Eric’s Blog

I ordered syringes for my injections a few days ago and when I got home today there was a message that I needed to call the pharmacy (I use a mail order pharmacy).

I called them and did the press one for English thing. Got to a human being in relatively short order, gave the reference number and was told I needed to speak to a pharmacist. She transferred me.

A pharmacist comes on the line and after giving my reference number and verifying I am who I say I am, she says she can’t look at my account due to insurance reasons. She also says that she can get me to the right person and gives me the number in case I get disconnected.

Third person on the line after a short time and I give her my reference number and verify I am who I say I am. I explain the situation to her and she puts me on hold. On hold for about 20 minutes, she comes back online twice to tell me she’s still working it but mostly there’s just dead air on the line.

Eventually, another voice comes on the line with no warning and asks if I’m okay with 23 gauge syringes instead of the 22 gauge ones because the 22 gauge ones have been discontinued.

“Are they bigger or smaller?” I asked. Sometimes a bigger number means a smaller thing.

“They’re slightly bigger.” she replies.

“I guess I’ll have to deal with it then.” I say.

“Okay, thanks.” The random voice says and then abruptly hangs up.

I guess I’m getting syringes at some point? No verifying I am who I say I am. No reference number. Just a random voice on the line after 20 minutes of dead air asking me if a bigger needle is okay to stick inside my thigh every two weeks. Then, they hang up.

Phone etiquette is a thing I was taught as a child. I guess not everyone was taught that stuff. And why would a pharmacy say that a 22 gauge needs has been discontinued? Did the syringe company just stop making them all of a sudden? Odd.