Blue Diamond Fury

I discovered today that West Virginia Medicaid pays for Viagra. I was so mad, I was seeing blue diamonds!!! According to the WV Medicaid formulary, a male can get 6 Viagra tablets every 30 days. And the copay on that...sit down for this one...a whole whopping $3! Most insurance companies don't pay for Viagra; and those that do allow a 6 to 8 tablet supply for 30 days with a copay over $50. How ridiculous. The little elderly lady with allergies couldn't get Zyrtec - even though her eyes were almost swollen shut and Claritin wasn't working for her; yet this guy can get Viagra with no questions asked. Grrrrrr.......

Morning After Pill Fiasco

I read on CNN today that the FDA postponed its decision on the OTC status of the "morning after pill." The FDA has stated that it would be safe for adults as an OTC drug; however they are concerned about teenagers accessing the drug. Before I step on my soap box, allow me to discuss the "morning after pill" and its major differences from RU-486, the abortion pill - because contrary to popular belief, they are NOT the same. Plan B is the morning after pill. It basically is a progestin - which is one of the ingredients in birth control pills. (Regular birth control pills, with the exception of the mini-pill, are a combination of an estrogen and a progestin.) Plan B works by one of two mechanisms. First, it can prevent the release of an egg from the ovary. Pretty simple concept - no egg, no pregnancy. Second, it can prevent the implantation of a fertilized egg into the side of the uterus. Another simple concept - no implantation, no pregnancy. It is important to know that Plan B does not affect a fertilized egg that has already implanted into the uterus wall. Once you are pregnant, Plan B will not work. It only prevents pregnancy. This is why it is not the abortion pill. It is no different than taking birth control pills. Birth control pills prevent pregnancy by preventing ovulation, thickening cervical mucus (thus making it more difficult for sperm to enter the uterus), and change the endometrium to make implantation of an egg more difficult. Wow - that sounds a lot like Plan B. So...if you aren't opposed to birth control pills, you shouldn't be opposed to Plan B. I work with a pharmacist that is adamantly opposed to Plan B - but not too birth control. Why? I chalk it up to ignorance. He just doesn't know the similarities and equates Plan B with RU-486.

So, how do I feel about Plan B going OTC? As a pharmacist, I have mixed feelings. Our culture already feels that there is a pill for every ill. Teenagers already think the only possible consequence of sex is pregnancy. I fear that placing Plan B in the OTC section will cause recklessness among teenagers. If you think you may be pregnant, you should see a physician. As a woman, I think the "pharmacist conscience clause" bullshit makes it a necessity to have Plan B in the OTC section. I fear that if I would ever require the pill, I would have a hard time finding it in my small town. The pharmacy I am employed at stocks it - but whenever CF works, it mysteriously disappears. It can usually be found hiding behind the hydroxychloroquine bottles. The XYZ stocks it; however I know for a fact that Wal-Mart refuses to sell it or even stock it. It goes against their "good family values." These are the same "good family values" that allow women who work for their company to not progress up the corporate ladder and keep their employees on welfare. Wal-Mart is the dirt on my shoe - but that's a totally seperate topic. :) Basically the pharmacist in me says, "Plan B should require a prescription.", but the woman in me says, "Put the shit over-the-counter and stop treating me like it's 1950."

Day 12 of 24 @ the XYZ

The XYZ is much more tolerable these days. Since the chains were put away and I've been given permission to float around the pharmacy, life has been much better. Tuesday I actually got a 4 hour break from the mundane filling of prescriptions to put the order away. The 12 totes probably shouldn't have taken 4 hours, but I couldn't find where all the drugs went. What a nightmare - however I now know where almost all of the drugs are located, which is quite beneficial when I'm filling scripts. It's hard to have a 15 minute wait time when it takes me 20 minutes to find the drugs! Today I was even allowed to call doctor's offices (gasp)! (I've been doing this at my regular job since May of 2003.) The staff is pretty cool - once you get to know them. They're a little judgmental of people, however in their defense I must say they get a lot of shit each day. It's hard to not be judgmental when you get your ass chewed on a daily basis by ungrateful people. Having worked in retail for 2 years, it really doesn't bother me much anymore. I just let it go in one ear and out the other and move on. I just keep reminding myself that I'm not the one making an ass out of myself. :) The XYZ averages 3200 prescriptions per week. On Monday, we did 802. It was a little nuts especially since they are short staffed. The girl with the girlfriend quit (thank God - she was a total bitch). The entire pharmacy had a party after that news reached the staff. The district manager for the XYZ stopped in this afternoon to work on some paperwork. He was on his way to an event at my pharmacy school that was sponsored by the XYZ. When he left, he gave me his business card and offered me a job at one of the new stores opening in Winchester next year. Three rotations --> three job offers. That has a nice ring. :) So does this - I'm half way through my last retail rotation and it's all downhill from here!!! :)

Liberated...Free at Last!

The chains that bound me, bind me no more! Today I was liberated from the inputting station by my preceptor! :) He was on vacation last week and was slightly dismayed that I had been tied to inputting station 1 all week. Today I moved up in the pharmacy world - I was placed at production station 2. Woohoo! My poor wrists are so happy!!! :) Now, instead of inputting 7000 prescriptions a day, I wonder aimlessly around the pharmacy on a never ending quest to find the drugs to fill the scripts. The drug bays at this pharmacy have no rhyme or reason to their arrangement. First, there's the dispensing machine that holds the "Top 200" drugs - except amoxicillin 500mg (I haven't figured out why I have to hand count the amoxicillin and not the hydrocodone). Then there's the very fast mover section located over the production stations. Next there's the fast mover section, where drugs are arranged alphabetical by drug name. Behind these bays are sections devoted to ophthalmic, otic, vaginal, and injectable products. Birth control pills, liquids, reconstitutables, and all topical formulations have their own section as well. Finally there's the slow mover section...where the drugs are arranged alphabetical by BRAND name. I get so freaking lost. Case in point - it took me 15 minutes to find generic Accuretic (quinapril/HCTZ). First I thought, quinapril/HCTZ isn't a fast mover and it definitely isn't a very fast mover. The label didn't say "Smart Cabinet," therefore I knew it wasn't in the machine. It's not an opthalmic, otic, vaginal, topical, or injectable product. It's not a liquid or a reconstitutable - and it's not birth control. This leaves the slow mover section. I go back there and only find Accupril. So I go to the "Q's" - but then I rememeber that the slow mover section is alphabetical by Brand and return to the "A's." No quinapril/HCTZ - hell there wasn't even Accuretic!! I returned to the fast mover section to the "Q's" - since it is arranged alphabetical by drug name. No dice. Finally, I threw up my arms in defeat and asked MM for assistance. The freaking quinapril/HCTZ was located in the "A's." WTF??? MM explained that it shouldn't be there, but that's where it was. Thank God that person wasn't waiting on their prescription! :)

Working on the chain gang

The rotation from Hell is continuing to be the rotation from Hell. If it's possible, it has actually gotten worse. The people are much more tolerable; however the circumstances are getting worse. Basically, when I get to the pharmacy at 10AM, I am chained to the computer inputting station. At 8PM, the pharmacist on duty comes around and unlocks the padlock and allows me to leave. I'm sick of inputting, I'm sick of being used as extra technician help, and I'm freaking sick of not getting a damn lunch. It's getting to the point where I can feel dissatisfaction bubbling below my skin - even on the weekends. I plan on discussing my dissatisfaction with my preceptor tomorrow. I have learned more about pharmacy working at my regular retail pharmacy than on the rotation at XYZ. At my regular job, which I was at today, I input, fill, help customers, take doctor calls, get transfers, give copies, etc. Basically I do every task in that pharmacy except the final check - and that is because I'm an intern, not a pharamcist. The pharmacists at XYZ treat me like I'm a technician trainee. It's getting very old, very quickly. I've got four more weeks at the XYZ. If something doesn't change, I'll have carpal tunnel syndrome by September 16. Is there a Crue concert next weekend???

From the mouths of babes...I mean adults

Today I learned I have "tell me your life story" tattooed across my forehead. Case in point - Officer Feelgood* approached the pharmacy drop off window at 5PM. He showed me his state police officer badge (I think he was trying to intimidate me) as he was digging for his insurance card. After I input his script, he asked me what medicine his wife could put on an ingrown hair. He told me she got the hair out with a pair of tweezers, but the area was now very sore. She wanted a topical analgesic. So as I walked out the swinging door to help him, he goes, "I should probably tell you where the hair is." I stopped dead in my tracks. Naive Rx Ahsirt was thinking ingrown hair on the arm - possibly the leg from shaving. WRONG! I feebly asked, "Where's the hair?" He replies (with a totally straight face), "Oh, it's in MY happy place." He then proceeded to tell me that she uses some kind of miracle wax. I almost told him, "Yes, apparently it's working miracles on YOUR happy place." But I bit my tongue and tried to keep from laughing. I grabbed the Bactine from the shelf and handed it to him and started to walk away. He goes, "It's on her lip! Can she use this there??" At this point, I could take no more. I stuck him at the counseling area and retrieved JJ, the pharmacist. He was not amused. He basically told the guy "take it or leave it." HA!

Today I also learned that prescriptions can be inputted as "rush" instead of just "wait" or "promise." Basically a "wait" tells the techs and the pharamcists that the person is in XYZ waiting on the prescription. "Promise" means they dropped it off and will return later. "Rush" means - get it done now and get them the hell out of here. A middle-aged man dropped of a script for pen needles for his wife's insulin pins. BB said, "Put a rush on that." I was thinking "A rush on insulin needles?? Is she in diabetic shock??" I was wrong. Apparently the middle aged man has bladder problems and pees himself...in the store waiting chairs. I couldn't think of a better reason to put a "rush" on a script. Personally, I didn't want to smell urine all day...and I'm sure the guy would've been embarassed if he peed himself. Just another day at the XYZ...one more until the weekend! :)

*Not his real name - name has been changed to protect the moron

What Do I Look Like?

Today at the XYZ, the pharmacist JJ was telling everyone how he wants to see Motley Crue in concert. How ironic, eh? I left my inputting post and promptly informed him that I had spent Saturday night with Motley Crue. He was flabergasted. He promptly blurts out, "You certainly don't look like a Crue fan." He then turned to RR, another pharmacy student, and goes, "Does she look like a Crue fan to you????" I guess I should expect this. Try as I may, I can't seem to make my Rock N Roll Whore shirt look right under my white coat. When I worked at Wal-Mart a couple years back, I had the same experience - except two other female coworkers informed me that I didn't look like a rock girl. One of these coworkers wore a Jackyl shirt at least once a week that had "Rock Me, Roll Me, Jackyl Me Off" painted across the back. HA! So I can't help but wonder, how do other people perceive me? What do I look like to others? Apparently I come across as this sweet, innocent country girl next door...but be warned - I'm a pistol when I want to be. I may wear professional clothes to work, but I sleep in rock and roll t-shirts. :)

Ch..ch...ch...changes

Due to the heavy amount of SPAM comment posts, I've had to change the comment procedure to my website. Only individuals with an account can post comments from now on. I am so sick of deleting porn advertisements veiled as "I love your blog!" comments. To remedy this problem, the only solution I could find was to change the comment posting criteria. No anonymous posts are allowed. Hopefully this will remedy the problem. I'm not a huge fan of anonymous posts anyway, so I don't think this will be a big deal. :)

Sinned and Crued...(or crude???)

Apparently the world's biggest sin according to Motley Crue is sex...sex...sex. The show opened with a movie playing on the screens followed by a midget in a clown suit and two women in thigh-high stilleto boots, g-strings, and bra tops that would make Frederick's of Hollywood blush. The midget was kind of horrifying. The women proceeded to lick and rub all over one another. After much fondling, there was a loud bang, fire was everywhere on stage and Motley Crue came running out and played Shout at the Devil very loudly. Three women wearing g-strings and boots and some type of brazier climbed ladders and girated to the music. Then for the next hour, there was no sex, no scantily dressed women, and no midgets - just good, hard, fast Crue. After a 10 minute intermission, they opened with Girls, Girls, Girls. I had a feeling that this would be an act to make Hugh Hefner blush...and it was. Crue came out on stage riding custom made Choppers that was awesome. They were followed by a girl wearing nothing but boots. There were also 2 girls wearing lingerie dangling in midair supported by some large metal hoop. But none of this could compare to the sights on the 20 foot screens on both sides of the stage. They were playing porno movies...not edited movies...full on porn movies. After that fiasco, they played some more good Crue music sans porn and nudity. At 10:30, the titty cam came out. That was enlightening. Every woman in the pit had their shirt off and their titties displayed on the 20 foot screens. I've been going to rock concerts for eight years now and I know girls showing tits is just part of the show - so I totally expected this. I was not expecting the woman to take off her thong and pull up her skirt. Tommy Lee dropped the freaking camera at this sight, but quickly recovered to do a close up of her pulled up skirt and no underwear. Nikki Sixx disappeared at this moment. Tommy ran back stage with the camera to find him and viola Nikki's penis was on 20 foot screens. Keep in mind that there was an eleven year old girl in the row in front of me and I saw several young boys in the crowd earlier. (Side note - what parent takes a 10 year old to a heavy rock concert??? No heavy rock concert is appropriate for 10 year olds!!!) From this point on, there was at least one scantily clad woman on stage at all times. The best part, however, I reserved for last. A woman came on stage wearing a metal bra and panty set...and a grinder in her hand. She proceeded to grind her boobs for 5 minutes and lick the sparks. She then, to the delite of many neanderthals in the crowd, proceeded to grind her crotch for 5 minutes. Add to all of this the fact that it was like 100 degrees outside. I was drenched in sweat. I don't know how people drank all afternoon and stayed in the heat. One guy passed out during The Exies and remained unconscious through Sum 41 (who was really loud...and really good!). His entire crew of people disappeared before Motley Crue took the stage at 8:30. I'm not a prude by any means, however, I didn't pay $100 to see girls rub over each other. I paid $100 to see and hear Crue. I was quite disappointed in the show, but the music was great. It was the first concert I have ever been to that the headlining band played for 2 and 1/2 hours. They played all my favorites and I got some good jumping and screaming in; but I think I have been to my last Crue concert.

Circus of Sins Here I Come...

On Saturday, March 26 at 10:00AM I logged onto Ticketmaster.com and worked my magic for Crue tickets. My dumb ass forgot my password, thus forgoing the second freaking row seats that I had ordered! I did, however, procure 3 tickets for seats about 12 rows from the stage. ROCK ON! Today, I finally get to enjoy the fruits of my labors. $100 and five months later, I am going to be standing, yelling, and jumping at a Crue concert! Due to heavy influence from my brother (and some from my sister), I have grown up being a true metal and rock fan. I cherish the memories of me sitting on my brother's floor and listening to him jam out to bands like Metallica (good Metallica, none of that post-Black album shit), Zeppelin, and even the likes of Crue. He had four guitars hanging on his wall and a Marshall half-stack in the corner of his room. The guitars were a 6-string Ovation, a 12-string Ovation, a gorgeous Les Paul, and his original stark red Pevey. He had a wa-wa pedal and a talk box. I walked away from this experience with a love for bands like Crue, GNR, and Skid Row. 15 years later, I'm actually seeing Crue in concert. Needless to say, I am really going to enjoy tonight. I need to let my hair down and relax and quite frankly, nothing releases pent up stress like rock music pumping at about 1000 decibels. :)

Fly on the Wall

Ah, to be a fly on the wall... Today I learned that if you keep your mouth shut long enough, people will spill their guts to you. Today I learned that my preceptor despises his wife but stays married for the kids. He takes anti-depressants just so he can stand to be around his wife. His wife has made his 8 year old daughter anorexic. The anti-psychotic meds his daughter is on has caused her to develop ticks. How sad.... One of the pharmacists had a trist with one of the techs - the pharmacist is single, so you probably think it's not a big deal. It probably isn't...except he's 32 and she's younger than me! She broke the trist off when he wouldn't settle down. He reminds me so much of a guy I dabbled with a couple summers ago. MG was the biggest male whole I have ever encountered...but he was really good at the game (REALLY good). TT, had a fight with her girlfriend. Yes that's right, I said her girlfriend. Apparently it was TT's birthday and her girlfriend celebrated by going out and getting drunk with other women. Nice to know that relationship problems aren't confined to heterosexual relationships. TT's dog is a male. Apparently his favorite past time is nibbling his penis. She has told us all this - numerous times. Last night, he drew blood. Today was also filled with valuable lessons. Such as the bathroom orientation. If KK leaves the pharmacy with the newspaper under her arm, don't use the women's bathroom for at least 30 minutes. The men's bathroom is a good alternative. Second lesson and most important lesson - the public is cruel no matter where you work. Every retail pharmacy is the same, it's just a different company and a different crew. The basics never change. I don't think I want this the rest of my life, and I'm pretty sure that come September 16 I'll know I don't want this the rest of my life.

Pharmacy XYZ - Day 3 of 24

Today was significantly different than my first two days at rotation. Something is definitely amiss with the crew at Pharmacy XYZ. When I walked in at 10AM this morning, everyone said, "Goodmorning!" with one of those acid smiles. They were all so helpful and no one snubbed me. They even offered to buy me lunch. I'm quite convinced that they're trying to kill me. Something definitely happened in the one day that I was gone - because butter would melt in their mouths now. Just for safety measures, I keep my drink within eye sight at all times and I don't accept food from these people. Let's see how tomorrow goes...

Rotation from Hell

Monday officially marked the beginning of my third clinical rotation (and final clinical rotation for those who are counting). Allow me to put it in perspective for you - I'd rather be back in DC at Washington Hosptial Center. I have never met a more miserable bunch of people in my life. Perhaps its because they fill 700 prescriptions per day? Whatever the reason, they are just plain miserable. My preceptor is a really nice guy; unfortunately he can't make up for the rest of the crew. I wasn't introduced to anyone - and no one really wants to know who I am. To quote one of the pharmacists, "I don't know how she's doing. Frankly, as long as she stays out of my way, I don't care." That made me feel great... My self-esteem is taking yet another low blow. Aside from my preceptor, there is one other person that is remotely nice to me. He's another pharmacist. Monday we exchanged "hellos" and today he actually helped me with a claim! Wow! Here's how a typical day goes for me: 10am - arrive at pharmacy and take up post as inputter. 11am - maintain post. 12pm - maintain post. 12:30pm - give lunch order to one of the minions to pick up. 1pm - maintain post. 2pm - maintain post. 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm - maintain post. 8pm - leave pharmacy. Yep, that's right, you didn't see "lunch break" or "break" on there anywhere. I don't get a lunch!!!! I don't even get to sit my ass down for 5 freaking minutes. It's gonna be a long damn 6 weeks.

Anticipation...

Tomorrow marks the beginning of my third clinical rotation. It will be my last retail based rotation. I'm not really excited about it. Basically I'll be employed at this new pharmacy doing exactly what I do at Martins and not getting paid for it. The rotation is 6 weeks in duration. Before I start anything new, I get a little antsy with anticipation. As my Management professor informed me last year, I have a low tolerance for the ambiguous. I'm not really nervous about the rotation - I feel confident that I can ace it. I'm a little antsy about not knowing my schedule. My preceptor and I just set a time for my first day - 12-10. I actually like this shift. I get to sleep in and stay up late, which is very conducive to my night-owlness. I'm having some issues with my current employer - starting with my insurance. I'm also not happy about my proposed schedule. I've found that the best way to address this is to put it in writing and not work it out face to face. My achilles heal only becomes a weakness in person - in writing, I'm strong as steel! So...here's to hoping my third rotation is as good as my first two! :)

Governmental Hoop Hopping

Today I got my affidavit of pharmacy intern hours back in the mail. Two weeks ago I had my manager at Martin's fill out the affidavit to register my 300 extern hours with the Virginia Board of Pharmacy. That form was returned to me with a letter informing me that I cannot register my hours. Since I hold a WV Intern License and a VA Intern License, simply sending hours to the Virginia Board of Pharmacy is not sufficient. I must first send these hours to the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy and then have them send the hours to the Virginia Board of Pharmacy. I went to the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy webpage to get the affidavit for extern hours only to find that WV has not entered the 21st century in regards to registration of hours. I called the Board and was informed that the lady in charge of the hour registration is on vacation until next week. I swear...it's the story of my life - everyone I need to talk to is on vacation! I just love jumping through governmental hoops.

Redemption in the Medical Field

Last Thursday, I had an appointment with a nurse practitioner in Virginia. I have a recurring problem that has never been correctly treated. When I explained the situation to her, she shrugged her shoulders and basically ignored me. When she gave me a new prescription for my maintenance medication, I told her that I required a lower dose because I felt the high dose was contributing to my recurring problem. She guffawed at me and belittled my opinion. When I started explaining the dosage scales and what is appropriate, she became very offended. I explained that I was a pharmacy student and that I wasn't trying to prescribe - just offer advice. She told me to take the medicine and try it. So I walked out of the office in tears because 1)my recurring problem was not addressed and would continue to reoccur and 2) the only solution I had to the problem was not addressed and I was forced to take a medication that I did not want. To make matters worse, when I priced the medication at the pharmacy where I work I discovered it was $150 for 3 months worth of medication. My inner resolve would not let me walk away from this problem without a solution. I called a doctor in town that I had gone to previously and made an appointment. The receptionist was so understanding - it was refreshing. Even better - she scheduled me for an appointment 4 days later. Today I went to this physician and my entire faith in the medical field was totally redeemed. He actually listened to my problem. And after the examination - he gave me a solution (well at least some medication to fix the problem). He didn't promise me a cure - but he did promise me dedication to fixing the problem. He praised me for my career choice and asked if he could call me at work for drug information. I walked away from this experience with new-found faith in the medical field and a new permenant physician. I will never settle for second-rate health care again.