Walmart pharmacy

It'd been a long day already at 2:15 p.m., so I was not exactly in the mood to deal with a cantankerous answering machine at Walmart. Yesterday, I called the VA to check on my Tresiba prescription. Well, that was a bust, because I never got beyond the opening message about how it was a government facility and not to be used by anyone unauthorized to use it---blah, blah, blah, then put on hold for the next available representative. I was on hold for 12 minutes and never got to talk to a human, never got beyond the recording "please stay on the line. All our representatives are currently busy taking other calls. Your call is important to us and will be answered in the order it was received." After about 15 minutes, I hung up the line and called the doctor's office to check on my prescription from that end. 

 

The call -waiting time with the doctor was much shorter, only about 4 minutes, and I reached the doctor's nurse, Lisa, who was very kind and helpful. She investigated the computer records and came back on the line and apologized because she had never gotten the medication ordered. She said she remembered saying she held off on ordering it from the VA because she wanted to see how I'd do on the medication from the sample she'd sent home with me 2 weeks ago. I explained that I was almost out of the pen she'd sent with me and that it would take 7 to 10 days to get it through the VA unless it was put on urgent request and I would still be out for at least a couple of days. So, she promised to put some aside for me to pick up at my convenience. I explained that I lived about 65 miles from her clinic and I wasn't sure when I could get down there but would be there in the next few days.

 

So, this morning, we left Clyde about 10 a.m. and headed for Salina. 

When we arrived at the clinic, the receptionist was polite and asked for my birth date and name, and what I needed today. I explained that there should be a package waiting for me from my doctor. She disappeared into the back office and soon returned with a package for me. I thanked her and we took my package to the car and I opened it. To my surprise, there was not one pen of my Tresiba, there were five pens, enough to last about a month, maybe more.

After we ate breakfast at IHOP, we went to Harbor Freight where Dennis bought a wheeled cart he needed, then headed for home.

 

On the way home, we discussed stopping at Walmart in Concordia to pick up some prescription eye drops I needed. Dennis offered to go in and pick them up for me. I stayed in the car and read my paperback book.

 

After reading for about twenty minutes and then taking a short nap, I was awakened by Dennis climbing into the car and saying “Well, that was a bust. I didn’t get your eye drops. They told him they didn’t have an order for my eye drops. I knew that was bullshit because I had just gotten an email about them being ready for refill the day before. They told him they have to have an order or refill request from the doctor, then they can refill it. They didn’t offer to call the doctor themselves like they used to do.  

 

So, as we’re driving down the highway, I’m on the phone with the doctor’s office explaining my situation. They said that they would get the medication refill ordered. A few minutes later, I called Walmart again, and the answering machine picked up my call and asked for my name, and I explained what I needed. I’m trying to explain, and the machine is interrupting me with more questions. They wanted me to state my name and date of birth. I answered, “Dixie Barnes and 10-09-51”. The machine replied, “You said June 9, 1951. Is that correct? Say yes or type in 1” I said “No! October 9, 1951” The machine replied “I’m sorry, I didn’t get that. Is your birthday June 9, 1951? Say yes or type 1”.

 

By this time, my blood is boiling and I’m shouting in the phone. Dennis is trying not to laugh but is shaking his head no. We finally got my birthdate right, then they asked what I needed again. I told them I needed my Latanoprost eye drops. After a moment, the machine replied, “we show that medication is due for a refill. Is this correct? Say yes or type 1.” I replied “Yes! I need my Latanoprost eye drops.”

Finally, the machine said “your order is being processed and may be picked up tomorrow after 4 p.m.”

“Thank God!” I replied.

I think next month I’m going to go into Walmart myself to pick it up after checking it out online. That seems to work better for me and my blood pressure.