I haven't been feeling very bloggy lately, probably because there hasn't been much happening on the fertility front. I'm just sitting here waiting for my next round of meds to arrive via UPS so I can start taking them next week...and I'm definitely looking forward to the end of my pack of BCPs on September 1st.
It's hard to believe I start my injections next week already. Bring on the bruised, sore, and swollen abs and fat pants (oh wait, I just got my fat pants back from the tailor - I had them taken in - maybe this wasn't such a good idea). But this time I'm armed with the information that Lupron causes serious constipation, so hopefully the swollen, full feeling won't be as bad and it won't hurt to walk, stand, sit, or basically make any movement whatsoever. And I'm prepared with my weapon of choice: Colace. I have a new favorite OTC drug.
So I ordered some of my medication yesterday for my first FET cycle, and I ordered the rest of the medication today. I would have ordered it all yesterday but the second pharmacy was closed by the time I was able to make the call. I purchase my meds each month from two different pharmacies because I am a comparison shopper...at least when it comes to fertility medication. Last month, it ended up saving me about $400 between the cheapest two pharmacies, and I saved thousands (literally) over the most expensive pharmacy. Since the meds for a FET cycle are cheaper than for a fresh cycle, comparison shopping saved me about $80 this time.
My new meds should arrive this Friday even though I don't start taking them until next Wednesday (August 29th). I generally prefer my medication to arrive two days before I am scheduled to begin taking it in case the pharmacy screws up. This has happened to me three times now...twice when I did my IUI cycles way back during the time I prefer to erase from my memory, and once with my first fresh IVF cycle last month. The first two times, I received an empty cooler because the pharmacy staff neglected to actually put the medication in the the package they couriered to me. The third time, they shipped my meds a day late. If I had asked for the meds to arrive the day I was to start taking them, I would have had big problems on my hands. And the pharmacies would have received not-so-nice phone calls from me.
Speaking of problems with fertility meds, has anyone else noticed the price of Lupron has increased in the last month? By almost 50%? 50%!! Actually, considering the pharmacy where I purchased the Lupron from last month enrolled me in a program that would allow me to have the medication for FREE, the price for me went up 169%. Yes, that means I had to pay $169 this month! The other pharmacy that I order from quoted me a price of $130.64 last month and this month it is $254.20 (that's an increase of 48.6% in one month)!
The pharmacy staff that I spoke with about my meds said they do not set the pricing for the drugs; it comes from the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture the drug. Big shocker there! I am so infuriated that 1.) IVF treatment to assist someone in achieving pregnancy is NOT covered by insurance and 2.) effing pharmaceutical companies screw patients over and reap profits by increasing the cost of a drug by 48.6% in one month! How is that even legal?!?! They should be sent to prison for extortion. For real.
Time to update the numbers tab. Again.![]()
It's hard to believe I start my injections next week already. Bring on the bruised, sore, and swollen abs and fat pants (oh wait, I just got my fat pants back from the tailor - I had them taken in - maybe this wasn't such a good idea). But this time I'm armed with the information that Lupron causes serious constipation, so hopefully the swollen, full feeling won't be as bad and it won't hurt to walk, stand, sit, or basically make any movement whatsoever. And I'm prepared with my weapon of choice: Colace. I have a new favorite OTC drug.
So I ordered some of my medication yesterday for my first FET cycle, and I ordered the rest of the medication today. I would have ordered it all yesterday but the second pharmacy was closed by the time I was able to make the call. I purchase my meds each month from two different pharmacies because I am a comparison shopper...at least when it comes to fertility medication. Last month, it ended up saving me about $400 between the cheapest two pharmacies, and I saved thousands (literally) over the most expensive pharmacy. Since the meds for a FET cycle are cheaper than for a fresh cycle, comparison shopping saved me about $80 this time.
My new meds should arrive this Friday even though I don't start taking them until next Wednesday (August 29th). I generally prefer my medication to arrive two days before I am scheduled to begin taking it in case the pharmacy screws up. This has happened to me three times now...twice when I did my IUI cycles way back during the time I prefer to erase from my memory, and once with my first fresh IVF cycle last month. The first two times, I received an empty cooler because the pharmacy staff neglected to actually put the medication in the the package they couriered to me. The third time, they shipped my meds a day late. If I had asked for the meds to arrive the day I was to start taking them, I would have had big problems on my hands. And the pharmacies would have received not-so-nice phone calls from me.
Speaking of problems with fertility meds, has anyone else noticed the price of Lupron has increased in the last month? By almost 50%? 50%!! Actually, considering the pharmacy where I purchased the Lupron from last month enrolled me in a program that would allow me to have the medication for FREE, the price for me went up 169%. Yes, that means I had to pay $169 this month! The other pharmacy that I order from quoted me a price of $130.64 last month and this month it is $254.20 (that's an increase of 48.6% in one month)!
The pharmacy staff that I spoke with about my meds said they do not set the pricing for the drugs; it comes from the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture the drug. Big shocker there! I am so infuriated that 1.) IVF treatment to assist someone in achieving pregnancy is NOT covered by insurance and 2.) effing pharmaceutical companies screw patients over and reap profits by increasing the cost of a drug by 48.6% in one month! How is that even legal?!?! They should be sent to prison for extortion. For real.
Time to update the numbers tab. Again.
