Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Murphy! Enough!

 

The worst first. There has been accumulating snow since the weekend.  Every morning the handy porch broom and I made short work of clearing the porch, the steps, a path to the street. I even drove out one day.

But this morning was a depressing sight. In addition to boots, I put on a scarf. The overnight snow was too much for the broom, so shovel it was. I finally have found a shovel I can handle. Nice job making a path for Cathy and the mail.

And that's enough of that. People we care about have a far worse situation to handle than this, and I send a lot of sympathy south.

Most everyone knows I use an opiate for pain. Belbuca, lowest dose twice a day. My pain PA says, cheerfully, "It's the one we give addicts to ease withdrawal; it has none".

Last week I had an appointment and the PA called in a new two month script. All was as usual until I called to see if it was ready. I was cutting it close; I would run out by Sunday and it was Friday.

A sweet young thing told me it would be in their delivery Monday, and she would transfer the script to another CVS. I called that store on Saturday and learned Tier 3 (or whatever tier this drug lives in) cannot be transferred.

Adding insult to injury, it was available nowhere. Tier whatever cannot be stocked, only ordered against a prescription. So, I fell back on that splitting dose solution, plus lots of Advil. When next I see her, I will tell the PA of my withdrawal. 

I had adequate doses for once a day, which I took in the morning, but nothing at night. And, I twitched until I could get to sleep. Horrid! As Scarlett said, this will never happen to me again! As soon as I'd moved the snow yesterday, I was off to the drug store.

At the store I waited a long time for the two cars ahead to leave. I have lots of time, generally, so I settled back to wait. Finally, at the window, my card was declined. I offered another, another decline. Said the clerk, "All the cards are being declined. I guess I better quit trying and just call them in!"

And so eventually I left, and the clerk could do as she pleased with the four cars accumulated behind me. 

I do have a life, currently back to normal. I took the Dusty Blue length from the loom and made it into towels.


I began a color called Green Aqua. My daughter, visiting Saturday afternoon, ventured I might make up my own, better name, for a color. My response was I could never keep track that way.

I do like this color. I'm sure I've made it before. And what else? I came in from the snow job this morning, hungry, and made a pan of cornbread for lunch.

Beautiful, isn't it. But I'm thinking cream cheese and jelly sammy for lunch. I earned it. And finally, the latest circle of towels. This one really pleases me. But I'll sell them, nevertheless.





37 comments:

  1. We call your medication Suboxone here, or subox for short. It does indeed have withdrawal symptoms, but is often prescribed to help those addicted to full opiates stay off of them. It has saved many a life. At least in my part of the world, it has given with chronic pain a chance to live more normally, too, yet it is woefully underprescribed. Can you tell I have friends and family who depend on this drug? It is a lifesaver for many. I am sorry you were unable to get your refill on time; very stressful.

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  2. You're having a rough few days! Yes, you DEFINITELY deserve a cream cheese and jelly cornbread sandwich!

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  3. the sun is out today, icicles are melting but still only 25˚ outside. still no water in the little bathroom. we are some of the lucky ones, never lost power or water...so far. Pam says the entire island of Galveston is without power and water. it's a barrier island so they have to get their water piped over from the mainland...all frozen. houses here just aren't built to withstand this kind of cold.

    so ridiculous that opioids can't be stocked but I guess it's to prevent people from breaking into pharmacies and stealing the drugs.

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  4. I am so very sorry to read about the problems you had with your medication. And doctors wonder why we stockpile...
    Love your colourful circle of towels and hope that the snow dissipates - for you and for all those who have been hit by it.

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  5. What a beautiful circle and rose of gorgeous towels! I'm sorry you've had trouble with your script and weather on top of that! It seems like there are just weeks that go like that. We are under a level 3 power emergency warning with intentional "rolling blackouts" in an attempt to not lose all power. Nearly two weeks of sub 0 temps has really stressed the system over 17 different states in our power grid. We just have to grin and bear it and keep hoping for Spring!

    Please be careful and take care. That snow shoveling can cause some big pains! Eat more of that beautiful cornbread! (I love it with honey!)

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  6. That would be terrible on so many levels. The stress of dealing with the situation plus the pain adds insult to injury! I love the towels. Every time I see a color, I think "That's my favorite!" Until the next one. :) Hope you are better today.

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  7. At least your pharmacy didnltg treat you like a drug addict which was what used to happen in France when Leo was prescribed an amphetamine!

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  8. My daughter uses that drug as well. She suffers from fibromyalgia and epilepsy. It's a good choice for her. I know there was a (orchestrated????) shortage earlier in this virus business but I think she is okay now.

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  9. It bothers me that these things are prescribed as not having 'withdrawal'. I can tell you that this is not true.

    In our local paper, just last week, two parents were on the front page for giving their 2 month old baby crushed suboxone. Why? The child was born addicted to it as the mother had used it through her pregnancy. The mother was going to jail for retail theft charges and the baby was cared for by the father. Mind you, all jail phone calls are recorded. Exchange between the two: "Why is the baby screaming?" "I'm out of medication." "Where did it all go? I left you 9 pills." "Well, you've got me hooked on them too, and I'm not feeling so great." "How long has she been screaming?" Father: 'days...' On that phone call, the police were sent to the house, the baby taken to the hospital where she tested positive for suboxone. Dismissing the risks is what led us to the opioid crisis.

    Please understand that there are plenty of people who need these and I understand it, but they are over prescribed. We had an opioid addict in our lives and the chaos of it is sickening. Everyone around him could see that he had a problem. Convincing the medical profession that he did took much much longer

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  10. It's so odd with opiods. One doctor will prescribe twenty for what is not really a major problem while some can't bring themselves to prescribe them for any reason. For those who need them, they should be made available! I am sorry you had to go through that. I know when I broke my ribs my doctor asked me if I thought I needed something stronger than ibuprofen. I had had a terrible night the night before and was in severe pain so I said yes. I think he prescribed seven of them. After I'd taken one a night for three nights, I decided they weren't doing much good and stopped using them. But I was glad that I had that option!
    Your towels are a glorious rainbow!

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  11. The color wheel of towels is very eye-catching. The hassle one can be put through to access pain meds is frustrating.

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  12. Hari OM
    The week can only get better, right? (That was as much to convince myself as you!) Sorry it has been a bummer start. YAM xx

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  13. Oh my! The hassle for the medication is ridiculous.

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  14. There have been a variety of prescription drug shortages lately. Sorry you had to experience that. Chronic pain is not to be trifled with. Take care in that snow, Joanne! -Jenn

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  15. The pharmacy should have no say, their job is to provide the damn medication. Would mail order be easier? Your new towels are beautiful. The corn bread looks delicious. The last time I had cornbread it tasted like cake and not corn bread.

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  16. I like this one too, Joanne, but not the idea of you suffering because you couldn't get your meds. That really sucks-I'm glad you finally got them. I also want to say I love the photo of you in your mask-you look like the spitfire I know you are-it's in the eyes.

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  17. I have never heard of Belbuka, but I know what it's like not to have something when you need it. I get a Rx made up at a pharmacy that is also only used when needed. Haven't needed it in 6 years. Needed it this weekend. What I had left was cloudy. Didn't know if that was a problem. Couldn't get a Rx over the weekend, and couldn't get out to get it anyway with the roads so bad. So I talked to a Pharmacist and used it anyway. It was fine.
    Your cornbread and cream cheese and jelly sandwich sounds like a wonderful lunch!
    And I love the blue towels, but am going to try to resist for now. Do stay home and stay warm. (I don't mind looking like a bag lady if it keeps me warm)

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  18. That yellow towel really stands out in the circle. Good job shovelling the snow, that's one job I'm glad I will never have to do. There needs to be a system where a practitioner sees on her computer that a person is almost out of a certain prescription and sends a message to the pharmacy that it will be needed when that person comes in for it, so that it will be on hand.

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  19. I won't say exactly what I'd like to say about not being able to get your prescription. I have a Walgreen's close enough that I could walk there (at least when it's not burning hot). My doctor once prescribed something for pain--a total of nine pills. The pharmacist at the close Walgreen's wouldn't fill it because it would "interact" with another medication I took. Of course, everything interacts. I went to a Walgreen's a bit farther away, told them what happened, they shook their heads in dismay, and filled the prescription. So much snow for you; so much rain for me. Lake Junebug overfloweth.

    Love,
    Janie

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  20. What a pain (literally!) to have to go through just to keep the pain at bay. I have Fibromyalgia and chronic pain so know what you're going through. Hang tough -- glad you got your meds and that new aqua color is fantastic.

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  21. Sorry about the snow and the prescription problems. No fun at all. Your description of snow is how it was for us 4 years ago when we got 21 inches in a month. It has warmed up so most the snow we got last weekend is almost gone. I love the circle of towels. So lovely.

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  22. I understand about trying to curb the opioid problems and other addictive drugs. I really do. As someone who has been taking barbiturates to help control my seizures for almost 60 years I am certainly aware. It seems to me there is some sort of solution to control that can make it easier for those of us who need them to get our prescriptions and harder for those who abuse them. I am open to ideas.

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  23. I hope you're fine today. All colors are great and you with your creativity can really invent your own names for colors.

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  24. You are certainly having a hassle with drugs and pharmacies. I hope you get it all worked out if you haven't already.

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  25. Outstanding colors. I want to buy some even though I no longer need more towels.

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  26. I am so sorry you have chronic pain. Hope you get the relief you need.
    Your circle of towels is so pretty. Such a beautiful variety of color!

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  27. Dealing with pain and the cold - strong woman, you are. I like the new color.

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  28. The new color is pretty, nice choice. I hate procuring pain meds, they look at you like you're a criminal. After Jim's back surgeries, it was paramount that we have enough. Even the surgeon's office was a pain to deal with. Hopefully we're done with that.

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  29. So sorry about the med problem. I do understand.
    And too, you know I flat out love your towels.

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  30. I don't like the impact of the opioid restrictions falling on people who use them responsibly. It's a hamhanded legal approach. And the inability to transfer them, gah.

    Your latest towels are beautiful. Lovely colors and I know from handling them, a lovely friendly weave pattern.

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  31. I had never heard of a cream cheese and jelly sandwich so I googled it and yes, there is such a thing. ha! I guess I'll have to try it:)

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  32. Oh my heart hurts for you being in pain. I can so relate. No idea what you mean by card rejection.

    Our systems are different of course.

    I hope you're back on track with pain relief.

    XO
    WWW

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  33. Prayers you feel better and never have to be hurt by the bureaucratic regulations nonsense again

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  34. That seems like a lot of unnecessary red tape to get an essential medicine. I was worried about my own medicine for blood pressure, what with all the talk of post-Brexit medicine shortages, but I haven't had any problems.

    We had a bit of snow here a few days ago, but it had all melted by the next morning!

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  35. I take several different prescriptions, asthma inhalers that are expensive, blood pressure med, and some other kinds. Almost every week there is a delay in me being able to pick up whatever the doctor has prescribed for me. Even a problem getting a second treatment package of z pack for cellulitis that didn't heal with the first pack of z pack. The first one I bought was $5 but the second one required a pre authorization from the doctor's office, and when I found that out, the doctor's office was closed. I couldn't just not take the pills so I had to pay $39 out of pocket and can go back later and apply for a refund from the insurance company. That was just stupid. That is not the insurance company's job, in my opinion to decide if the doctor should prescribe something.Several times a month there is now some problem with either the insurance or Walgreens with my meds. I switched walgreens recently and the one I go to now requires that you wait to pick up your refill thirty days from the last time you picked it up. So if I am two days late picking up my medicine than I should have been, when I get it home, I have to write what date I picked it up on the bottle so I don't end up thinking I will be able to pick it up 30 days from when it was filled. I only take these very small tablets once a day. They are small and if one ends up dropping into the recliner, or it drops and can't be found, I am just s**t out of luck for that evenings's tablet. I noticed one commenter mentioned something about stockpiling meds, I wish I could figure out how to do that. I have a stockpile of two tablets on one medicine. and on one of my asthma inhalers, that costs almost as much as our house payment, if the insurance won't pay for it, I had a stockpile of one that was in a lower strength and two years expired (but never opened), but I had to use it, and now I don't have my "stockpile" of one expired inhaler anymore.

    Some weeks I end up spending two hours on the telephone trying to get medicines straightened out with Walgreens and the insurance company. Now I am going to have to start using the insurance mail order for one of my medicines in order to afford it. So that will be another aggravation to keep track of. It seems that nothing can be simple anymore.

    Has anyone checked out Amazon Pharmacy yet? I need to, but keep putting it off.

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