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A simple mistake or a Senior Moment.

(42 Posts)
NanKate Tue 26-May-15 20:58:15

I often get griping type stomach pains (all regularly checked out by my doctor and specialist). This morning after breakfast I felt the familiar stirrings and took some Colpermine tablets that usually work well for me. Half an hour later things had not improved so I moved to Plan B a dose of kaolin and morphine.

I mixed two teaspoons of said liquid with water and took a few gulps.confused It tasted odd, almost like calamine lotion.

shock It was calamine lotion ! Fortunately I had not drunk the thick sediment at the bottom of the glass. I immediately drank as much water as I could to dilute my mistake. Checked the bottle that said 'for external use only'. The bottles are very similar.

Fortunately it didn't recommend a visit to the Doc.

Have any of you had near misses like this ?

Jane10 Tue 26-May-15 21:01:25

Not quite but my mother once washed her hair with hand cream! She was only in her 30s at the time. Simply grabbed what she thought was the right one -just like you did!

Ana Tue 26-May-15 21:02:31

I have done exactly the same thing, NanKate, taken a big gulp of what I thought was kaolin and morphine only to discover I'd grabbed the wrong bottle and it was actually calamine lotion! shock

Drank lots of water and had no ill-effects, but it did teach me to check properly in future!

HildaW Tue 26-May-15 21:43:08

Did not know you could still get kaolin and morphine!

Anne58 Tue 26-May-15 23:00:35

I once liberally squirted Savlon ointment onto my toothbrush blush

Jomarie Tue 26-May-15 23:01:37

No, nor me. Certainly haven't been able to get it in my area for many years! Why is this? Also disappeared "sal volatile" not sure if spelling is correct. This stopped sickness feeling immediately - haven't been able to get this for at least 30 odd years. Lasonil (for external piles) also went awol Pity really because all of these medicines/medications worked brilliantly!

feetlebaum Tue 26-May-15 23:20:55

My father once complained that he didn't think much of the shampoo he's just used in the bathroom - mother baffled - tuned out he'd picked up and used her urine sample she would be taking to her doctor's appointment later in the day... "It didn't lather much..."

When I was in Cornwall in the 60s, workers at the Clay dries with upset stomachs would chew on a hunk of dried China clay - which is also known as kaolin. Scrumpie would have to substitute for morphine!

Ana Tue 26-May-15 23:25:57

Hilda, I haven't bought it for a couple of years but you had to ask for it at the pharmacy counter in Boots and tell them why you wanted it, it wasn't on display!

The miniscule amount of morphine would hardly have been an issue, I'd have thought...hmm

AshTree Tue 26-May-15 23:29:34

I sprayed hairspray under my arms instead of deodorant once. Horribly sticky, so realised my mistake immediately!

Maggiemaybe Wed 27-May-15 00:30:09

I've done that, AshTree. I've also showered with body lotion instead of shower gel. And mixed up my contact lens solutions, using the sterilizing solution instead of the saline to insert one. I had to work at home that day. In my defence, I am very short sighted, and the containers were all very similar.

NanKate Wed 27-May-15 07:02:16

Well that is a relief Ana that we have both survived the error of mixing up the bottles.

Yes Hilda most chemists sell Kaolin and Morphine but as Ana said it is in the Pharmacy and they will only let you have one bottle and they give you the third degree as to why you want it and if you have been seen by a doctor.

I love your story Feetlebaum.

AshTree Wed 27-May-15 07:54:38

maggiem, but how ridiculous that the containers are all very similar? Given that, per se, anyone using contact lenses has poor eyesight without them in? You would think they would colour code them at the very least confused

Maggiemaybe Wed 27-May-15 08:42:56

Wouldn't you? I'm on daily disposables now, so won't be endangering my poor eyes again. The worst designed bottle I've come across is one containing ironing water that has an attractive picture of fruit on the front and looks very similar to the flavoured water I buy. I keep it on a high shelf with a sticky label on saying "Do not drink", much to DH's amusement. But this thread has reminded me to drop an email to Sainsburys about it.

KatyK Wed 27-May-15 17:13:49

When I was going through a period of stress last year, I was cleaning my teeth and absent mindedly reached for the mouthwash and took a large swig and swirled it around my mouth, only to realise it was Flash liquid cleaner that I had left on the shelf in another absent minded moment. There followed lots of rinsing with cold water and no harm was done blush

rosesarered Wed 27-May-15 17:23:53

Last week I washed my hair with conditioner.
A friend had to go to A and E after she squirted ear stuff into her eyes, the little bottles were near identical.

HildaW Wed 27-May-15 17:40:38

I've lost count of the number of times I've used conditioner instead of shampoo - so now I do not buy matching sets.

A friend, who is barely into her 40s, had a horrid accident. She confused a tube of superglue with a medicated eye gel. I never had the heart to ask why she had two such differing products in the same place, but it resulted in a lot of pain and a trip to A & E.

grandma60 Wed 27-May-15 20:46:26

If I have a matching set of shampoo/conditioner or day/night face creams etc I mark one of the bottles with a small dab of nail varnish.

HildaW Wed 27-May-15 21:08:12

Small dabs do not work for me...in shower minus glasses I need a whole different shape and colour!

bikergran Wed 27-May-15 21:43:46

rubber band round either the shampoo or conditioner works for me smile

NanKate Thu 28-May-15 06:47:25

What a clever idea Bikergran.

JoyBloggs Thu 28-May-15 20:17:05

Couldn't believe it when I read this thread! This afternoon I cleared out the medicine cupboard (including a jar of Vick which 'expired' in 2006! How the years fly by when you're having fun...). Anyway, picked up a bottle and thought 'hmm, this Kaolin and Morph must be a bit ancient, I'll chuck it'... only to realise a minute later that it was actually Calamine lotion. Nankate looks as though we suffer from similar bodily afflictions (as well as having married on the same day!). To date I haven't rubbed kaolin into my itchy skin, or gulped calamine when tummy misbehaving, but they look so similar it probably won't be long now grin

NanKate Thu 28-May-15 22:20:49

Yes joy lots of similarities between us. smile

I managed to buy a bottle of K and M yesterday, having been given lots of advice from a young Assistant at Boots who looked about 14 hmm on how to use said bottle.

When I got home I compared it with the calamine lotion and confirmed they were very similar. Pleased to say I have had no after affects from my error.

merlotgran Thu 28-May-15 22:35:02

I once visited a public loo which I didn't notice, until it was too late, did not have any loo roll. I dug around in my handbag and found a pack of Kleenex tissues which were then put to good use.

Ten minutes later and sitting in the dentist's chair, I started to get a pleasantly warm feeling in my nethers. This then progressed to being rather hot and so uncomfortable I found it difficult not to squirm about.

All was revealed when back in my car I discovered the Kleenex tissues were impregnated with menthol!!

annodomini Thu 28-May-15 23:27:06

I too have often washed my hair with conditioner and it didn't help at all when I inadvertently got into the shower with my glasses on.

NanKate Fri 29-May-15 07:09:05

Merlot you have given DH and myself the laugh of the day. grin grin