Cancer Support
Related: About this forumJust venting
My husband is getting a pain patch, has been getting it for months. It is a 'controlled substance' so I have to pick up a new prescription at the drs. office every 30 days. I have ot go to the drug store and hand deliver the prescription. I had decided to go to a chain drug store to avoid supply problems. SInce April, I have had to go to the drugstore up to 3 times to get this prescription filled. I learned you can't get it filled early, and I learned that just because you are going to refill every 30 days, doesn't mean the drugstore is going to have it there. I had been calling the last few times, but this time, my husband was wearing his last patch and was due to get a fresh one the next day. We came right from the dr. to the drugstore. They only had 1 of 2 boxes and said I should come back Friday. I went in after noon Friday, and their order wasn't in. One special trip. I finally finished getting the prescription ordered filled today. I told the clerk I am going to try at my regular pharmacy. I told her I thought getting the pain medicine filled at a bigger pharmacy (Rite Aid) would help me avoid supply problems and I told her I've had to come 2 or 3 times more than once. All she could do was apologize, said they can't order this ahead 5 days like they do other things. I said, "I'm in here every 30 days for this. I shouldn't have to make 3 trips."
I don't shop at Walmart, so I won't go there. I'm hoping my regular pharmacy can offer a better supply chain.
It is so frustrating to have someone so sick, and on a tight schedule for medicine and other care, and have to have this kind of hassle on top of the rest. I have to drive 5 miles one way in heavy traffic and then back. Thank you for letting me vent.
On the upside, my husband is finishing his chemo next week. Yay!
PennyK
(2,314 posts)I've had similar issues with my insurance. I was taking a blood thinner that was an injectible, and the rule with my company was that I could ask for the next month's supply when 75% of the month was up, and actually receive it when 80% was up. This WAS at Walmart (I go there because their prices seem to be the lowest, and I'm talking $75 less than my nearby Walgreens). And it's twenty miles away, but at least it's near a mall and I can sneak in a little shopping).
I would ask to speak to a manager and explain your situation. I know there are stricter rules about controlled substances, but not even being able to order it for the store, when they see that you come in for it on a regular basis, seems nutso.
Hurray for the end of chemo! I hope he feels better fast!
Marthe48
(19,582 posts)If I talk to our kids and friends, I want to focus on my husband, not on the little annoyances. So I appreciate you took the time to comment Best of luck for you and yours!
Solly Mack
(93,312 posts)They do make it a chore to get much needed pain management. It is beyond frustrating.
Marthe48
(19,582 posts)The side effects are hanging on to the end. We are hoping that by this time next week, if he doesn't feel like doing handstands, he at least feels like clicking his heels
PennyK
(2,314 posts)I had six chemos, three weeks apart, and I finished three months ago. I still have junked-up taste buds, and the fingernails still look weird. On the other hand, my head has sprouted a new crop of hair...ohhh how I look forward to going out bareheaded -- but my ears look humungous LOL.
I may be in the same boat as your husband soon...I'm now doing Herceptin, one of the chemo drugs, and I have to have it every three weeks for six more months. The first time caused me to have major joint pain/weakness in my hip, and I plan to ask for pain pills for that. My oncologist is a sweetie, and I'm sure it won't be a problem, but of course he never mentioned something like this could happen. I'm walking like an old lady now, and I hate it!
Marthe48
(19,582 posts)He was so sick from the chemo in June, he got a week off all 3 meds. He started feeling better within days. But all of the doctors and nurses are telling us not to expect immediate improvement. He has esophageal cancer and has been on a j-peg feeding tube since April. He drinks water and he says even that tastes horrible. I've resorted to Figi water, and he doesn't complain. He got the fingernail problem recently. I've had him apply a little vaseline or baby oil to each nail and gently rub it as long as he wants to. It helps a little bit, such as, they haven't gotten worse. His hemoglobin is so low that he's been on Procrit, so his bones hurt. He's also taking another pill for break through pain and up until recently, he hasn't had much pain. I hope that your doctor gives you something that keeps you pain-free.
He's been on 5 FU continuously and had cisplatin and epirubicin every 21 days since April. The last CT scan shows his liver and lymph nodes are clear, but it is hard to say if he's feeling better than he was before he went on chemo, even if some of the cancer is gone.
I wish you the best of luck. You sound very positive and I love to hear that
sinkingfeeling
(53,399 posts)it takes a lot less hassle to get prescriptions for cancer drugs. Don't know about pain meds.
Marthe48
(19,582 posts)from the hospital, which the cancer center is linked to. But I will ask. Thanks!
dixiegrrrrl
(60,011 posts)WalGreens bought out Rite Aid a couple months ago.
That may be part of the problem.