Denied test strips...almost!

[robofski]

I order my prescriptions from my chemist and go collect after a few days. Ordered test strips and needles on the weekend and went to collect tonight only to be told they didn't have a prescription for me. They called the surgery upstairs and they hadn't issued the prescription because the system showed 'over use' for both items!

I went up and spoke to them and they really didn't have much to say except I must be using to many. I explained that I order more when I'm down to my last box as I travel a lot I don't like leave things go too low and as I use the Accu-chek mobile cassettes with 50 tests on one cassette I always like to keep spare as I've already had one malfunction on me resulting in 35 unusable tests!

They issued the prescription but I have a feeling this is going to be an issue!

 

[Doddy]

I order my prescriptions from my chemist and go collect after a few days. Ordered test strips and needles on the weekend and went to collect tonight only to be told they didn't have a prescription for me. They called the surgery upstairs and they hadn't issued the prescription because the system showed 'over use' for both items!

I went up and spoke to them and they really didn't have much to say except I must be using to many. I explained that I order more when I'm down to my last box as I travel a lot I don't like leave things go too low and as I use the Accu-chek mobile cassettes with 50 tests on one cassette I always like to keep spare as I've already had one malfunction on me resulting in 35 unusable tests!

They issued the prescription but I have a feeling this is going to be an issue!

I have changed my meter due to the fact I had 2 cassettes malfunction! I have no idea why, and when I was informed my GP I needed different strips, I was waiting for her to moan, but I just explained I was trying to save them money by using a meter that woudn't waste 30+ tests.

 

[robofski]

I have changed my meter due to the fact I had 2 cassettes malfunction! I have no idea why, and when I was informed my GP I needed different strips, I was waiting for her to moan, but I just explained I was trying to save them money by using a meter that woudn't waste 30+ tests.

I've considered changing my meter but I really like the convenience of the 'all in one' design of the accu-chek mobile!

Will see how things progress.

 

[Doddy]

I've considered changing my meter but I really like the convenience of the 'all in one' design of the accu-chek mobile!

Will see how things progress.

I do miss the all in one design, and my little beeps, and my reminders, but I also like my new little light and the new lancet I got with it...it is nice and gentle on the fingers!!! So I think the gains far outweigh my loss!

 

[Northerner]

You should be refunded/replaced for so many fails. I've occasionally had pots of strips with maybe half a dozen fails but didn't think they were worth reporting to Roche, but I think I would if 35/50 failed!

How many tests would you say you do in an average day Dan? Some GPs have very funny ideas about how many is 'too many'! As long as you have a valid reason for doing the tests i.e. you need the information to inform a decision about what to inject/whether you are going high or low/about to drive/feeling ill etc., then you are not using too many! My GP, who is excellent, was quite surprised when I explained to her the possible reasons for testing. I once read a book about diabetes aimed at GPs and in it, it said that 'some insulin users might need to test as much as 3 or 4 times a day' - so it's not surprising they think more than 4 must be excessive! 😱

 

[robofski]

I'd say I test around 5 times a day, odd days maybe one or two more, and some days one or two less. I don't think that's excessive, will speak to the DSN about it next time I see her, she wouldn't have a problem issuing a prescription I'm sure! At that rate it's 100 strips every 3 weeks, which means asking for a prescription quite frequently, maybe as I'm still relatively new they don't know what normal usage for me is yet!

I think if I get another failure I'd speak to Roche about it, didn't think last time.

 

[Northerner]

I'd say I test around 5 times a day, odd days maybe one or two more, and some days one or two less. I don't think that's excessive, will speak to the DSN about it next time I see her, she wouldn't have a problem issuing a prescription I'm sure! At that rate it's 100 strips every 3 weeks, which means asking for a prescription quite frequently, maybe as I'm still relatively new they don't know what normal usage for me is yet!

I think if I get another failure I'd speak to Roche about it, didn't think last time.

My meter software tells me that I use an average of 6.7 tests per day since diagnosis. Based on this, and the fact I was doing 4 jabs per day, I asked my GP to issue 200 needles and 300 strips per prescription - this then brought things into line with the 56 days supply of my other meds. It was at this point that I explained why I tested and she had no problem after hearing it. To me, if you are on insulin then it's unlikely that you are going to suddenly be cured and therefore end up with an excess of unused diabetes consumables. Issuing more, but less frequently makes sense all round - you have to make fewer requests and they spend less time needlessly signing them off! 🙄

 

[Ellie Jones]

I had similar to you last week..

But I had a little note on my script saying please phone DSN...

I or should I say Les made an ordering mistake.. Checked the cupboard, didn't see my stock so thought that I'd was running out order another lot... And the surgery picked up on reordering test strips 300 in under 2 weeks.. Not my usual ordering pattern..

My DSN wasn't worried about it, she knew they would be a reasonable reason behind it all..

 

[Otenba]

I was told that the limit is a months worth and so far I've been okay... I get something like 200 strips (4 boxes of 50) and they last me fairly well considering I've not had this exact issue come up. I have had stuff denied but not even a requested explanation to why.

Unfortunately there's a lot of locums at my GP so I don't think my prescription is signed off by the same person every time... I know not all of them are "on the ball" with diabetic patients (one GP talked to me like I was type 2 - which I find very worrying) so I do get worried about what they'll do to my prescription list without telling me. I have had my prescription items either reduced or outright removed (that was my insulins) which... well, you can imagine I wasn't a happy bunny. XD

I have my stuff staggered for some reason... :/ I wonder how I can straightened that out...? ^^;

 

[Tina63]

I order my prescriptions from my chemist and go collect after a few days. Ordered test strips and needles on the weekend and went to collect tonight only to be told they didn't have a prescription for me. They called the surgery upstairs and they hadn't issued the prescription because the system showed 'over use' for both items!

Overuse of needles??? - Err, I don't think so!!!

Sounds like your GP needs to be educated on type 1! As I understood things re testing, 4 a day is the minimum you should test, plus any time you sense a hypo coming on, then checking during/after a hypo is treated, as Northerner said, if you drive each time before you get in the car too, so assuming you drive to and from work that's 6 times a day minimum, without hypos!

As a silly note on this, my daughter to works in a pharmacy and a few weeks ago they had a prescription through for what should have been 50 test strips, but the dippy GP had put through 50 boxes (ie 2500 strips)! The computer at the pharmacy flagged up "You will need to print 50 labels for this item!" That did make me smile. At least she had the sense to realise what had happened and queried it and rectified the mistake!

 

[Northerner]

...As a silly note on this, my daughter to works in a pharmacy and a few weeks ago they had a prescription through for what should have been 50 test strips, but the dippy GP had put through 50 boxes (ie 2500 strips)! The computer at the pharmacy flagged up "You will need to print 50 labels for this item!" That did make me smile. At least she had the sense to realise what had happened and queried it and rectified the mistake!

Haha! She should have put it through can you imagine the GP trying to explain that to his practice manager? 😱

 

[redrevis]

I've been using the Accu-Chek Mobile for 1.5 years now and have still yet to find another meter that I like better. The all in one design really does it for me too. I have had a few cassettes have the malfunction message, but all I did was remove the cassette and put it back in again and it worked fine. Never had a single cassette that has malfunctioned and not worked again. Just out of interest did you try doing that with your malfunctioned cassettes?

 

[Otenba]

As a silly note on this, my daughter to works in a pharmacy and a few weeks ago they had a prescription through for what should have been 50 test strips, but the dippy GP had put through 50 boxes (ie 2500 strips)! The computer at the pharmacy flagged up "You will need to print 50 labels for this item!" That did make me smile. At least she had the sense to realise what had happened and queried it and rectified the mistake!

That is hilarious! That would make my day if that happened to me! LOL XD

 

[Doddy]

I've been using the Accu-Chek Mobile for 1.5 years now and have still yet to find another meter that I like better. The all in one design really does it for me too. I have had a few cassettes have the malfunction message, but all I did was remove the cassette and put it back in again and it worked fine. Never had a single cassette that has malfunctioned and not worked again. Just out of interest did you try doing that with your malfunctioned cassettes?

I did with mine, tried everything I could to get it to read again..but it was having none of it!

 

[robofski]

I've been using the Accu-Chek Mobile for 1.5 years now and have still yet to find another meter that I like better. The all in one design really does it for me too. I have had a few cassettes have the malfunction message, but all I did was remove the cassette and put it back in again and it worked fine. Never had a single cassette that has malfunctioned and not worked again. Just out of interest did you try doing that with your malfunctioned cassettes?

I didn't try that and am now kicking myself for not! I didn't think you could remove the cassette part way through use and then reinstall it! Arrggghhhh, feeling pretty mad with myself!

 

[trophywench]

Well of course you shouldn't have to.

Funnily enough I noticed the pharmacy dispensing label on my Multiclix lancets actually says '204 M..c.. lancets' - imagine the GP ordering 204 boxes! ROFL

 

[Ellie Jones]

As a silly note on this, my daughter to works in a pharmacy and a few weeks ago they had a prescription through for what should have been 50 test strips, but the dippy GP had put through 50 boxes (ie 2500 strips)! The computer at the pharmacy flagged up "You will need to print 50 labels for this item!" That did make me smile. At least she had the sense to realise what had happened and queried it and rectified the mistake!

Going back a few years now, in the days of using disposable syringes and vials of insulin..

I had the quick insulin changed, and the first I knew about who ever sorted out the repeat had made a bit of a typo error putting in the information until I got to the chemist!

I looked at the prescription and said "when would you like me to book the lorry to deliver"

It would take 10,000 vials to fulfil the prescription😱

The chemist did correct it to a more suitable amount of 2 vials! Strangely though even after several attempts to get it corrected, it never was only resolved when I moved over to an insulin pen and cartridges, luckily I always used the same chemist, so they automatically altered it for me..