I hate hannaford pharmacy. I always have. They are rude, they take too long for simple refills, and for some reason they think that even though a doctor gives you a script, they have the authority to say that you can't fill it! The ENT I saw on monday gave me a script of a few days wort of meds to see if they would work for me. Yesterday, I called his office to let him know that they were working and that I would need to refill the script today since I wouldn't see him again until tuesday. He had no problem and I picked it up. My normal pharmacy, which is rite aid doesn't carry this particular med, so reluctantly, I had to go to hannaford. We dropped it off and when I went to pick it up, the woman told me she wasn't going to fill it. Her reasoning is, that per the instructions you take 2 tabs every 4 hours for pain. Her math that means I should be taking 8 tabs at most. But what she didn't take into consideration is that yes, most people take meds over a 12 hour span of time, once in the morning, twice during the day, and once before bed. I on the other hand, only sleep in 2 - 3 hour increments, so I take them EVERY FOUR HOURS in a 24 hour period of time. So that means, I take 12 pills a day, a 24 hour day. 12 x 3 days is 36 pills. I was scripted 40 pills. But she said I should have only taken 24 pills, so I should still have 2 days worth of meds. I felt like I was talking to a wall. I tried to make her understand that a day is 24 hours, and some people don't only take meds from 8am until 8 pm, some people take them EVERY 4 HOURS for the ENTIRE 24 HOUR DAY! I explained that I am also using a solution that is used as a debridement tool, which is painful when something is breaking down any bacterial particles on a growth in your throat. She had no sympathy. This talking to a wall woman stated that she would call my doctors office to make sure that the prescription is valid and that the doctor really thinks it should be filled....Ok, so I handed you a script that is dated for today, filled out and signed by my doctor, but you need to call and make sure he really wanted me to fill it? Riiiight.....I am only to assume that she thinks I either forged the script or stole it.....Which pisses me off ever more! Why because I'm a 20 something year old, with tattoos and red streak in my hair, that means that I have a drug addict and am committing a serious federal crime by stealing a script.....Needless to say, I have not heard from my doctors office or the pharmacy. And this is why I took it to get refilled when I still had a few pills left, because if not, I would have run out and been one hell of a bitch! I just hope when the stupid "i make the rules" pharmacy lady calls my doctor he tells her how retarded she really is. He wouldn't give me a script if I shouldn't have it!
And this is why, I get my prescriptions filled at Rite Aid. They don't think they're god there. And they don't judge someone and assume anything about me, just because of the way I look.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Hurry up & wait....
Just when you think "Finally! Some answers!" Reality somehow creeps back in and BAM, more waiting...So I went to my LEEP procedure to remove the cells from my cervix and uterus...Painful procedure by the way....definitely don't want to do That again! But thankfully the Doctor I was seeing was very personable. She obviously was concerned with the fact that I have absolutely no pain threshold, so I explained to her what was going on with my body and showed her the lovely growth on the back of my throat. I didn't think much about it until the next morning, when the Doctor called me herself! Now, you may know, Doctors never call patients. Ever. They always relay a message thru their secretaries or medical assistance and they call you and usually only explain half of what you needed to know. Anyhoo, She called and said she had been up all night searching online, reading my file and trying to sort all of it out. 3 hours later, she had an appointment scheduled for me with a specialist....the same office that my pcp couldn't get me into for another few weeks...hmmmm...I was so overwhelmed with her kindness and concern, I cried.
In anticipation for the upcoming appointment, I researched all the things I thought he would probably say it was. I assumed he would look in my ear and my throat and know exactly what we were dealing with, set up some tests, and then I'd start treatment....Boy was I wrong. Not only did the specialist spend more time ying to figure out the computer system, he didn't know what the growth was, cultured it yet again (this will be my 4th culture), told me to go home and debris it by using this special nasal spray that it corrosive enough to hopefully strip some of the growth away, and then he would see me back in a week. He assumes that by me "washing the growth away", I should be somewhat better when I see him on tuesday. And if not, then he would have proceed with a surgical debridement.... without knowing exactly what it is yet....3 of the 4 people I have seen so far that have looked at this lovely growth, seem to think the same cancer cells that are invading my cervix & uterus, are also the ones to blame for my throat. He on the other hand, says that I am too young for that to be the case....Too young?!? Babies are born with cancer for christ sake! He then said it could be an infection, now mind you, I've had this since May of 2011 and have been on numerous rounds of steroids, antibiotics, antivirals and anti fungals and nothing as worked, and if it was an infection of some kind, I would think my husband, who I kiss on a regular basis, would have some sort of infection as well....
Oh well. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. The pain of this is getting to be unbearable, so at this point, I just want him to admit me, cut it out and be done. But he says it;s going to be a long and painful process....YIPEE! I've been dealing with it for almost a year, so whats another one, right?!
In anticipation for the upcoming appointment, I researched all the things I thought he would probably say it was. I assumed he would look in my ear and my throat and know exactly what we were dealing with, set up some tests, and then I'd start treatment....Boy was I wrong. Not only did the specialist spend more time ying to figure out the computer system, he didn't know what the growth was, cultured it yet again (this will be my 4th culture), told me to go home and debris it by using this special nasal spray that it corrosive enough to hopefully strip some of the growth away, and then he would see me back in a week. He assumes that by me "washing the growth away", I should be somewhat better when I see him on tuesday. And if not, then he would have proceed with a surgical debridement.... without knowing exactly what it is yet....3 of the 4 people I have seen so far that have looked at this lovely growth, seem to think the same cancer cells that are invading my cervix & uterus, are also the ones to blame for my throat. He on the other hand, says that I am too young for that to be the case....Too young?!? Babies are born with cancer for christ sake! He then said it could be an infection, now mind you, I've had this since May of 2011 and have been on numerous rounds of steroids, antibiotics, antivirals and anti fungals and nothing as worked, and if it was an infection of some kind, I would think my husband, who I kiss on a regular basis, would have some sort of infection as well....
Oh well. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. The pain of this is getting to be unbearable, so at this point, I just want him to admit me, cut it out and be done. But he says it;s going to be a long and painful process....YIPEE! I've been dealing with it for almost a year, so whats another one, right?!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
it's been a while...!
So, regardless of the fact that it's been far too long since i've had time to express the things going on in the crazy world I call my health, here I am!
First of all, growth is still chugging along there in my throat. Went to St. Joes twice, once in december, where they gave me numerous meds and sent me on my way. And again in january, where they had the audacity to diagnose me with a COLD. Seriously, a freaking cold?! Not even once did they actually Look in my throat. I kept opening my mouth, and the doctor would say, "oh it's ok, i believe you." After failed attempts at trying to get a medical professional to take my health seriously, I went back to my PCP.....She stated she had no idea I had a growth on my throat....Even though it's been there since May, and I had seen her at least 6 times for it specifically...But whatever....She decided it was time to send me to a specialist. Finally an ENT! The appointment was scheduled for April 10th. I was a little discouraged, but it's a start.
I should mention that along with the growth I now have lost my sense of hearing in my right ear, and the amount of pain I am in is way beyond what I ever could have imagined it would ever be. I still haven't slept thru the night. It's been almost 5 months since I've slept thru the night! 2 hours is the longest span. So we have, no sleep, pain, hearing loss, 18 lb weight loss (since january), the growth is larger (and brown now) and my hair is falling out in clumps. And, don't know if this is serious or not (sarcasm), but there are times I can't swallow.....
Yesterday, I had my appointment for a LEEP procedure for some cancerous cells on my cervix. This was my second procedure, and i must say, very painful! And scary too! But, a WONDERFUL thing resulted from this meeting. The doctor wanted to see my throat. I showed her and she asked me some simple questions and I thought that was it.....Then today, she called me personally! She said she had been up all night researching, checking my file and wracking her brain. She called numerous specialists and got me an appointment for Monday. Yes, Monday! She was amazed that I am living with this pain and growth and have been since May of last year. And for once, a doctor was concerned about me. She wanted to help me. She went above and beyond and out of her job requirements, and did whatever she had to do for me. A patient she did a routine procedure on. That she met for 20 minutes just yesterday. I admit. I cried. For almost a year I have been begging doctors, calling people, researching, trying to get someone to help me and here she is. She did say she is pretty sure, that it is a cancerous tumor. But at this point, I don't care if it's gangrene. I just want help. I want to have my life back. I want to spend a day pain free. I want to have the energy to go for a bike ride with my daughter. I want to go on adventures with the love of my life. I want to be me again and not ruled by my health. And all because one person took interest. Finally. Regardless of what it is (although, I always kind of assumed it was a cancerous tumor) at least I will have an answer. I can finally get treatment. I can finally be taken seriously.
I can finally start living my life again.
First of all, growth is still chugging along there in my throat. Went to St. Joes twice, once in december, where they gave me numerous meds and sent me on my way. And again in january, where they had the audacity to diagnose me with a COLD. Seriously, a freaking cold?! Not even once did they actually Look in my throat. I kept opening my mouth, and the doctor would say, "oh it's ok, i believe you." After failed attempts at trying to get a medical professional to take my health seriously, I went back to my PCP.....She stated she had no idea I had a growth on my throat....Even though it's been there since May, and I had seen her at least 6 times for it specifically...But whatever....She decided it was time to send me to a specialist. Finally an ENT! The appointment was scheduled for April 10th. I was a little discouraged, but it's a start.
I should mention that along with the growth I now have lost my sense of hearing in my right ear, and the amount of pain I am in is way beyond what I ever could have imagined it would ever be. I still haven't slept thru the night. It's been almost 5 months since I've slept thru the night! 2 hours is the longest span. So we have, no sleep, pain, hearing loss, 18 lb weight loss (since january), the growth is larger (and brown now) and my hair is falling out in clumps. And, don't know if this is serious or not (sarcasm), but there are times I can't swallow.....
Yesterday, I had my appointment for a LEEP procedure for some cancerous cells on my cervix. This was my second procedure, and i must say, very painful! And scary too! But, a WONDERFUL thing resulted from this meeting. The doctor wanted to see my throat. I showed her and she asked me some simple questions and I thought that was it.....Then today, she called me personally! She said she had been up all night researching, checking my file and wracking her brain. She called numerous specialists and got me an appointment for Monday. Yes, Monday! She was amazed that I am living with this pain and growth and have been since May of last year. And for once, a doctor was concerned about me. She wanted to help me. She went above and beyond and out of her job requirements, and did whatever she had to do for me. A patient she did a routine procedure on. That she met for 20 minutes just yesterday. I admit. I cried. For almost a year I have been begging doctors, calling people, researching, trying to get someone to help me and here she is. She did say she is pretty sure, that it is a cancerous tumor. But at this point, I don't care if it's gangrene. I just want help. I want to have my life back. I want to spend a day pain free. I want to have the energy to go for a bike ride with my daughter. I want to go on adventures with the love of my life. I want to be me again and not ruled by my health. And all because one person took interest. Finally. Regardless of what it is (although, I always kind of assumed it was a cancerous tumor) at least I will have an answer. I can finally get treatment. I can finally be taken seriously.
I can finally start living my life again.
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