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Here you will find scattered pictures from my point and shoot camera, random thoughts from my little world, treasured memories of days gone by, hopeful dreams of the days yet to come, and a bunch of ideas - because I've always got ideas!



Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Today Is the Day

Have I seemed a bit snarky lately? Well, I certainly have been. But, today I will find out just how well I did finding a new prescription drug plan for my parents.

My dad's retirement people quit carrying prescription coverage. Why they would do this is beyond me.

I began researching this during the summer. I found it extremely nerve wracking and headache causing. I had the old system down and it ran like a well oiled machine for me.

Now, I have a stack of thin papers at least a foot high. I'm scared to death to dispose of any of them, in case it still contains a nugget of something that I will need.

But, today, after a doctor's appointment at one hospital, and therapy at another we will all march in single file to the pharmacy and hand over the first three of my mom's unbelievably expensive prescriptions and see how we faired. My stomach is in knots.

I did reach an extremely kind and helpful pharmacist by phone this morning. She helped me as best she could - never once hinting that I might not be up to the challenge.

I'm thanking God for her.

And, I'm also thanking God that I lived through this experience. For awhile there, I wondered if I would.

I do have a bit of advice though. Even if your parents are not old, some day - unless they die first - they will be. Get involved with this process right away. I cannot believe how much more complicated this would have been if I didn't know their history with each of their many drugs. I know their doctors, and one nurse in particular who truly doesn't believe that any of my questions are stupid, even when I know unequivocally that they are.

I feel like crying.

3 comments:

blueyedtracy said...

Judy,

What a blessing to your parents. I"m sure you do feel like crying. I feel for you, as I went through something similar when my dad (now gone) was very ill a few years ago. I would try so hard to comprehend the medical and technical jargon, as well as the craziness of the Medical process, and more than half of it would go right by me. I just couldn't comprehend, and I KNOW I asked the same questions of the same people so many times . . they probably wanted to scream - but so did I.
Your grand-boy is so cute.

Anonymous said...

((((((((((HUGS))))))))) and sympathies! The doctor/drug business is a nasty one indeed, complicated by the insurance mess. Seems a man who worked long enough with a company to retire ought not to have to worry about such things when old!! But then we surely live in an increasingly evil world! Time for the Messiah to return I think!

Blessings on you and yours,
Elizabeth

Judy said...

Thanks for your kind words!

I'm not sure what my problem is (others have ventured guesses).

Really, I cannot understand how it is expected that the sick and elderly are left to figure this out. I'm neither sick nor all that old and I still don't get it. Thankfully, the kind pharmacist explained that the thing that was confusing me the most (quantity limits) has been lifted.

Also, my friend Anne works for a man who has been a lawyer for over 50 years. He can't figure it out either.

Knowing this helps somewhat.