Tired of my wife being treated like a criminal

[Brovane]

So today on Sunday we got treated to the fun exercise of trying to get my wifes Hydrocodone script filled that helps with the break-through pain from her Fibro. She has been going down on her does and is on 3 1/2 10Mg Hydrocodone pills a day. She used to be on much higher doses of pain management meds including Fentanyl patches and her Morphine equivalent was right around 100 mg per day. Now she is on around 35 mg equivalent per day.

She had the script from her regular pain doctor and we go by CVS to fill for the next 30-days. The Pharmacy Tech tells use they can only fill 7-days and we need to do a new script every 7-days. They also tell me our insurance carrier Aetna no only covers 7-days a time. So even know my wife does everything she has been told, we now have to deal with this crap.

So I asked for the script back, which I was surprised they gave it back. Of course my wife is upset, when this type of stuff happens she doesn't think clearly. Lucky I had made the point of going with her today for some reason, I usually don't. However I thought a nice Sunday morning outing to get her meds and go grocery shopping would be nice. When your spouse has Fibro sometimes that is the big outing for the day.

So we take the script across the street to Walgreens, they confirm that Aetna says they only cover 7-days at a time. At this point I tell the lady we will pay cash. She looks at me surprised and says that will be $110. I tell her that is fine.

So we got the 30 pain management script filled. I am reaching out to Aetna. I can find nothing on the Aetna website about this change in policy.

So frustrating that I got to spend my time dealing with this crap. I can totally see how someone without support with Fibro could be easily over-whelmed just dealing with insurance.

 

[vickythecat]

I have to admit I was quite amazed to read a post from a husband of a fibro warrior. You see and witness your wife's daily fight, I mean fibro alone is a lot. Like you said, the physical side is one thing, but the pain makes us into 'unpredictable' beings as well, so we can react in various emotional ways. Fibro hurts us inside and out.

And then you have the system. And the doctors. And the cruel world out there.

They are implementing stricter rules where I live as well, though thankfully because the opiod epidemic is not yet happening here, doctors and pharmacists do not always look at you as a 'suspect'. But the system is also weird, and changing every other month, now only allowing one opiod-type, per box, per month at a time, so if you happen to have a box of 28 pills and a month of 31 days, well, it's like the system is telling you 'good luck on those 3 days you won't have your pain meds'.

And like you said, I have no support, I have to do all of it on my own and it is really really REALLY difficult. Add anxiety and mental illness into the mix... It is the main reason why I have not been to a specialist in 4 years' time. At a hospital, one also has to know the system real well, ask around, call around, be sent from one counter to the next....

I am sure your wife also knows how lucky she is to have you as a husband and a true friend.

 

[diamond]

Yes so good to see a husband supporting his wife so well. Vicky is right...sometimes we just want to be left to cope with the basics....exactly as you describe.

A trip to the super market becomes an outing and all the red tape we all have to deal with over doctors medication and pretty much anything else we just dont have the mental resources always to deal with.

I would say fibro means i want a quiet life where i can savour the simple things and simple pleasures and have a hassle free time.

Sadly this is rarely the case. In the UK our medical system is also slowly changing..not just but about medication but the whole attitude and resources...pretty slim for fibro /CFS sufferers.

Its the same with the benefits system here its getting harder and people are treated like they are criminals rather than sick and needing support. They get checked up on every couple of years when they have been sick for decades or more with the same or progressive illnesses already confirmed by their doctors....all in the name of saving money!

Yes there are some greedy fake people who find ways around the system but the stress all these extra things put on genuinely unwell people often making them worse for months and the strain on families and relationships as a consequence can feel just too much.

Im sure your wife appreciates your support very much....so big clap to you!

 

[Brovane]

Thank you Vicky and Diamond for the positive comments.

For my day job I am a project manager so I find my project management skills come in handy when dealing with situations like the pill episode this weekend. Over the years when something un-expected happened you have the initial crisis but based on my experience it usually isn't as bad as you think it is. So I usually take a deep breath and approach it logically. My wife has a hard time dealing with the un-expected because of her bi-polar condition and the pain she is usually in. We have learned over the years that it is best for me to step in and deal with the situation because she just cannot think straight and gets very emotional.

Still dealing with Aetna, they claim that this has been there policy all along. Well I say Bulls$#t because we have been on pain management drugs for years. It so happens that this comes up right after the beginning of the year.