(no subject)

[jianantonic]

I am so not a fan of the health care system in America.  My anti-depressant prescription is about to run out, and I need to get it refilled.  But I don't exactly have a doctor in Montana.  So I called my regular doctor in Charlottesville and asked them to call in a refill.  I take 40mg of Prozac.  This is the lowest clinical dose of a very safe medicine.  But the nurse I talked to was all "we can't refill it without you coming in to see her."  Okay, but I've seen her three times in the last three months.  I intend to take this medicine for the rest of my life.  Can you really only write a prescription for one month at a time?  I can't afford to pay for a doctor visit every month on top of the therapy I already pay out of pocket for because my insurance sucks.  Can't we do a six month prescription?  Or at least a monthly one that allows me to refill it a few times?  

Sigh.  So I explained my situation to the nurse.  I had intended to be in Charlottesville later this month, but had a job thing come up (my interviews), so i have to stay in Portland, but right now I'm in Montana and it's pretty important to me that I keep taking this very safe medication which can only be unsafe for me if I stop taking it.  I was polite and respectful, and she was totally pissy with me.  Then she agreed to call it into a pharmacy here, but then said to me that there's some statewide problem going on right now in Virginia where no Virginia phone can make long distance calls, so they can't call in my prescription today.  Funny, because my cell phone is a Virginia phone, and it's making calls just fine.  BUT ANYWAY.  I asked her to please call me if they can't get the prescription in, because I'll only be in Butte for one day.  She was just a real bitch about the whole situation and it just made me sad.  I've been a patient there since I was 13.  I still see the same doctor regularly even though I live 3000 miles away.  Why you gotta be so mean to me, lady?  

Anyway, Z and I are off to explore more of Montana, and I'm pretty psyched about that.  I went crazy and bought bazillions of postcards because everything is so pretty out here, so I'd love to share those...anyone else want one?
 

Comments

[kixeldorado.livejournal.com]

It was something with the Century link landlines/internet.

That's still no excuse for her being a bitch.

I want a postcard!!

[dredog03.livejournal.com]

But rules are rules. Why should they feel obligated to make exceptions for you?
I wouldn't mind a postcard.

[jianantonic.livejournal.com]

Well, there's no rule against prescribing more than one month at a time. The first time they gave me the prescription, it was for 3 months. Now they only do a month at a time, but I don't know why. It would be totally understandable if this was a hard and fast rule, then she could say "I'm sorry, we can't do that," and I'd deal (by calling one of my friends who is a doc and getting them to call in a prescription for me, I guess). But she totally can do it, and was even willing to (because she did), she just gave me a ton of huffy 'tude first. Fuck that bitch.

[pinkhorizons.livejournal.com]

That's so frustrating. I hate prescription drugs, or at least what a hassle it is to get them. Maybe it's ok if you stay in one place for a long time and can schedule (and pay for) these regular maintenance appointments... but then there are the rest of us, people who move around all the time. Another friend of mine couldn't get a prescription transferred across state lines (I think that is uncommon, but you don't know you're in a crazy state until you get there). Right now I'm trying to get my BC refilled... you'd think they'd want to make this easy and cheap! I mean, I get that there are people who make up ailments to get pain pills, but prozac? birth control? I don't think you can get high on those ;)

Also, I want postcards in my new mailbox! I'll message you my new address.