Traveling with IC

Oh dear, Blogger has changed formats. Well, it's been awhile. I still have spasms, but nothing like during the winter. Meds and heating pads control it so I can be productive at a desk. Tomorrow I am stepping out of my comfort zone and going to take part in a protest against the War on Women. It's something a college student like me is expected/allowed to do. What do ICers need? Hormonal birth control for flares. What are certain politicians trying to stop? Hormonal birth control. As an ICer I will go and speak for us. I think things should be okay. I'm bringing emergency pack of hand warmers for heating pad substitute, my meds, and a Nintendo DS for the ride. Oh, and water, lots of water. I think I'll be okay with these things. So far on my hour commute to and from school these things have helped me greatly. I also have a wheel chair for dire pain situations. These things make me able to travel. It's not impossible... but it does depend on your state. I don't think I'd have the courage to do this during winter months when I flare up. Or maybe I would considering the importance of this. Glad it's in the summer. Ah, and I've found that the local Planned Parent hood here doesn't require pelvic exams for birth control. This makes my longing for informed consent and my IC happy.

More Pharmacy failure

Went to store to get meds. Pharmacy was closed due to lunch, so I'm like, ok, I'll go get food that I can eat since I'm low.

I stand in the long line. Its my turn. "We're sorry but we can't fill this script because the makers don't make it anymore."

"I know. There's like a hundred generic versions of it." <-- Info my Uro told me. Said to just find whatever the pharmacy had that had ingredients in it, and the companies making and not making it is common. Its that pill you get when you have a UTI and it changes your urine's color (and stains toilets terribly).

"I'm sorry, but we have to contact your doctor tomorrow to see if we can use a different brand."

The original script already had that taken care of. I was completely out as it was. But you can't sit there and argue with a tech and a huge line of people behind you, so I just left and will take extra doses of whatever I need. They need to make plans for this. Utira-C and all of its buddies and offshoots, are never available everywhere and literally has tons of other names but all the same ingredients. IMO they should ask the patient if its okay if they substitute it or if we'd rather the doctor confirm it. She had. To me. And to the first script. Had the main Pharmacist been the family friend who runs shifts there I likely would have got what I needed at no problem.

The dumbest thing is that this drug is safer than the NSAIDs you purchase over the counter like ibuprofen. Take enough of that and really bad things happen. You can even take it when you're pregnant!

My face.


Attribution

Insurance Scare

I told my mom I was covered until I was 26 regardless of enrollment status, she said I had to be a full time student. I went online to double check and there were three things: Insurance in Louisiana only lasted until you were 24 (that's less than a month away for me), you were covered until 25 as long as you were a student, and you were covered until 26 regardless of anything.

The exception to 1 and 2 was if you have a disability you can stay indefinitely. I email my urologist and she concluded that yes, IC is a disability.

So regardless of what my insurance says on their coverage evidently they're stuck with me regardless. Good. If the "pre-existing" trap ever got me I'd be out on the streets I'm afraid. Now that's one good thing Obama did. He was the one who raised (or attempted to, if it did not work) the age limit to 26. For that I do owe him. I know he isn't popular, especially after the recent military action allowed in the U.S. and the internet censorship bills he signed. This isn't a political blog, but I really feel like the republicans have a noose around his neck. Checks and balances. I really don't think he had a choice in the matter.

I wish they would work out some sort of socialized medical coverage here. One that say, doesn't take 4 days to read through. The basics -- that everyone must pay 50 dollars a month and you are covered, sounds good to me. I'm not sure if this also includes those who'd rather keep their private insurance.. but I've heard some of the changes that already went through is making insurance companies drop customers due to not making enough because of Obama's policies. Of course, in America, you can't trust any news outlet so I don't really know where I stand. I just want something simple, say, real democracy like back in the Greek City State where everyone voted on a law or bill rather than letting representatives do it. I've never met my representative, so how can I be represented?

Also, this is a real interesting read on patient modesty and how its treated around the world. http://www.leighbureau.com/speakers/agawande/essays/nejm.pdf