Since Makily was born I have to deal with pharmacies WAY more than I ever wanted to.
For the most part, they make me want to run amok, screaming naked and banging a pot. So far I have had the sanity to resist this urge.
One time I was having such a hard time JUST GETTING MAKILY'S reflux medication. Her stomach acids WERE OUT OF CONTROL and so her G tube was LEAKING LIKE A FAUCET. I am talking bile, stomach acid just pouring from under her button.
GOOD TIMES.
I had argued with the doctors office and pharmacy over the phone so much that I finally went DOWN to the pharmacy with Makily in tow. She looked like she had stuck her finger in a light socket as I had not even touched her hair that morning. I was still in pajamas with my hair tied in a knot on top of my head. See we had been up all night with a leaking PAINFUL G tube site because the drs, pharmacy and insurance company could not get it together enough to GET US SOME DAMN MEDICINE.
So we went into the pharmacy and I argued with the tech at the counter. Makily all the while is screeching and miserable on my hip. I got sick of fighting with the idiot at the counter so I pulled Makily's shirt up to reveal her leaking g tube and the SOAKED gauze. The area was FIRE RED and a MESS. I said "THIS IS WHAT SHE IS HAVING TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE YOU WON'T GIVE ME HER FREAKING MEDICATION"!!!!
Drastic, yes I know, but I was sleep deprived and tired...and my baby was in pain.
After showing them Makily's horrific looking painful tummy they gave me enough meds to get her through the week until they could get it together.
Thanks, wish you would have done that a week ago before I came in here and made a scene.
ANYWAY!
Last month I started having another issue.
The powers that be in Florida decided that it would be a good idea to have ALL of Florida Walgreens pharmacy phone calls to be routed to a "call center" (answering service) in Orlando.
WHAT A FREAKING STUPID IDEA.
It took me two phone calls to realize that I wasn't talking to the actual store. I only figured it out because she asked where I wanted my script transferred and when I said "oh the one on 40 next to K-mart" and she said "I don't know where that is".
Then she went on to tell me that they were out of stock of my medication which was weird because it's common and this has never happened before.
I was rather irritated so I called the pharmacy again, demanded to speak to the PHARMACIST IN OCALA and finally got her. She apologized, said that they in the store ALSO hated this new policy and that the next time I called to ask for the pharmacy directly and tell them I WOULD NOT AND COULD NOT speak with Orlando. She said my script had been ready and waiting for TWO DAYS, and she does not know why Orlando said they were out of stock.
*sigh*
Well this is what happened this month when I called to make sure my meds were ready.
I was already annoyed because I KNEW I was going to get the LAME call center in ANOTHER CITY! So when I called I pressed the button for the photo lab....waited on hold forever just for the automated system to say "that extension is not available please hold for the next available extension"
sigh
Finally this guy picks up. I explain that when I called last month the pharmacist explicitly told me that the next time I call, ask for customer service and tell them I DO NOT want to talk to the Orlando call center and to PLEASE carry the phone back to the pharmacy.
The guys says "ma'am all I can do is transfer you into the callrx system".
*sigh...*
I then VERY FIRMLY explained that I DID NOT WANT to talk to the idiots in Orlando and to either GET ME THE MANAGER or walk the phone BACK to pharmacy.
With that he put me on hold and then transferred me to the callrx line where I got none other than the Orlando call center.
*I think my head almost flew off my body at this point*
I calm myself enough to ask the call center if they see my script is ready or not.
That guy tells me "no I have nothing for you".
SIGH
I did not trust the info he was giving me after last month's fiasco.
So I call Walgreens back and push the stupid button for customer service AGAIN.
I get a girl this time, I tell her I WANT THE MANAGER. She says to hold and I do for what felt like five years. Then the line starts ringing again and she answers and says:
"cosmetics how can I help you"
*My head DID fly off then*
I said:
"I'VE BEEN HOLDING ALL THIS TIME FOR THE MANAGER, NO ONE IS PICKING UP THE PHONE"!!!!!!!!
So she says "oh hold on..."
I cut her off and said "PLEASE don't put me back on hold, I've been sitting here forever".
She tells me she isn't putting me on hold that she is going to go get the manager herself...then she puts me on hold.
*while on hold this time I decided to curl up in the fetal position in a corner and rock back and forth while sucking my thumb*
FINALLY the manager gets on the phone and I VERY FIRMLY explain what I was trying to do, what the other guy had done and THAT I JUST WANTED TO TALK TO THE PHARMACY IN OCALA...NOT ORLANDO!!!
He does not apologize.
I got no sympathy.
What did he say?
My favorite phrase of course:
HOLD ON.
SURE I MEAN I HAVE BEEN ON THE FREAKING PHONE FOR AN HOUR NOW TRYING TO DO SOMETHING THAT SHOULD TAKE FIVE MINUTES BUT HECK I'LL HOLD SOME MORE.
This time I hear everything as he didn't click the hold button (I had told him not to put me on hold so I guess he figured if he didn't push the hold button I would be thrilled) so it sounded like the phone was flushed down the toilet, dropped and then put through a wind tunnel.
FINALLY the pharmacist picks up, asks for my name and says:
"Yes ma'am it's here and you have three refills"
To which I say:
"Are you sure Orlando says there is nothing there".
His reply:
"They don't know what they are talking about, I'm so sorry ma'am. Next time don't talk to them just ask for us directly"
I DID THAT!!!
I didn't say anything else except thanks but seriously that was SO RIDICULOUS.
Walgreens really needs to knock this off or I am going to go bald.
****On another note****
PLEASE say prayers for my friend Stephanie, her daughter Maia and their family. Maia is 13 w/ES like Makily and they are having some really horrible problems with her lately. Maia has unexplained and seemingly untreatable screaming rage and anger issues. This started THREE years ago and they have tried EVERYTHING to help her. The entire family is exhausted both mentally and physically. Stephanie and Martin are being forced to make INCREDIBLY impossible and heart wrenching decisions. My heart goes out to them.
Please visit their blog and offer them words of encouragement and POSITIVE thoughts during this trying time.
Stephanie's blog for Maia click me
Maia we love you honey and we all so desperately want you to feel better.
Stephanie, I am here for you day or night. My heart is with you right now.
For the most part, they make me want to run amok, screaming naked and banging a pot. So far I have had the sanity to resist this urge.
One time I was having such a hard time JUST GETTING MAKILY'S reflux medication. Her stomach acids WERE OUT OF CONTROL and so her G tube was LEAKING LIKE A FAUCET. I am talking bile, stomach acid just pouring from under her button.
GOOD TIMES.
I had argued with the doctors office and pharmacy over the phone so much that I finally went DOWN to the pharmacy with Makily in tow. She looked like she had stuck her finger in a light socket as I had not even touched her hair that morning. I was still in pajamas with my hair tied in a knot on top of my head. See we had been up all night with a leaking PAINFUL G tube site because the drs, pharmacy and insurance company could not get it together enough to GET US SOME DAMN MEDICINE.
So we went into the pharmacy and I argued with the tech at the counter. Makily all the while is screeching and miserable on my hip. I got sick of fighting with the idiot at the counter so I pulled Makily's shirt up to reveal her leaking g tube and the SOAKED gauze. The area was FIRE RED and a MESS. I said "THIS IS WHAT SHE IS HAVING TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE YOU WON'T GIVE ME HER FREAKING MEDICATION"!!!!
Drastic, yes I know, but I was sleep deprived and tired...and my baby was in pain.
After showing them Makily's horrific looking painful tummy they gave me enough meds to get her through the week until they could get it together.
Thanks, wish you would have done that a week ago before I came in here and made a scene.
ANYWAY!
Last month I started having another issue.
The powers that be in Florida decided that it would be a good idea to have ALL of Florida Walgreens pharmacy phone calls to be routed to a "call center" (answering service) in Orlando.
WHAT A FREAKING STUPID IDEA.
It took me two phone calls to realize that I wasn't talking to the actual store. I only figured it out because she asked where I wanted my script transferred and when I said "oh the one on 40 next to K-mart" and she said "I don't know where that is".
Then she went on to tell me that they were out of stock of my medication which was weird because it's common and this has never happened before.
I was rather irritated so I called the pharmacy again, demanded to speak to the PHARMACIST IN OCALA and finally got her. She apologized, said that they in the store ALSO hated this new policy and that the next time I called to ask for the pharmacy directly and tell them I WOULD NOT AND COULD NOT speak with Orlando. She said my script had been ready and waiting for TWO DAYS, and she does not know why Orlando said they were out of stock.
*sigh*
Well this is what happened this month when I called to make sure my meds were ready.
I was already annoyed because I KNEW I was going to get the LAME call center in ANOTHER CITY! So when I called I pressed the button for the photo lab....waited on hold forever just for the automated system to say "that extension is not available please hold for the next available extension"
sigh
Finally this guy picks up. I explain that when I called last month the pharmacist explicitly told me that the next time I call, ask for customer service and tell them I DO NOT want to talk to the Orlando call center and to PLEASE carry the phone back to the pharmacy.
The guys says "ma'am all I can do is transfer you into the callrx system".
*sigh...*
I then VERY FIRMLY explained that I DID NOT WANT to talk to the idiots in Orlando and to either GET ME THE MANAGER or walk the phone BACK to pharmacy.
With that he put me on hold and then transferred me to the callrx line where I got none other than the Orlando call center.
*I think my head almost flew off my body at this point*
I calm myself enough to ask the call center if they see my script is ready or not.
That guy tells me "no I have nothing for you".
SIGH
I did not trust the info he was giving me after last month's fiasco.
So I call Walgreens back and push the stupid button for customer service AGAIN.
I get a girl this time, I tell her I WANT THE MANAGER. She says to hold and I do for what felt like five years. Then the line starts ringing again and she answers and says:
"cosmetics how can I help you"
*My head DID fly off then*
I said:
"I'VE BEEN HOLDING ALL THIS TIME FOR THE MANAGER, NO ONE IS PICKING UP THE PHONE"!!!!!!!!
So she says "oh hold on..."
I cut her off and said "PLEASE don't put me back on hold, I've been sitting here forever".
She tells me she isn't putting me on hold that she is going to go get the manager herself...then she puts me on hold.
*while on hold this time I decided to curl up in the fetal position in a corner and rock back and forth while sucking my thumb*
FINALLY the manager gets on the phone and I VERY FIRMLY explain what I was trying to do, what the other guy had done and THAT I JUST WANTED TO TALK TO THE PHARMACY IN OCALA...NOT ORLANDO!!!
He does not apologize.
I got no sympathy.
What did he say?
My favorite phrase of course:
HOLD ON.
SURE I MEAN I HAVE BEEN ON THE FREAKING PHONE FOR AN HOUR NOW TRYING TO DO SOMETHING THAT SHOULD TAKE FIVE MINUTES BUT HECK I'LL HOLD SOME MORE.
This time I hear everything as he didn't click the hold button (I had told him not to put me on hold so I guess he figured if he didn't push the hold button I would be thrilled) so it sounded like the phone was flushed down the toilet, dropped and then put through a wind tunnel.
FINALLY the pharmacist picks up, asks for my name and says:
"Yes ma'am it's here and you have three refills"
To which I say:
"Are you sure Orlando says there is nothing there".
His reply:
"They don't know what they are talking about, I'm so sorry ma'am. Next time don't talk to them just ask for us directly"
I DID THAT!!!
I didn't say anything else except thanks but seriously that was SO RIDICULOUS.
Walgreens really needs to knock this off or I am going to go bald.
****On another note****
PLEASE say prayers for my friend Stephanie, her daughter Maia and their family. Maia is 13 w/ES like Makily and they are having some really horrible problems with her lately. Maia has unexplained and seemingly untreatable screaming rage and anger issues. This started THREE years ago and they have tried EVERYTHING to help her. The entire family is exhausted both mentally and physically. Stephanie and Martin are being forced to make INCREDIBLY impossible and heart wrenching decisions. My heart goes out to them.
Please visit their blog and offer them words of encouragement and POSITIVE thoughts during this trying time.
Stephanie's blog for Maia click me
Maia we love you honey and we all so desperately want you to feel better.
Stephanie, I am here for you day or night. My heart is with you right now.
8 comments:
I am an assistant manager at Walgreens, and if I would have been at that store, I would have given the first person who transferred you and the two people you talked to on the phone before you got the pharmacist a piece of my mind. That is ridiculous. This Walgreens employee is sorry you were treated that way.
Walgreens SUCKS!!!!
I do not use them anymore because for 3 straight months I went to pick up my daughters meds and instead of Zantac they gave her Zyrtec(which she has NEVER been on) then they acted like it was no big deal.
Probably wasn't a big deal that it was "only" Zyrtec but it could have been something much worse. Make sure you check all your meds before you leave the pharmacy counter.
All my best to everyone.
I also feel your pain regarding pharmacies.
They told me my new insurance doesn't cover Levitra.
DAMMIT, PEOPLE! THIS THING ISN'T GOING TO GO UP ALL BY ITSELF!!
Okay.
Maybe not the same thing.
We have gone through hell since july of 0'8 with the mickey-button. I have two daughters, Addison is almost two, and her older sister, Trinity, is almost five. We had no idea anything was wrong with either of our daughters before they were born. Both of my daughters were born a little early and neither one was able to breath on their own. They both have had several issues, some similar to your daughters. We have seen more specialists than we can remember but we still have no diagnosis for either. Autism is a possability for both but this is only one of many. Trinity was born and very soon after a barb was placed in her stomach. We did'nt like it very much but if we knew what we were going to face with the mic-key button we would have demanded they put in a barb. Addison was in the hospital for about three months after birth and they placed a mic-key button before she went home. We had good luck with it until July of 2008. Since July we have had to replace 13 buttons due to them deflating because of pin size holes. We spoke with Kimberly Clark and they said that it must be something we are doing such as stomach acid, stoma size, meds etc. We took her to surgery clinic in Childrens Mercy Hospital and they measured the stoma, said it was probally ok but put a size larger in just to be safe. A week later it poped out again. Today we went back to surgery clinic which is two hours away just to be informed that they have had several parents with the same issue and it was from a bad batch being sent out from kimberly clark. We drove back home in the snow and called kimberly clark again to find out if they had any idea what the issue was and they said there was no issue with the button, that must be something with in my daughter so we are still not sure of anything. We too are thinking of going with another button but are not sure which one. Hope this helps.
I can relate!! I had a new FC placed and his last home only had 1 week of meds to send with him. I am trying to frantically fill his meds without having his medical card (that didn't come with him either...) and one of his meds was a special order. Walgreens assured me they would have it in in time. Come the day before I was out they still didn't have it and their supplier could not ship it due to flooding! After several frantic calls to his worker, I call around and find a new pharmacy that takes the state FC medical card and can get me the mes in the morning. Not only that, they deliver!! Got the med and 2 days later I take him to the doctor and he DISCONTINUES the med! Claims it doesn't seem to be helping anyhow. I could have killed the man right there in the office....uggh
Trish, I'm laughing hysterically at the whole "running amok, naked, banging a pot." I've totally been there.
And all I can say is - you are FAR sweeter than I am. I'd have shown up there and had a chat with the few winners who answered the phone. And I'd be FedEx-ing a letter to their corporate office about this whole "call center" insanity. You are a kinder soul. I seriously admire that.
Lots of hugs!!
Jaime
xoxo
girl..true story from me: I was so exasperated with CVS here locally because of them jacking with me about Luke's mestinon that I was at their drive thru window and would not leave. No kidding. I stayed parked there for 20 minutes while the line stacked up behind me. I said over and over "I'm not leaving, my son is paralyzed and can't breathe w/out this medicine and no I'm not kidding". I'm so serious girl. They pushed a bottle of MY MEDICINE out the window slot and then walked away!!! I could not believe it! I called the CORPORATE OFFICE of CVS and went all the way to the top. I asked for the mananers manager about 4x. Girl..they called me back and profusely apologized etc, etc. and those people KNOW ME now. CALL the corporate office and just say "neglect, is this legal?, my child is in danger...I need to send a hard copy letter, whom do I send this to?". It worked for me. I'm so sorry babe, I hate it. Love you, A
Im glad you showed them makilys tummy. Jerks. But your narration of the phone conversation is hilarious.
Post a Comment