Find A Good Pharmacy & Simplify Your Life!

Let’s face it.  Managing RA can be a full-time job.  Anything we can find to help simplify our lives is a huge plus.

Last week I called my new PCP for a script for a blood pressure med that had expired.  She is taking over all the scripts for my bp and pain meds, and that is a blessing.  Having one doctor write those scripts is much more convenient.

I called my pharmacist two days later to make sure the script was ready, and they said they never received the script.  Thinking that perhaps there was a “glitch” in the electronic script system, I called my doctor again.  Once again I asked them to send the script to my pharmacy.

I don’t want to bore you, so just know that this scenario went on for days.  When I called my “old” pharmacist, I explained that this is a bp med, and must be taken every day.  Not once did they offer to call my doctor’s office.  Not once did they offer to give me a few tablets to take until this fiasco was finally sorted out.

Things have changed at my “old” pharmacy.  They have had a lot of turnover. There are new people there, and they are not yet well-trained.

The people who work there seem so tired and so rushed.  It is not a good situation. They used to know me by name.

I was a frequent customer.  They recognized my little Ranger truck when I pulled into their parking lot.  More often than not, my meds were waiting for me on the counter by the time I made my way inside their place of business.

After my last unsuccessful phone encounter with the “old” place, I called a friend to ask what pharmacy she used.  She made a recommendation and gave me their phone number.

I called my doctor’s office once again, and asked them to send the script to the new pharmacy.  The woman who answered my phone call at the doctor’s office was quite pleasant and told me I had made a wise choice.

Apparently, my doctor’s office works closely with this particular pharmacist.  The woman I talked to offered this piece of encouraging information:   If there is ever a problem with a script, the pharmacy I chose calls the doctor’s office for the patient.  How cool is that?!?

I picked up my script for one of my blood pressure meds today from the new pharmacy.  The woman at the counter was well-trained, pleasant, and efficient.  I was so pleased! 

The “new” pharmacy also gave me a form to fill out and return to them.  Once I have that completed and returned to them, they will change my scripts so that I can pick them all up at one time. 

All of my scripts are in the process of being transferred to my new pharmacy as I write this blog.   I will be filling out that form this evening.

I really don’t know why I didn’t transfer to this pharmacy a long time ago.  They are closer to my home, and they are smaller……….both plusses in my book! 

I love the idea of being able to pick up all of my scripts at one time.  I also love the idea of working with people who really know what they are doing.  They are friendly and good at what they do.  I have just simplified my life!

RA & Your Medical Team: Trust Your Instincts!

Well, here we go again!  I saw my rheumy last Friday…almost a week ago.  I left that appointment more confused than when I arrived.

My rheumy has always been open and direct, and very helpful.  Maybe she was having an off day.

Previously she told me that since I am sero-negative, she uses my CRP to gauge my disease activity.  She also told me that my labs are never super high, but they are higher than “normal”.

Previously, my CRP was 7+.  I tried and failed Humira.  I moved on to Orencia, and my CRP was reduced to a .9!  What a fantastic turn around.

I have been in a flare for two months, and quite frankly, I am getting tired of it.  My CRP is a 10 now, and I am concerned that Orencia is losing its effectiveness.

My rheumy asked why I thought Orencia was failing.  I explained that all of my joints are tender, my fatigue has increased and my CRP is 10.

She just brushed all of that off.  Her take is this:  RA flare, Fibro flare, and severe osteoarthritis in my back. 

Her solution:  Cymbalta, which I cannot take because it raises my bp.  Her second solution:  Celebrex.  I explained to her that it raises my bp.  She wasn’t impressed.

Came home, took Celebrex, which helps a whole lot. Tried it for four days, and watched my blood pressure steadily climb to a dangerous level before I called my PCP.

Thank goodness for good PCP’s.  Dr D called me back and said no more NSAIDS.  She had reviewed my chart and saw that I was maxed out on three of the four bp meds I take.

Moral of this story:  If you feel as though your doctor…any doctor…is not taking you seriously, do not just blindly accept his or her proclamations.  If you have a nagging feeling in your tummy about a treatment option you have been offered, trust your instincts.

You may need to get a second opinion.  If you are lucky enough to have a good PCP, as I do now, you can check with him/her. 

I have come to realize that specialists only focus on their specialty. They don’t treat the whole person, as they should.  That attitude is a dangerous one for those of us who have more than one serious medical condition.

My blood pressure was over 100 on the bottom, when I called my PCP.  And that was in spite of taking my prescribed bp meds.  That is a dangerous thing.  Bottom line:  You are the most important person on your medical team.  Never doubt yourself!

Things That Make You Go: Hmmmmmmmmmmm

I saw my rheumy last Friday.  The appointment is a bit of a blur, really.  The brain fog was heavy that day.

I thought for sure Orencia had failed, but she does not agree.  Not yet, anyway.  She told me the CRP test my PCP ran was “high sensitivity”.  She explained that is used by cardiologists to determine heart attack risk.

She further explained that the CRP test she uses to gauge disease activity showed my level to be a 10.  Now, my level has never been above a 7 before, but she didn’t mention that.

She also didn’t mention that my CRP was .9 right after I started Orencia.  It was working so well!

I was a bit confused, so I asked her why all of my joints hurt if Orencia is still working.  Her conclusion:  I am in an RA flare, a Fibro flare, and the degenerative arthritis in my back is causing a lot of pain.

My rheumy does not buy the diagnosis of my orthopedic doc of spondyloarthropathy.  She wants to determine that herself.  All I know is that every vertebra on that x-ray was dotted in bright white.  My ortho says that is inflammation.  My rheumy says it was probably OA. 

Isn’t it wonderful when you get caught in the middle between two doctors?  Not a good place to be.

My rheumy wanted to prescribe Cymbalta, but I explained to her I had tried that in the past and I cannot take it. It raises my blood pressure way too much. 

She also was stressing to me the importance of sleep.  I guess I looked tired.  No kidding!  When a person is in a lot of pain they do look tired, regardless of the amount of sleep they are getting.

I have an appointment with my PCP in three weeks, and I am looking forward to it.  I am going to be completely honest with her.  I am confused, and I need some help sorting this out. 

My back is still very painful and if I “push” it, my legs just stop working.  It is more like a muscle thing than a nerve thing.  My muscles just get sluggish and refuse to go.

I was also stunned at my rheumy’s willingness to write a narcotic pain med script for me.  I didn’t ask. She asked me if I had enough T3.  I am shaking my head here.  Something is up.  Perhaps my PCP will help me figure this all out. Stay tuned!