Community› The Bump Message Boards› Infertility
Infertility
New Discussion

PSA: Shop around for meds!

jschwind22jschwind22 member
in Infertility
So I learned a lesson today.  I'm sure this is true for many of us, but when I'm getting ready to cycle my nurse just calls in all of my meds to the specialty pharmacy (usually mail order), then they call to set up the order, I pay them, and my meds arrive within a couple days. 

So I had sticker shock from the Viagra suppositories that I have to take 4X per day for this FET.  I asked the mail order pharmacy not to send them, while I figured out from my nurse when I would need them.  So after talking to my nurse, she tells me about a pharmacy 1.5 hours away that another patient got them from for significantly cheaper.  Significant as in $500 savings!  The original quote from the mail order pharmacy was over $700.  I got them for $280.

So moral of the story, ask questions.  Shop around.  The end.
My Blog
Lilypie First Birthday tickers

TTC #1 since February 2011
Me: 29 (3/5/13- high NK cells)  DH: 28 (5/8/12- MFI low morph and motility)
Cycle #21 (IUI#1), Cycle #22 (HSG 9/21/12) and Cycle #23 (IUI#2)=  image
Cycle #24- December Snow Bunny IVF #1
ER 12/6/12 (14R, 11M, 9F), ET 12/9/12 transferred 2 day 3 embies
Bleeding and low betas=very cautious image C/P 5W3D
Cycle #26 March Lucky Duck- FET #1
scheduled 3/20/13- CANCELLED- lining issues
Cycle #27 May Emerald- FET #1.2
delayed- Starting Trental for 3 months + natural cycles Cycle #28-30=  image
Cycle #31 August Shooting Star- FET #1.3 
transferred 1 hatching blast 8/21/13= imageBetas 8/30 (108) and 9/3 (565)

U/S 9/19/13- HR is 128!  U/S #2 10/4/13- HR is 174!
It's a BOY!

Report Reply to Post

Re: PSA: Shop around for meds!

  • Sunny BSunny B member
    So I learned a lesson today.  I'm sure this is true for many of us, but when I'm getting ready to cycle my nurse just calls in all of my meds to the specialty pharmacy (usually mail order), then they call to set up the order, I pay them, and my meds arrive within a couple days. 

    So I had sticker shock from the Viagra suppositories that I have to take 4X per day for this FET.  I asked the mail order pharmacy not to send them, while I figured out from my nurse when I would need them.  So after talking to my nurse, she tells me about a pharmacy 1.5 hours away that another patient got them from for significantly cheaper.  Significant as in $500 savings!  The original quote from the mail order pharmacy was over $700.  I got them for $280.

    So moral of the story, ask questions.  Shop around.  The end.
    Wow! That's a great savings! Glad you asked around :) 
    TTC since May 2012
    Me: 32 H: 31
    DX: MFI-Very Low Count, I have Hashimotos.
    IVF prep September 2013 cancelled due to Ovarian Cyst
    IVF #1 October 2013 Antagonistic Protocol with ICSI  ER 10/31/13 (18R 16M 11F- 6 blasts to freeze)
    ET delayed due to OHSS 
    FET scheduled for July 8. Delayed due to a crazy high TSH (it had been under control for YEARS!)
    FET #1 8/5/14 sET BFN 

    All welcome!
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • twistsandturnsto2twistsandturnsto2 member
    I'm so happy that everything worked out and you were able to save all that $$$$! Great job!
    Me: 37, DH: 35 :: TCC since 2/11 SA: Perfect! CD3  HSG = Blocked Right Tube
    April- Femara 2.5mg + Trigger + IUI = BFN   May- Femara 5mg = CX - No Response on Left = BFN
    June- Femara 7.5mg + Trigger + IUI = BFN  August- Lap & Hysteroscopy = Blocked & Partially Blocked Tubes
    September- Femara 5mg = CX - No Response on Left = BFN  October- 100mg Clomid + Trigger + TI = BFN
    IVF # 1: Stims 11/30 ER 12/12/12! (10R, 10M, 8F, 2T, 6 F) :: Beta #1- 176  c/p @ 4w4d
    FET #1 February 26th :: Lost 4 to Thaw, Transferred 2 = BFFN
    IVF # 2 Stims 5/10 ER 5/21 (15R, 13M, 13F, 2T, 7F- 6d3 & 1d5) :: Beta # 1- 15 c/p @ 4w
    FET #2 Cancelled, Right Tube Developed a Hydro  8/28 Hydro & Scar Tissue Removed  Cleared for FET
    FET #2.2 Scheduled for September 20th
    2 Thawed, 2 Transferred! Beta #1- 96, Beta #2 906! :: EDD June 10th
    2015- 2 failed FET. We are done
    SURPRISE! BFP 8/8/16   EDD 4/1/17

     
    imageImage and video hosting by TinyPic

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Pregnancy Ticker
    Report Reply
  • Twinkie0612Twinkie0612 member

    Definitely shop around, especially for the ladies that are OOP.  My clinic typically uses Avella, I think because we have a local pharmacy near the clinic.  I asked for a copy of my med order and called around for quotes.  I found out that Avella was actually one of the more expensive pharmacies for the meds I was ordering.  I ended up ordering through Alexander's Twin Pharmacy and saved around $300. 

    Also always be sure they run your order through insurance, some meds (especially things like steroids and antibiotics) should be covered.

    imageimageimageimageimage

     

    image

    TTC #1 since August 2011

    My Blog

    September 2012: Start IF testing

    DH (32): SA is ok, slightly low morph, normal SCSA  Me (32): Slightly low progesterone, hostile CM, carrier for CF, Moderately high NKC, High TNFa, heterozyogous mutated Factor XIII, and +APA

    October 2012-May 2014: 4 failed IUIs, 3 failed IVFs, and 1 failed FETw/donor embryos

    November 2014: IVF w/ICSI #4 Agonist/Antagonist with EPP and Prednisone, Baby Aspirin, Lovenox, and IVIG for immune issues.  Converted to freeze all due to lining issues.  2 blasts frozen on day 6!

    January 2015: FET #2 Cancelled due to lining issues

    April 2015: FET #2.1


    PAIF/SAIF Welcome!

    Report Reply
  • katekat8721katekat8721 member
    Good advice Jshwind and Twinkie! That is pretty significant savings!

    Report Reply
  • amcastordamcastord member
    Just starting this process. So glad to read this, I'll definitely shop around.
    Sheww...there's so much to learn!

     

     


    image

     

    Report Reply
  • lin681lin681 member
    Nice work!! I did shop around for some of my meds, but that was after the majority was already purchased.
    TTC since June 2011
    SA - Normal CD3 Bloodwork - Normal HSG- All clear!
    July 2012 50mg Clomid CD3-7 Trigger+TI = BFN
    August 2012 50mg Clomid CD3-7 Trigger+IUI = BFN
    September 2012 50mg Clomid CD3-7 Trigger+IUI = BFN
    October 4th LAP - Mild Endo - All Removed
    Treatment Break 3 cycles = BFN
    1st Treatment Cycle Post Lap --
    February 2013 50mg Clomid CD3-7 Trigger+IUI = BFN
    March 2013 50mg Clomid CD3-7 Trigger+IUI = BFN
    April 2013 Break Cycle ~~~ May 2013 Meet with RE discuss next steps
    July 2013 IVF ~ Stims start 6/28
    
ER 7/10 20R/14M/14F
    Day 3 - 10 Embryos
    ET 7/15 Transferred 1 Blast on day 5 - Froze 6
    7/24 Beta 1 150 7/26 Beta 2 313 7/30 Beta 3 1,084 Beta 4 3,000 Beta 5 8,120 1st U/S 8/8 image
    Report Reply
  • jschwind22jschwind22 member
    amcastord said:
    Just starting this process. So glad to read this, I'll definitely shop around.
    Sheww...there's so much to learn!


    There is soooo much to learn!  I posted this because I wish I had known this a year ago when I started treatments!  It definitely takes time, but so worth it for those of us who are OOP!
    My Blog
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers

    TTC #1 since February 2011
    Me: 29 (3/5/13- high NK cells)  DH: 28 (5/8/12- MFI low morph and motility)
    Cycle #21 (IUI#1), Cycle #22 (HSG 9/21/12) and Cycle #23 (IUI#2)=  image
    Cycle #24- December Snow Bunny IVF #1
    ER 12/6/12 (14R, 11M, 9F), ET 12/9/12 transferred 2 day 3 embies
    Bleeding and low betas=very cautious image C/P 5W3D
    Cycle #26 March Lucky Duck- FET #1
    scheduled 3/20/13- CANCELLED- lining issues
    Cycle #27 May Emerald- FET #1.2
    delayed- Starting Trental for 3 months + natural cycles Cycle #28-30=  image
    Cycle #31 August Shooting Star- FET #1.3 
    transferred 1 hatching blast 8/21/13= imageBetas 8/30 (108) and 9/3 (565)

    U/S 9/19/13- HR is 128!  U/S #2 10/4/13- HR is 174!
    It's a BOY!

    Report Reply
  • RosyGlowRosyGlow member
    Way to go, lady! Now go spend a hundy on yourself since you were smart enough to save it. :) Ha ha. 
    | Married since 2008 | DH and I: Both 30 | Me: Endometriosis and Carrier of an X-Linked Dominant Genetic Disorder | DH: Low Morph | Planning IVF with PGD and PGS in 2013 | Freeze-All IVF #1: March 2013 ER 3/26. 29R, 12M, 11F. 4 5AA frozen blasts. Freeze-All IVF#2: May 2013 ER 5/15. 31R, 21M, 20F. 6 5AA frozen blasts. Our PGD probe was completed in late June (total of 20 weeks to develop). PGD and PGS Results came on 6/19: 3 healthy embryos (normal chromosomes and unaffected by my family's genetic disorder). FET #1: July 2013 Natural Cycle - Cancelled due to insufficient lining (only got to 7.5mm). FET #1.2: August 2013 - Medicated Cycle with Lupron & Estrogen Patches to build up lining. Single embryo transfer was 8/23. Beta #1: 240! Beta #2: 578! U/S on 9/19 at 6w4d: We saw the heart beating at 131bpm. Second U/S on 10/4 at 8w5d: We saw the heart beating at 178bpm. EDD 5/11/2014
    image
    PAIF/SAIF/Everyone Welcome! 


    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"