This and that

4:45 am and I awoke.  "Up early, again." some of you might say.  Well, no, actually, I slept in considerably.  But what is greatest about that is that it was a night that I slept without waking.  I'd stayed up a little later because of the Seahawks football game.  But even with that, normally I'd have awoken by 3:30 at the latest.  I leave for work by 4:45.  Nice to sleep.

I saw my neurologist, the sleep specialist, this last month.  He had been called by my insurance company.  Rozerem, the sleep medication  I'm on, is expensive.  They don't like that.  By expensive I mean approximately $10 a day.  He informed them that there is no other drug in that class, no other options, and so I believe that they have OK'd it once again.  One of the reasons I continue to see this doctor is that as a neurologist who specializes in sleep his word carries significantly more weight than would the word of a family practice physician. 

The reason for the expensive pill for my insomnia?  Well, for starters it is one of the few medications that can be taken long term without risk of addiction or significant side effects.  One of the others that I'd previously taken worked almost as well, it's just that there was a long term risk of liver damage and addiction.  I could just as well have continued with Scotch.  Thankfully, I'm good to go with Rozerem.  I think.

I keep on thinking to myself that I wish insurance companies would support medication that keeps me well, as opposed to risking my getting seriously ill once again.  For the most part they have.  And Abilify, the most expensive drug I am on is now available in generic form, and is but a fraction of what it once was.  It had been $30 a day.

My cynicism regarding my prescription drug coverage comes up from time to time.  I used to use our local pharmacy, and when I did Express Scripts, who manages the prescription drug coverage for our Church, would continually question every medication.  Even my latanoprost drops which I use because I'm pre-glaucoma.  Yeash, it's only a few dollars, why bother harassing my doctors about it. 

Well, you can also fill the prescriptions through Express Scripts pharmacy.  Funny thing, when they are selling them, and reaping the profit, they don't question them near as much.  Funny thing.  I wonder if Portico, the Church's insurance, knows that. 

On another note, I had my annual physical last month.  I'm doing well.  I've gained a little weight due to quitting smoking.  Doctor says I'd have to gain a hundred pounds to counteract the positives from quitting smoking.  It was also the first time he'd seen me since my bowel obstruction and surgery.  I was able to have laparoscopic surgery.  He shared with me how lucky we are to live today with all the medical advancements.  A hundred years ago I would have been told to just go to bed and die. 

I add that I do feel lucky.  A few pills a day and my bipolar disorder is well managed.  Yeah, they can be expensive, but the alternative of a lifetime of disability and going in and out of psych wards is more expensive.  Instead, I have my life back.

So life is good.  Praise God.