Remicade

October 30, 2004

I don't know a, I feel like so much is wrong. School is going well. I am

having a hard time with the ceramics class but I am doing it. My friend and I

start

laughing and can't stop. I think the entire class is laughing at us, but we are

having fun. It is just everything else all I seem to do is worry. I will have

to

wait and see what the insurance company says. I ask the doctor because I read

that

remicade can cause cancer. He told me that is false it is just a report the

news

put out. The problem is people with ra are more prone to lynphoma spelling,

and

the fda wanted that on remicade. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to

do,

to be able to function. I'll let you know what happens. I have decided if it

is

approved God wanted me to have it. If not it wasn't in his will and I will go

from

there.

I hope you are okay. At least you won't have to deal with the snow this year.

Enjoy Halloween

Lynn

a54 wrote:

> Lynn,

> I¹m sorry you¹re still flaring. You¹ve been flaring way to long, so I hope

> your insurance will approve the Remicade without and problems. I hope it is

> as helpful as it was before and you have no side effects. Do you think

> stress is causing the flare?

> a

>

> > I have been in such a terrible flare that yesterday the Rheumy decided

> > maybe it is time for remicade. I have held off doing this for a long

> > time. But the last couple of month have been terrible. I think it

> > started when I went back to school. I have to wait and see if my

> > insurance will pay for it. When I called they told me no. However, the

> > Rheumy says they will pay for it. I tried remicade four years ago and

> > it was great. I had to stop because of stomach problems. Right now the

> > worse is I wake up in pain. So I will have to wait and see.

> > Hope everyone is doing okay and will be able to enjoy Halloween.

> > Lynn (MeMom)

> >

October 31, 2004

Lynn, have you considered Enbrel or Humira instead of Remicade? Your

going back on Remicade worries me a little because (1) it was never

determined exactly why you had the troubles with your pancreas and liver

in the first place and (2) should you have a problem when you go back on

Remicade, you have to wait for the last infusion to wear off - which

could be a period of weeks rather than days.

I know a lot of this depends on what your insurance will cover, but you

might ask your rheumatologist if Enbrel or Humira would possibly be

better options.

So sorry about your flare!

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] REMICADE

>

> I have been in such a terrible flare that yesterday the Rheumy decided

> maybe it is time for remicade. I have held off doing this for a long

> time. But the last couple of month have been terrible. I think it

> started when I went back to school. I have to wait and see if my

> insurance will pay for it. When I called they told me no. However,

the

> Rheumy says they will pay for it. I tried remicade four years ago and

> it was great. I had to stop because of stomach problems. Right now

the

> worse is I wake up in pain. So I will have to wait and see.

> Hope everyone is doing okay and will be able to enjoy Halloween.

> Lynn (MeMom)

November 8, 2004

Polly, I was on remicade, max. dose every 4 weeks. In my

insurance EOB it showed that the remicade cost $7000+. It's not

cheap by any means!! And this was having it done at my rheumy's

office!! Marina in Ohio

November 10, 2004

My insurance pays for most of my Remicade bill, but I understand that there are

patient assistance programs for those who don't get help from an insurance

company. I have been on Methotrexate for a while now, it really isn't doing

much, but I understand it helps the remicade, so I stay on it. I take Bextra.

I was taking 20 mg twice a day and it was helping out quite a bit, but my

insurance will only pay for 10 mg one time a day, and my rheumy supplements my

supply with samples. The only thing that has seemed to make a difference so far

is the Remicade. I have been on Vioxx, Naproxen, and Ibuprophen also. Hope

that helps. You can go to http://www.remicade.com and get some more info.

Semalee

[ ] Remicade

In a message dated 11/5/04 9:20:38 AM, Semalee@... writes:

>

I noticed your reference toi Remicade, Semalee. I have heard that it is as

expensive as $1,500 a month. There is no way I could afford that and not

loose my house. My question to you: is the drug that costly, and is there

anything else that you have taken that has helped?

Thank you, Polly from Ohio

November 11, 2004

i have only been on methotrexate and now that my live is not so good... i had to

stop that... does remicade affect the liver??? and vioxx did absolutely nothing

for me... PREDNISONE is the only thing that took the pain away for me! guess

you can not stay on that for a long time! and besides, i would become about 600

pounds if i stayed on that too long.. ha ha ha hah ah a

rae

[ ] Remicade

In a message dated 11/5/04 9:20:38 AM, Semalee@... writes:

>

I noticed your reference toi Remicade, Semalee. I have heard that it is as

expensive as $1,500 a month. There is no way I could afford that and not

loose my house. My question to you: is the drug that costly, and is

there

anything else that you have taken that has helped?

Thank you, Polly from Ohio

November 11, 2004

In a message dated 11/11/04 10:33:16 AM, Raes_Yorkies@... writes:

> PREDNISONE is the only thing that took the pain away from me.

>

Me too! I looked at the side effects when I got my first Rx and none of

them were as bad as how I feel when I don't take it. I started out at 60 mgs

and now am down to 25. If I go below that things start to really hurt.

November 12, 2004

Althea - Your experience with Remicade sounds very much like mine. I read with

interest the article the other day that says TNF s help fatigue. I am so tired

for the day or two after my infusion- that has not been my experience. I have

also been on Remicade for two years (with MTX - although I am not fond of taking

it either).It has not been a miracle for me - but has helped keep my fingers,

hands, wrists and shoulders better.

Hugs,

-------------- Original message ----------------------

From: " blueroses11 " <bluerose11@...>

>

> I have been on Remicade for 2 years now. My insurance pays for all

> but my co-pay but it is quite expensive if you don't have

> insurance. They do not have a plan like Humira for people who don't

> have insurance as yet.

>

> I take MTX with it but...

>

> My doctor told me " Remicade works by itself but the FDA will only

> allow a person to be on it if they are on MTX with it "

>

> Now, MTX is the drug that CAN affect your liver and you need to be

> tested every 60 days to make sure your levels are staying constant

> or below the danger level.

>

> I don't take my MTX every week. I didn't take it at one time for

> almost 8 months. During that time, I ached terribly and talked with

> my doctor about it. I am supposed to take my MTX once a week now

> but still find myself forgetting it but when I get seriously achey I

> remember that I haven't taken it.

>

> The Remicade surrounds the cells and does not let them form the bad

> RA cells so that you " hopefully " won't develop any crippling. Since

> starting it, my joints in everything but my feet have been fine. My

> feet have developed metatarsil something or other and I am scheduled

> to see a podiatrist for them.

>

> The MTX takes care of the inflammation that causes you to feel achey

> and sore. For me, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. It

> does help and I am very grateful for it but sometimes even though I

> take it religiously it doesn't help at all.

>

> Remicade does have different side effects though that you may

> suffer...for me I am extremely tired after the infusion and will

> sleep more during the next 48 hours quite a bit. One of people that

> has there infusion the same day I do has to have a shot of benedryl

> before having his infusion. He shook terribly one day for quite a

> while but hasn't had any problems since. Some people get headaches

> but they are supposedly go away after a day or two.

>

> I know that I have a chance to prolong my time without any crippling

> deformities if I stay on it - although it doesn't completely help me.

> I wish anyone good luck who has this crippling disease and is able

> to slow it down in any way.

>

> God bless,

> Althea

>

June 12, 2005

Congratulations, Trudy, on quitting smoking. That is such an important thing

to do, especially if you have RA.

It is true that if you've been off of the Remicade for an extended period

that you might have trouble resuming it. How long has it been? Did you take

methotrexate, too?

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Remicade

>I have a qestion I was on Remicde for 1 and 1/2 years and did great. I

> lost my Ins scince I cant work any more. I now have Medicade through

> the state. My Doctor's office has made me an appointment to start

> again, but the said I might have severe reactions to the drug the

> second time arround. I never had any problems with it except being

> tired afterwards. So what am i looking for I go Thursday at 9am. Also

> Today is 2 months scince I have Quit smoking and Yesterday was very

> very very hard for me I wanted a smoke so bad I could taste it. It was

> the worst day in a long time. But I made it thru. Please keep me in

> your prayers thats how i made it yesterday by Prayer I finally Just

> Prayed God, give me the strenghth to not have a ciggarette. I dont

> want one but I know my body does. I leave this in your hands.Amen Then

> i popped a nicoten lozenger. I made it.

>

> Trudy

>

June 13, 2005

I went off all meds in Feb. Last Remicade was feb 4th and i do take methtrexate

now that i have ins again. Trudy

<Matsumura_Clan@...> wrote:Congratulations, Trudy, on quitting

smoking. That is such an important thing