Thursday, July 6, 2017

The Saga Continues!

I spent most of the day, yesterday, sewing the blouse I had mentioned, but, I had a hard time with the neckline and armholes.  The bias bindings are not staying down flat and the whole thing got puckered.  So I put it aside for the time being.  I have to unpick it again.  I am going to give the blouse one more try, maybe this weekend, and if it doesn't work out, then, I am just going to admit defeat and toss it!   
 
In addition to sewing, I did a load of laundry and watered the garden, both front and back.
 
Yesterday, I was grateful for:
- The Independence Day holiday
- Time to sew
- None of the hundreds of fireworks being lit all around me (although fireworks are illegal in my city) caused any fires
- Phone calls from aunt and a friend
- My daughter's thoughtfulness of others (she was out and about yesterday and saw something my friend's daughter would like and immediately called me to tell me she bought it for her upcoming birthday)
 
This morning, I called the pharmacy to ask about my medication refill - they still haven't heard from the clinic and the pharmacist I spoke to said she sent another request.  I also requested a different medication refill, which she said she will have ready by evening.  Then, I mentioned the medication with the wrong dosage - she said all 3 dosages were showing up in the computer.  So, we went over them and she said she deleted the 2 dosages that I am no longer taking.  Of course, the authorization for dosage I am back on, which was the original dosage, has since expired, so she put in a request for a re-authorization on it.  In the meantime, I will take multiple pills with the other dosages to make up the proper dosage. 

I tried to call the clinic, but couldn't actually get through to anyone - I was waiting for someone to pick up the phone for at least 5 minutes and then, I hung up!  I will try them again, tomorrow.

After work, I drove to the pharmacy and picked up the one medication that was ready (which I requested this morning).  I asked about the other medication I am waiting for the clinic to authorize (the one I called them about on Monday and the pharmacy said they requested again, earlier today) and I was told that "the clinic denied authorization"!  Really?  But the pharmacist said they will put in yet another request and gave me 4 additional pills to tide me over for a few more days. 

I really don't know who is telling the truth!  I don't know if the pharmacy is actually sending the requests they say they are sending (I just have to assume they are) and I don't know if the clinic is not responding to them or what is happening.  I thought of showing up at the clinic, tomorrow morning, and demanding answers, but then, I thought I might get all worked up and my pressure might go up and then, I won't be ready for my dental appointment in the afternoon!  

Instead, I might call the clinic tomorrow.  Hopefully, someone will actually answer the phone!  If not, I will just take the pills the pharmacy gave me and wait until Wednesday morning, when I have an appointment to see the Physician Assistant.  I will ask what is happening then, and complain.  Not that she'll be able to do anything much, but at least, she'll be aware of the clinic's shortcomings.  No doubt they will put the blame on the pharmacy!

I didn't call the oncologist's office to ask about the mammogram referral, today.  I thought I'll wait and call, tomorrow. There's only so much medical inefficiency I can take on one day. 

Today, there was a reception at the office for a colleague who is retiring at the end of this week.  There were bagels for breakfast and an array of desserts in the afternoon - yellow cake, apple bread, date bread, blueberry cheesecake, triple chocolate cake, chocolate mousse pie, and peanut butter pie!  Everything, other than the yellow cake (which had been bought), was baked by my retiring colleague who loves to bake.  It was the first time I had eaten peanut butter pie, it was delicious!

I didn't do a lot after I came home.  I spoke with my friend and my aunt and a cousin who called, video chatted with daughter, and just brooded over my medication situation, the mammogram referral situation, etc.

Today, I am grateful for:
- Bagels for breakfast at the office
- Pies and cakes for dessert
- Helpful pharmacists
- A safe commute to work and back
- My daughter, family, and friends

How was your day?


18 comments:

  1. I can't believe all the problems you're having with the clinic and medicines! I'm glad you're keeping up on top of it. I dread to think how things would be if you were an elderly person who someone who didn't 'get' it and just took what was given.

    I've had enough of the fireworks. Tuesday was terrible. I hated it. There were so many going off - even before the sun went down. There were a few last night but not as many so quite a quiet night.

    Your daughter sounds like a very thoughtful person. I'm looking forward to my daughter's visit next week!

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    1. Sharon, it's like everything that can go wrong is going wrong! Very frustrating!

      How wonderful that your daughter will be visiting, next week! How long will she be visiting you? I know you will have a wonderful time together.

      By the way, did your Mum get her scan results? I hope she received good news.

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  2. How was my day? Better than yours. Oh Bless. How very frustrating! Just take a deep breath and keep on their case; but maybe wait until after your dental work. Do your prayers and meditation to relax before the dentist's visit. I have a very strong feeling the problems will still be there when you are ready to deal with them. Definitely tell the P.A. and have her look into it while you are still in the room.

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    1. Glad to hear your day was better than mine, Susan. :) Yes, it is very frustrating and a bit ironic, too, because they were trying so hard to get my blood pressure under control before my dental procedures and now, I am without one of my medications (except for the fact that the pharmacy helped out) which might cause the pressure to go up just before the extraction!

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  3. A physician's assistant is not the same as an MD specialist. Your care is complex enough that you should be seeing the MD directly and not relying on communication between the assistant and the MD. I think you should make an appointment with the MD, go over your whole care plan, have him or her check the inflammation on your breast, get the mammogram ordered, get your meds straightened out, and so on and on. Get the prescriptions in writing and take that list to your Pharmacy. If your pharmacy can't handle it, find another pharmacy. Get that "I'm fed up" tone in your voice.

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    1. Marylynn, this clinic is all messed up. My former physician was replaced by the P.A. I've been seeing her for my day to day care for the past 7 or 8 months. The only time I saw the MD was when I needed to get the medical clearance (he did check the inflammation). The clinic won't give the prescriptions in writing any more (they used to). I've been wanting to move back to the pharmacy I used to go to, which is near my office, but held off on doing so because I wasn't sure if I'd be needing more cancer treatments, because the current one, which is closer to my home was more convenient when I was undergoing chemo, as my daughter or anyone else could go to pick up my medications for me. Once I have my mammogram done and I know what is going on, then, I will know if I should go ahead and change pharmacies.

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  4. This is what happens when the government, employers and insurance companies get involved in healthcare. They all want the cheapest alternatives and the patient goes without. I have only Medicare, no supplements, and I have a wonderful doctor that sees me when I go in which is very rarely. In 4 years I've only seen the nurse practitioner once and that was because the MD was unavailable. When I needed to see an endocrinologist, I paid out of pocket because he didn't take Medicare and that was fine because he spent an hour with me each visit. The endocrinologists that do take Medicare didn't really know what they were doing, used Physicians assistants and only spent a very short amount of time. I opted for more time and quality.
    I also decided a long time ago that should I develop cancer, I wasn't going to go through chemo or radiation. Maybe surgery--maybe. So that is a big factor in my decision making as well as my age--I'm 74. I focus all of my efforts on taking good care of myself.

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    1. I don't know what is the cause, Marilynn, although I suspect cost cutting is at the heart of it.

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  5. Oh goodness, Bless. I don't think I can add anything to what others have said without repeating. If you didn't have to make sure your blood pressure is OK for the dentist visit, I would have advised that you drive to the clinic and call the pharmacy from the clinic's front desk and watch them communicate in front of you, but since it is necessary that you remain calm for the dentist to be able to do whatever he's going to do... But I'm very annoyed for you. This whole ordeal is so unnecessary. (((HUGS))) Good luck with everything.

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    1. Thank you, Nathalie. I checked my pressure this morning and it was very good! I will take it one thing at a tie. Today was the dentist. I have an appointment with the P.A. next week and enough medications (thanks to the pharmacists) to last me until then. I will ask the PA what exactly is going on - if they are perhaps trying to kill me off or what!

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  6. Bless, in a perfect world, all of us here would be able to line up outside your pharmacy and demand that they get things straight for you. But then in a perfect world there wouldn't be such a muddle anyway. ((((Hugs))))
    As far as fireworks are concerned, I think it is sheer madness to sell them to the public, especially in times of drought. Our local fire chief would love to ban sales and just have officially organized displays for the public, but I guess common sense doesn't come into legislation.

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    1. Thank you for the moral support, Bushlady! I am sure it will all work out OK. This getting sick and needing medical care is not for the faint of heart, that's for sure!

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  7. This all sounds so frustrating. And yes, I can totally see how going in to speak with someone would cause your blood pressure to go up!! I wonder if you can demand a written prescription from the clinic? With this example being a clear case where their system has broken down. Or at least demand a printout of what the clinic is sending to the pharmacy so that you can at least make sure you are comparing apples to apples when you go into the pharmacy. What a mess. :(

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    1. Thanks, Laura. The clinic no longer gives written prescriptions as a policy (maybe to prevent fraud or combat prescription addiction?). But, asking for a copy of what they are sending to the pharmacy might be a good idea, for then, I can say I will be able to verify what the pharmacy is telling me. Thank you for the suggestion.

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  8. I would bring me a great book and PLANT myself at that office until the clinic manager was available! I did just that when my Mama was receiving treatments for cancer. Once they realize you are not leaving, it is amazing how quickly the mgr gets "free" to see you.

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    1. I will be going to see the Physician Assistant on Wednesday and I will complain and ask to see the manager, if they have one. I hate change, but, I might consider changing clinics, too. Need to talk to my insurance about it.

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  9. So sad, they can not get their act together and get your meds filled. Know this is frustrating.[That would make you have high blood pressure, if you didn't already have it..eeeech]
    Hope they get it straightened out this time..

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    1. Thank you, Judy. I guess they really want me to see the doctor before they authorize any medications as I am having the same problem with another one of my meds! Fortunately, I've an appointment for Wednesday, so, hopefully it will all get straightened out then.

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