www.incontinentsupport.org

Semper fi

Hi everyone, thanks for the suggestions. I'm sorry it took me so long to write back. Doug, thanks for the tips in dealing with the VA. Your story sounds strangely similar to the situation a buddy of mine was going through when we were still in the service. He's since been separated. It seems there is a fine line in waiting vs pushing, and receiving help vs being labeled as a seeker. I could complain about the way the system is, but I won't.

I haven't been to the VA. I just don't want to deal with it. If I had money and a good private doctor, that's where I would go. I will try again the next time I have to go.

Thanks again.

Joe

I get diapers from the VA, the Molicare Super Plus's right now, which work great, they really do, my only real issue now is that there is no way around avoiding a change at work due to the fact that they are not the most absorbent diaper on the market. It was not an issue before, having worked 2-10 and being able to change when there is almost no-one in the office around 6, but I'm going to start working a normal 9-5 shift soon. I've been "stranded" in the bathroom for up to 25 minutes before working that 9-5 shift due to the bathroom having a revolving door, and me not wanting people to hear the tell-tale sign of a diaper change.

When I told my urologist about this she said she would prescribe me an off-formulary diaper, the Dry 24/7 (This was probably suggested, and throw out to me because of another patient who jumped through hoops successfully, to get script for this at the Denver VA)

The problem is, as most probably know, is that they've been out of stock for months on end. I asked my urologist to prescribe me the abri-form x-plus and I gave her all the info, and she filled out the paperwork and told me it was approved. But the pharmacy won't fill it, they just renewed my already active script of the Dry 24/7 (Last time they sent me kendal wings too since they were out)

Any ideas on how to get them to listen? The pharmacy refuses to reply to my secure messages, when I schedule a call back they don't call me back, and when I call the pharmacy and stay on the line to talk to them (The only way I can ever actually talk to someone), they say they can't fill it because it is not in the system or that I should try the Dry 4/7 first before asking for something else (I guess they completely keep forgetting when I tell them Dry 24/7's are OUT OF STOCK!!!!)

I can't even talk to the people who matter here (Pharmacy supervisor, head of pharmacy) because they don't allow their contact information to be given out to simple peons like me.

I've talked to the patient advocate, but she is absolutely terrible. I think she has the impression that her job is to be someone for veterans to vent to about their issues, instead of actually trying to resolve them.

It's embarrassing enough having to ask for diapers, but I feel like I a metaphorically getting on my hands and knees here to beg them for better diapers, and it's just adding insult to injury!

If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Does anyone go to any of the VA Spinal Cord Injury Center and if so, where at?

I live in AZ and go to the Spinal Cord Injury Center in San Diego once a year for a week for what is referred to as my annual "Tune-up".