When you're long term sick, the last thing you feel like doing is arguing over your tablets. But I knew I was in for some aggro... having a rare disease means that little is actually licensed for treating it. You have to cross-over and use drugs intended for some other condition. Normally, that isn't a problem. For years now, for example, drugs developed for epilepsy have been used to treat depression. However, if the drug you are prescribed is expensive, it becomes a different game.
Nobody wants to foot the bill. Yes, it may help you get better - or in my case prevent me getting worse - but it's the cost, you see. The immediate costs. The cost to me as a patient going blind, or the costs to a society where I can no longer function properly aren't even considered. Besides, according to the media I have become just another statistic: a drain on the public purse, a scrounger.... it's too depressing to list.
I was fully expecting some aggravation with these tablets - known to be scarce, known to be expensive - the moment my consultant mentioned them. But I rang the surgery last week and was told to phone back yesterday. Which I did. They said they would check it out and phone me back.
Yes, I thought, cynically. I can just see that happening.
And I was very pleasantly surprised. Because a few hours later I had a phone call from one of the doctors (the doctors!!!!! ) telling me everything was sorted and the prescription written.
I could have kissed him, I really could. Having psyched myself up with all sorts of arguments it was lovely to be proved wrong, to have things running like clockwork!
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