescription from our GP if we are over 60 and can ring up and get it, but they need a urine test and a blood test first. I usually get an appointment same day as they know it is urgent

he should have quietly asked her whether it was vaginal.. not said down there..

Celieanne86 Sun 21-Jul-24 17:15:08

As a coff coff old lady I have a personal carer who looks after me wonderfully. I have a brand of pain killing tablets on prescription 100 only which never sees me through the month so she will pop in the local chemist to buy me some off the pharmacy. There has never been a problem until recently when she was asked why she needed them, quick thinking she replied painful periods (for herself I hasten to add). All went well until yesterday when the pharmacist took her to one side and suggested she visited her doctor as she did seem to be having a lot of periods especially painful ones. Now she doesn’t know what to do she thanked the pharmacist and literally flew to me, I think it’s time I made a phone call and explained both to pharmacist and doctor. I know we shouldn’t but we giggled all day, as she had also bought some tampax 😅😅😅 All praise to the pharmacist for being so observant and caring.

Greciangirl Sun 21-Jul-24 16:45:12

That’s the problem with Boots pharmacy sections.
You get the third degree even if you want some headache tablets.
I invariably lie every time.

win Sun 21-Jul-24 16:18:31

netflixfan

Those pharmacy staff in boots think they are doctors!!

They are higher qualified in medicine

win Sun 21-Jul-24 16:17:51

Aldom

Daffydilly

There a reason why there an age requirement. They're not being difficult on purpose. Thrush type symptoms in 'older' ladies can be signs of diabetes or undiagnosed kidney problems (amongst others).

Lying to a trained pharmacy counter assistant can set yourself up for more problems in the future.

It's unfortunate the assistant 'shrugged' but he was very likely at the end of his rope for the day. It's a thankless job.

Excellent post!

Spot on thank you for putting all these GNs right for thinking the pharmacist is just being awkward. They have no idea the awful job the {pharmacist has likewise our GPs. Ours was on spotlight Thursday about the state of the country and how they are struggling they are all at breaking point, she was very emotional and nearly in tears. She is head of elderly care and a fabulous GP, but we will lose her if things do not improve pretty smartly.

win Sun 21-Jul-24 16:14:01

pascal30

Where else would you use it? The assistant was inappropriate...

No he was not I am afraid, it is the general rule not his idea. We HAVE to have it on prescription from our GP if we are over 60 and can ring up and get it, but they need a urine test and a blood test first. I usually get an appointment same day as they know it is urgent

netflixfan Sun 21-Jul-24 15:58:40

Those pharmacy staff in boots think they are doctors!!

Aldom Sun 21-Jul-24 15:49:35

Daffydilly

There a reason why there an age requirement. They're not being difficult on purpose. Thrush type symptoms in 'older' ladies can be signs of diabetes or undiagnosed kidney problems (amongst others).

Lying to a trained pharmacy counter assistant can set yourself up for more problems in the future.

It's unfortunate the assistant 'shrugged' but he was very likely at the end of his rope for the day. It's a thankless job.

Excellent post!

Musicgirl Sun 21-Jul-24 15:46:09

queenofsaanich69

Haven’t heard of anyone flouncing for years,well done.

It sounds as if your daughters are grown up and you don’t have teenage granddaughters. Nobody can flounce as well as a teenage girl.

Musicgirl Sun 21-Jul-24 15:44:09

Sago

Primrose53

I had several pairs of slip on shoes in various colours. Once went to work with one black and one navy.

Hope your down below is getting better.😉

My “down below” is far more comfortable thank you!😉

I have several pairs of T-bar shoes in various colours but the same style. One day I went to church wearing one navy shoe and one green shoe.

queenofsaanich69 Sun 21-Jul-24 15:28:21

Haven’t heard of anyone flouncing for years,well done.

oodles Sun 21-Jul-24 14:29:58

Canestan can cause a skin condion or allergic reaction, canestan dermatitis, it's also not the best for all fungal.issues
I guess the assistant was right not to sell it if it is not licensed for OTC use in any age group. And yes you should go to the doc if you have issues above that age just in case it is a side effect of something else. I imagine many will meanwhile get the treatment and if it clears up and you do go to the doc that will I guess confirm that it was thrush. The same.age limit without the doc prescribing is also for fluconazole. The doc needs to know about any underlying conditions that may be causing it, as others have said is it due to elevated blood sugars.
If.it is an after effect.of antibiotics, which I suffered from over the age of 60 I did use a packet that I'd already got just in case. If pr scribed by the doc you'd get the treatment free on prescription I guess
Fungal infections can be a difficult.thing to clear up.
Pharmacists won't dispense for an animal even if the vet says so, again not licensed, if they had said anything about the infant calpol the vet said to use with a little old dog, who was too little and too old for animal painkillers, it would have been for a baby. The dose was miniscule, you shouldn't use it without the vet saying the dose, that's why they weigh the animals when they come.in.

DeeAitch56 Sun 21-Jul-24 13:59:19

I had a similar experience trying to buy Canesten @ 68yrs apparently it’s not licensed for use by the over 60’s
I to resorted to telling a lie (at a different chemist as my local one knows me) saying I was buying it for my daughter in law

mouse44 Sun 21-Jul-24 13:49:45

Even more bemusing was the time, recently, when I asked Boots, Piccadilly to sell me testing strips for a UTI as I didn't want to bother the GP unnecessarily if there was nothing wrong with me and was told I was too old to buy the tests!

RosiesMaw2 Sun 21-Jul-24 13:46:17

To spare OP’s blushes could HQ not edit the title to what she presumably intended?

Daffydilly Sun 21-Jul-24 13:04:43

justanovice

This has happened to me too. So infuriating 😡
I went to a nearby supermarket picked it off the shelf and paid for it. No questions asked, lesson learned.

It'll be a different formulation on the supermarket shelves to what's behind the counter in a pharmacy.

Just so you know for next time.

Jess20 Sun 21-Jul-24 12:59:48

Beware caneston cream, I had a horrendous skin issue after using it a couple of years ago, felt like I had burrowing insects for over ten days and ended up on oral steroids. I used it no problem when I was younger but the recent episode was probably one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life, up there with a tooth abscess and childbirth but lasted considerably longer than either.

Paperbackwriter Sun 21-Jul-24 12:58:15

The age limit also applies if you get mild cystitis and want an over the counter remedy (name of which I can't recall). Amazingly, I seem to drop a good 5 years when at the pharmacy counter..