That was a health-related aaargh I could have done without

[oursin]

Today I already had the fret of a physio appointment re the neck & shoulder issue coming up in early afternoon.

During the morning I had an email from online pharmacy that ooops, migraine prophylaxis drug I have been taking for some years (and which I apprehend one is not supposed to cease abruptly) they are having supply problems with. Log in to account to contact them.

(This involved a certain amount of faff with their chat client, which froze my browser.)

a)Various options involving see if I can source it from local pharmacy and they will send prescription.

b)Wait and see if they can acquire supply.

c)Contact GP about possible substitute.

I discovered that at least one local pharmacy did have it in stock, so went for first option.

Though on reflection thought I would at least see if other local pharmacy, which was not responding to call to number on NHS site, and which was more or less on the way back from physio appt, also had it.

They did, and also the staff there are a lot more agreeable than the last time I had occasion to visit it.

I hope this was just a temporary supply blip....

Physio resulted in Yet Another Set of Exercises, which we may hope do not set off massive excruciating lower back pain, and also a repeat appointment in a fortnight, with this therapist and their supervisor -

Modified yay, even if it is a) at 1 pm and b) at the uphill all the way health centre.

Comments

[jesse_the_k]

Ugh ugh ugh

Aging is hard work!

[ranunculus]

Several months ago Kaiser sent out notices that levothyroxine was in short supply and that they were no longer going to refill prescriptions for 3 month supplies, that prescriptions will only be for one month. Bother. This site has a good explanation of why drug shortages exist.
https://www.maxor.com/drug-shortage-update-2025/

[oursin]

I find that there have actually been Questions in Parliament about this, but it seems to relate to one particular supplier, and this issue is predicted to resolve(?). There are also alternative suppliers. So maybe I don't need to panic quite yet.