Bipolar / Fibromyalgia Roller Coaster

Last Thursday I realized I was out of cymbalta. I knew that I was getting closer and had checked at the medical center with the prescription assistance program to pick up my refill while I was there to see my Dr. Unfortunately the woman, Sheila, who works in that department was out. I assumed her department was closed on Friday and decided I would pick my meds up on Monday. I am lucky enough to get free medication through Lilly Cares. I was under the impression that the medicine was automatically sent to my Dr, or in this case, the prescription assistance department at our medical center so I could just go pick it up. 
Monday morning 9 am I called Sheila in the prescription assistance program at Watson Clinic here in Lakeland. Sheila informed me she doesn't have anything for me, she didn't give me my last supply 4 months ago (funny because that is where we picked it up). So I called the nurse at Dr Estupinan's office. She said I needed to call and speak to Sheila, I explained that I already did. She told me to call her again because the doctor's office is not responsible for prescription assistance, so I called Sheila again who told me I am not her patient, not her responsibility. 
I called Dr Estupinan's office back. Spoke with the nurse again, she said though they do not get involved in prescription assistance normally she would call Sheila. In the meantime she could call me in a prescription to my pharmacy. So, I went to Target, waited 45 minutes for the pharmacist to come back from lunch and sign off on the prescription, and was given a bill for $135. If I had $135 for a month prescription I would not be getting free medication from the manufacturer.
Fri / Saturday I was up for 36 hours and slightly manic. Then slept about 24 hours on and off with the help of xanax. Monday up again another 36 hours. My husband came home to find me sitting in the closet. I don't know why, I started out cleaning it but when he got home I was just sitting there opening and closing the snap on this little purse over and over. Then the shit really hit the fan. Off to Walmart at 2 a.m. to pick up new work boots and gloves for my hubby, he had a hole in his. I picked up some travel size containers and some containers for my chocolate body scrub, plus some fantastic pink tissue paper with polka dots and black gift bags for the bachelorette party. I came home, made the "hangover kit" bags to go in the gift bags and the "barf bags" (for cookie tossin) that go in the hangover kits. Then I put the gift bags together. Made some necklaces for prizes. And, waited for 9 am to run to Joann's to get bobbins for my sewing machine, and to Michael's to get spray glue. 
I finally fell asleep about noon with the help of more xanax. I woke up about 9 pm to a major fibromyalgia flare. EXTREME PAIN AND EXHAUSTION. 
24 hours ago I couldn't stop functioning now I can't move. But, I can't sleep. My insides are bouncing off the walls while my "outside" is on a pain scale of 1 to 10 at least a 9.5. The worst thing is I know as soon as the fibro flare settles down I am going to be manic again, then flare again, then manic again. Is this what hell is like?
You can not simply go off a medication like cymbalta. The nurse won't take responsibility, Sheila won't take responsibility. I am going to call today at 9 am someone better have gotten off their ass or I'm calling my disability lawyer. Maybe they can help. Because I am freakin miserable.

Excellent news

I did call Lilly Pharmaceuticals today and my application for prescription assistance was approved. This means cymbalta for free, what a relief. We have a limited insurance plan through my husband's work so it is not covered. And, with only him working we couldn't really afford it, but it helps with the pain. I missed a few days this week, because I was running out. I could barely crawl out of bed, I was so stiff and sore. This will cover me for a year. Every drug company is different. I know for a famiy of 2 I believe Lilly was a maximum of 44,000 a year. Which is pretty high. The website link is  http://www.lillycares.com/index.jsp. The medication is shipped to your doctor. If your doctor is better than mine they may actually call and tell you it's there. Good thing I have an appointment tomorrow!

Today I recieved an email from a lovely woman in Ontario, Canada. She searched for neuropathy information and found my blog. She has been diagnosed with neuropathy but not has diabetes. The doctors do not know how she got neuropathy. I hope she doesn't mind if I show you this excerpt from her email:
"Have been struggling with this for about 7 years now. Doctors here don't seem to know how to treat this. I have been on many kinds of medications. (Lyrica, gabapentine, celebrex ect) nothing seems to work. At the moment I am on oxycodone 1 tablet 3 times a day. This is far from being enough. It doesn't even take 1/4 of my pain away. On a scale of 1 to 10 my pain is usually 9 ... I have told this to my neurologist but she doesn't think it is that bad. I am so frustrated with all these doctors. I totally understand their concern with addiction but I was told by a doctor at a pain clinic in Toronto that I would probably be married to narcotics for the rest of my life. The report was sent to the doctor who referred me to this clinic and yet she doesn't think I'm in that much pain."
This is part of my response:
"Unfortunately this is all too common for someone with a chronic pain condition. The most important thing I could tell her is not to give up.
The problem with the amount of pain we are in is it is pretty rare, something like 4-7% of neuropathy patients. So then doctors think we are drug seekers, at least the bad doctors. It sounds like you need a new neurologist. Don't give up because when it comes to chronic pain conditions usually you have to see many doctors before you find the right one. I found this link for you http://www.neuropathy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=phy_int_ca_ontario . Those doctors might be able to help. It is important to keep a pain diary. Include what u are capable of doing and not capable of doing. Make a list of what you need to ask the doctor. Unfortunately the frustration you are going through for someone in chronic pain is not abnormal. It is also not abnormal to have some fog, like short term memory problems. And, no depression is not uncommon. How can you be in so much pain all the time and not be depressed? My doctor put me on cymbalta and it helps with the pain too ..

Have any of the doctors run any tests on you like EMG or other neurological tests? "
Tomorrow is my turn for the doctor. Gotta stand up for myself, get a referral to a real neurologist. I also need to remember to call about my application to receive cymbalta for free. Must do that now before I forget again. Soft hugzzzz to all.
Also, please feel free to email me anytime. Any questions, concerns, frustrations, or if you just need to talk to someone who understands. You will find me at alonelydragonfly@aol.com. Also, I am on MSN chat under brokendamselfly@live.com. I look forward to hearing from you... chele

Help, I Need My Meds!!!

So I was laying in bed (yes, again, this is where these things start, when I am left alone with my thoughts, scary, I know!) with my hands and feet hurting and burning. The burning feels like I am holding my hands over a lit candle. Anyways, I digress already.....
I was thinking of our health insurance. First of all, I realize healthcare is a hot topic right now with Obama. And, of course I haven't been paying any attention so I am not up to speed therefore this is not what I am talking about here. What I do want to talk about is what do you do, how do you pay for, your medication when you have no insurance, or prescription plan.
First of all, most pharmacies now have their own prescription plan. I know our local Sweetbay has one that was, I believe,  $7 for the year. There are 400 medications on the list that cost only $4 for a 30 day supply and only $10 for a 90 day supply, and they even have some free antibiotics. This plan covers 2 of my most important medications, the generic for synthroid (as I have no thyroid) and metformin (for my diabetes), so it's a start. However, I am still without gabapentin and cymbalta, probably my next 2 most important prescriptions.
My next step was to go directly to the drug companies. A good share of drug companies have programs for the less fortunate folks who fall below the poverty line. Cymbalta is made by a company called Lilly USA. You can apply with them at http://www.lillycares.com/. Print out the application and take it to your Doctor. This is the stage I am at now. Pfizer has several different programs. You can find a list at http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/pages/Find/findall.aspx
I found both my gabapentin (neurontin) and xanax there. The program I am eligible for is Connection to Care. Again it is the same as the Lilly program. Print the application and have your doctor fill it out. Most of these programs also require proof of income, like a copy of last year's taxes. Right now I am at the stage of waiting for my doctor to fill out the paperwork. Hopefully it will be ready tomorrow. I will keep you informed of my status.
I did receive a coupon for 15 free cymbalta from the Lilly cares website, and some samples from my doctor.
Next will be to see if there is any help for my pain meds, tramadol and vicodin. But, they are the least important right now. There may still be some reform with this weird "limited" health insurance plan from my husband's new company. It just seems wrong to pay $85 a week for a "limited" plan that doesn't cover prescriptions.
More to come on this topic!