Before I begin, I must admit that the title for this blog could have been "Don't mess with my daughter" or "You said WHAT about my daughter".
When Heather was released from the hospital, her pain management was a combination of nerve medication and, temporarily, a low dose of Morphine. The morphine was prescribed to temporarily assist with her pain management.
On the way home from the hospital we stopped at several pharmacies to get the prescriptions filled. There was a complication with the prescribed morphine dosage. So we headed back to the hospital in hopes that their pharmacy could fill the prescription.
We returned to the hospital pharmacy and the pharmacist informed Heather that they did not have the 7.5 mg dosage, only the 15 mg. Heather mentioned when she was in the hospital, the nurses were breaking the 15mg in half. Well, a pharmacist can only fill the prescription exactly as ordered and for the exact dosage.
Doctors cannot call in changes to a controlled substance. A new written prescription is required. I had no problem with these rules. Read on.....it goes down hill fast.
Heather was two hours from needing the next dose of morphine and definitely needing the nerve medication. Heather was growing increasingly more uncomfortable. She needed to be home in her bed.
The hospital pharmacist then proceeded to tell us in a loud voice, for customers to hear, that “he was the father of three daughters, and if it was one of his daughters he would never let them take such a strong medicine. “ Well, good for him. I guess he is a better parent than I am - NOT.
Shocked by this statement, I told him that Heather was released from the hospital two hours ago with a Lyme diagnosis and this medicine was crucial for any excruciating pain that may occur.
He then said, to my shock and disbelief, "well if she is in so much pain then she should go to the ER." He then added "she can't be that bad because she should be screaming and unable to walk."
I was dumbfounded by the sheer audacity of this rude pharmacist who is NOT a medical doctor and CAN NOT prescribe medicine. He loudly and publicly made judgmental statements and questioned Heather’s degree of pain.
This self-centered man then told me that he lives in an area of Connecticut with one of the highest percentages of Lyme cases per year. There was no mention of any family member with Lyme disease.
Well whoop-dee-doo for him. He is a dad, he lives in Connecticut, and he is a self-proclaimed Lyme literate expert. Next time I want to be insulted, I will gladly look him up.
Let’s be clear about this. This rude and arrogant man was not the one that sat bedside with my daughter and watched her crying out in pain. He did not watch the fear in her eyes as they performed terrifying tests. He did not know that Heather was not on the desired dose of nerve medication and they had to gradually increase the dosage. I know this sounds melodramatic - but these are the hard cold facts.
We went home and my brave Lyme patient told me that she really hates taking pain medication and she will get through it. I of course cried. That helps right? Her doctor offered to write a new prescription to be picked up the next day, but Heather declined.
Heather had some terribly difficult months, but eventually she found a nerve medication that worked, and Heather somehow found a way to work through her pain. I must be honest – I have never experienced nerve pain, but I know I would not have been so strong and still so nice. Your typical pain medication doesn't touch nerve pain.
How did this story end? Well, shame on him for judging my parenting skills. Worse, he should never judge the pain someone is experiencing.
…..Let's just say he shouldn't have messed with this mama bear.
……Let's just say that MAYBE I wrote a letter and maybe I mentioned how he violated the HIPAA rules which guarantee a patient’s privacy about their medical conditions.
Sure, I am blogging about Heather's Lyme disease now, but she was ready to start sharing her story and spreading awareness.
Mess with my daughter and GAME ON. I am a bit charged up recounting this story, but Heather and I both have moved on and I am thankful that she only encountered one incompetent and arrogant medical person during her Lyme journey.
I am forever thankful to all the doctors and nurses that have helped Heather. Their compassion and care has been amazing.
As for that judgmental and ignorant pharmacist.......well, you know what they say about Karma.
xo
Lisa
