Search results for

#COPD

#1 Click this link to see Blog page --> 02/05/2019

#MedicalMafia
I spent yesterday morning at the pulmonologist’s office. I had a few lung function tests which confirm my #COPD is getting worse.
(I didn’t quit smoking soon enough)

The doctor prescribed two different inhalers but I should only take one. One of them isn’t covered by my insurance but he gave me a coupon I could use. Without the coupon it is $525 per month. Ouch!

I went to the #PharmacyWalgreens to see how the coupon works and what the copay for the other one is so I could decide which way to go. The pharmacy tech was pretty slow about it all. She couldn’t figure out the prices because they are out of stock on both. The only way she knows how to get the price is ring it up and cancel the one you don’t want. I left without my inhaler.

MjL

#2 Click this link to see Blog page --> 02/06/2019

#MedicalMafia
I spent some time on the phone yesterday sorting out the new #COPD inhaler. The coupon the doctor gave me for the “preferred” prescription was good for $412 per month. I called my drug plan and the medicine is not covered at all. Walgreen’s charges $525 per month so it would cost me the difference.

I decided to go with an alternative that has a co-pay of $10. I don’t want to get hooked on a drug I can’t afford in the first place.

MjL

#3 Click this link to see Blog page --> 02/14/2019

I quite smoking 19 years ago today. I typed this after taking a healthy honk on my #COPD inhaler.

MjL

#4 Click this link to see Blog page --> 03/01/2019

It was a lazy quiet day yesterday. I fiddled with the computer, watched TV, did some reading and took a nap. A good day.

I transferred my prescription for my #COPD inhaler to the Pekin Walgreen’s because E. Peoria is always a hectic busy mess. It was my turn to get supper so I went to the Wendy’s in Pekin since I was in town to get my inhaler. I am getting tired of take out food and I imagine Tracey is too. Maybe in a week or 2 the kitchen will be done.

MjL

#5 Click this link to see Blog page --> 12/09/2019

#InsuranceMafia
I just spent a half-hour on the phone with my prescription drug provider. I checked on all the medicines Tracey and I are prescribed. Fortunately there was no change in my insulin cost but a few of the others went up about 20% and my #COPD inhaler went up from $30 to $75.

If I hadn’t called to check I would have been surprised for the doubled cost of my inhaler. A couple years ago my pharmacy was kind enough to tell me before filling my insulin prescription that the cost had gone up over $400 and I had to get the doctor to prescribe a different (less effective) brand. American health care sucks.

MjL

#6 Click this link to see News Photos page --> 12/18/2019 #1

Hundreds gather for impeach and remove rally in Peoria. As horns blared in support from passing cars about 200 people were out in 20°F weather on Tuesday.
I am impressed this many people showed up in Peoria. Good on them. #Local
Impeachment of Twitler #ImpeachTwitler

MjL

Yea, we weren’t motivated enough to brave the cold,
didn’t make that decision till 3 p.m. yesterday.

Michael T.

I really thought about it but with my health issues I
didn’t think I would last long. I will be on oxygen
before long at the rate my #COPD is progressing.

MjL

#7 Click this link to see Blog page --> 03/14/2020

Tracey and I were just talking about this virus and that it is concerning how so many people have a cavalier attitude about it. They don’t realize that it isn’t just about them but about the older family members who might not survive it.

I said I was a bit worried with my #COPD that it might take me down. Tracey said she wasn’t worried. She says if I got it I would be too outraged and grumpy to let it kill me. That I would cuss my way back to health. I’m not sure how I feel about that.

MjL

#8 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/19/2020

#PharmacyWalgreens
I received a call from Walgreen’s Mail Order pharmacy. The copay on my #COPD inhaler went from $30 to $405. After calls to my Dr. office and the prescription insurance people I discovered I had been getting a discounted rate because of a “coupon”.

I don’t remember using a coupon and neither does the Dr. office. I was told they would send me another coupon that should be good until Dec.

I have about six weeks left on hand so I have to get busy.

MjL

#9 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/24/2020

I got the “coupon” from my pulmonologist’s office for my #COPD inhaler, but when I tried to activate it I was refused as being over age 65. Figures. The people who need it the most are excluded.

I sent an email to the Dr. office but I won’t hold my breath (because I can’t) for an answer.

MjL

#10 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/26/2020

#COPD #OSF #PharmacyWalmart
The saga continues for my COPD inhaler. The pharmacy says the doctor has to provide the prescription to get a price.

The nurse at the doctor office has decided I need to tell her which drug is affordable by calling the pharmacy.

Basically nobody wants to do their job.

MjL

#11 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/31/2020

Saga: #COPD inhaler
Synopsis: I turned 65 in July and my cost went from $30 to $405. I spoke with the doctors office about changing from Anoro Elipta, what I am taking now, to something as effective but less costly.

Key words “as effective”. The nurse (you NEVER get to actually talk to the doctor) says she can’t help me. I have to first call the insurance provider and do the research she is too lazy to do and give her a list of drugs so she can ask the doctor.

Major problem because neither I or the young lady in Mexico who answered the phone has any idea whatever what the exact equivalent would be. So she gives me a list of what is covered. Generic Tier 1 being the least expensive, Tier 3 being the most (which is where I am now).

One of the options is a Tier 2 but she can’t get me a cost because it requires a “prior authorization” to even get, so of course, the stupid software won’t give a price because they have to enter it into the database as a new order to get the price and then cancel it. (What century is this again?)

So I get the list. I call the doctor’s office. I get whomever answers the phone but doesn’t know anything (again). She takes down my name, my phone number, my date of birth, etc. etc. etc. and then she tells me somebody will call me back.

I wait two hours, nobody calls back, so I take a nap. Five minutes after I shut the phone off they call back and leave a message. I call back and get the same person again who knows nothing and she wants to ask all the same BS questions again and have somebody “return my call”. I refuse, telling her this is already at least the fourth call with no progress and hang up.

I found a “Message Center” for the office, typed up what I know and sent it in. I still have a month’s worth of inhaler before I stop breathing and die. Hopefully I will get an answer in that month.

P.S.
This saga began two weeks ago and is no closer to being resolved, so it is NOT a sure thing it will get done in a month.

MjL

#12 Click this link to see Blog page --> 09/01/2020

#COPD
I actually got an email from my pulmonologist!
Color me amazed.

He says I will experience a “significant decrease” in my ability to breathe if I use the Tier 1 or Tier 2 medications. He is willing to prescribe whatever I want to do on a trial basis.

Now I have to decide if it is worth $135 per month to stay with the better medication. I suspect I will make that sacrifice in order to breathe, but I am just that much more disgusted with this country.

I qualified for $125 in discounts until the month I turned 65. Now I am supposed to purchase Medicare part D insurance to reduce the cost, but if I do that I have to drop the CAT insurance I get already.

At that point the cost probably comes out the same but I can’t find out until AFTER I do it because they won’t compare costs unless you are enrolled. This country is so F’ed up.

MjL

#13 Click this link to see Blog page --> 06/24/2021

OSF medical equipment guy showed up this afternoon to set me up with an oxygen concentrator. The cigarettes and #COPD finally caught up with me. I can’t walk 100 feet without having to sit down and rest. Being very overweight doesn’t help either but that is a work in (slow) progress.

MjL

#14 Click this link to see Blog page --> 07/24/2021

Last trip to the pulmonologist yesterday to followup on the #COPD . He thinks we have everything under control (again) and I don’t need oxygen at night when I sleep but the rest of the day I do.

MjL

#15 Click this link to see Blog page --> 10/22/2021

#OSF
I had a video appointment with my pulmonologist yesterday. It was required by Medicare or they wouldn’t pay for the new breathing machine.

I was very surprised by the doctor asking, “How did your #COPD get so bad before I realized you needed treatment?”

I think it was mostly my fault for not realizing myself how bad it had gotten —— and a measure of self denial. Still, I very much appreciated the question. I don’t ever recall any doctor doing that before.

MjL

#16 Click this link to see Blog page --> 09/21/2023

This is good news but it will many years before our for-profit healthcare system will allow this to be affordable for the average person.

#COPD patients see promise of new therapies to
ease discomfort, aid breathing

MjL

#17 Click this link to see Blog page --> 03/31/2025

#COPD
I had a video appointment with the pulmonologist a couple weeks ago and he prescribed a new inhaler. After a few red tape #InsuranceMafia hurdles I finally got it today and will try it out tomorrow. He has been trying to get this medication for me for a few years but it was not on my insurance and was over $600 per month. Now it is more affordable at $135 per month.

MjL