Always speak up because that brings change

So here we are. Regular trips to Boston every few weeks. Thank God I'm only working part time at the pharmacy because the meds are exhausting. I am sleeping ALL the time. Not to mention the nausea. I swear I was back in my 1st trimester of pregnancy. I am doing ok with the injections except the spring loaded pen hurts like hell. I have to ice up and apply lidocaine before. I literally sometimes would have to re-ice because I would sit there so long trying to press the button. Knowing what was coming. I once waited 2 hours with the pen to my skin.

A few months go by and I actually break one of the Humira pens by accident. The medication is still in the pen so I decide to take it apart and use a regular syringe to administer. When I took the casing off a spring left the pen, flew across the room, hit the wall, and came back. Holy Shit! That's why it was so painful!! I used syringe and I felt nothing! I call my nurse up in Boston to tell her and she said "that's why I never prescribe them. They hurt way much". She prescribes me the medication in syringe for and there we go, anxiety gone!

My next visit to Boston I bring a left over Humira pen. I'm in the exam room and take apart the pen to show the nurse what happened. I wasn't let down. Again the spring flew across the room bounced off the wall and came back. Her mouth dropped to the floor. She asked to keep the pieces so she can show her Humira rep.

A few weeks go by and I'm back in Boston. Apparently the Humira rep has visited. Before my nurse could say anything he asked why she hasn't been prescribing the pens. They are so much better, end easier for the patient. Blah blah blah. She shows him the spring and how compressed it was inside the pen. His jaw drops because he was just pushing a product because his bosses told him to.

The rep brought the pieces back and he shows his coworkers. It gets to one of the engineers. My nurse says "I hope you don't mind. They called back and want to know if they can call you. They are redesigning the pen." Holy Crap! Little ol' me, changing the world! Ok maybe not the whole world but WOW!

To be continued...

UPDATE: I have since been informed that the pen has been altered and the spring loosened.

Posted by Unknown

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