OCD Pays Off Part 2

So pretty much everyone I talked to reacted the same as you guys in the comments.  I called my doctor's office, because of the pain medications they don't want you bouncing around pharmacies, to let them know I would be changing to a different pharmacy.  When I explained to the first person on the phone, she gasped really loud and told me to hold on.  I got the feeling they started passing my call to other people in the office to freak them out.  The doctor passed along a message that no way in hell should I go back there, and the nurse said if it was her she would put up a big stink.

We bypassed the store level, because the first person Bud talked to was the manager, so it seemed a bit pointless to complain to her.  Also, not only did she screw up, the other pharmacist was also very Wahteva about the whole thing, so it seems as if much of the staff there is a bit indifferent.  I filed a complaint on the store website, and ..... crickets chirped.  Finally, three weeks later the district manager called and left a message, I called back and he was out.  I gave them the best times to reach me, and every time he called it was never when I was home.  I would say call after 3 and he would call at 9 am.  We did that for two weeks, and he just stopped trying to reach me.  But I am sure he was able to write in his report that he tried to contact me.

I also found the state agency that oversees the pharmacies, and filed a complaint with them.  I was afraid that was a bit of overkill.  I had to write a long statement, and actually mail it, with a stamp!    I got a call from a guy there to tell me that he would talk to me in length the next week, but just wanted me to know that I was going to be addressed, and set up a time to talk with me.  I thought that was nice, also he had given me his cell number, so when I called, he answered not a receptionist ( one less person to talk to on the phone WIN). 

So the next week he called, and asked me to talk him through the whole thing.  I had taken pictures of the two different pills with the prescription bottle in the picture as well.  He said that was really helpful, as Swistle said, he was able to determine from that who filled the prescription, who was suppose to  check it and so on.  He said he was very impressed with my organization, and attention to detail.  I am a super dork, so that made me happy.  Anyway, he will finish his investigation and then take it to the pharmacy board later this month.  He said he would call me to let me know what happens, which could range from a letter in a file, to fines, suspensions and revocations of licenses.  He was most disturbed that we had brought it back and were told it was fine.

He asked me what did I want for an outcome, and I told him I didn't want to hear in the news about someone dying because of them.  (A few weeks later there was a mix up at the same chain in a different state with a 2 year olds medicine)  He told me his job is not just disciplinary action, but to find out why the mistake happened and rectify the situation so it doesn't happen again.  I will say, he was very nice, informative, and reassuring.  I am sure the local news would be shocked that a state employee was helpful and nice.

Of course, two weeks after this happened all the kids got sick.  We had to fill 7 or 8 prescriptions for them in the next 8 weeks.  We changed to a pharmacy in the grocery store, which is nice, because you always need something at the store.  Also the people there are so nice, they remember our names!  They asked why we switched and I told them the story.  When I had spoken with my doctor's office, everyone was appalled that there were two different pills in the same bottle.  Well, the new pharmacist explained, if they have to fill a prescription with two different manufacturer's pills, they have to be in different bottles and the pharmacist has to speak to the customer, apparently it is a law.

So, as Ma Ingalls would say "all's well that ends well".

OCD Pays Off, Eventually, Sort of... Part 1

As I have mention many time I have neck and back issues.  I had injections last year, but still use muscle relaxants, arthritis medication daily and pain meds occasionally.  We were filling our prescriptions across the street at the large national chain we will call WalBlue. 

So Bud went and picked up my refills that I had called in, when he got home I opened the muscle relaxant immediately, and noticed that the pills were not the same as usual. They looked similar, so I dumped out the bottle and realized there were two types of pills in the bottle, one that was what I was familiar with, and one that was a bit larger and had different markings.  So like any reasonable person, I consulted google.  And google told me it was a diabetes medication, not a muscle relaxant.  Bud immediately went back to the pharmacist and showed her the problem.  She poked around on the computer, looked in a few bottles, and on a few shelves then told Bud it was a new generic that they were changing to.   I kept feeling skeptical, but if it is new, maybe it just isn't online yet?  I mean who do you trust, the pharmacist who went to school forever or a website possibly updated by crazy Uncle Joe?

At first I avoided the new pills, but my insurance won't pay for more until a month has gone by, and more than half are the new pills.  So I finally took a few, I can take up to 4 a day, but usually just take 2.  Then I came down with a bug, of the intestinal sort.  I don't have the kind of job where I can just run to the bathroom whenever I want.  I was also woozy, light-headed and nauseous and shaky.  I eventually set up lessons for a sub, figuring I caught a bug from my students.

Anyway, this went on for a few days, I was ready to take a sick day when WalBlue calls and asks us to bring in the bottle of medication.   They wanted to replace it with all the same pill.  Bud kept asking if they gave me the wrong meds and they just said it was the wrong dosage.  We took it back (first I took pictures and kept a few of the wrong pill) and got the prescription fixed.  Bud spoke to a different pharmacist, explained the situation and she responded with "these things happen all the time, we are doing our best".  (and there is only one dosage for my prescription and one generic, there is no new generic)

So to me, yes mistakes happen HOWEVER

1) we noticed and brought it back ASAP, and the pharmacy manager didn't know it was wrong.
2) giving the wrong meds could cause a reaction with the other crap I am taking.
3)  the diabetes stuff was extended release 1 every 24 hours I was taking 2 each day and by doctors directions could have been quadrupling the dosage.
4)  My dad has bad eyesight and would never have noticed the difference.  My mom may have noticed but would have assumed everything was fine.  How many people don't match the description on the bottle with the pill in the bottle.  I am super obsessive about that, drug interactions scare the bejesus out of me.

Oh, and the side effects of the wrong medicine they gave me?  Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, light-headedness I wasn't sick, I was having side effects of a medicine I shouldn't have been taking.  As soon as I stopped taking it I felt better. 

So how do you proceed from here?  Do we let it go?

To be continued...

So I am paying you to insult me?

I had an appointment today with my pain doctor for my neck.  I like him and feel he listens and blah blah.  However, he is super chatty, he will talk your ear off.  So today he started talking about the education system and how messed up it is and what should be done.  Which, he knows I am a teacher, and proceeds to tell me that once teachers have tenure, they don't feel the need to work anymore.  Ummmmm, so you're telling me I don't do anything anymore?  That seems like a poor choice.  I have been teaching for 13 years and bust my butt, as do 99% of the teachers I know.  I am the first to admit there are some crappy teachers, and a few changes should be made but telling a patient that they are bad because they have been at the job too long?

I felt like I couldn't really get to upset because he will be giving me neck injections at some point.  And quite honestly, I don't feel like having to defend my profession everywhere I go.  I don't to his office and tell him what is wrong with health care.  These would have been better topics:

My neck and current pain levels
Plans to treat above
Weather
Local sports team
New movie releases
What I am eating for dinner
When was the last time I scrubbed the toilets at home


I don't truly think he meant to offend, and he seems like a nice guy, just maybe politics should not be discussed with clients or patients.

Really?!?

Since the end of March, Maddie has had two ear infections, strep, and now scarlet fever*.  Ellie has also had two ear infections, some other viral thing, Owen had some sort of virus with a fever and red eyes. 

Honestly, I can't take it anymore.  At one point Maddie's fever went up to 105, I felt like I was running around the house with one of those thought bubbles that said " oh shit, do we go to the ER?" going around in my head.  I could hear of speak to anyone I was freaking out so much.  We did not go, we were able to get the fever down with Tylenol.  She had missed her last dose, because, ironically (I think this is actual irony, feel free to correct me) we were at the doctors office because she was sick.  Oh universe, you are so funny.   



*Scarlet fever is strep but with a rash... who knew?

Well....

What an awfully long pause.  No point doing the whole "why I haven't posted in decade" thing.  Everyone one knows, everyone is busy.  I have been reading and commenting when I can think of any think to say. 

Like everyone else, we have suffered with the unholy plague of 2011.  We have been to the new pharmacy* 3 frillion times in the last 6 weeks.  On the first saturday of spring break Maddie woke up with blood shot eyes.  We figured pink-eye and took her and Ellie to the doctor ASAP.  She had been coughing for a week or so, and had a low grade fever.  It was not pink eye, she had coughed so hard she had broken blood vessels in her EYES.  That was disturbing.  Both also had ear infections and some giant tonsils.

Owen is currently on his second day home, with a fever.  Usually my kids are pretty healthy. [Which I am totally taking credit for, when they are 60 with a heart like a 20 year old I will say "It's because I nursed you for a year damn it.  Be grateful.]  So this 6 weeks or so of crap is killing us, and using up tons of sick days.  On a better note only 7 more weeks until summer vacation.


* Story for another day this week.

Sick Day!

Ellie has been sick with a fever for the last two days, so I am home with her today.

First a visual aid:


Saddest baby evah!

4:15 am -4:30am Neighbor's barking dog wakes me up.

5:20         Ellie wakes up, luckily I am still awake from the dog.

7:00         Bud leaves with the kids

7:02         Ellie hits her head  on the counter and cries

7:03         Yo Gabba Gabba  (apparently you shouldn't hit your friends, are they advocating hitting                 non-  f riends?  must check into this)

7:10          Ellie hits her head on the table and cries

9:00          Ellie falls asleep on me and I realize I have not yet eaten.

9:30         Try laying Ellie on couch, she starts screaming before her eyes open

10:30       Find poop on my sweatpants.  99% sure it is Ellie's, wash laundry

12:00       Lay her down for nap.  Eat lunch of tater tots (dipped in butter, they are potatoes, don't judge)

12:11      Yay Ellie's awake

12:15      Ellie hits her head on the fridge and cries.  It her head bigger than it was yesterday?  What is the problem?

And the rest of the day was a blur of over tired toddler smacking her head into every object in our house, wiping snot on me, and me trying to cook dinner.

However, she did give me a kiss completely on her own.  And she got a diaper and layed down on the floor and said "poooop".  Clearly she is a genius, at least before she whacked her head 75 more times.

You only think they aren't listening

Owen brought a ton of stuff home in his backpack this week, we found this amongst the pile.  

Easier to read if you double click

double click to gahhh you already know

Obviously I need to stop using that as a threat.  I can't imagine the look on his teacher's face.  This one is a keeper.  I can't tell you how many times we have read this and laughed our asses off.  Which is good considering the amount of caramel corn I am eating.