Pharmacy makes me wait

The BMT clinic visit yesterday was routine although exceedingly slow. It was a holiday recognized by the pharmacy and much of the other staff but the Infusion room was busy and I had to do a lot of waiting such as 30 minutes in the check-in waiting room and then an hour for my bloodwork to be reported and then another wait of 30 minutes or so for Velcade to be sent over from the under staffed pharmacy.


None of my 5 prescriptions could be filled and I was told that I would have to come back today to have the thalidomide prescription filled but that I should call in advance because only Elaine could handle the bookwork for thalidomide and she wasn't there, and that I could pick up the other re-fills at the same time. I called this morning and learned that I would have to wait until after twelve because the prescription had to be signed by one of the doctors and no one would be available until then, but I was also told that I would have to call Celgene to take the survey required of users of thalidomide every time they have a prescription filled. When I called Celgene the computer generated voice told me that I had taken the survey on Dec. 30, which I already knew, and that I was only required to take it every month. I then perservered and finally spoke to a live person who told me the same thing, but when I told her that I had no pills remaining she reconsidered and told me that I could call on Jan. 20, but she also said I could pick up a prescription at the pharmacy today. So we waited for he pharmacy to call Celgene and confirm that I could pick up the thalidomide today. One of my refills was for Dapsone and Humana would not allow it to be filled until Thursday. Very frustrating; but it is a pill that I take every Mon., Wed, and Fri. and I have pills for tomorrow and Friday so I can wait until next Monday to get it.

The change in medication and scheduling of meds that Dr. Tricot instituted on Dec. 20 is having a noticeable positive effect on my muscle strength. I walk around our block, including the cul de sac, almost every morning, and I am gradually picking up speed except on the last uphill segment. I am able to go down stairs without aid and only use the railing going up as reassurance, and go up and down the 5 steps from our main east side deck with no problem.

Emma skipped her aquasize yesterday because the new owners of the house next door to the west had a moving van parked across our driveway and theirs and she didn't use her car so that I would have it to use. I didn't know that she had stayed home until I came downstairs about the time she should have left. I told her that I was sure that the movers would move to let me out with the pickup, but she said it was too late for her to go at that time. She shouldn't miss the class because the water exercise does help her regain strength in her leg and ankle.