They called security on me at the pharmacy!

[boobooday]

After a week of watching the convention, I was filled with hope for not only health care reform, but maybe even a cure! Who would ever have thought a Raygun would stand up for me?

My life has been one long battle with the health care system, ever since I was diagnosed with Type I diabetes as an adolescent. Finding doctors, fighting with HMOs when they randomly decide not to cover this or that (once it was SYRINGES!) -- all of this has been WORK. And after living in this town for five years, I thought I had finally found a doctor. We had at least three or four appointments. I had another appointment for Aug. 5. I thought we had something there . . . maybe I could have a doctor for more than six months . . .

Then I get a "Dear Patient" message on my phone machine. She has left town -- gone, just like that. On the message they said they were rescheduling me with a GP in the same practice (who is an idiot). I didn't cancel, because hey, somebody's gotta write my prescriptions, and DAMNIT I'm tired of looking for a doctor.

Fast forward to Thursday, when I call to refill my insulin, and find out my prescription has expired. So I call the Dr.'s office and ask them to refill. Routine, I think.

Then I show up at the pharmacy on Friday afternoon to pick up my insulin, but it isn't there. Not phoned in. After a major hassle (no cell phone -- I'm a phone beggar) I end up calling the Dr.'s office from the pharmacists' phone, and this oh-so-smug little office tyrant puts me on hold for 15 minutes and then (so smugly!) tells me they AREN'T GOING TO REFILL MY PRESCRIPTION FOR INSULIN.

Holy shit. It's Friday afternoon. I used to be able to buy insulin over the counter, but I use an insulin pump now which takes a particular type that you can't get without a prescription.

So I'm in the student health center pharmacy, screaming into the phone at the top of my lungs about HOW DARE YOU DENY A DIABETIC HER INSULIN? The pharmacist is standing there like YOU GO GIRL, but some lab technicians are working on the other side of the wall, and can't see that I am on the phone. It's the perfect sitcom setup. They think I am threatening their coworkers in the pharmacy with my HOW DARE YOU and all that. Oh and somewhere in there I referred to myself as a junkie, in reference to my life-and-death dependency on the Eli Lilly recombinant DNA nectar that is called HUMALOG.

When smug-girl (must be a relative of GW's) realizes that I AM STILL A PATIENT because I still have an appointment there, she agrees to refill my insulin. I am just paralyzed with rage by now, and really just want to get outside so I can cry. And then, as I'm walking past the lab next door, I notice that there are security guards watching me, who weren't there before, and they are whispering with the lab technicians, and watching me. THEY CALLED SECURITY ON THE DISGRUNTLED DIABETIC!

At least they didn't stop me and question me.

Even if I wasn't the raging political animal that I am (hard to imagine) I would have to vote John Kerry because of stem cell research. Last year my doctor told me I was five years away from kidney dialysis. There are probably many others like me who CAN'T AFFORD another four years of this heartless crminal and his heartless, criminal administration!

Oh, I had to share that with you. JANUARY and the INAGURATION of John Kerry can't come soon enough for me!!!!

When I hear them say "Help is on the way," I want to cry!

Love to all of you -- and to Ron Reagan Jr., too,
The Insulin Junkie

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[MikeG]

1. What were they going to do, let you die?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. What an utterly broken system.

I have been treated in other countries. Quick, easy and free. Here, it's a decent into some perverse ring of hell.

What happened to this country?

[Deja Q]

15. Neo-cons is what happened.

An a reason for their deficit-spending (in the name of of being fiscally responsible) is to prevent these reforms from happening.

The US is boned, it's just a matter of time.

And may those who destroyed it get the pain. We don't deserve it.

[salinen]

3. People with diseases

are not included in the "Compassionate Conservative" movement. If you had "billionaires disease" you would.

[boobooday]

6. Ain't that the truth

I guess they were going to let me die -- I mean, I guess it isn't their problem, and they figure if I collapse, someone will take me to the emergency room and get me some insulin.

My other concern is that in the discussion of "affordable health care insurance" I don't hear them addressing people like me.

What about all the people who have pre-existing conditions? A history of heart trouble, a bout with cancer, or any chronic illness? The people who aren't in the category of needy children, and aren't senior citizens?

This is why our health care system is broken. The people who REALLY need health insurance can't buy it at any price. The system assumes that healthy people buy insurance and are then covered when they get sick. That's fine, and it often works that way. But every change of job brings a new insurance company, and employers switch programs all the time, and the sick people fall through the cracks.

ARGH!

So I made an ass of myself in public. Sigh. It wasn't the first time.

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[kikiek]

4. Wow that is unreal. It takes up too much precious energy to keep

going through that. I hope it smooths out soon you don't need added the added stress.

[BiggJawn]

5. Wow...you need a HUGE hug!

Lucky the rent-a-pigs didn't help you find out what the floor tasted like...

I certainly hope "Help is on the Way", for all of us.

[boobooday]

10. And I knew

That if I came to DU I would find real "compassion" and a warm cyber hug.

:-)

DU ROCKS. You guys keep my hopes alive!

:hug:

[BiggJawn]

14. I have "type II" Diabetes.

It killed my mom. I don't know if stem cells could help me, but I think Science should be allowed to find out.

[boobooday]

17. I think it is possible that they could help type II diabetes

with stem cells -- it seems like they could regenerate your ability to produce your own insulin somehow . . .

I hope so! Many in my family, including my father, have type II. The complications are the same.

[underseasurveyor]

7. Geeez LAweeeez

That is truly messed up. I mean my god, this is life or death for you.

Sorry you have to deal with that kind of bullcrap.
Hang in there....
HELP IS ON THE WAY :hug:

[Massacure]

8. Tell them that when you drop dead

your family is going to sue the pants off of them.

I have a cousin who is a diabetic, and his employer wouldn't let him wear his medical neckless. After an arguement he threw it across the room, and told his superviser that his wife would sue the hell out of them when he dropped dead. His superviser went and picked it up, and gave it to him, and told him to wear it. :P

If it worked for him, maybe it can work for you.

[mike_c]

9. Bono said it best....

"The rich get richer, and the poor stay sick."

[boobooday]

13. And it is the worst when a Bush is in office

In my personal experience!

But of course, what if they cured all of us? There goes MEGA PHARMA profits right down the tube.

And I can't help but notice that the Bushies are in bed with Eli Lilly, to whom I pay hundreds per month to stay alive . . .

[gmoney]

11. You insulin abusers are out of control!

Man, scoring some illicit insulin is SUCH a RUSH man... oh, it gets you higher than a mountain of oxycontin and the buzz just lasts and lasts...

Enough kidding... I can't understand this aspect of "prescription" drugs... it's not like insulin is some sort of trendy narcotic that club kids pay top dollar for. If you need to be on an insulin program, how come you can't just get an open-ended prescription?

I don't know, I guess it's to keep people from buying lots and lots of it and reselling to people NOT under a doctor's care, or might keep people from visiting the doctor regularly to check progress, or...

Well, you have my sympathies. Maybe you should go buy an assault rifle... you don't need ANYONE'S permission to do that. :)

[boobooday]

16. They'll let you buy some kinds of insulin

Without a prescription. I've done that in the past when I had NO health insurance.

They have to allow this, or all of us with diabetes who didn't have insurance would just die.

I did read that some bodybuilders abuse it -- that blew my mind. It has something to do with maintaining the effects of the other steroids they use. That's just INSANE. But of course, Cheney's doc was addicted to nose spray, so go figure.

Maybe next time I need some insulin I'll call up Ahnold and see if he has a vial around . . .

[LynzM]

24. It's ridiculous

They do the same thing with test strips. Not like test strips are some nice black market thing, but they are still ultra strict about refilling the script. Dumb. I have had to fight for my insulin before, too. It sucks.

[amazona]

12. oh that's terrible

It is getting really scary out there.

[bobthedrummer]

18. Hi sister. You got it right. In the Third Reich the disabled (like me)

were the first group of human beings systematically executed with PUBLIC APPROVAL, always along with political prisoners:hi:

[boobooday]

20. Yes, in the strictly capitalist view of things

We are "human resources" who require too much investment.

Insurance companies see us as pariahs, because we don't bring profits, but expenses.

hmph.

And it all boils down to an ideology that can rename airmen, soldiers, sailors and marines "human capital" and name subsets of the so-called liberators "human exploitation teams."

And we have all become human resources.

And we are obviously highly expendable.

[bobthedrummer]

23. That viewpoint might as well call people livestock.

And invent professions to create and support a false taxonomy-just like in the Third Reich.

[TreasonousBastard]

19. It's difficult to put into words...

the revulsion I feel when I read this.

Even under our hopeless system, there is some lip service given to not letting anyone die or suffer unduly. But, here is an underpaid receptionist getting in the way of necessary medication.

While they gas on about billions here and there, and grand gestures and programs, there are hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of real people going on about their lives wondering day to day whether or not they will be able to get the basic things they need to stay alive and healthy.

A regular supply of insulin for a diabetic. Why is that so difficult for this country to ensure?

[daisygirl]

21. That is so wrong

When you go to see this doctor, please tell him/her that this person tried to refuse to refill your insulin! It's completely insane that an employee of a medical practice would put someone's life at risk like that - and if it happened to you, it could just as easily happen to someone less assertive who might not fight so hard to get it taken care of...

[Cybergata]

22. I'm so sorry, and I'm angry too!

I know that you are not alone in your misery. I wish we could publish everyone's health care horror stories like yours. Too bad our media doesn't want to listen. Imagine how people would feel if they all really knew just how inhumane our health care system has become. Of course there are those who will always find a way to blame the victim for for others crimes.


I'm very sorry, but I'm very glad that you stood up for yourself.

[LynzM]

25. Dude, I feel for ya

I'm on Lantus and Humalog, the two types you can't get w/out a script. UGH. I was on the pump for quite a while, too, and oh the headaches I have been through with pharmacies and insurance. :hug: Good for you for sticking up for yourself. Doesn't it suck that we have to fight to get a basic necessity that keeps us alive?! Gah! Good luck with finding an understanding doctor. It's a lifesaver (literally). If I were going to be a one-issue voter, stem cell research would be up there on the list. Did you read about the studies of NOD mice? They CURED them. Freakin' fantastic! Now can they get their butts in gear about curing us, PLEASE!!! Hang in there :hug: