assumptions
I received a letter in the mail a couple of days ago from a place called the IPA.
In my world, an IPA is an India Pale Ale, but this seemed to be from some sort of medical place -- so I opened the letter.
The first paragraph of the letter informed me that I was receiving this mailing because I have the diagnosis of diabetes.
WHAT?!?!?!
I don't have diabetes. Never have. I even passed the gestational diabetes test with both pregnancies. I'm not significantly overweight (I've got 20lbs I could lose),I eat pretty well, and I exercise. (How could I not when I'm chasing the twins every day!)
I continue to read through the letter, and they are suggesting that I schedule an eye appointment with an eye doctor to get them examined, as my eyes are at greater risk of issues because of MY DIABETES!!!!
At the end of letter, I realize it's a form letter because there are three fields that were left incomplete. Instead of listing my primary care doctor's name, phone number and address -- it had (insert doctor) (insert address) (insert phone number).
That bothered me enough that I decided to give the IPA a call.
I spoke with an administrator and informed him that I had recieved the letter and was shocked to learn that I have diabetes. He asked who my doctor was, and I told him. He said he knew my doctor well and that he was a great guy. (That's nice, don't care at the moment)
He said that the letters were sent out to patients with the diagnosis of diabetes. I told him I didn't have diabetes. He asked if I was sure. SERIOUSLY?
Yes, I'm sure.
I went on to explain that I'm on a medication that is usually associated with those that have type 2 diabetes, but that I take the drug for an off label use. I take it to help mitigate the symptoms of my poly-cystic ovarian disease. But that's none of this guy's business. And yet, here I sit explaining this to him. I take this medication at the advice of a reproductive endcrinologist who is working in concert with my primary care doctor.
He takes down my information and tells me he's going to have someone higher up call me back to discuss things further.
I get a call back a couple hours later and have to explain myself again. The man, in some very nice way, suggested that maybe I didn't realize I had type 2 diabetes.
That is when I got very serene and serious, as I was starting to see red and rather than scream at him, I went into scarily calm mode.
I said the following,
"I'm a 37 year old mother of three. I am 20lbs overweight, and take this drug for an off label use to treat poly cystic ovarian syndrome. I went through almost two years of fertility treatments and I'm very well aquainted with the health of my body. I went to college, I read regularly, and I know why I take my medications."
He apologized and said he would rectify his records.
I asked where he got this information, and he indicated that he received the mailing information from Blue Cross Blue Shield (our insurance company)
My insurance company is providing my contact information along with the suggestion that I have a condition based on the medications I take.
I have high blood pressure, for which I take medication.
I also take an anti-seizure medication to calm my brain activity.
And I take a medication associated with diabetes to help control the cysts on my ovaries, the acne, the weight gain, and facial hair associated with the condition.
Why I take these medications is between me and the physician that prescribes it for me. I'm pissed that the insurance company is making assumptions about me and marketing my contact information based on these assumptions.
I wonder what other mailings I will get in the future....