I got an apology from my doctors office today. It summed up several calls I have been working on all week because I am out of Eliquis right now as of 4 PM on Friday.
I ordered a refill the week before last because I didn’t have enough for this week. I refill my pill sorters on Saturday night and always order whatever I need either Sunday or Monday. I had enough to get through this morning so I didn’t plan to start bothering anybody until Monday.
I knew there was a chance there would be hiccups because not only was there a dose change but my regular doctor didn’t prescribe this bottle of Eliquis, it was a hospital doctor. Plus I now have a new specialist; a hematologist and I wasn’t sure how she would factor in.
I kept checking with the pharmacy to see if my prescription had been filled and it had not so I called my gynecological oncologist, Dr Westhoff’s, office because she has been managing this medication. After two calls I was told that it was decided the my hematologist, Dr Dong, would be taking over this medication and Dr Westhoff would be sending the information over to her. This was Wednesday.
Thursday I called Dr Dong’s office and was told that the medical assistant could see there was a message from Dr Westhoff’s office but she couldn’t see what it was, and she would make a note of my call.
I have had two occasions with blood clots in my lungs where I came close to death. Self-advocacy is always necessary, but I am also very concerned about not repeating my past experiences. I am trying to remain calm because at the middle of Thursday afternoon, I know I will take my last dose of Eliquis on Friday morning.
I’m dealing with a cold and slept in but I still call the pharmacy by 2 pm on Friday. I had woken up to use the bathroom and took my early morning pills. I am out of Eliquis. The pharmacy says they have received my prescription from Dr Dong’s office but my insurance won’t cover it. Now I must call United Healthcare.
So I call United Healthcare and I speak with Hussan and he tells me that the last time I picked up my prescription, I was given a three month supply and they will not cover my prescription until the second week in September. I appreciate their math, however, I explain to Hassan that I have cancer. I had gone off my Eliquis to undergo radiation therapy and three days later, I had tons of blood clots in both lungs. I spent 5 days in the hospital and had to have a thrombectomy and when I left the hospital, the doctor had prescribed that I would take 10 mg of Eliquis, twice a day for 6 days and then return to 5 mg, twice daily. However, those directions were changed by my hematologist, who said to continue on 10 mg, twice daily for the time being. Since Eliquis does not come in 10 mg tablets, that is why I am now out and need a refill.
Hassan told me that he could not help me. What needed to happen was that Dr Dong needed to file a form of medical necessity (this might not be the correct name of the document, I didn’t write it down). He said she would know what this was and this is what they need in order to override the block on my insurance coverage. I was appreciative but irritated. And then to make sure I was super frustrated, he put me on hold and patched me through to another gal (I couldn’t understand her name) in order for her to set up prescription delivery. I didn’t want to do that and we were both antagonized by that so we said goodbye and hung up.
Then I called Dr Dong’s office again and I told the office person the name of the document that I knew at the time, because it was fresh in my mind, and she agreed, the insurance company was just being difficult. She put me through to my doctors nurse, who was obviously busy helping someone else, so I left a message…
Then I called my wife, Karen G Clemenson, because, even when I leave my number, they sometimes call her number, so I needed her to know what they were calling about.
Finally I got the call. My prescription is filled and covered by my insurance. My doctor’s office is sorry because they should have updated prescription before so it would not have had to be like this. Personally I am just thankful that Karen can pick it up after she gets off work.
This is why you don’t wait until the last minute to check on your meds.
Update: I noticed on the bottle that the prescription was changed but my doctor had not notified me so I kept taking it the same way she had told me until the weekend was over and I could reach her. I was told by her nurse that since during the thrombectomy, they installed and IVC filter in my groin, in order to stop any blood clots, formed in my legs from getting to my heart or lungs, that now I should only be taking 1, 5 mg of Eliquis, twice daily, instead of 2, 5 mg of Eliquis, twice daily.
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My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven. For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Jesus Follower, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information. If you are interested in becoming a Jesus Follower…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.
If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this: Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world. I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me. I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.
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