Tuesday, December 20, 2005

pdoc visit went well today

i had an appointment with my pdoc this morning, so i bundled up real good and made it to the clinic in ample enough time. man, it is COLD outside! but then Chicago winters aint nuttin' nice anyways, especially while we are in the midst of the "deep freeze". last night it was 6 degrees.

my pdoc gave me samples of Seroquel, but when i see him next year, he's gonna change my antipsychotic, due to the fact fuckin' Medicaid wont be paying for it anymore because it aint "medically necessary." the nice lady who's one of the secretaries also gave me a new pillbox which i badly needed, so now i can sort my meds properly and all in one box. he also gave me a new script for Klonopin and Zoloft 100mg, so i'm good to go med wise.

when i think about those of us who cant get good psych care, i feel truly blessed to be able to go to a hospital outpatient psych clinic and that i have two very good doctors who are compassionate and caring. my pdoc, Dr. Munoz, is very good. he has been a blessing to me when i dont have the $3 co-pay for Zoloft and Seroquel, and he gives me adequate samples to hold me over until i see him again.

for those of y'all who see your pdocs on the regular, and are in a tight spot when it comes to your meds, if at all possible, ask your docs to give you samples. most of the pdocs in my clinic give their patients samples, because they know how hard it can be when you dont have money for a co-pay on a med that you take frequently. however, if your pdoc wont give you samples, i'm gonna post again the websites you can visit that manufacture most of the frequent meds we take and offer programs for patients who otherwise cannot afford their meds, or who have no type of insurance to pay for them:

http://www.zoloft.com

http://www.seroquel.com

http://www.cymbalta.com

http://www.zyprexa.com

http://www.risperdal.com

http://www.lamictal.com

http://www.geodon.com

http://www.wellbutrin.com

http://www.paxil.com

http://www.astrazeneca.com

http://glaxosmithkline.com

http://www.lifeiswaiting.com

http://www.prozac.com


during these uncertain times where health care, especially good mental health care is becoming more and more difficult to maintain, and literally going back to the old days, where a lot more patients are being hospitalized involuntarily or discharged without continuity of care, it's good to know that the drug manufacturers offer programs like these for us. i hope by my posting these sites will help someone out there who is having difficulty getting their much-needed meds.

6 comments:

dan said...

Great post Miz. I usually get samples too... part of switching medicines so often is that samples actually work out better for that rather than buying the giant setup of Lamictal and finding out 4 pills in your allergic...

If it makes you feel any better about the cold, I busted my ice scraper the other day and had to find a new one.

At least you have a nice lake to look at.

Maggs said...

I used to get samples but since my old p-doc had to quit due to health reasons I'm thinking I won't get them anymore.

$80 for three months is still high for meds.

Miss Defective said...

My pdoc finally gave me a prescription for Seroquel, so I'm good til at least Jan 19th. I maybe switching docs and I've heard the ones at the clinic I may switch to will give you samples since a majority of their patients are on Medicaid. Good news is that I go on Medicare in April, and they will cover Seroquel so I only have to worry about this for 3 more months.

Medicare won't pay for valium though (again, that's fucked up since they pay for shit like viagra), but fortunately that's a generic and I think I can afford a month's supply. If it's not one thing, it's another...UGH!

If they say that nearly 40% or so of people on disability are on it for mental illnesses, I will never understand why they don't cover all the psychotropic meds since there isn't one magic pill for all.

Anyway, I'm a rambling. Glad your pdoc went well & I'm glad he's nice enough to provide you with samples, that's great!

Take care,
Sid

mizeeyore said...

Dan: oh wow. sorry about your ice scraper. glad your doc gives you samples too. unfortunately where i live i cant see the lake....

Sid: good for you girl! i'm happy to know that your new doc/clinic will be able to help you out like that!

i wont be able to go on Medicare until September of next year, but that's ok. i'm just glad that i can get what i can get right now.
Hugs!
((((((((((((Sid)))))))))))))
genelle

Squid: as usual, you are a trip LOL

Marie said...

Miz E Glad your visit went well. I am still understanding what "medically Necessary" means anyway. What the fuck do they know what WE need.

Gald to hear you are okay for meds. Mine run out soon. I am still struggling with the firm diagnosis thing. Ugh! Keep your head up. I know it is hard when things suck ass.

((((((((((Genelle))))))))))

mizeeyore said...

Marie: yeah my point exactly..what the hell do they know?
girlfriend, keep ya head up. hopefully things will get better with the new year

((((((((((Marie))))))))))))