Over 5 Years and Counting !
5 Freakin' years!
I recently, November 2008, celebrated? the 5 year anniversary of the injury that finished me off. And also recently attended another doctors office for a reassessment of my physical condition. I can't wait to hear what great shape I'm in. YOU see this Doctor is working for Workers Comp. So as one of the fill-in lawyers I had down here once told me. "They think you are in shape to play for the Cleveland Browns and our doctor thinks you shouldn't leave your easy chair to switch on the TV to watch the game."
About true! Though it doesn't help with the reality of being unable to hold even a part time job, or go anywhere that requires a couple hours in the car, or walking very far, like in a Mall to shop. Or sit anywhere for an extended length of time, like a movie theatre. All things I don't do anymore. I used to like to work on cars and trucks, now I can't get under them or over them and can't do much standing next to them. I used to weld for fun, currently I'm having trouble with using the helmet, definately can't snap it into place, like I used to. WAH WHAH WAH! Still better than before the surgeries.
Anyway here's the latest screw up. I went to get a refill for my vicodin, I get one refill. That way I get to see my doctor every other month. We worked that out because it is a 180 mile round trip just to get a couple prescriptions updated. So I get a refill, which means I only have to go to Akron 6 times a year now... So anyway I sent Chris in to get my refills. She only got the Celebrex which is an issue a couple times a year when they (The WC doctors who have never seen me) have to redecide if I should have it. But that's another story. She returned without the Vicodin, now I don't get anything out of the Vicodin, I guess some people get some sort of whoopee out of the stuff, I get to move, no other response. Well I ask her why and she thought maybe she was too early and they didn't have it ready as I had only called it in an hour and fourty five minutes before she stopped to get it. I'm suppossed to give them 2 hours to count the pills and print a label. I admitted they might have been rushed. That was Friday. So on Monday we went into town to get a couple things I needed for the tractor and stopped by CVS to get the Vicodin. The girl checked and it wasn't there, then she checked something on the computer and said"Oh well we don't have any Vicodin, it's been on order for a week and we can't get it.
Just then, a 10 year old, who I guess is the store manager, came to the window and told me, "There is a national shortage of Vicodin in the strength that you need, So you should contact your doctor and have him change the strength so we can refill your prescription." Thus began a two day marathon of stupidity that ended in my getting a refill across the street at the Rite Aid. I immediately called the very competent Mrs. J. at my doctors office, she's the person that handles my WC medical needs and actually gets things done for me. I explained there was an issue with the Vicodin and she said she'd handle it the next morning, Tuesday, but that she hadn't heard of any shortage and that they, the doctors, were notified if anything, of that nature was going on. I could only tell her what I was told.
Tuesday moring the Doctors office called and I was directed to continue with my current medicines, thanks and goodb--- WHait a minute, " I can't continue with what I can't get, and explained again the situation as relayed to me by the all knowing manager at the CVS. The nurse also scoffed at the likely hood of a nationwide shirtage of such a staple drug as Vicodin in any strength. Let a lone that they wouldn't have been informed of it. I assured her I had checked the internet and seen no such notice either, and gave her the number of the pharmacy to check it for herself... later that day they called back and informed me that there was a substitution made and I could try the CVS later in the day to get the new prescription. But it probably wouldn't work as well. I'm not a fan of "Probably Not Work as Well", as it is "barely works as it is..." So I asked my wife to call around and check some other pharmacies in the immediate area. Low and BEHOLD! They all had the Vicodin in the strength that I needed! So I guess the national shortage was due to someone not ordering enough for CVS.. The only place with a national shortage. Now the moron at CVS could have explained this to me, could have said " As you are such a good customer, we are going to transfer this script across the street and make sure you get your required medication, on time. And we hope you will remain a customer of ours, as we will surely have the medicine by the time you need it again.." Rather than "You change all your needs to fit our shortage and we will screw you around until we can find a subsitute and get your doctor shaking his head at your goofy requests."
So four days later I finally get the drugs I require. This screws up the schedule I try to keep, where I can see my doctor on a Wednesday, in the middle of the month, when he's not so busy. And get my script refilled so that there is no overlap or delay in getting it filled. Now I'm four days closer to the end of the month and it will take me four months to get it backed up that far, to get my refills without problems from Workers Comp. Because they won't allow an early refill, because, gee I don't know, guess it could have to do with the fact they have to pay for them. And if I can only get 11 fills a year they save $15.00, screw the pain.... After all, I'm never going back to work, they've seen to that.
Just to update the statements above, the newest Saturday Morning Doctor I saw for BWC decided I was 25% disabled, most reasonable amount yet. He's not from the Akron Area and beyond their influence I'm guessing, now he basically checked my neck, and arms. He didn't have an authorization to rate my back, because it is a simple strain and is of course resolved by now. What a joke. Anyway the miracle of this part is how they add 25% and 5% (which I had from a previous exam) and get 29%. Only in the world of Workers Comp. The other great trick is how they get their money back they think I shouldn't have gotten, due to the city screwing me up in Akron. they have been collecting 10% of each award, and whittling the amount, (that somehow I have no ability to contest) down a little at a time, until now. They took 40% of this award. So the process seems to be, that the worse off they decide I am, the more they take from me. I really love this system. I only wish I could go back and enter it, knowing what I know now. I would still have my job, and be in much better physical shape.
It's a shame there is no way to correct the system. It is rampant with deceit, and injustice, and there are no controls to keep it honest. Unless you want to start dealing with politicians, and that system.... WOW. I'd rather harvest honey from Killer Bees Hives.
