Saturday, October 29, 2016

Friday: Prescription Saga and Other Tales

On Friday, we had another shower of rain in the early morning!  I woke up to the sound of rain and lay in bed listening to it for a bit before drifting off to sleep, again.  I love listening to the sound of rain, especially when I know I don't have to go out in it!  The rain cleared later in the morning and the rest of the day was cloudy but clear.  The rain did play a real "trick or treat" on me - on one hand, it was a blessing to have some much needed rain.  On the other hand, all that water caused some of my oranges to swell faster than the rind could grow and they split!  I guess Mother Nature does have a sense of humor?

Split Orange


I spent most of Friday doing office work.  But, in the afternoon, I went to the pharmacy to pick up a medication (not the one I've been having problems obtaining), that I had called in for a refill the previous night.  I asked if they had my other  medication and they claimed they haven't received anything from the doctor's office.  Well, what else is new?

After I came home, I called the doctor's office and spoke to the person in charge of prescriptions.  She said my chart was with the doctor and said she'll check with the doctor.  She asked me if I wanted to hold or did I want her to call me back.  I said I preferred to hold, for who knew when she'd call back?  A bit later, she came back on the line to say that the chart notes state that the doctor gave me the prescription.  This is generally what the doctor does, but this time, the doctor told me she will send the prescription electronically and I gave her the pharmacy info. (phone #, store #, address, etc.)  I even double checked my purse to make sure I didn't have a paper prescription and I didn't - only the letter she gave about going back to work in January.

The prescriptions lady checked again and then said they had faxed the prescription to the pharmacy and there was a confirmation slip in the file.  Um, didn't she say that the chart states that the doctor handed me the prescription?  But they faxed it too?  Never mind; she said she will fax it again and to call and check with the pharmacy in 15 minutes.  Which I did.  But the pharmacy again said they didn't receive the fax.  So, I called the doctor's office again.  To be told that the pharmacy had received the fax, and had called and spoken with the doctor!

About 45 minutes later, I received another call from the doctor's office, saying they had spoken with the pharmacy, the pharmacy had said they didn't have the item in stock and needed to order it, but it should be ready by Monday.  She said to check with the pharmacy on Monday and call back if they don't have it.  So we shall wait and see!  Stay tuned!

I also went to the post office on my way home from the pharmacy, to mail the Halloween card I had made, because I wanted to be sure that I had sufficient postage on it (I did).  I had wanted to include a gift card as well, but didn't feel like going to the grocery store to buy one (should have thought of it and bought one the other day, when I was at the grocery store).  Instead, I enclosed a check for a small amount.  But when I was in the post office, I saw that they had a selection of gift cards for sale!  How very convenient!  This is the first time I've actually been inside this particular post office.  Prior to this, I used to go to the post office near the office and they didn't sell gift cards there (unless that has changed since I was there last, which was almost a year ago).  Next time I want to mail someone a gift card, I can buy it from the post office!

I did more office work later in the afternoon and sent off the completed week's work by the end of the day.   I'm always pleased when I can finish the week's work by Friday evening; then I can send it off and not worry about "making up" over the weekend.  

On Friday, I was grateful for:

- A shower of rain in the morning
- The rest of the day being clear (if a bit cloudy)
- The pharmacy having my other medication ready for me
- The doctor's office making an effort to process my other medication
- Getting my work done and sent off

So, that was my Friday.  I hope you had a good day, yesterday and are having a good start to your weekend, today.

18 comments:

  1. I never dreamed oranges could split like that. I've seen split tomatoes though and wonder if that is due to rain after drought.
    You really have been given the runaround with your prescriptions, it's too bad. I suppose it is because of the type of drug but it does seem ridiculous that you have so much of a hassle. I feel very fortunate as I just picked up the phone today and called the pharmacy to make up the second-to-last refill on my husband's statin prescription. It will be ready for one of us to pick up next week when we go in.
    Bushlady

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I think tomatoes too split when they get a lot of water at once. I think the prescription run around is mostly a mix up at the doctor's office. I used to go to a different pharmacy when I was working (one located close to my office building) and the pharmacist there got to know me really well and would go the extra step for me and call the doctor's office on my behalf when prescriptions didn't go through. I switched to a pharmacy (same company, but different branch) located closer to my house when I started to work from home, because it was easier, but they don't go the extra step. Otherwise, they are really good about getting my refills done on time, etc.

      Delete
  2. Wow... you have had such a difficult time getting this prescription filled. Very frustrating for sure..
    Proud your getting some rain.. But sorry the oranges are busting..
    Have a good weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, Judy. It is rather frustrating, but hopefully it'll be resolved on Monday. I'm glad we are getting the rain, even if the oranges are splitting. Hope you have a lovely weekend, too.

      Delete
  3. What an ordeal with your meds! Are you still waiting on the antibiotic your doctor wanted you to continue for your sinus infection? I hope you were able to get that one and that your infection is clearing up well for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have given up on the antibiotics! According to the pharmacy, my insurance will no longer cover that particular type of antibiotic as I've reached the plan limit on it. I will need to see the doctor and get a different type of antibiotic prescribed. I don't want to ask for yet another new prescription until I get the prescription for the other medication resolved! In the meantime, the sinus infection seems to be better. Not 100% cleared, but, better.

      Delete
  4. I think all post offices carry gift cards now. At least all of the ones I've been in. There is not a big selection, but very convenient as you found out.

    Sometimes getting a prescription filled takes way more work than it should. I hope it's waiting for you on Monday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't been to many places recently. Every time I do go some place, I'm discovering new things!

      Getting this particular prescription filled is becoming a "comedy of errors" but I am hopeful that it will all get resolved next week. Keep your fingers crossed for me, please!

      Delete
  5. Sounds like our pharmacy and surgery over here at times. Mark's Dad had no end of trouble with his prescriptions and the last thing you want to do when you're not feeling 100% is to try and sort out the mess.

    The dose of one of my tablets has recently been reduced halfway through the month and I expect this will mean I can no longer pick up all my tablets in one go but will have to go back mid month for the 'new' tablet.

    Hope your script is all present and correct when you call for it on Monday. Fingers crossed. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Suzanne. There was a time when I, too, could pick up all my medications at one time, but now, with different ones being prescribed at different times, it seems I go to the pharmacy at least once a week!

      Congratulations on one of your medications being reduced in strength! It must mean that you are doing very well.

      Delete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am just grateful that I received the medications I needed when I was undergoing the cancer treatments. I am having enough problems trying to fill out a prescription for a routine medication I had been on for several years!

      Delete
  7. So sorry, I keep tripping over the cultural barrier. I must stop. Please feel free to withdraw the comment. Far too Canadian, polite but firm. We do our best to deliver the product and service that is part of their contract or job description.

    ReplyDelete
  8. (HUGS) Bless, it's so frustrating to have to deal with this, especially when you're sick. As you said you are lucky you weren't denied your prescriptions when you were going through your cancer treatment! As far as the doctor's office staff is concerned, I would personally make sure the doctor's office manager is aware of what hoops you've been put through. It's ridiculous!

    I hope everything was resolved today and that you have all the medication that you need.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Nathalie. So far (it's 5:30 p.m. here) I haven't heard anything from the pharmacy. Somehow, I didn't expect to! I'll wait until tomorrow and then, see what needs to be done. I'm seriously considering moving to a different clinic.

      Delete
  9. Reading this (and earlier posts) makes me shake my head to realise how commonplace this casual attitude to prescriptions seems to be - my mother has had similar shenanigans all through the pandemic... Having to make multiple calls and visits to the chemist to pick things up which were supposed to be ready, then having to chase, then call the doctor, then the pharmacy again... then beg them to deliver the meds because she wasn't really meant to have gone out in the first place, mixing with people in the queue... the saga goes on. I am glad that this particular scenario at least is over for you, now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Lady Ella. I had a really good pharmacist when I was picking up the medications from the pharmacy near my office (the pharmacist who became my friend), but, when I switched to the pharmacy closer to my house, it became a bit of a problem. It's a lot better now and they are good about delivering my medications to me. Every now and then, they will call a former doctor and I have to ask them which doctor did you call!

      Delete

Thank you for visiting my blog and commenting. Your comments are much appreciated. Please comment in English. Thank you.