Sorry, this post is a rant and a grumble. I decided to publish it tonight so it won't be at the top of my blog for long. Memory Monday will be back on Monday and hopefully by Tuesday I will have my "where the heck have I been" update.
SO - the cardiologist put me on several new to me medications that started in smaller doses and were smaller mg. Whatever that is. Then he increased to twice a day, then gave me a prescription for a larger mg that I have to cut in half and take twice a day. I think we are eventually going to do a whole pill a day. This is the background story.
Like all people of a certain age, I sit down on Sunday night and put all my pills for the week in my new and improved extra large pill box. I was almost out of one of the medications and put in an on-line renew request to my drugstore. I got an email message that my insurance would not pay to renew the prescription yet. They stated they would contact the doctor.
I figured out this was because he had not changed the instructions when telling me to double the dose. I decided I would leave my own message for the doctor in the automated system. I stopped at the pharmacy and they said they hadn't heard back but that possibly I would be able refill it and just pay cash if it came to that.
No one from the pharmacy or insurance company or doctor's office would contact me. Then I got an automated message that I had a prescription ready to pick up. When I got there I had a new precription of the drug to pick up with a $3 co-pay. I had the renewal of the prescription with a cash price of $35. And I had a renewal of the prescription at a lower doseage with a $3 co-pay. I did get both of the larger mg bottles of the same thing since I wanted back up bills for next time this happens.
I just wonder if this was something I could sell on the street instead of heart medicine, woud they would just issue me three bottles of the same thing? It just seems wrong.
Meanwhile my drug plan is calling me three times a day telling me I can save $6 a month if I put all my medications into refills by mail. Since the prescriptions and doseage keep changing this does not appeal to me but that is not an option in their automated system.
She told me I had to quit eating 12 hours or more prior, no caffiene or even DECAF coffee for 24 hours prior to the test, I can't remember what else. I did not get an email. I went to the hospital website that charts appointments. It did not list what doctor ordered it and when I clicked "instructions" all it said was "please arrive 15 minutes in advance". I googled generic instructions for a CT scan and followed those.
Luckily it was a ct scan without dye (and I think what she read to me on the phone was the instructions with dye.) I did abstain from food and decaf coffee, but I am not sure I had to. I did not wear undergarments so that I did not have to change into a gown. And the radiologist person was able to tell me that the test was ordered by the pulmonologist.
I just feel like no one tells me anything. Was this because of my pulmonary tests in February? Because I haven't had a follow-up appointment yet.
Anyway - blah, blah, blah. I'm over it.
Now I have it out of my system. Thank you for listening.
What a frustrating time. Hope it all settles down soon before your stress levels lead to another adjustment in your drugs.
ReplyDeleteI feel for you. I've had to coordinate appointments and meds for my husband for years and I always got good communication with the doctors. It must be very frustrating to you to be suddenly thrust into a field with multiple specialists ordering this and that.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you.
Oh yes, the responsibilities of being a patient without any guidance as to how to get what is the right pills, the right insurance coverage, the right doctor, and the right tests! I finally got a call from a nice woman saying she was my case manager. I'd already gone through all of the above after my discharge. She just repeated what was on the discharge summary. Excuse me, I can read! But there is MUCH much more that needed to be done the first few days at home. And I go back for different tests next week, for a different thing completely...will it work with the lingering treatment for pneumonia? They decided yes. I decided to take at least an hour a day without any concerns about my health. I remember when I'd only think about my health less than an hour a day!
ReplyDeleteAaagh - this is the state of our medical system and it's not good.
ReplyDeleteOnline pharmacy is convenient for the delivery, but it's a pain for any changes and you can never talk to a person so every call takes so much time!
Thank you for sharing Miss Merry, I'm sure I'm not the only one whos been wondering how you're doing. This all sounded very taxing and at time confusing as hell. I'm glad you're taking care of yourself and I hope you're keeping your spirits up. Continue to rant, just keep sharing! 👍❤️
ReplyDeleteHi Miss Merry! I must have missed your Easter post... we left for my daughter's place around then. Your doll house is adorable. And it's always nice to go to someone else's place (and not have to clean up at home).
ReplyDeleteAs for all your meds, I feel for you. I know some meds are absolutely necessary, but I hate meds and don't trust them. Luckily I don't have to take any... yet. But over the years, the few I've taken have always given me bad side effects. DH takes a few... and deals with the insurance.
But Vent Away!! ; )
It seems to be getting worse with pharmacies and doctor's offices or maybe it's because as we age we have more contact with them that it feels like things are getting less personal and more complicated.
ReplyDeleteJust thinking of you and wishing you warm sunny days and sweet-sleep nights. I'm so glad you have so many wonderful loving people by your side.
ReplyDeleteDear Miss Merry, my heart goes out to you. I truly hope things settle down. 🙏
ReplyDeleteBelieve me. I know how you feel. I have to keep pills for the week for both my mother and me. It's hard to keep it all straight. I'm also going for my vertigo PT. Growing older is not for sissies.
ReplyDeleteHealth care can be a frustrating struggle, no one is doing their jobs:(
ReplyDeleteOh, I so hear you. I'm so sorry you have to go through all this. It's been a really tough several months for you and the confusion of the meds, not knowing which doc is doing what, all of the above, is overwhelming on a good day, not to mention a bad one. It's so tough when trying to figure out the right doseage -- all those pills. At that price you were smart to do them all and when they change again (hopefully not!) you can mix and match mgs as they prescribe. They did that with my BP med and now I take half. But I never told my primary group (which renews the meds) so I get twice as long out of the bottle! You have my deepest empathy, my friend.
ReplyDeleteMiss Merry. Oh my dear, do I totally, totally understand this! A cancer diagnosis left me in the same whirlwind. It is awful. It just seemed like so much was happening with very little warning. Blogging your frustration and then moving on is such a good way to handle it.
ReplyDelete