Get yer minds out of the gutter, I mean prescription needs..
Ok, Cheryl and I can't be the first people out there that has traveled that need access to
Pain meds (yes Percocet, class II controlled substance, I know...)
In florida, Twice this week Cheryl dislocated her hip ( replacement) again, and twice we got rx's for meds. One each from two different hospitals about 200 miles away from each other.
First time, last Wednesday, I didn't stop to fill the rx, because I had her in car and I made the bad Decision NOT to go into the Wal-Mart we were parked in to get filled.
Big mistake, once in the panhandle near my brother, I had great difficulty getting it filled.
And here ( finally) comes my question...
Wtf is with these pharmacy chains???
MY regular chain, cvs the local store here on last Friday looked at the rx, noted it was 200 miles away, and noted my address wasn't in the area, the pharmacist tech consulted with the pharmacist, who then came Back with the story that they were out of Percocet.
After several hrs, the Walgreen across the street filled the rx, after I explained the whole drawn out story of newly bought rv., full timing, etc...
At first she said SHE COULDN'T fill -_-, but then she called hospital, verified Dr was on staff ,and that Cheryl had been patient in the er.
Bottom line,
How do you get your drugs filled on the road?
I am not currently a happy camper...
And it appears that Cvs has a policy that they never dispute rx mgr s decisions.
And the dude was caught in a bald face lie because he told me on phone, that they had no Percocet.in stock, while he told the store manager that he refused me because of multiple prescriptions.
I am going all out and complaining to their corporate about this ..
Sigh..
Talensnana said
12:32 AM Jul 10, 2014
There has been a lot of discussion about this in my online Fibro/CFS group. it is only going to get worse. I guess it is normal for them to say they don't have any if they don't want to fill it. Florida is one of the worse states because they have gotten in big troble with the DEA. Sone people are saying they have better luck if they avoid the big pharmacIes.
If I know we are going to be traveling for an extended period I make sure I have some pain meds availvable but not using them some of the times I need them prior to leaving. I am hoping by the time we FT next year, things will settle down some.
The Junkman said
08:52 AM Jul 10, 2014
I'm curious on this as well. I take Pain meds for my back..
I take other stuff. Non pain stuff...but wife has that shipped in from india or something.. No prescription needed.And you can order in quantity.
Here in vegas, I have to go to the dr, every 3 mo. not sure what we are gonna do on the road.
We didn't have insurance.. I just got medicaid / medicare.. one of them.. wife doesn't qualify.
-- Edited by The Junkman on Thursday 10th of July 2014 08:53:25 AM
MarkS said
10:43 AM Jul 10, 2014
Doctors put up with drug shoppers all the time. Pharmacies have to be very careful. My recommendation is to get the prescription filled as soon as you get it in the geographical where you get it. Getting class IIs filled will not get easier.
cherylbrv said
11:29 AM Jul 10, 2014
Guess I've been very naive. healthcare so far is not a problem as we have nationwide coverage as long as dr is in network (and most are), but I never expected filling a rx would be so difficult!
Barbaraok said
11:59 AM Jul 10, 2014
The emergency room will usually give you a list of pharmacies close by that will fill the Rx - these are pharmacies that will know the ER physicians and what they prescribed. Also, delaying getting the pain meds isn't a good idea because once the pain starts building, you'll have trouble getting the level back down to reasonable level.
As to maintenance - if this is going to be ongoing, see about working with a pain management clinic and trying some of the newer non-narcotic pain relievers to see if they can manage the pain better. Otherwise, you will have to limit your travel.
Barb
Talensnana said
08:31 PM Jul 10, 2014
i also have to go to the doctor every 3-4 months. Fortunately our kids live in Kansas (As do we right now). Right now our plan is to come through Kansas 3-4 times a year when we start full timing and will see our doctors when we are home visiting grand babies. I am sure when we decide on a region to stay in, then we will make a change. Fortunately I have some great doctors and that can be hard to find.
Clay L said
11:54 AM Jul 16, 2014
What we did was go with a local pharmacy in the small town we usually spent a couple of months in during the spring and fall visiting relatives.
The local doctor gave the pharmacy a number of of post dated prescriptions and the pharmacy mailed the pain meds to us each month. When we went back in the spring the doc would re-evaluate my wife and give the pharmacy new prescriptions for the next six months.
cherylbrv said
12:55 PM Jul 16, 2014
I found no problems at the local Winn Dixie. I suspect using small mom & pop pharmacies or anywhere other than the large nationwide chains are more likely to help.
Classy Lady said
06:16 PM Jul 17, 2014
Getting prescriptions filled when travelling is more of a challenge than I thought it would be. This is what we have learned so far:
RiteAid is only on the east/west coasts, not central US
Walgreens covers the entire US
To transfer a prescription, go to the new pharmacy and the pharmacist will make the phone call to the original supplier to get the prescription.
In Canada, prescriptions will only be filled if written by a Canadian physician.
Oxygen suppliers can be hard to locate. The written list of suppliers is not always up to date and they are often located in industrial parks. This was quite a challenge for us last summer. I learned to telephone ahead and verify the address.
I even carry a written prescription for our eyeglasses, if something happens and we need new glasses.
The Junkman said
08:45 AM Jul 18, 2014
I guess I'm still unclear..
I just went to my local dr.. who refilled my Loratab for the next 5 mo.. by the end, I expect to be fully on the road..
What do I do?
Bring my file, and see a doctor locally .. where ever I am, to get a prescription.. Plus she just put me on some hypertension meds..
If I roll into a town somewhere, will i be able to get the meds?
thanks
-- Edited by The Junkman on Friday 18th of July 2014 08:46:28 AM
Talensnana said
12:08 PM Jul 18, 2014
JunkMan I wish there was an easy answer. Until this mess settles down it is going to be hard to get pain meds when full timing. I am suprised you were able to get 5 months worth of loratab. I believe my doctor only does 30 days at a time for pain meds. You will find some states will be easier than others. Make sure your local doc knows you will be traveling as he will probably be contacted. I always prepare for the worse. For me that means we expect to be traveling home 3-4 x per year. I don't think short of a new injury on the road I will be able to get my pain meds. I am hoping just the rving life will help some wih the pain.
The Junkman said
01:10 PM Jul 18, 2014
Talensnana wrote:
JunkMan I wish there was an easy answer. Until this mess settles down it is going to be hard to get pain meds when full timing. I am suprised you were able to get 5 months worth of loratab. I believe my doctor only does 30 days at a time for pain meds. You will find some states will be easier than others. Make sure your local doc knows you will be traveling as he will probably be contacted. I always prepare for the worse. For me that means we expect to be traveling home 3-4 x per year. I don't think short of a new injury on the road I will be able to get my pain meds. I am hoping just the rving life will help some wih the pain.
Yea.. Not 5 mo at at time.. 5 mo in refills.. Walmart says I can refill them anywhere.. But once the refills are out.. I have to go home? Crap..
I'm in NV now.. moving to FL next mo. I will be in FL for a few mo.. so I will get a new doctor there.
The first couple years we could travel back to FL.. as we will be on the east coast.. Kinda expensive trip.. Cheaper to just buy them off the street..lol.. It's joke.. but true..
gjmiller138 said
07:28 PM Jul 30, 2015
been one of my biggest fears. 2 fused disc, 4 herniated disc. I see my pain doc every two months. This may be the straw that brakes my RVs back. The on I just purchased. Non-narcotics won't work with acid reflux. 460 per month for medical insurance and it can't get any better than this.
tnsauerkraut said
06:07 AM Jul 31, 2015
Unfortunately, with the new laws regarding schedule II narcotics, this will not get any easier. The new law states that you have to see your docor every 30 days and get a new prescription.
I am fortunate. I am a 100% disabled vet and get my meds mailed to me from the VA. Since I take nothing stronger than Zanax, my dr. has agreed to give me a year's worth of refills that I can get mailed to me wherever we are. I just go on their site online and ask for a refill.
Once a year, I will go to the nearest VA hospital and see a doctor there and get a new year's refill, and pray that my chronic illness doesn't get any worse to where I will need schedule II pills. Once that happens, I'm afraid we'll have to come off the road.
There has been a lot of discussion about this in my online Fibro/CFS group. it is only going to get worse. I guess it is normal for them to say they don't have any if they don't want to fill it. Florida is one of the worse states because they have gotten in big troble with the DEA. Sone people are saying they have better luck if they avoid the big pharmacIes.
If I know we are going to be traveling for an extended period I make sure I have some pain meds availvable but not using them some of the times I need them prior to leaving. I am hoping by the time we FT next year, things will settle down some.
I'm curious on this as well. I take Pain meds for my back..
I take other stuff. Non pain stuff...but wife has that shipped in from india or something.. No prescription needed.And you can order in quantity.
Here in vegas, I have to go to the dr, every 3 mo. not sure what we are gonna do on the road.
We didn't have insurance.. I just got medicaid / medicare.. one of them.. wife doesn't qualify.
-- Edited by The Junkman on Thursday 10th of July 2014 08:53:25 AM
The emergency room will usually give you a list of pharmacies close by that will fill the Rx - these are pharmacies that will know the ER physicians and what they prescribed. Also, delaying getting the pain meds isn't a good idea because once the pain starts building, you'll have trouble getting the level back down to reasonable level.
As to maintenance - if this is going to be ongoing, see about working with a pain management clinic and trying some of the newer non-narcotic pain relievers to see if they can manage the pain better. Otherwise, you will have to limit your travel.
Barb
i also have to go to the doctor every 3-4 months. Fortunately our kids live in Kansas (As do we right now). Right now our plan is to come through Kansas 3-4 times a year when we start full timing and will see our doctors when we are home visiting grand babies. I am sure when we decide on a region to stay in, then we will make a change. Fortunately I have some great doctors and that can be hard to find.
The local doctor gave the pharmacy a number of of post dated prescriptions and the pharmacy mailed the pain meds to us each month. When we went back in the spring the doc would re-evaluate my wife and give the pharmacy new prescriptions for the next six months.
Getting prescriptions filled when travelling is more of a challenge than I thought it would be. This is what we have learned so far:
I even carry a written prescription for our eyeglasses, if something happens and we need new glasses.
I guess I'm still unclear..
I just went to my local dr.. who refilled my Loratab for the next 5 mo.. by the end, I expect to be fully on the road..
What do I do?
Bring my file, and see a doctor locally .. where ever I am, to get a prescription.. Plus she just put me on some hypertension meds..
If I roll into a town somewhere, will i be able to get the meds?
thanks
-- Edited by The Junkman on Friday 18th of July 2014 08:46:28 AM
JunkMan I wish there was an easy answer. Until this mess settles down it is going to be hard to get pain meds when full timing. I am suprised you were able to get 5 months worth of loratab. I believe my doctor only does 30 days at a time for pain meds. You will find some states will be easier than others. Make sure your local doc knows you will be traveling as he will probably be contacted. I always prepare for the worse. For me that means we expect to be traveling home 3-4 x per year. I don't think short of a new injury on the road I will be able to get my pain meds. I am hoping just the rving life will help some wih the pain.
Yea.. Not 5 mo at at time.. 5 mo in refills.. Walmart says I can refill them anywhere.. But once the refills are out.. I have to go home? Crap..
I'm in NV now.. moving to FL next mo. I will be in FL for a few mo.. so I will get a new doctor there.
The first couple years we could travel back to FL.. as we will be on the east coast.. Kinda expensive trip.. Cheaper to just buy them off the street..lol.. It's joke.. but true..
I am fortunate. I am a 100% disabled vet and get my meds mailed to me from the VA. Since I take nothing stronger than Zanax, my dr. has agreed to give me a year's worth of refills that I can get mailed to me wherever we are. I just go on their site online and ask for a refill.
Once a year, I will go to the nearest VA hospital and see a doctor there and get a new year's refill, and pray that my chronic illness doesn't get any worse to where I will need schedule II pills. Once that happens, I'm afraid we'll have to come off the road.