This week’s blog involves two hilarious true stories.
I get a text from CVS saying Anna has scripts ready. I’m really not sure which ones because Paul usually tells me if we need something. I work close to CVS, so I’m usually the retriever. The texts started Friday, so Monday night, I ran up to CVS. It’s raining, and the drive-thru has nine cars. I go inside.
There is no line inside. I walk up, give her name and wait to see what they have refilled. The girl struggles and struggles to find them. I stand there for 5 minutes. She finally asks for help. Now she can’t ring them up. The “Pharmacist” comes over. She rings it up and turns the bag around. She rips open the bag and shows me a small bottle with a dropper and says, have you used this before? . . . it needs to be diluted. I’m stunned because I have no idea what it is. I say, what prescription is this? It’s Zoloft, in liquid, this is the way it is dispensed. You dilute it and then give it to her. I’m in disbelief. No, I say we have never received in that form, it is usually in a regular bottle, liquid form and we just dispense from there. Well, this is all we have ever had. No (I say again) I’ve been getting this since May and it is certainly not what we have been getting. Well, the other stuff you have gotten has to be diluted also. What? So I’ve been giving her medicine that needs to be diluted? This is concerning. I say she’s tube fed and nonverbal. Then she says, “Well, it’s just for flavor so you don’t need to dilute it.” Okay, this is weird. Really weird. Plus, I didn’t even know we needed it, Paul would have told me if we were low. Weird. She tells me now that I can just use the dropper and give it to her in her tube. Now I see the line behind me is getting longer and longer. She’s rushing me. I said finally, “Nope, I’m going to decline this medication. “That’s fine she says.” I said I’m not feeling like this is right for her, it has never been dispensed this way. She asks me if I want the other one, like she just wants to get rid of me. I ask what it is and it’s her breathing treatment meds. I did not order it, she is not out of it, but since this has been such a debacle I just say okay and take that. There are now 10 people standing in line behind me watching this unfold.
The “Pharmacist” never said anything to offer help, it was like she was the corrections officer and I was an inmate. I felt like she thought I was ignorant by the way she kept telling me I’ve had that medicine before. I think I would know what I have used to medicate Anna. There was never any sign of connection or caring. I can handle this, I’ve had 22 years of prescriptions. Any newer Warrior mom can be helped by our experiences so I wanted to share how wrong it can be at the pharmacy. Let it be wrong, refuse, walk away, move to a different location, whatever you need. We don’t have to be treated like this. I get home and check the other bottle. (1) It never needed a refill I have almost a full bottle. (2) It does say to mix for flavor, but that was never mentioned since she is tube fed. It looks nothing like what she was trying to give me and why did they fill it anyway? She was too ignorant for me to ask any more questions. I’m moving my prescriptions to another location.
The nightmare morning.
I just wanted to share (for laughs) my ridiculous morning on Tuesday of this week.
I woke up at my usual 5 am. I could hear Anna, she was definitely up. This means she is full of a mess. I look on the monitor, yep she’s moving all around, she’s up! I get my coffee, take one sip, and go to her to clean up the mess of a full diaper. After 14 wipes she is cleaned up and I decide to make the most of it. I am going to sit on the couch and read with her! Time BEFORE school! I’m sitting on the couch and I hear the sound of a cat puking. I leap up and find my calico puking from the top of our grandfather clock . . . and the result is splashing down on the floor everywhere. I try to get the dogs away and grab paper towel which I’m somewhat successful. Now I go back to the couch and Anna has begun crying, so she’s upset, maybe stomach, maybe bowels, but she is not happy. I get her some relief (meds) and then try to sit back down but now I have to start getting her ready for school. (Mornings have the ability to make time disappear). I get her ready, put my running clothes on and look forward to running. It’s been a heck of a morning here. As I wait for the bus I hear a crack crack crack sound. I look in the kitchen and my Australian Shepherd, Moxie, has pulled my glasses out of my purse and chewed them all up. She looks up at me with the candy she wanted out of my purse. Okay, I’m ready for my run now more than ever.
All moms have tough mornings, but to us Warriors who are juggling the feeds, the dressing, the medical devices, the backpacks, etc. This is a rough time. I try to laugh and just keep cleaning up the messes. Feel free to send me your nightmare morning stories, we all have them! The run ended up being amazing. I REALLY needed it.
“A problem is a chance for you to do your best.”
– Duke Ellington
