I got one for 'ya, and I hope it causes me no trouble at my doctor's office. I doubt it will. They are very professional, and eager to help me there, thus far. Check this out . . . yeah, get this!
I had a MAJOR nerve wrecking hassle getting my legitimately prescribed medications last month too. That is part of why Johanna's subject above struck such a chord in me! Whew.
Ok . . .so, my doctor was kind enough to provide for me some extra medication per month for "breakthrough pain", because sometimes, if I am not in bed earlier than responsibilities will let me sometimes, my pain levels will creep back up. As I explained, with increased ability has come increased responsibility in my life. This seemed to make perfect sense to my doctor, you know the one who went to school to have the authority, specifically to learn to responsibly dispense pain medications.
My insurance will only cover so many per month, the rest I must pay for myself. My doctor knows this, so he wrote the script for my "breakthrough" pain on two separate pieces of paper/scripts with the specific amounts that my insurance would pay for, and a separate one for the remainder, for which I would have to self- pay because he knows that the pharmacy must fill them separately, not in the same bottle because of this don't ask me why, this doesn't make sense to me).
Anyhow, it was dated to be filled the day after my appointment, so I took it in to be filled the next day, not expecting any problems. First of all, even though it was dated to be filled the day I came in, they marked all over the script that it was too early, and all sorts of other numbers, and told me, even though the amount had changed and I had submitted to a pill count the day before, so that the doctor knew how many I had left and was fine with it, that I was trying to fill my prescription too early! The amount had changed! That changes the rate/amount that they would be taken for the remainder of days during the gap, which is why he specified they be filled the very next day! I took it back to my Pain Management office and asked them what I should do. The doctor was swamped, and confused. They gave me a clean copy of my prescription, unmarked on bolded with the day that they should be filled was the present day! I phoned the pharmacy the next time first before coming in. I didn't want to hand it over to them, so that they may mark all over what is my property until the fill it, right? When I phoned, a rude pharmacy assistant accused me of getting prescriptions from multiple pharmacies the previous month, because she was not seeing that I had two filled two bottles on the same day the previous month, the bottle I paid for and the one the insurance picked up, just like this month, as per procedure. Yes, I did have two prescriptions filled for the same prescription, THEIRS! After falsely accused me, and I called her on it, and upon realizing her mistake, I didn't even receive an apology for her rudeness . . .nothing! This time, their complaint was that my Pain Management Doctor forgot to change my script from reading BID-TID (that means twice to three times daily), to TID-QID (three to four times daily).
I took it back to be changed, but was told by the receptionist, since the office was having a busy Friday and this was turning into an all-day affair for me trying to get this straightened out "you know you could go to any other pharmacy and they would just fill it".
So, I took my business elsewhere where my prescription was filled that day. It did not bother me that they only filled the ones I would self-pay for, because it is sufficient! I was promised by a nice member of the pharmacy staff that I could bring the other prescription for the same drug in on Monday (it was a Friday), and they would fill it at that time However, when I went back for the portion that my insurance would not pay for until a certain date, the same question came up again regarding the BID-TID vs. TID-QID wording on the script, which I had explained to them when they filled the first script.
This time, I tried to call my doctor, I was going to have him fix it, even though it had a fixed amount there that I was to receive, plainly, regardless of how many times that his computer pre-filled that it is to be taken per day.
Well, instead of bothering my doctor's office again, I took it to another pharmacy, a more understanding one, and explained my situation! They had, once again, marked on my prescription. I had to explain that too. I mean, the second script was already dated to be filled, just like the already filled portion that I had to self-pay for, to be filled the day after my appointment! The amount was clearly marked. It was signed by a physician. I told them they could call him with questions. His office had also advised me that they would help. She said, "just have them call us if they have questions".
Now, the trouble with this is that, this particular pharmacy does not even routinely stock my long-acting med. She said she would order them, but what if he changes the dosage next month? Then, what would I do? So, I feel uncomfortable using the third pharmacy on a routine basis, either, if they have a problem keeping certain meds in stock. I don't know, I may. They were nice.
I was so tired of dealing with it, that I was just glad that a pharmacy had finally filled, in it's entirely, my completely legal, entirely legitimate prescription which I need daily to keep my pain levels down, which had been prescribed to be filled for it's full amount, 5 days after they were dated to be filled in their entirety!
I sign a contract with my Pain Management Clinic that I will go to the same pharmacy for all of my pain meds, which is normal practice here. Now, I hope they are understanding that I had to go to two different pharmacies, that I do not typically use to get my prescription in a timely manner.
Luckily, they seem to be nice and willing to help me. They have taken me back to being able to live almost as I did before. Although I do not like depending upon anything for my well-being, it seems, after years of trying other ways out of my pain, to be what works! I'm thankful that something DOES WORK! This isn't the case for all patients.
My entire family is so very thankful that something is working! My husband has wanted to go with me to thank my doctor for what he has done to help me. I am enjoying my life more than I have in 7 years now due to decreased pain with less side-effects!
This month, pharmacies have made me so nervous that I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TRY TO TAKE MY PRESCRIPTIONS to be filled this coming month!
I've told a long story here, but this is just an example of how much stress pharmacies can cause one
I hope things run smoother for both of us next month, Luke, with the pharmacists we use. This has been an eye-opener to me on how hard pharmacies can make simple things.
This brings me to my next forum question. Why do they think they have the right to write all over your prescription before they know if they can fill it? Until they fill it, that prescription is property of the patient, I would think.
I'll post that soon. I'm curious.
(Please forgive any typ-os above. I have a sink full of dishes waiting for me, and I was attempting to quickly describe my month's predicament typing really fast)!
Best wishes to all . . .and good luck at the pharmacies!