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Another dumb pharmacy trip

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 3:32 am
by leggo_my_legs
I went to Costco today to pick up my opioid rx. [You may recall last time I went to Costco pharmacy I ended up in tears because they had to call my doctor and my doctor wasn't in...it was eventually solved.]

Anyway, today I was turned away. The lady said I picked up the last rx on August 7 (wrong! it was on July 27, it's on the bottle which, sadly was at home) so I'm not due until Nov 7, and, well, bye. See you on Nov 7.

So now I have to make yet another trip to Costco, but I have to wait until Tuesday because they only fill controlled rx's **2 days** before you're out, and that would be the correct date.

First of all, why can't they keep their records of their attempts to mircomanage my life accurate? Second of all, why can't they advise patients who are picking up their first opioid rx that if they have to have another, they won't fill it until 2 days before it's due.

It's particularly annoying in regards to Costco, because it takes like an hour (exaggerating, but that's how it feels) to get from the parking lot to the pharmacy counter. At least I got two organic free range whole chickens for the price of one elsewhere, but it was still a major pain. Grrr.

Re: Another dumb pharmacy trip

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 5:02 pm
by Polar Bear
This sort of thing shouldn't need to happen.
It was a mess up last time on July 27, then because their records are inaccurate this time has also been compromised and you have to wait longer that it should be.
This of course messes with our emotions. Even when this current prescription is fulfilled, we then start to lose confidence in the system and wonder will the next prescription be fulfilled without issue.

I also suffer from inefficiency within the admin of my GP practice and often am left to sort their inadequacies.
At present before leaving home I ring the Practice to confirm the prescription is available for pick up, ask them to confirm that each item ordered has indeed been prescribed, and also to confirm that each prescription has been signed.

Re: Another dumb pharmacy trip

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 8:18 pm
by ViewsAskew
All pharmacies do this - not trying to minimize what you went through! It takes such a psychic toll to be on this rollercoaster, doesn't it?

I have stories CVS and Walgreens that would curl your toes, including the time Walgreens made ME prove that opioids are used to treat RLS. With studies. Thanks to this site and Dr. B, I had them, but seriously?????? In the meantime, I had to wait until they read them and felt it appropriate to fill my script.

Re: Another dumb pharmacy trip

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 8:36 pm
by leggo_my_legs
Betty, your way of triple checking is a good idea. I've done similar in the past and have relaxed a bit about it recently--wrong choice apparently.

Ann, that's freaking ridiculous about the studies! Wow. I pay out of pocket for my opioid because my insurance won't let me fill 90 days at a time without some bureaucratic preapproval process. It's cheap enough at Costco that I can do that.

When you got your rx from dr b, did you fill it in southern CA or when you went home???

I know Costco is going to fax any and all doctors they have on file for me when I show up with another rx from a different doctor. Eventually someone is going to write something in my medical file. I am going to have to write an addendum/rebuttal which I believe we have the right to do under HIPAA.

And yes, it is quite the rollercoaster. Worst thing is ypu cant get mad, you've got to dumb it down in the moment lest you get yourself into an even deeper mire.

It really is time for a Saturday Night Live skit with a legitimate pain patient trying to pick up an rx, and a pharmacy going rogue.

Re: Another dumb pharmacy trip

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 8:38 pm
by leggo_my_legs
I think the next time the pharmacy says something dumb to me, I'm going to preface my reply sweetly with, "Thanks for sharing that..." :lol:

One of the things my current sleep doctor said to me this past visit was, 'There's nothing more I can do for you without getting you hooked on opioids and I refuse to do that.'

Um, by "hooked" on opioids, do you mean physiologically dependent? Because there's a bit of a difference in the connotations there. If my choice is being physiologically dependent on taking an opioid daily vs not ever feeling rested and having for sh*t quality of life, that's not a difficult choice at all. Why doesn't anyone ever speak of the diabetic being "hooked" on insulin? Not withdrawals, true, but certainly adverse effects for not taking their insulin. Can you imagine the cancer patient being said to be "hooked" on chemo? Or the thyroid patient being "hooked" on synthroid? It's ridiculous when you substitute another illness with a medication that is socially acceptable.

I know I spend a lot of time talking about this subject on here. It's just so frustrating. And then you get it from family and friends sometimes too. I know some have said they don't tell anyone they're on opioids. I'm leaning more and more towards that.

Re: Another dumb pharmacy trip

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 9:03 pm
by leggo_my_legs
ViewsAskew wrote:I have stories CVS and Walgreens that would curl your toes, including the time Walgreens made ME prove that opioids are used to treat RLS. With studies. Thanks to this site and Dr. B, I had them, but seriously?????? In the meantime, I had to wait until they read them and felt it appropriate to fill my script.


Ann, how long did it take them to read the studies? Was it corporate, or the local pharmacy? Awful! :twisted:

I really do think pain patient groups should start to sue, if they haven't already. The percentage of people who actually truly do become truly addicted to pain medication is so low! I'd have to look it up again, but I seem to remember it's like 1% or something.

My doctor said she is always getting faxes from the pharmacy at least daily asking her to justify why a patient is still on opioids.

Although I don't appreciate her speeches on the subject, I am beginning to at least appreciate the part she was willing to do for me, because if what she goes through is anything like what I go through, I can kind of understand not wanting to prescribe. (However, I don't appreciate what I see as her ignorance or judgment re: considering those taking daily meds as being "hooked.")

I think the AMA should actually be standing up to these regulations too. As doctors, they are supposed to not be doing harm. Refusing a legitimate pain patient appropriate medication is doing harm to that person.

As someone who works in the health field, I do not believe that I would let some regulations that resulted in harassment and extra work for me stand in the way of an appropriate intervention for my clients. That is just wrong. As a healthcare provider, it is always your responsibility to do what's right for your patient.

Re: Another dumb pharmacy trip

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 10:07 pm
by ViewsAskew
One of the RLS specialists - Dr Becker, IIRC - once told us at an RLS conference that it was about 7% that get addicted and that this was controlling the other 93%'s access.

The pharmacist - local - called my local doc. She was prescribing while working with Dr. B, so she was NOT at all invested. Instead of calling him or looking it up, she told her staff to tell ME to do it. I found the stuff quickly - I already had some of it - and Dr. B responded that same night, thankfully. I think I received it in about 5 days from the original phone call.

That is tame to what happened next with the effing doctor. It is on here somewhere - from about 2007 or 2008. Ultimately, she fired me as a patient and I had to find a flight in something like 7 days to get to LA to see Dr. B. She actually brought a nurse in to document her conversation with me. It was hell.

And, YES - the AMA SHOULD be standing up to it. You know, there is a middle ground, for heaven's sake! Why does it have to be no questions asked on one end and never, nope, not gonna give it to you on the other?????

Re: Another dumb pharmacy trip

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 4:57 am
by leggo_my_legs
ViewsAskew wrote:One of the RLS specialists - Dr Becker, IIRC - once told us at an RLS conference that it was about 7% that get addicted and that this was controlling the other 93%'s access.

That is tame to what happened next with the effing doctor. It is on here somewhere - from about 2007 or 2008. Ultimately, she fired me as a patient and I had to find a flight in something like 7 days to get to LA to see Dr. B. She actually brought a nurse in to document her conversation with me. It was hell.


Yeah and the 93% don't get it while the 7% still get it anyway! I still think 7% sounds high.

Doctor experience sounds horrendous!!! OMG. So sorry you went through that!!! Any key words I could search on? I want to read it.

Re: Another dumb pharmacy trip

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 5:02 am
by leggo_my_legs
So wait, you gave the pharmacy the research and then your doctor who was prescribing the medication for you fired you?! Bizarre. And awful.

Re: Another dumb pharmacy trip

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 6:57 am
by ViewsAskew
leggo_my_legs wrote:So wait, you gave the pharmacy the research and then your doctor who was prescribing the medication for you fired you?! Bizarre. And awful.


Yup. She was the second doc to fire me and the third who refused to deal with opioids.

Re: Another dumb pharmacy trip

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 2:39 am
by leggo_my_legs
That's awful, Ann. No words. :(

Re: Another dumb pharmacy trip

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 8:06 am
by ViewsAskew
I found the links to them yesterday....but where did I put them???? Huh. Well, so much for that, lol!

OK, let us try again, lol.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8171&p=64650&hilit=fired#p64650

And,
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7142&hilit=conference

Happy reading.

Re: Another dumb pharmacy trip

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 5:49 pm
by leggo_my_legs
I will read it thanks!

Well crap I learned that the pharmacy was right! They go by the pick up date not the dispensed date. So in fact, I ran out of my med 7 days early. I did take 2 of them several times when I was desperate, when I am only supposed to take 1. Then, at other times, I only take 1/2. wasn't taking them to get high. But still this is upsetting to me and worrisome.

The pharmacist was condescending and told me, "I told you that last time." I felt like she thinks I'm an addict which was very upsetting to me yet again. I don't want to go to this pharmacy again but I guess they all have attitudes.

If I present an rx from an out of area MD is she going to turn me in to the DEA? I am scared. I hate being treated like this.

Re: Another dumb pharmacy trip

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2017 8:13 pm
by leggo_my_legs
Ann...omg I read through the first link so far. Thank you for finding that for me. You were so professional in doing all tbat research...it was horrible reading it knowing what was about to happen to you! Like a bad movie! What a nightmare. This is all so unfair.

Re: Another dumb pharmacy trip

Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2017 10:52 pm
by ViewsAskew
leggo_my_legs wrote:Ann...omg I read through the first link so far. Thank you for finding that for me. You were so professional in doing all tbat research...it was horrible reading it knowing what was about to happen to you! Like a bad movie! What a nightmare. This is all so unfair.


All this happens to all of us and it just sucks. Wish I knew a way to stop it. I would give a lot to never hear such a story from one of our members again.