Info Desk [Paperwork, ordering, wait times, procedures, booklets, prescriptions...]

I'm taking Aerius for my allergies. It's prescription-only. Since I'll be out at sea for a while, my doctor went ahead and wrote me a script for two boxes. The prescription specifies S. 2 x 1, which covers both. Do I have to pick up both boxes right now, or can I grab just one first—having them note that I'm still owed another—and then come back for the second once I've finished the first?

You really have to take both. Honestly, what's the harm in that? 😕

If she wrote to you requesting two boxes, then you’ll be receiving two boxes.

So, how does it work then? Like, you get one prescription for birth control pills and just pick up a new box every month once you finish the current one, rather than getting everything at once?

because birth control refills are easy to get and usually last you a year since you just pick them up yourself, but this Aerius stuff is a one-off thing covered by Medicare (at least partially

Patrick Anderson3;27998450 said:I'm taking Aerius for my allergies. It's prescription-only. Since I'll be out at sea for a while, my doctor gave me a script for two boxes right away. The prescription says S. 2 x 1, so that covers both boxes. Do I have to grab both boxes all at once, or can I pick up one now, let them log it, and then come back for the second one once I'm through the first?]

I can tell you from experience: you can't. Once a prescription is processed, it goes straight to Medicare and that's that. If you only take one box, the pharmacy processes it as one box and sends the info to Medicare. The only catch is that pharmacies and doctors aren't perfectly synced yet, so your doctor won't actually know you only grabbed one. To her, it looks like you took both, which should cover you for two months. It might cause a headache when you go back for more later, but that depends entirely on how your doctor handles things.😛😛

You can—and honestly, you should—just grab two boxes right away. Your doctor is totally allowed to write two boxes on a single prescription, or you could even ask them for a refillable prescription so you can just pick up one box at a time every month for the next six months...

Just one question, a bit of a tangent...
I was wondering if restaurant workers are required to undergo testing for STDs, specifically HIV?

Next week, I’m finally heading to San Diego for a knee MRI.
It’s taken a staggering eleven and a half months since I first requested this scan through Medicare.😁

My questions are as follows:
- Once the MRI is complete, do they only provide a written report and diagnosis, or am I actually going to receive the imaging itself?
- Based on your own experiences, is it possible to request that they burn the images onto a CD that I bring with me?

Thanks👍

You'll get the actual scans too... honestly, I’m not quite sure about the CD situation, so maybe just ask them right when you go in for the imaging.

You’ll receive the written report along with the imaging files... as far as I know, there is absolutely no way you're getting a CD burned there, at least not in San Diego... but I suppose you could try asking

mellowridge10 said:you'll get the written report and the images... as far as I know, there's absolutely no way you're getting them on a CD, at least not in San Diego... but go ahead and ask if you want to be sure.

Forgive my ignorance here, but: what format are those images actually in?
(I don't really know anything about this stuff)

Thanks

Casey Perez8 said:Forgive my ignorance on this matter, but: what format are those scans actually in?
(I'm afraid I don't know much about such things)

Thanks

The most similar ones... specifically the ones from the X-ray technician.😉

In Chicago, you get all your scans, CDs, and the written report—which, let's be honest, is the least important thing to a neurosurgeon anyway.

fadedheron892 said:When you're in Chicago, they actually hand you the scans, the CD, and the written report—which, let’s be honest, is probably the least useful thing to a neurosurgeon anyway.

Well... unfortunately, not all of us live in Chicago... so you end up having to just take a photo of the screen🤣 and hope for the best, getting whatever meager scraps of information you can muster... and that's just how it goes.

I ain't even in Chicago myself 😉

Casey Perez8 said:I've got an MRI scheduled for my knee in San Diego next week.
It took me 11.5 months of waiting through Medicare to finally get this appointment booked.😁

A few questions:
- Once the MRI is done, will they just give me a written report, or do I actually get to see the images too?
- In your experience, can you ask them to burn the scans onto a CD if you bring one with you?

Thnx👍

You’ll definitely get the actual images along with the radiologist's written report. Honestly, most specialists don't even care about the written summary; they want to see the raw data.

As for the CD, you can certainly ask, but it isn't standard procedure. These MRI images are saved digitally in DICOM format, which requires specific software—something like DicomWorks—just to view them properly. Medical facilities are legally required to archive those files for a set amount of time, so they aren't always jumping to hand over physical copies.

fadedheron892 said:In NYC—When you get all your results back—the scans, the CD, and that written report—which one is actually the least important thing for someone like a neurosurgeon to look at?

It isn't happening everywhere. 😉

feralridge3 said:not everywhere. 😉

Look, you're totally right, but let's be real—I've seen plenty of people show up with nothing but a printed report, which honestly doesn't mean squat. I'm just trying to point out that the actual X-ray image is what the specialists actually need to see, and if they didn't get the CD, they can always just demand it.

Casey Perez8 said:I’ve finally got my knee MRI scheduled in San Diego for next week.
It took 11.5 months of waiting through Medicare to actually get this appointment.😁

A few questions:
- After the MRI, do they just give you a written report, or do you get the actual images too?
- Based on what you've seen, can you ask them to burn the images onto a CD if you bring one?

Thnx👍

You get both the images and the written report. Not sure about the CD. I've heard some people get one if they specifically ask for it. Personally, I didn't get a CD, just the report and the images. I went to the Mayo Clinic for my MRI.