Follow up on pharmacy Ptoblems*#$%@^

[alex44]

I asked this last week, how I could get a diferant brand. I was in town tuesday. and stopped in to ask that they get another brand in for me on the Ms. Contin - Mallencroft (Mallens...). ok, no problem we order one day, get it the next. With an attitude. Thursday is appt. Stop by Pharm. to check on things. Am told Must have Doc write on script Do not fill with Mallencroft. Doc. has NO problem doing this, she tells me a lot of people with severe Artritis can be very sensitive to differant fillers, that and I suspext Mallencroft uses the +/- rule on active ingrediants, as in -20% something, to my surprize, my doc was fully aware of. So, go to pharmacy. Get told the only Pharmacist who can order C-2 meds is off that day. Would have been nice to know this tuesday when I went in. Then, Due to Dr. Error, She wrote my IR as Ms-Contin when she should have written for just Morphine Sulfate. Good thing the S/O caught it as we turned around and got the correct script - I understand they are changing over to a new computer system so I do not blame anyone, but what a nightmare if they had not caught it - I may have been unable to fill my ER script since they had already filled one. There were two pharmacists there. I do not understand this. Is there a special rule I don't know about that only certain types of pharmacists can order C2 scripts? they were not happy about it, I called friday, left my #. Later, i tried again. this time I got through and I actually got a live person who said the Pharmacist had ordered it and it would be here tuesday. Told them I could make it until then,barely, having the IR helps. curiously, my 15 er's were ENDO - maybe next time i just ask my doc to double the number of pills since i take thirty's.
Folks, I feel very mis-treated and jacked around, yet lucky I am able to get pain control. i just don't unerstand how with TWO pharmacistsd there, no one could place the order. Thoughts
Blessings
Alex44

[houghchrst]

What a miserable hassle. I am grateful that my pharmacy knows me so well. I have never had a real problem with them. I am glad you at least had something to tide you over.

[hummer]

This is just a suggestion...I wrote it on someone elses pharmacy problems and then erased it...for the reason I wrote on your lurkers post....

When you go in...to pick up your prescription...pick a bouquet of small flowers...I put them in salt and pepper shakers I get for pennies.....even if you buy a six pack of flowers somewhere for a few dollars and pick all the flowers off...or buy a muffin and put it in a pretty paper bag...anything....not of value...but something...you can give sincerely...the sincerely part is important....

I don't know the frustrations of the pharmacists...but your frustrations are felt by me sitting at my computer....what if these people feel that and when they see you coming...they put up the barriers of their frustration right back at you...it is easier sometimes for people to repell someones frustration....than think they have a part in it....what if you are the 20th person that day that had a problem...and they don't give a sh!t anymore....they are just going to shine everything...because for what ever reason...what ever reason...they can't do anything about it....or don't want to....

There is a Buddhist meditation...Feed the Monster....it isn't about this...but I take an interpretation of it....into the other areas of my life...that are 'monsters'....the pharmacy problems and your frustrations and worries...are a 'monster' or 'demon' in your life...so feed the monster....make the monster happy...It may not work...the first time...but there is something to be said for spreading appreciation....

I take flowers to all my doctors...some places I pay bills...especially when I have the worry that I will be able to pay them...my 'monster'....to my mother's pharmacist....anyone I have worldly dealings with on a regular basis...I 'feed'....sincerely....find some point that makes the gift a truth...and you will be surprised at how you are greeted the next time you have a problem....even if they can't fix it....attitudes are very different....from both sides...when you are sincerely giving...you emit a certain type of energy...that is almost always appreciated...the monsters are certainly taken aback.....

Okay...I'll see if I have the courage to leave this up here...and I don't make you more frustrated....I surely hope not....

Blessings to you Alex.....really BIG HUGE ones.....

[alex44]

Thank You Hummer

For a beutiful thought - I always work on treating people like I wuld be treated in customer service. I ran 3 very successful bussiness's - the Key being excellant customer service. You are a beutiful person, After all these years, I know you have it bad and I am sorry you got dealt such a lousy hand. I hope this finds you well, I have a bit more detail for you in my other post Bless You Always, You are always in my prayers.
Blessings
Alex44

[alex44]

let's see how many views we can get without posts?

Let's go >>>>>>
A.

[tic chick]

dear alex ,

i don't understand why, if a pharmacy has 2 registered pharmacists, that only one can order restricted drugs. any registered pharmacist can order any drug. if you're going to a chain pharmacy, like walgreen's let's say, sometimes they can even have another pharmacy in the same chain fill the prescription if you really need the drugs and the pharmacy you took the prescription to doesn't have it and there is another pharmacy in the same chain in the area.

if you take your prescription to the same pharmacy all the time, you are being treated shabbily. when you pick up your prescription, tell them you take that prescription regularly and would appreciate them having the drug on hand when you bring in your next prescription. tell them if you have to wait more than 2 days to have a script filled for your pain meds, you will go to another pharmacy to fill it. don't give them your script unless they have the medication right then or can get it for you in 2 days. if you can't wait 2 days, go to another pharmacy! most chains have websites and you can look up customer service and write an email to them and tell them of the problems the pharmacy in your area has.

and on another note alex, a lot of people just casually read the forums and don't post because they are not members, they don't have your problem or they are just plain curious. some might click on your post to see if anyone has answered it and it registers as someone looking at your post. most people aren't scared of posting because it might have repercussions for them, they just aren't used to reaching out for support and admitting they have problems also. you have to feel comfortable talking about your feelings in forums like this and a lot of people aren't. don't be frustrated with them, feel sorry for them because they are missing out on a valuable source of support.

and who couldn't use some support every now and then?

jeannie

[alex44]

Jeannie - Thank you for the kind reply. I am in Arizona where we get ACHESS (Medicaid). I can pick-up there, they have an in house pharmacy that I like to use as there is no Co-Pay, when you are getting 4 Prescriptions, and are on SSI, every dollor counts. I did try to work with them, giving notice several days in advance of the doctor's Appt., on the day of the Apointment, and kept getting differant answers. So I was a nervous wreck about turning my prescription over to them that I would be O.K. until Tuesday. I had the dreads all weekend, that they would mess it up. I was pleasently surprized to call today and that my prescription was ready. I can already tell the differance - no stomach upset and a bit faster onset with better relief. I spoke with the staff and they will now try to keep the brand that works for me in stock put to please give them a heads up a few days ahead of time, which I do not feel is unreasonable. As far as me prodding people to post, with all the views, You were the first ntellagent answer I got, although with two pharmacists there,...... I love this board, it has probobly saved me from some bad descisions, and I just want people to participate, so many have so much to offer, espesially to the new people who are experiancing serious, continuous pain all the time. Us okd timers can give a lot, it only takes a second to post.
Again, thank you for your reply and hope to see you around here oten
Blessings
Alex44

[Mark N]

jeannie, nice touch with the flowers and good advice about the pharmacy. You are right about the lurkers that there are many reasons they read and don't post. We talk about very personal things, yes pain is a personal thing, and many after comfortable talking about personal things on the computer. Alex, if we give them time they will become comfortable with this board and reach out to others.

Hummer, what an nice way to deal with others that can face difficult people. I remember the feeling working as a bouncer at a college bar while in school. The first few negative people were easy to deal with but as the evening rolled on it became harder to especially when we got busy and many others were waiting to get in the place. Your example shows that thinking of others helps put them in a better place and as a result puts us in a better light.

Alex, one of the problems we face with pharmacist, or anyone for that matter, is pain comes across on our faces whether we want it to or not. Since I go to the same pharmacist each time and get acquainted with the people I have had them ask me if I was alright on days I was in particular pain even though I tried not to show it. I am not saying you are causing the problem as the pharmacist is clearly making it tough on you but for me I know that despite my efforts to be pleasant some days it just doesn't come through.

[Pharmacist.steve]

I can address the work environment in the typical Rx dept. What you don't see in a lot of the chain stores is the green/yellow/red icons on the pharmacy computer screen... showing the staff if they are "keeping up" with some "time metric" in how many Rxs are being processed per hr or how long between Rxs being processed. If the staff falls far enough behind they are "written up" BY THE COMPUTER... A couple of the chains are promoting a 15 minute wait... 4-5 people walk up at the same time... and you are under the pressure to get them all done within 15 minutes... can you say error waiting to happen? No matter how unreasonable a patient is.. most managers expects their demands to be met and will reprimand Rx dept staff if they are not. I am privy to what other Pharmacists and techs will not say in public... of what goes on in a Rx dept... some days .. it is not a pretty picture... Some chains/district managers/stores managers "beat" on the pharmacy staff so bad and they are so under-staffed.. and that presumes that everyone shows up that is scheduled.... that it hard to even care about what the patient wants/expects. Rx dept are typically less busy after 7PM (M-F) and on Sat and Sun afternoons. Try to find one Pharmacist or tech that you can talk to on a routine basis. A good tech is worth their weight in gold. Try to give them a heads up of what you will need and when you will need it. If they still don't seems to be able to get act together.. it is time to find another store. In regards of communicating with your doc about what you need.. I have found.. that I have better luck if I type up a letter and fax it to the office... that way I don't have to count on the office staff writing down everything that I said (symptoms) or what needs to be refilled... or new Rx that needs to be written. The doc doesn't have to figure out what the staff wrote down... and with a full sheet of paper.. it is harder to get lost than whatever the staff would have put the your message on.. At times, then I need something unusual or complex with the pharmacy.. I will type it out and fax it in to them as well... Try to refill all your Rxs at one time.. Ask your pharmacist how you can get everything synced out... if you can't figure it out easily... try being part of a solution than maybe being seen as part of a problem.

[alex44]

Thank ya'll for tghe constructive reply's.

Pharmacist Steve, I will start with your comments. I go to the same pharmacy as my clinic as most stores do not carry MS-Contin or tell me it will take a while to get. Plus, being on SSI, I do not have a co-pay uf I go to the clinic. I went to the pharmacy, we live 15 miles from town last tuesday, after my previous visit to the doc. when she said that in arthritis patiens (severe in my case) some fillers could upset my stomach as I had asked about this and a differant brand. When I went to the pharmacy, they looked at me like I had two heads, and the Pharmacist said "oh, they are all inert substances. but as I understand it , there are three different ones and did not seem to be bothered. When I went to my appointment, I stopped by and was told the doctor speciffically had to write not to write for Mallencroft - the brand that was giving me trouble. O>K. - fair enough - Doc. had NO problem with this, Incidently , I have been going there a while now. there were two pharmacists there, but I was told niether one could put in the order, they put it in one day, get in the next. I was O.K. with that too., I have a rainey day supply so i figured tuesday would not be a problem. I worried, given their performance all weekend - Fortuneately, they were there and I asked if they could keep some in stock for me, no prob. but want a few days heads up. Sorry this is so long, but just seemed like a lot of hassell, the pharmacist I saw tuesday was off that day, of course, and they were not like what you described, in the chains, they had a very la-de-da attitude - no hurry,etc. That and I could feel the lack of respect because of the dose I am on, like I was a drug seeker. I have very real problems and the records to back them up. I know you and the other people work hard, but when I get the runaround like I did, well, I suffer from many things and this did not make it easier. Thank You P.Steve.

Mark - thank you - I hear you. I know pain is a personal thing and sometimes you just want to climb under the blankets and hide. I was NOT trying to be rude to people, you are right, people will post when they are ready, but it just got to me, all those views, not just my posrts either, I would just like people to log in and say Hi. I did get my script so now things are better - Warning - I don't know if is me, but the endo brand seems to be stroner and no stomach upset.

To the rest of the fine people who replied, I can't remember everything, but it was all positive, and up till yesterday, did NOT know what my Med situation would be. so if I was a litttle off the wall - that is the reason.

I care about these forums a lot, I do appreciate the advice and I have been working on being the solution. Again, Dearest Hummer, thank you for a wonerful suggestion. If I may, What would be something small i can do for the folks at the pharmacy? I don't want to seem to be seen as .you know, but i would like to show my appreciation and I also understand about people being too shy or otherwise to post.
Blessings
Alex44
Blessings
Alex44