Humana obdurate

The clinic visit yesterday was routine until I visited the pharmacy expecting to pick up a new prescription for thalidomide. Dr. Tricot had told me on Dec. 20 that I should start alternating the amount of thalidomide that I take between 100 mg and 50 mg daily and I would do this by filling the prescription for 50 mg capsules, which he had written, and take 2 to get 100 mg every other day. I was told on that day that I had too many 100 mg capsules left and the new prescription could not yet be filled but that it would be filled on my return visit Dec. 27. So I went to the pharmacy yesterday expecting to get the 50 mg thalidomide capsules, but Humana would not authorize the dispensing of the drug. An appeal was faxed to them and I was to be informed as to the results, but have heard nothing. Elaine, the nurse who handles the requests for thalidomide, told me that if the authorization did not come through yesterday she would have to get a new prescription from Dr. Tricot and reauthorization from the makers of the drug. I have one 100 mg capsule for tonight and one for tomorrow and then will be completely out. I suspect that Humana is deliberately delaying approval so that the prescription will be refilled in 2011 and I will have to pay full price for it.

The changes in drugs and procedures may be having a positive effect already. My quadricep muscles seem to be improved and I have less difficulty going downstairs. I had thought that it might take several weeks before I would see any effects of the changes, but the change in muscle tone is very welcome even though I do not feel strong enough to resume my walks around the block.

Emma has had a cold for some time and has not gone to her aquasize class for about 2 weeks as a result and because of the hectic Christmas preparations. This has affected her leg in that she now has to flex the ankle after standing from sitting for awhile in order to walk without pain in the leg. She probably won't go back to aquasize until next week, but if she will confine the sitting in one place to short intervals she may be able to minimize the pain upon standing.