SCORING DRUGS IS NOT EASY

Okay, one more rant before I begin to calm down, relax, listen to my guided imagery CD & generally prepare myself for successful surgery. But first, I have to say that our medical system is genuinely fucked up (sorry, but my soapbox rants usually include a few swear words!)

I spent the past four days at four different pharmacies attempting to fill my prescription for Vicodin from my surgeon in Fremont. They told me to fill it prior to my surgery so I would have the pain medication at my disposal. My prescriptions are normally filled through mail order but I have a local CVS on file for one time things. I headed to CVS on Monday with my prescription in hand. Interestingly, I found out that CVS doesn't take my insurance, Medicare & Tricare for Life (the military retirees insurance). Fine. Guess that's good to know.

I went to Walgreens & was assured they take the insurance & can fill it with doctor approval. Apparently, since doctors give this stuff out like candy for any ache or pain, there are now new regulations limiting the dispensing of Vicodin. They would contact the doctor & I should come back the following day. I did & it wasn't ready. The doctor hadn't gotten back to them. Hmmm, every time I call the office they return my call within a couple hours. This was now Tuesday.

On Wednesday morning, I got smart & called using their automated phone system to check if my drugs were ready. Can anyone talk to those recordings in the same voice that you talk to a real person? I sure can't. Anyway, still not ready....waiting for the doctor. I pushed the number to talk to a real person. I read them the riot act & told them that if it wasn't ready the next day, this morning, I was coming down to get my prescription & go elsewhere.

To cover my ass, I called RiteAid to make sure they took my insurance & would fill the prescription if needed. Sure enough, the same run around this morning from Walgreen's, now Thursday! I told Lou I was going down to yell at Walgreen's & get this shit done. Enough already! My surgery is now only five days away & call me crazy but I definitely want some pain medication available.

The woman at RiteAid was wonderful after hearing my sob story. She said we can certainly do it but will have to call the doctor. I said, "Call them." I had called them yesterday & they had no record of anyone asking about approval but were happy to help. Two minutes later, she comes out from the back with an I'm sorry look on her face. She says, "I really wanted to help you but we can't fill a narcotic prescription outside of Placer or Sacramento counties." I muttered "Thanks," but didn't really mean it.

Back home I started calling pharmacies. Eventually a really nice man named Daniel at WalMart helped me with good information. He said technically a pharmacy can't refuse to fill a prescription outside of the area. They could do it with doctor approval BUT he didn't have enough of the correct dose to fill my prescription. I genuinely thanked Daniel for his help.

Finally, on the third WalMart I called, they said they had enough medication, would take my insurance & if the doctor approved it they could do it. Off I went again. Ultimately, they did fill the prescription but only for 70 pills instead of 100 for some reason or other. By then, I really didn't care what bullshit regulations they were spouting. THEN they had to call the doctor to make sure they could fill the prescription for LESS than the prescribed amount. The doctor said, "If she is okay with it, we are okay with it." I said, "I'm okay with it, please fill it."

So, I am now the proud owner of 70 generic Vicodin pills & it only took four days of my time! Twenty-five years ago I took one when I had a breast biopsy & it knocked me on my ass. This same medication made my sister throw up & had my son feeling like he was high on drugs so I don't even know if I'll be able to take it.

BUT there is some possible good news. My son thinks there is a street value of probably $3 to $4 per pill if I want to sell them. Well, guess what? Those 70 pills cost me $3.04......sooooo, I could make a cool profit of $250. Don't panic, that was obviously said tongue in cheek.......I think.