Bloodwork and Re-entering the World

Today, I needed to get bloodwork. I also needed to pick up a prescription. And, I had hope of my very first--in MONTHS--trip to Trader Joe's.

My pandemic guru Adam who has, thus far, accurately predicted everything,* says that this is the best time to be out and about in NY: numbers are low, and people are still protecting themselves. I also checked with my doctor who just kept emphasizing WASH YOUR HANDS and WEAR A MASK, but I don't need to be a hermit. It is truly time to re-enter the world. 

Today was the day! I've made small trips before, but this was a true errand run! I got up early! Took my meds. Then, my meds took me. What does that mean? Well, sometimes when I take the medication to "activate" my GI system from all the opioids, it goes fine. Other times, I spend an hour in pain in the bathroom. Then, I need a little rest. Today was one of those days. Great start! :(

As I lay in bed, I check my messages. Apparently the innocuous CVS message that I thought was a generic "your meds are ready" was actually a "We ran out of your med. Do you want us to get more? or do you want to go somewhere else? Maybe call your doctor?" NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

This med has driven me NUTS. I tried to have it filled TWO weeks ago, but communication broke down between the assistant and my doc. Then, they didn't realize my insurance had changed, and we discovered that I had been paying out of pocket and not towards my deductible for over a month. Apparently, CVS just though I didn't have insurance??? (We swear we updated it... but who knows!!) THEN, I couldn't HAVE the med because we didn't have a prior-authorization which would not go through over the weekend, and because Anne-Marie (my doc's assistant) was working from home and didn't have a fax... one of the many things she kept telling me, which I can't help her fix. EVENTUALLY, I was permitted a small amount that CVS had in stock if I paid out of pocket. Fine. Done. And now, NOW they are still out, and called to ask me what to do about it and I missed the call. ARGH!! 

I called CVS. The pharmacy isn't open. 

OK. I rested. I called again later.

This small part of the story, dear reader, is glorious. I called, and was able to speak to pharmacist relatively quickly. They let me know that the shipment came in. My prescription would be filled today. 

Thank goodness!!

Lovely! I rested for a while longer, took a shower, got dressed and headed out. I was excited to be a person who does things! 

Stop 1: Blood work. 

I always get blood work on the Thursday or Friday before my treatment. The orders are sent electronically. I got to LabCorps and it was FULL. Oh dear. This was not a good sign. "Put your name on the paper list up there," someone told me "the machines aren't working."

Usually, there is an electronic check-in system which is actually pretty great. It lets you check in with a driver's license and, if you need it, updates your insurance. Most of the time, it is awesome. 

Well, I couldn't get to the "paper list up there" because a couple was fighting with the person at the desk, who I assume, is also the only person working there because no one is being called back for more blood work/drug tests/whatever. I just stood in line. I stood for about 30 minutes and noticed that this couple is not giving up and no one is getting anything done while they fight.  They wanted antibody testing.  Apparently, they paid online, made an online appointment, etc. but did not have doctors' orders which is what this employee asked for. To be honest, I don't think this employee knew what was going on. The reality was the no one was served while this was happening. I left. I would come back later and try again. Maybe they will fix the machines? Surely, that couple will at least be gone.

Stop 2: Trader Joe's

Chris and I talked about wanting some more easy dinner options from TJ's. I needed some tempting snacks (my weight-loss woes continue... ). I arrived. The line is out the door (which I expected) but it stretched all the way to Marshalls. I park and just watch for about 5 minutes to see how quickly this line moves. It doesn't. I did not have the patience to stand in the sun and wait for TJ's, after that ridiculous LabCorps experience. I will try again tomorrow.

Sigh. Another fail.

Stop 3: CVS

SUCCESS! 

Truly. 

I went to CVS. They had the things. My meds were filled. I bought some sunscreen (and aloe). Chris asked for bubbly water, I got some of that too. I even went next door to Harvest Field and picked up some lemons and limes. 

BONUS STOP: GAS

I also put gas in the tank (we were on empty), and I remembered Chris' Stop & Shop card was in my phone, which was AWESOME because it meant that we got $0.20 off per gallon. I needed this win. Woohoo! 

In a world where I am usually putting coupons on my S&S card every week and doing all the shopping, and using CVS coupons like cash-- Chris had been in charge and does not use my system. It felt good to save just a few dollars and feel that normal. 

HOME AGAIN

I went back home and unloaded the few things I got. I tried to do some lunch, but was really not into it. I put a packet of crackers in my pocket and went out to LabCorps again. I need this bloodwork done. 

LabCorps Round II

I arrive. The woman I was standing behind was still there, as was one other person. If nothing else, I was third in line! Hurrah!! 

The gentleman arrives at the window. He takes my ID and insurance card and looks for my name on the list. I tell him it isn't there (I wonder if there was some kind of exodus because a lot of names are not checked off). An angry woman arrives behind me (this is her second time today, as well. She tells me that the doctor did not send the order.). A young man comes in.

We start a new list. I write my name on it.

The lab tech takes care of the other people who are in front of me. Finally, he looks at my information. It takes him a long time. I notice he is typing and only had two fingers on one hand. Oh heavens. He really is being asked to do a lot more than he can do efficiently. 

While he is looking at my info, my favorite tech is leaving. I say "Oh no! Don't leave! You always do my blood!" He sweetly says he will stay for me. I laugh and say that I was kidding. I say that he should leave and do what he needs to do, but thank him for his kindness. I realize what a sweet man he is--and also, that this is about to get way worse. The man with two fingers on one hand is now alone. The waiting room is filling up. Thank goodness I am next. 

After a long while, the tech tells me that my doctors' orders are not there. I am confident they are, but he simply waves me off. He calls the next person. Wow. I've been there a half hour to find out that the orders aren't there. 

I call Drakes office. Latoya answers and tells me, the orders are there and she is looking at them. I ask her to stay with me on the phone as I go back inside. 

The angry woman is called to the window and will not let me back in line to talk to the tech. I use this time to tell LaToya the fax number and to have the orders faxed over. When she leaves, I quickly tell the man that I am on the phone with my doctor's office and the orders are there-- he simply says "no they aren't" and waves me away. I can't have the argument that the couple had. He won't let me engage. 

I tell LaToya that I think they are just trying to make people leave because it is such a madhouse. I tell her to please have the orders faxed ASAP and that might get me in. I sit down while the angry lady has her labs done-- it takes a surprisingly long amount of time. While I sit, I hear the fax machine go. I see papers come through. I have a chance!! 

Meanwhile, an anxious lady is a walk-in who arrived shortly after me. She is standing at the window and wants to be sure that she will be seen today. Yes, just sit down. He leaves again.

To the room, she asks, "Is it always like this?"

"No," I tell her, "I come every three weeks and I am usually in-and-out in 15 minutes. The machines being down is a big deal. If you can come back another time, I would suggest it." 

She stays. We have all invested a lot of time already.

Meanwhile, several more people show up. Put your name on the list, we tell them. 

After a while, I get up and stand at the window. When he arrives again, I tell him that a fax came in and I just want to be sure that it is my orders from the doctor. They are. This, by the way, takes a very long time. He sits and begins to type. He asks me questions like my phone number and my doctor's name (which should be on the order, right?). He asks me so many times and I eventually ask to write it down. He has been clicking and scrolling for a long time. None of this happens in a usual visit. I do not think he knows what he is doing. 

I am invited to room 2. 

I chat briefly with him. He is alone there now. Nothing is working. He does not usually work at this site. There was a supervisor who told the techs to call about the broken machines, and the supervisor wouldn't. It sounded really dysfunctional. He was upset about the people having to wait, but there is no alternative. He has to do all the processing and draw the blood (or whatever). I try to be super kind and empathize (always a good idea to the dude with the giant needle).

I return to the waiting room and people literally clap. I am the second person to be seen in over an hour. I wish everyone luck. But really, that poor chap doing all the work needs it. 

I head home. It has been a day. 

My goal is to not have health stuff take up my whole summer. And I know it won't if I don't let it-- but it always feels like I am on the phone with a doctor or a pharmacy, or getting blood drawn in a dramatic way. 

This week, I also had a wonderful socially-distant pool/beach day in NJ this week with a friend, and I hope to have more of those!! We head to VA late next week which should also be fun and refreshing. Good things are ahead. I just need to make sure they are highlighted too! 

 

xoxo

a

*Please note, in Feburary, while Adam was super-right, I played the CBT therapist saying "let's look at past scary viruses like SARS, that didn't close down the world..." Damnit. Wrong again, Amanda! (Remember when you just has a little "back pain.")  Sometimes things are the worst they can be. Good news: we now know how to survive it!