Upheavals and Understanding

    While it's been awhile since my last post, I have thought about finding a moment to sit and blog.
Update:
 I'm still off Insulin. Will let my doctor know at my appointment this month.
 I got the INR machine to test my own anti-coagulant level. It's fast and simple, just like checking my blood sugar. But it does save driving to Venice to the Doctor to have it done.

My Dermatologist did a biopsy on the lower left side of my lip last week. I've had chronic chapped lips for eons and joke that Chapstick and Carmex should send me a profit sharing check. Well, after a severe bout of stomach virus with a high temperature, my lip looked terrible. Plus it happened at appointment time. She didn't like it nor did she like the fact that it hasn't healed in 2 years.
  I am not ashamed to say, I almost passed out in her office. My stomach still had fully recovered and I was queasy anyway. You know it takes us transplants much longer to get back to "normal" than the healthy. So I waited a week and got the results yesterday.

It came back as pre-cancerous and she called in a cream prescription. After talking to her nurse and my pharmacist I am dreading using this cream.  She said it would make the area look like road rash. NOT a good visual in my eyes. I was joking with the pharmacist and he stated that was a nice way to describe what it'll do. His closing comment mentioned raw meat... Great ! just what I want others to see  when they look at me.
I asked him how I am supposed to eat with my lip like that?  "Smoothies" I suggest Smoothie King on 41.
Now we were joking through all this-but I know he was serious.

This brings up alot of questions living in Florida. Can I still take my morning and afternoon walks? Sure - put a large bandaid over the affected area. Have you honestly tried to put much less keep a bandaid  on the lower left corner of YOUR lip?The dermatologist put one there after the biopsy and it stayed all of 30 minutes. It was worse than trying to drink water after leaving the dentist! I was also told I need to wear a hat on my walks. Hmmmm.

I asked why can't it be cut out and forget it? The pharmacist replied "But you don't want this scar on your lip".  "Well, it would add to my Pirate persona -plus just think I'd be a hit at the Medieval Fair and not need make up~!"  He thinks I'm insane anyway, so we both got a good laugh.

I just had another thought . How do I apply it? I can't use my finger-it'll get road rash too right?

Oh the joys of life are fruitful and many!

This I too will conquer!

Medicare Part D and other unfair practices.

 I guess you now know by the title I'm in a not so good place with the coverage the seniors and disabled are forced to accept. I received that wonderful notification that I was $120 away from "THE BLACK HOLE"  coverage gap-purchasing only my daily meds required for survival.  I've been extremely careful, trying to not tread those waters. After all, I'm still paying off all those wonderful meds from 2008!
     As luck would have it, I started coughing again. This past Saturday it got a new complication. I was coughing up blood. Now this is a MAJOR red flag for me, since this was one of my original symptoms. So to say I was scared is an understatement. After calling my transplant coordinator, some cough suppressant with codeine was called into  my local pharmacy. Imaging my surprise when I was told the cost was $125.00-because my Part D Provider  CVS Caremark Silverscript does not cover cough suppressants. The pharmacist suggested a lesser expensive one and I was caught in the hurdle of ruining my coordinators day off. I called CVS Caremark when I got home and got the usual song and dance.. "Well if it were a Monday, we could push through an authorization/" BUT that takes 72 hrs- "Well yes".  Completely unfair since they regularly change the formulary forcing all participants to switch meds-bother Doctors- JUST every other month or so. I've actually had to stop updating my formulary book I have received so many.
       My luck ran true to form once again and I began a light temperature. The decision was made to call in the Big Guns... I was getting Levacquin 750 mg for 5 days. As I inwardly gritted my teeth ( remember the tooth incident?) thinking of how exorbitant the cost was going to be.  Was I ever wrong... IT WAS WORSE!!!  Five tablets cost me $140.23! Do you realize that is $28.05 per tablet.  Oh and CVS well they saved me a whopping $38.76.. 
       I know you'll say well you'll get a $250 rebate from the gov't when you hit the gap. So what! Look how much I have to spend to get out of the gap.
     When things like this happen, I have to wonder is there anyone minding the raises our elected officials get?  Is anyone up there controlling the cost of these meds? NOPE.  Are they trying to cut physician payouts -forcing us to pay more- YEP. Are they not giving out that cost of living raise? NOPE
Are they helping other countries while we have scores of unemployed? Are they rebuilding other countries while Americans can't afford food?How they in good conscience send billions to help others and not help their own?
     I mentioned to the lovely CSR from CVS who answered my call that I intended to climb back on my soapbox, and let others know what they are doing to their members. I have.
By the way, I also sent a letter to President Barack Obama- wonder if he'll answer...?