I was very glad that it was Friday and the last day of the work week, when I woke up, today. I felt very tired, but went to the office, anyway, and spent a productive day.
On the way home after work, I stopped at the pharmacy to ask about another of my
medications. It had been authorized, but the pharmacy didn't have it ready yesterday. When I went in today, I was told it would take 10 minutes, so I waited. And I
waited. After about 30 minutes, I went up to the counter to ask what
was taking so long and I was told the paperwork needed to be checked by
the head pharmacist who had gone on his break or something, and that it would
take another 30 minutes. So, I waited some more. Fortunately, it was nicely air conditioned in the pharmacy, there was a chair where I could sit while I waited, and I was able to flip through some of the magazines that were on sale while I waited. It was almost like being in the library! LOL.
Finally, after almost 45 minutes, I asked the pharmacy clerk about the status and was told it was ready, she had been trying to call me. I do know that she had been serving, by herself, an almost endless line of clients picking up their medications during the entire time I was waiting. I fully believe that she didn't have a minute to page me to say my medication was ready. It really wasn't her fault, but I wasn't feeling very happy about it. But, finally, I received
my medication! The whole thing took almost 2 hours! Ridiculous!
While I was waiting, I remembered I had a $2 store coupon, so I picked up a box of cheese crackers. Regular price was $3.29, on sale this week for $1.99 and free to me with my store coupon.
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| Box of Free Crackers |
I
was tired when I got home. I had a cup of tea, ate some of the cheese crackers, and called one of my friends to wish her for her birthday and spoke with my aunt who called to
check on me. The rest of the evening was spent responding to blog comments, replying to a friend's email, watching some TV, and video chatting with my daughter.
Today, I am grateful for:
- A productive day at the office
- A free box of crackers
- Enjoying the air conditioning at the pharmacy while I waited for my medication
- Being able to flip through some magazines while I waited!
- Getting my medication
Plans for the weekend include possibly getting together with my friend for her birthday, doing some much needed housework and some cooking.
How was your Friday? What are your plans for the weekend?
You are very patient and very forgiving Bless. I wouldn't have minded if they'd told me it was going to take a long time so I could have made a choice about whether to stay or not - air conditioning and a supply of magazines sounds pretty good lol - but to be told 10 minutes and still be there 2 hours later is a bit off. Hope your mouth is feeling better. Have a lovely weekend. xx
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, Suzanne, I didn't feel very patient when I was told I'd have to wait longer! I did consider going home and picking up the medication the next day, as I had one last pill left to take later in the night, but I thought I was already there and might as well wait; at least, it was cooler there than in the house! The air conditioning and the magazines definitely helped! :)
DeleteI'm sure that you were happy it was Friday, since when you woke up Thursday you thought is was the weekend. You had great patience at the pharmacy. I would have left. But then again, maybe not if there was nice AC there and not at home.
ReplyDeleteI didn't feel very patient at the time, Live and Learn, and was very tempted to shout at someone and complain to a manager, but that would not have been helpful. I did consider going home and coming back when the medication was ready, but that would have meant another trip and, besides, it was cooler in the pharmacy and there were magazines to read. :) I could have done some window shopping, too (or some grocery shopping) as the pharmacy is in a shopping mall with a grocery store and a Kohls and various other stores, but I am not really a recreational shopper, so, I preferred to sit and wait.
DeleteTwo hours is a long time to wait for an Rx. My goodness! We just don't have the issues you have with your pharmacy. We use Walgreens and use their app on our phones (you can also do the same via computer if you choose) to request refills. They are proactive and send us a notification (text or email) to let us know when an Rx is nearing time to be refilled. We can choose a pickup time and have never ever had to wait.
ReplyDeleteThe advantage to using your phone app is that if you're out and about and receive the notification an Rx is ready, you can pick it up and don't waste time or gas money by having to go later. Sounds like it may be time to reevaluate your choice of pharmacy?
Carolyn, I probably should have just left when I found out it would take longer than I was initially told and waited until I received the text notification that it was ready for pick up. I am hoping to have my file moved to the pharmacy near my office, again. I didn't have any of these problems when I used that pharmacy (same company, but a smaller store, not as busy; but it isn't open in the evenings or weekends). I moved to the one closer to my house when I was under treatment because it was easier for my daughter to go to pick up my medications for me. I am waiting to go back to my previous pharmacy, once I know the results of my ultrasound. It all depends on whether I will require further treatments or not. Even with all their shortcomings, the pharmacy closer to home is easier to access if I need to ask someone else to pick up my medications for me, etc.
DeleteHmm "I asked the pharmacy clerk about the status and was told it was ready, she had been trying to call me" - did she forget you were waiting? The pharmacy I use always seems to know who is waiting for a prescription. Very kind of you to give her the benefit of being busy. At least you remembered about your coupon and picked up the box of crackers.
ReplyDeleteSandy, I think she meant she had been wanting to call me but didn't have a moment to do so - at least, that's how I interpreted it. Although, I don't know why filling out the prescription didn't trigger an automatic text saying it is ready, but maybe that happens only when it is a medication that is already in their automatic refill program? I suppose she could have taken a minute to page me in between attending to clients standing in line, or even just call out because I was sitting just to the side of the service window. I think she just forgot and seeing me is what reminded her.
DeleteShe could also improve her communication skills a bit more - there was another lady there, who was asking about the status of her medication when I was being helped (she, too, was told there was a 30 min. wait time and she was there longer than that); the clerk told her it was ready and to stand in line (to be served) but I don't think the lady quite heard or understood her, because she continued to stand to the side, asking more questions about when it became ready and so forth. I was done with my transaction by then and left; I hope the lady was served, eventually! The clerk was serving two people at the two service windows and answering this other lady's questions and remembering that I prefer the regular caps rather than the child-proof caps and switching the caps on my medication, all at the same time; she really was busy.
So sorry for the hassle you received trying to get your meds.. This is so frustrating.. [Maybe, you will be able to go back to your other pharmacy real soon..]
ReplyDeleteHope your having a wonderful weekend.
Thank you, Judy. In retrospect, I suppose I could have done a few things differently, but it all worked out eventually. :)
DeleteHope you are having a fine weekend, too. Hope all is well with you.
Glad you got the medicine sorted! What a long wait. Seems like it really shouldn't have taken that long. I'm glad it's the weekend so maybe you can rest up a little. Take care of yourself!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon. I think, if it happens again, I will simply come home and pick up the meds on another day. :) Hope you are having a good weekend. I read that your daughter made it home safely, although I haven't commented, yet (behind with my commenting! Sorry!)
DeleteI may or may not have waited. Since I keep books downloaded on my phone waiting has gotten so much easier, but 2 hours is a bit extreme.
ReplyDeleteI was initially irritated with having to wait, but then, I reminded myself it was cooler in the pharmacy and I was able to glance through magazines I wouldn't normally buy. :)
DeleteYay for free crackers! I was going to comment on the long wait at the pharmacy but you've already addressed your reasons for waiting (instead of going home and coming back at a later time). As you said, at least you were in the air conditioning. I hate waiting but I remember when it was so hot in France and there was no AC at my mom's house, the kids and I went to the supermarket and slowly walked up and down the aisles ONLY because they had AC there. If there had been a café, we would have just sat down and spent a few hours there. But there wasn't.
ReplyDeleteNathalie, at the time, just sitting and waiting seemed the most sensible thing to do. But I might do things differently, another time, if there is another time, which, no doubt, there will be!
DeleteUgh. Waiting when I think, and am told, that something will only take a short amount of time is so annoying. Especially when the target end time keeps changing! Nice find on the free crackers -- Cheez-Its are favorites, here.
ReplyDeleteYes, if they had told me at the beginning that it would take 2 hours, I might have decided to go home and come back later. Oh, well, at least it was cool and I had magazines to read. :)
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