The Reality Of Filling Monthly Medications For Pain Patients

Filling medications should not be a huge undertaking. For anyone. Especially when it is the patient themselves, the pain patient, that is taking the steps required to obtain our very needed medications to live a life with the least amount of pain possible.

In talking and listening to others, those that are NOT living a life of pain, and especially those that do not understand the life of a Chronic Pain Patient; this group tends to think that our meds are:

#1) Simple to obtain--Period.
#2) Called in by the doctor to the Pharmacist.
#3) Always available at any Pharmacy.
#4) Not a hassle in any way, we just pick them up.


And now for the reality of filling monthly medications. Here is the 3-day odyssey that I went through simply to fill my monthly medications, that had no changes, no new medications added, nothing different from last month.


First of all, everyone must realize that when pain patients are doing anything stressful, and especially when this requires going out of wherever is the most comfortable, (leaving home in my and most cases), then driving from one place to another, pain levels rise. When driving, sitting in and dealing with the traffic, prolonged sitting, standing and walking; pain levels naturally increase. Then the stress involved directly causes higher levels of muscle spasms along with the higher pain,m and the spasm/pain cycle begins. Unless immediately addressed--muscle spasms will continue to do just that--spasm! The Spinal Stenosis*** {Stenosis: 'Act of narrowing'***Constriction or narrowing of a passage or orifice--the spinal canal in spinal stenosis}***I have does not respond well to muscle spasms. The ***Paraspinal Muscles***{ muscles that 'run along' the spine which are actually composed of 3 main muscles that attach to the vertebrae and are not vertical in direction contrary to how they feel and look}*** surround my spinal cord that is already hardening and narrowing, and squeeze. It is not a positive experience.

Starting on the day that my medications are due, I need to go and pick up the Security Prescriptions from my doctors office. I see my pain doctor on a normal basis every other month, but many times I need to see him monthly. The 'off' months' require me to call ahead first to the pharmacy I go to, to have them order the needed meds if necessary, so they will be there when I go to pick them up. ***Do this ONE WEEK AHEAD of the date you are to fill them.***This is something that everyone should do, no matter what your meds are; just to make SURE your medications will be available to fill at your chosen pharmacy. Never take for granted that you can walk in with your prescriptions and just get them filled. This is where you need to be PROACTIVE in your healthcare, taking the needed steps to be sure you will walk out with your meds when the day comes that they are to be filled. Everyone who has gone in to fill their prescriptions and are told the pharmacy does not have them in stock, or do not have the exact quantity; know the frustration that causes. I have seen more frustration in people during my waiting time at pharmacies, than any other place. Of course it is only when someone can not walk out with the prescription they brought in, when they brought it, in a reasonable time even; that frustration and pure anger in some is shown. And some people can be downright mean about the issue! I just sit and gaze in wonder at them as they yell and act like children......

One week later after calling the pharmacy, it is time for me to call my pain doctor and remind him that he needs to write my prescriptions. I start about 4 days ahead of the actual fill date. Doctors are busy people in general, and mine is also the Medical Director of the Hospital. So I know he has extra work, meetings to attend, and I allow for that in the calling ahead 4-5 days of my due date. My years living with an Internist allowed me to learn the 'unseen life' of a physician. (And WOW did he have an unseen life!!)

Once I am assured that the prescriptions are written, I call ahead again before I make the trip to pick them up. Just another protection for myself to NOT make an unneeded trip. My doc has a fantastic assistant, who does all of the passing on of phone calls and med refill reminders from the patients, then calls me back to say that she has the prescriptions. She happened to be gone out sick the entire week that I was procuring my prescriptions, and I saw just how much she does when she wasn't there. My doctor called me himself this time to tell me that my precriptions were ready to be picked up. Yes, I have been blessed with a doc who believes in the old fashioned patient-doctor relationship--and he takes time on the phone, not rushing; and allowing me time to talk to him if I need to.

So, I have called the pharmacy that fills the meds one week ahead of time for them to place the order; called the doctor who writes the scripts and let him know it is time for my monthly meds....

Next comes the odyssey of filling those scripts. This is the most lengthy process. Another thing that many take for granted, and if you do not need to deal with SECURITY prescriptions, you probably don't need to go through all or any of these steps. More power to you.

Security Prescriptions have replaced the old Triplicates; used for certain classes of controlled medications. Triplicates were exaqctly that--the doctor wrote on the top of 3 papers; one went to the patient, one stayed in the doctor's triplicate book, and one to the DEA. For whatever reassons, these have been completely replqavced by the Security Prescription pad. Copying, altering, or anything else with these prescriptions leaves the 'alterer' with a very messed up paper to work with. There are so many hidden security features, that it is nearly impossible to now try to change a script on these new pads. These types of scripts must be hand-carried into the pharmacy to be filled. The doctor can not call these in. There are never refills on these. And they make just one more step for pain patients, (and other diagnoses), which is something that those of us in pain really do not need--an extra step. But because of those that have falsified, forged, or altered these types of prescriptions, those of us that follow the law have to pay for what 'they' have done in extra steps to fill our meds. The DEA also has a great deal to do with the need for the new Security Scripts. Doctors are under quite a magnifying glass in these years, with the DEA monitoring them closely, to write them perfectly, never going over the 28 to 30 day amounts given each time. These scripts must be carefully guarded after you receive them. They are not easily replaced, and again; the doctor can not just call the medications in. Most pharmacies ask for ID when picking these up; but sadly, many still do not.

Next in this journey, comes going to the doctor's office to pick up the scripts, and my doc will leave my scripts with the security guard at the Hospital if I cannot make it before 5 pm. Most times it is impossible by the time a shower has been taken, hair dried, and some sort of face fixing has been done, for me to just continue out the door, like I used to in the 'old days, before my spine was attacked by the very painful Stenosis, or Osteophytes impeding the spinal cord, overgrowth of bone closing off foramens and exiting nerves, before all the surgeries and procedures, and before more discs began to herniate, (4 active now), before the discs dry up as in Degenerative Disc Disease or DDD, before Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, or FBSS; before so much has happened to and in my spine. A shower alone is very hard for me, painful to do with what is usually taken for granted in a shower; like reaching up to wash hair and not bend my neck back, and the act of just standing for the time it takes me; all which simply exacerbate my overall pain level. I have to sit down again after getting ready, with the heating pad on; or what is to come will be done in extreme pain.

Off I go, eventually and reluctantly, to the doctor's to pick up my scripts for the month. I say reluctantly because I have been having very high pain levels regardless of the time of day. I went inside once I arrived, and no one was at the Security Guard's desk, which held my scripts. It was after 5. Waiting is not one of the best things for my back. I found myself pacing by the desk, as sitting is no better; and over 15 minutes later the guard came back to his post, apologizing profusely for the fact that I had been waiting; and worried about me doing so. He had been helping a patient move to a new room, which I saw from down the hall. I did not feel I needed to walk the long hallway to bother what he was doing just to get my scripts. Everyone's needs are just as important as my own. The patient that was being moved was obviously in very bad shape and in great pain, or the patient wouldn't be there!! The sweet guard gave me the envelope my doctor puts my scripts in, and out I went for the next step of the evening, checking the written scripts before I walked out, although if something was wrong I could not have had anything changed at that time of night.

Driving to the Pharmacy from the doc's, I realized that each minute I was to wait that evening to get the scripts filled was only going to make my pain worse, which was rising rapidly by that time.

Dropping off the prescriptions is the easy part. Then--wait. Sit and wait. Fortunately, because of pre-planning, making sure the pharmacy had my medications, they were filled in a reasonable amount of time. When the time came to stand in line for pick-up, it was not moving fast, and the line was long. I am used to all of this. It just takes a strong drive, and God's help to go through these needed steps in great pain.

After I had paid and walked to my car, I was absolutely worn out. All I could think of was getting home and sitting in the recliner with heat on my back. Another month taken care of. Medications in hand, I made it into the front door. Home. Rest. Heat. Meds.

And in 28 days, (or less), I do it all over again. Fun, eh??

I wish you who suffer with pain, a day of low or tolerable levels......ultimately of course, no pain. Well, I can wish for you, can't I??? :-)

Gentle Hugs... <3