Why I Have Tonight Off. (aka, My Ex is the Gift that Keeps On Giving)

[BeeMused]

Oh sh*t!
I hope you can appeal that decision, or that your doctor has a solution!

[Antisocial_Worker]

I got a letter from the state.

I was denied.

Next step -- go to my doctor's office and see what options they have for people in my situation.

[Antisocial_Worker]

I took all my info in, and it's in the hands of the state now. I'll get a letter in the mail regarding their decision. The people at my doctor's office didn't seem unduly concerned and kept telling me I had nothing to worry about but I'm on edge after all this.

[Sapphire Silk]

The w2 form arrived on Thursday.

Total gross earnings for year 2010: $32,185.94

Next step is to take my information in to my doctor's office and let them process it. I'm doing that Monday.

I think it's still hitting me how close I came. It really hasn't sunk in yet.

So, how's everything going? Is everything OK?

[ParkingWitch]

Now the thing to do this years is space out a few days of UNPAID time off and keep a very close check on money amounts. I afraid that deferring part of last year will mess you up for this year.

Still wishing you good luck and good health.

[Antisocial_Worker]

The w2 form arrived on Thursday.

Total gross earnings for year 2010: $32,185.94

Next step is to take my information in to my doctor's office and let them process it. I'm doing that Monday.

I think it's still hitting me how close I came. It really hasn't sunk in yet.

[PepperElf]

azathioprine - had to look it up. oh fuck me sideways.

[Sapphire Silk]

Oh yeah, just remembered. We pharmacists aren't "allowed" to call it AZT anymore, because some genius got an order for AZT and filled it with azathioprine instead of azidothymidine. (If you know what azathioprine does, you probably went just like I did when I heard of it.) Now we're supposed to call it ZDV. This directive was about as successful as the attempt to ban the initialism Q.I.D., i.e. not at all.

Ack! Just what you want to give someone who is immunocompomised: an immune suppressant!

I guess AZT will hang on the same way some docs hung onto ordering meds in apothecary.

I didn't know AZT was first a cancer drug. That's interesting. I did know a lot of drugs are used for things for which they were never intended.

I love teaching my students about "off label use" when I teach OB: they're always flabbergasted when they hear how we use a calcium channel blockers (nifedpine) and a bronchodilator (terbutaline) to stop pre-term labor

[Kristev]

I hope you can stay in the program. Good luck to you.

[Shalom]

the FDA loosened its rules on clinical trials to bring AZT to the market waaay before it normally would have been. We got very lucky with AZT because it is still a front line drug even today.

Luckier than you think. AZT was originally developed (c.1964) as a cancer drug, and utterly failed at it. They left the compound on the shelf and went on to other things. Then 20 years later, the HIV epidemic got started, and someone at Burroughs Wellcome had an idea that maybe this hitherto-useless chemical might have some effect on it. Were it not for those initial failed experiments, who knows if they'd have come up with this drug, or the whole class of reverse transcriptase inhibitors, in time for it to do any good?

(Not the first time this happened, either. The first antidepressant was a failed tuberculosis drug; the doctors running the study found that their patients still had TB, but weren't upset about it anymore.)

Oh yeah, just remembered. We pharmacists aren't "allowed" to call it AZT anymore, because some genius got an order for AZT and filled it with azathioprine instead of azidothymidine. (If you know what azathioprine does, you probably went just like I did when I heard of it.) Now we're supposed to call it ZDV. This directive was about as successful as the attempt to ban the initialism Q.I.D., i.e. not at all.

[Sapphire Silk]

It's wierd, I forget the name of the act, but companies get huge funding if they make medicine cheaper for rare diseases. But HIV isn't rare anymore. (They get the huge funding just for producing a rare medicine that they wouldn't sell normally, to make up for lost profit they'd spend making it).

The Orphan Drug Act. HIV was never covered under this as it was never considered a rare disease. HIV did get some federal protections under the law to protect sufferers from discrimination (HIV is the only federally protected disease in the United States), and also the FDA loosened its rules on clinical trials to bring AZT to the market waaay before it normally would have been. We got very lucky with AZT because it is still a front line drug even today.

This shit never ends. It turned out to be a very bad idea to call corporate, and I know this because this morning one of the H.R. people from my plant called me to tell me so. She was absolutely livid, told me I'd stepped way over the line and then proceeded to tell me that by calling corporate I'd called a lot more attention than anyone wanted to my situation. Now, apparently, the federal government is somehow involved. Also, for some reason, the H.R. people at my plant now seem to think that their jobs have been threatened by my actions.

Hauntedheadnc, I am so very sorry for you and your situation. I've worked with HIV patients many times over the years, and I have a good idea of what you are facing. I am praying for you, and asking that things work out for you. Clearly, you are someone who wants to be a productive member of society, and someone who wants to work deserves all the help they can get.

That being said, I think I understand why your HR is so upset. They are playing games with your hours and income statements to help you keep your job and your meds. However, what they are doing may be technically fraud; they are obligated to accurately report your earnings for tax purposes.

You are the poster child for why we need health care reform in the US.

Please keep us updated on your situation. Best wishes!

[Antisocial_Worker]

Well, yesterday was payday and no money was deposited into my account. Paycheck stubs were given out this morning and my stub reflects the check that was deposited and removed. So... the next big hurdle to clear will be the W-2 forms when they arrive, as they should show the corrected total.

That is, if I understand it correctly.

I don't have time to type it out now, but I explained it all to my boyfriend and to my roommates regarding why I have come to hate one of the women from my plant's H.R. It's been a very long time since I hated someone, and while I know it will go away eventually, that won't be anytime soon. I'll explain later when I have time and I'm feeling up to it.

[BeeMused]

If I can just make it to the 13th without any fuckups, I should be ok.

I'll keep my fingers, toes and eyes crossed!

[morgana]

*Whew*, that's a relief. We've all been really worried about you. Now if HR will just pull that knot out of their panties . . .

[Antisocial_Worker]

I've never been happier to see an overdraft charge on my bank account. I just checked it and saw that the check that was deposited into my account last week has been taken back out -- just in time for my car insurance to get taken out.

Nevertheless, if the money's out, I'm delighted. If I can just make it to the 13th without any fuckups, I should be ok.