Re: Dr said to stay the course on Xolair 2x a month

[Guest guest]

So sorry you had such a tough time with your allergy tests.

About the Boniva - it's the newest and therefore most expensive of

the drugs for slowing bone loss and improving bone density. Fosamax

is the oldest and so probably has a much lower copay on your

insurance - you might check that out and if it's true, ask your doc

to put you on that instead. If you already have low bone density

(osteoporosis or osteopenia), the only way to improve it is to take

Fosamax or Boniva or a similar med. Calcium and vitamin D are also

necessary but just taking them without a Fosamax-like med will not

reverse bone loss. If the copy for Fosamax is still out of reach for

you, let your doctor know. S/he gets tons of samples of all these

very competetive meds.

About the calcium - you shouldn't take more than 500-600mg at a time

and it's important to spread your doses out through the day (e.g.,

morning and evening) because our bodies can only absorb that much at

a given time and the rest is wasted. " Coral reef " just means that's

where the calcium carbonate was obtained, from coral reefs out in the

ocean. Calcium citrate is absorbed much better than calcium

carbonate. You can buy calcium citrate as Citracal or a similar store

brand.

Hope this helps and I'm SO glad your doc will take on BCBS!

Fran

>

> today was a busy day. So this entry, will be more like an

instrument

> to vent.

>

> Today, I had to get my allergies tests. By the 41st prick, I was in

> tears. (I guess I have a low pain tolerance). The worst part was I

> had to sit there for 15 minutes and could not itch or scratch it.

>

> Then, after the 1st 51 pricks in the back, I had to get 27 more in

> the arm. The skin reaction lit up like a Christmas tree. I had

bumps,

> even a road with speed bumps looked smoother than my skin

>

> I then saw the dr. He said there was no doubt in his mind that I

had

> to stay the course on Xolair and he will have a very straight

forward

> conversation with BCBS. I am staying on the shot 2x a month. He

also

> thinks I am allergic to more things than what seems to be the case

> now. Oh joy! :-\

>

> I may be an adult, I may live miles away and independently from my

> family. Yet times like these, when I was in so much pain and the 2

> dr's I had to see in the same day before this dr were no picnic in

> the park, I called home. After doing so, I kick myself and

say " why,

> you stupid idiot, you know the outcome " . I guess I call because I

am

> hopeful. Those of you who know my posts from the past, know the

rest.

> Those of you who don't, my family does not believe the severity of

> the asthma/asthma. They believe it is in my head rather than my

> lungs.

>

> After the other needle injections, pardon the pun, I was shot. I am

> just delighted that I will maintain the shots 2x a month and BCBS

> won't deny it

>

> Here's a question I need to put out there. I can't afford another

> medication to my budget. I have been placed on Boniva for the bone

> loss. I can't afford the co-pay. Instead, I picked up at the store

a

> bottle of calcium 1500 and vit D. I have also switched to soy milk

> (some time ago and it seems to help). I l LOVE the chocolate one. I

> feel like a kid again! Does anyone have other ideas and what is

> coral reef?

>

> Thanks all!

>

[Guest guest]

Regarding the Boniva, you might consider going Canadian - you can get them for

about $12 apiece there.

Ohldepharte

----- Original Message -----

From: meencantador

Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 5:21 AM

Subject: [ ] Dr said to stay the course on Xolair 2x a month

today was a busy day. So this entry, will be more like an instrument

to vent.

Today, I had to get my allergies tests. By the 41st prick, I was in

tears. (I guess I have a low pain tolerance). The worst part was I

had to sit there for 15 minutes and could not itch or scratch it.

Then, after the 1st 51 pricks in the back, I had to get 27 more in

the arm. The skin reaction lit up like a Christmas tree. I had bumps,

even a road with speed bumps looked smoother than my skin

I then saw the dr. He said there was no doubt in his mind that I had

to stay the course on Xolair and he will have a very straight forward

conversation with BCBS. I am staying on the shot 2x a month. He also

thinks I am allergic to more things than what seems to be the case

now. Oh joy! :-\

I may be an adult, I may live miles away and independently from my

family. Yet times like these, when I was in so much pain and the 2

dr's I had to see in the same day before this dr were no picnic in

the park, I called home. After doing so, I kick myself and say " why,

you stupid idiot, you know the outcome " . I guess I call because I am

hopeful. Those of you who know my posts from the past, know the rest.

Those of you who don't, my family does not believe the severity of

the asthma/asthma. They believe it is in my head rather than my

lungs.

After the other needle injections, pardon the pun, I was shot. I am

just delighted that I will maintain the shots 2x a month and BCBS

won't deny it

Here's a question I need to put out there. I can't afford another

medication to my budget. I have been placed on Boniva for the bone

loss. I can't afford the co-pay. Instead, I picked up at the store a

bottle of calcium 1500 and vit D. I have also switched to soy milk

(some time ago and it seems to help). I l LOVE the chocolate one. I

feel like a kid again! Does anyone have other ideas and what is

coral reef?

Thanks all!

[Guest guest]

I have had the kind of day you've had many times. For those of us

who are really allergic, the scratch and intradermal testing is an

ordeal that is hard to bear. I agree with Fran, talk to your doc and

try to get some samples or ask if he will write a script for Fossamax

instead.

I think that it is understandable to still want to reach out to your

family, despite the fact that they continue to disappoint you. Hope

springs eternal and all that.

Hang in there. at least you are getting better quality information

than you were before.

Addy

Group co-owner

>

> today was a busy day. So this entry, will be more like an

instrument

> to vent.

>

> Today, I had to get my allergies tests. By the 41st prick, I was in

> tears. (I guess I have a low pain tolerance). The worst part was I

> had to sit there for 15 minutes and could not itch or scratch it.

>

> Then, after the 1st 51 pricks in the back, I had to get 27 more in

> the arm. The skin reaction lit up like a Christmas tree. I had

bumps,

> even a road with speed bumps looked smoother than my skin

>

> I then saw the dr. He said there was no doubt in his mind that I

had

> to stay the course on Xolair and he will have a very straight

forward

> conversation with BCBS. I am staying on the shot 2x a month. He

also

> thinks I am allergic to more things than what seems to be the case

> now. Oh joy! :-\

>

> I may be an adult, I may live miles away and independently from my

> family. Yet times like these, when I was in so much pain and the 2

> dr's I had to see in the same day before this dr were no picnic in

> the park, I called home. After doing so, I kick myself and

say " why,

> you stupid idiot, you know the outcome " . I guess I call because I

am

> hopeful. Those of you who know my posts from the past, know the

rest.

> Those of you who don't, my family does not believe the severity of

> the asthma/asthma. They believe it is in my head rather than my

> lungs.

>

> After the other needle injections, pardon the pun, I was shot. I am

> just delighted that I will maintain the shots 2x a month and BCBS

> won't deny it

>

> Here's a question I need to put out there. I can't afford another

> medication to my budget. I have been placed on Boniva for the bone

> loss. I can't afford the co-pay. Instead, I picked up at the store

a

> bottle of calcium 1500 and vit D. I have also switched to soy milk

> (some time ago and it seems to help). I l LOVE the chocolate one. I

> feel like a kid again! Does anyone have other ideas and what is

> coral reef?

>

> Thanks all!

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

Im based in the UK so all treatment is FREE. Im not sure if xolair will help

me however. I have had no allergy tests for 4 years now and most of them were

only mildly allergic or not allergic at all. I have a new young consultant who

thinks Xolair is the way forward, yet two other consultants told me I had COPD,

not allergic asthma, and another told me allergy tests are a waste of time as

the skin reacts differently to the inside of lungs. I dont tend to suffer bad

attacks out of the blue, my peak flows vary only a little. My other big issue is

that I have a real phobia for needles and injections and even the thought of an

injection makes me physically sick. Reading about Xolair, it seems for people

with allergic asthma it provides some relief, but for some it has been little or

no help at all.

I assume all you guys who are taking it were given allergy tests to make sure

you are allergic?

pyle456 <coachmac@...> wrote:

I have had the kind of day you've had many times. For those of us

who are really allergic, the scratch and intradermal testing is an

ordeal that is hard to bear. I agree with Fran, talk to your doc and

try to get some samples or ask if he will write a script for Fossamax

instead.

I think that it is understandable to still want to reach out to your

family, despite the fact that they continue to disappoint you. Hope

springs eternal and all that.

Hang in there. at least you are getting better quality information

than you were before.

Addy

Group co-owner

>

> today was a busy day. So this entry, will be more like an

instrument

> to vent.

>

> Today, I had to get my allergies tests. By the 41st prick, I was in

> tears. (I guess I have a low pain tolerance). The worst part was I

> had to sit there for 15 minutes and could not itch or scratch it.

>

> Then, after the 1st 51 pricks in the back, I had to get 27 more in

> the arm. The skin reaction lit up like a Christmas tree. I had

bumps,

> even a road with speed bumps looked smoother than my skin

>

> I then saw the dr. He said there was no doubt in his mind that I

had

> to stay the course on Xolair and he will have a very straight

forward

> conversation with BCBS. I am staying on the shot 2x a month. He

also

> thinks I am allergic to more things than what seems to be the case

> now. Oh joy! :-\

>

> I may be an adult, I may live miles away and independently from my

> family. Yet times like these, when I was in so much pain and the 2

> dr's I had to see in the same day before this dr were no picnic in

> the park, I called home. After doing so, I kick myself and

say " why,

> you stupid idiot, you know the outcome " . I guess I call because I

am

> hopeful. Those of you who know my posts from the past, know the

rest.

> Those of you who don't, my family does not believe the severity of

> the asthma/asthma. They believe it is in my head rather than my

> lungs.

>

> After the other needle injections, pardon the pun, I was shot. I am

> just delighted that I will maintain the shots 2x a month and BCBS

> won't deny it

>

> Here's a question I need to put out there. I can't afford another

> medication to my budget. I have been placed on Boniva for the bone

> loss. I can't afford the co-pay. Instead, I picked up at the store

a

> bottle of calcium 1500 and vit D. I have also switched to soy milk

> (some time ago and it seems to help). I l LOVE the chocolate one. I

> feel like a kid again! Does anyone have other ideas and what is

> coral reef?

>

> Thanks all!

>

[Guest guest]

thanks for the info

Citrate, is that citrus based? I am allergic to citrus foods and would use

caution before taking that.

When I was in the dr's office, they were going to give me an antihistamine, it

was citrus flavored. My dr said it was a no go, I had to get something else. The

nurse who was going to give me it was the one who did the test. (This is why

they lable the medical world practice, they practice til they get it right. The

mistakes are in the cemetary, ok maybe not that extreme).

I spoke to my asthma dr in NY the night of the test. He called my dr in Fl.

Last night (Friday night), NY dr called me back and said that they (FL) said I

was in a lot of pain and it was more than 51 one pricks on my back and more than

27 on my arm. That sounds strange. I just know I don't want to do that again.

Next time I am due for this, I hope they have a better method of doing so. He

too agreed, that I am allergic to more things that first thought. I feel like I

am a lab rat, no longer a person.

Anyway, I apologize, I digress easily. I will check out the calcium. I

appreciate the info sent out, especailly about spreading it out throughout the

day. I will stay the course of the soy milk. I like that. I am hoping the

locking of my hips and pain in the joints will ease up soon. People who walk

beside me, if it's quiet enough will hear the cracks of my bones. I should be

the new mascott for Rice Crispies, " The new snap, crackle and pop! " . I have to

sleep with a pillow under my tailbone and a towel rolled up like an egg roll

under my neck. I get nervous because I am 32, what will happen years to come?

I have obtained a contact number for boniva, maybe they have a program to help

financially. It is worth a shot. There goes my hope philosophy again. I am

always, or at least try to be, hopeful. (My folks, after our brief chat on

Thursday, have not spoken to me since).

I want them to read these posts, but in the end it would be a waste of time.

Afterall, this is in my head, not my lungs, according to them. Again, I am glad

they do not have to endure this horrid disease. May God bless them in their rose

colored world.

Any other pointers for calcium? I m trying to increase the iron too, but

that's for other reasons. I was placed on a multivitamin. They are like horse

pills. I could not swallow them. I have problems swallowing the small pills of

the evil candy as well. I now get the liquid form of the multivitamin.

Thanks for reading, thanks for the info. I appreciate this group. at least

people here go through what I do and understand.

Take care

tiredofsteroids <sitesee@...> wrote:

So sorry you had such a tough time with your allergy tests.

About the Boniva - it's the newest and therefore most expensive of

the drugs for slowing bone loss and improving bone density. Fosamax

is the oldest and so probably has a much lower copay on your

insurance - you might check that out and if it's true, ask your doc

to put you on that instead. If you already have low bone density

(osteoporosis or osteopenia), the only way to improve it is to take

Fosamax or Boniva or a similar med. Calcium and vitamin D are also

necessary but just taking them without a Fosamax-like med will not

reverse bone loss. If the copy for Fosamax is still out of reach for

you, let your doctor know. S/he gets tons of samples of all these

very competetive meds.

About the calcium - you shouldn't take more than 500-600mg at a time

and it's important to spread your doses out through the day (e.g.,

morning and evening) because our bodies can only absorb that much at

a given time and the rest is wasted. " Coral reef " just means that's

where the calcium carbonate was obtained, from coral reefs out in the

ocean. Calcium citrate is absorbed much better than calcium

carbonate. You can buy calcium citrate as Citracal or a similar store

brand.

Hope this helps and I'm SO glad your doc will take on BCBS!

Fran

>

> today was a busy day. So this entry, will be more like an

instrument

> to vent.

>

> Today, I had to get my allergies tests. By the 41st prick, I was in

> tears. (I guess I have a low pain tolerance). The worst part was I

> had to sit there for 15 minutes and could not itch or scratch it.

>

> Then, after the 1st 51 pricks in the back, I had to get 27 more in

> the arm. The skin reaction lit up like a Christmas tree. I had

bumps,

> even a road with speed bumps looked smoother than my skin

>

> I then saw the dr. He said there was no doubt in his mind that I

had

> to stay the course on Xolair and he will have a very straight

forward

> conversation with BCBS. I am staying on the shot 2x a month. He

also

> thinks I am allergic to more things than what seems to be the case

> now. Oh joy! :-\

>

> I may be an adult, I may live miles away and independently from my

> family. Yet times like these, when I was in so much pain and the 2

> dr's I had to see in the same day before this dr were no picnic in

> the park, I called home. After doing so, I kick myself and

say " why,

> you stupid idiot, you know the outcome " . I guess I call because I

am

> hopeful. Those of you who know my posts from the past, know the

rest.

> Those of you who don't, my family does not believe the severity of

> the asthma/asthma. They believe it is in my head rather than my

> lungs.

>

> After the other needle injections, pardon the pun, I was shot. I am

> just delighted that I will maintain the shots 2x a month and BCBS

> won't deny it

>

> Here's a question I need to put out there. I can't afford another

> medication to my budget. I have been placed on Boniva for the bone

> loss. I can't afford the co-pay. Instead, I picked up at the store

a

> bottle of calcium 1500 and vit D. I have also switched to soy milk

> (some time ago and it seems to help). I l LOVE the chocolate one. I

> feel like a kid again! Does anyone have other ideas and what is

> coral reef?

>

> Thanks all!

>

---------------------------------

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

Oh yea, the asthma dr did not have samples. I will call the PCP Monday

though, for either Rx.

I am glad the xolair will remain as is and I am back on the meds I need. The

symbicort works better than the advair. I don't like the new albuterol inhalers

though. I am now on maxair. It's the old kind and will discontinue in 2009. So,

I'll be grateful while it lasts.

In other good news, I have been able to walk more. I try more and more each

day. I also

started to try yoga in the privacy of my own home. Baby steps. When I feel

comfortable enough, there is a civic center about 15 miles from where I am, they

offer free classes.

Take care, hope all are well.

pyle456 <coachmac@...> wrote:

I have had the kind of day you've had many times. For those of us

who are really allergic, the scratch and intradermal testing is an

ordeal that is hard to bear. I agree with Fran, talk to your doc and

try to get some samples or ask if he will write a script for Fossamax

instead.

I think that it is understandable to still want to reach out to your

family, despite the fact that they continue to disappoint you. Hope

springs eternal and all that.

Hang in there. at least you are getting better quality information

than you were before.

Addy

Group co-owner

>

> today was a busy day. So this entry, will be more like an

instrument

> to vent.

>

> Today, I had to get my allergies tests. By the 41st prick, I was in

> tears. (I guess I have a low pain tolerance). The worst part was I

> had to sit there for 15 minutes and could not itch or scratch it.

>

> Then, after the 1st 51 pricks in the back, I had to get 27 more in

> the arm. The skin reaction lit up like a Christmas tree. I had

bumps,

> even a road with speed bumps looked smoother than my skin

>

> I then saw the dr. He said there was no doubt in his mind that I

had

> to stay the course on Xolair and he will have a very straight

forward

> conversation with BCBS. I am staying on the shot 2x a month. He

also

> thinks I am allergic to more things than what seems to be the case

> now. Oh joy! :-\

>

> I may be an adult, I may live miles away and independently from my

> family. Yet times like these, when I was in so much pain and the 2

> dr's I had to see in the same day before this dr were no picnic in

> the park, I called home. After doing so, I kick myself and

say " why,

> you stupid idiot, you know the outcome " . I guess I call because I

am

> hopeful. Those of you who know my posts from the past, know the

rest.

> Those of you who don't, my family does not believe the severity of

> the asthma/asthma. They believe it is in my head rather than my

> lungs.

>

> After the other needle injections, pardon the pun, I was shot. I am

> just delighted that I will maintain the shots 2x a month and BCBS

> won't deny it

>

> Here's a question I need to put out there. I can't afford another

> medication to my budget. I have been placed on Boniva for the bone

> loss. I can't afford the co-pay. Instead, I picked up at the store

a

> bottle of calcium 1500 and vit D. I have also switched to soy milk

> (some time ago and it seems to help). I l LOVE the chocolate one. I

> feel like a kid again! Does anyone have other ideas and what is

> coral reef?

>

> Thanks all!

>

---------------------------------

Never miss a thing. Make your homepage.

[Guest guest]

Greetings !

I think she just meant that she had to go through

regular allergy testing. The Xolair test is a blood

test not a skin prick test. I just had some done but

not as many as she did! ( I feel for ya Bridget!!!!!)

Xolair is not going to be free. According to NHS

you'd still have a pharmacy co pay, it will cost about

13 to 14 quid,which isn't that bad. I pay a co-pay for

mine and it is about $20 per month. (+-40 quid) Other

thing I wonder about Xoalir is...you know how some

hospitals in the UK are. Not every one has permission

to administer everything that is NHS approved. ( as

with any type of tretment through NHS.)

As for testing, here in the states, to qualify to

take Xolir, you must have an IgE level between 14 and

700. I don't know if that is the same for in the UK,

as it has just been approved with in the last few

months.

My mum-in-law is a nurse in Cornwall ( Truro) and we

keep each other updated on meds I take here & across

the pond! :-) Few weeks back there were some very

good articles about Xolair and a " Study Patient " on

the BBC.co.uk website. If you haven't read any of

them, you may want to check that out!

GOOD LUCK!!

--- PAUL CHRISTOFI <paulchristofi@...>

wrote:

> Hi Everyone,

> Im based in the UK so all treatment is FREE. Im

> not sure if xolair will help me however. I have had

> no allergy tests for 4 years now and most of them

> were only mildly allergic or not allergic at all. I

> have a new young consultant who thinks Xolair is the

> way forward, yet two other consultants told me I had

> COPD, not allergic asthma, and another told me

> allergy tests are a waste of time as the skin reacts

> differently to the inside of lungs. I dont tend to

> suffer bad attacks out of the blue, my peak flows

> vary only a little. My other big issue is that I

> have a real phobia for needles and injections and

> even the thought of an injection makes me physically

> sick. Reading about Xolair, it seems for people with

> allergic asthma it provides some relief, but for

> some it has been little or no help at all.

> I assume all you guys who are taking it were given

> allergy tests to make sure you are allergic?

>

>

> pyle456 <coachmac@...> wrote:

> I have had the kind of day you've had many

> times. For those of us

> who are really allergic, the scratch and intradermal

> testing is an

> ordeal that is hard to bear. I agree with Fran, talk

> to your doc and

> try to get some samples or ask if he will write a

> script for Fossamax

> instead.

>

> I think that it is understandable to still want to

> reach out to your

> family, despite the fact that they continue to

> disappoint you. Hope

> springs eternal and all that.

>

> Hang in there. at least you are getting better

> quality information

> than you were before.

>

> Addy

> Group co-owner

>

>

> >

> > today was a busy day. So this entry, will be more

> like an

> instrument

> > to vent.

> >

> > Today, I had to get my allergies tests. By the

> 41st prick, I was in

> > tears. (I guess I have a low pain tolerance). The

> worst part was I

> > had to sit there for 15 minutes and could not itch

> or scratch it.

> >

> > Then, after the 1st 51 pricks in the back, I had

> to get 27 more in

> > the arm. The skin reaction lit up like a Christmas

> tree. I had

> bumps,

> > even a road with speed bumps looked smoother than

> my skin

> >

> > I then saw the dr. He said there was no doubt in

> his mind that I

> had

> > to stay the course on Xolair and he will have a

> very straight

> forward

> > conversation with BCBS. I am staying on the shot

> 2x a month. He

> also

> > thinks I am allergic to more things than what

> seems to be the case

> > now. Oh joy! :-\

> >

> > I may be an adult, I may live miles away and

> independently from my

> > family. Yet times like these, when I was in so

> much pain and the 2

> > dr's I had to see in the same day before this dr

> were no picnic in

> > the park, I called home. After doing so, I kick

> myself and

> say " why,

> > you stupid idiot, you know the outcome " . I guess I

> call because I

> am

> > hopeful. Those of you who know my posts from the

> past, know the

> rest.

> > Those of you who don't, my family does not believe

> the severity of

> > the asthma/asthma. They believe it is in my head

> rather than my

> > lungs.

> >

> > After the other needle injections, pardon the pun,

> I was shot. I am

> > just delighted that I will maintain the shots 2x a

> month and BCBS

> > won't deny it

> >

> > Here's a question I need to put out there. I can't

> afford another

> > medication to my budget. I have been placed on

> Boniva for the bone

> > loss. I can't afford the co-pay. Instead, I picked

> up at the store

> a

> > bottle of calcium 1500 and vit D. I have also

> switched to soy milk

> > (some time ago and it seems to help). I l LOVE the

> chocolate one. I

> > feel like a kid again! Does anyone have other

> ideas and what is

> > coral reef?

> >

> > Thanks all!

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Never miss a thing. Make your home page.

http://www./r/hs

[Guest guest]

No, the citrate in calcium citrate is not obtained from citrus

fruits. It's just the chemical name for the molecule that can be

combined with calcium to form a solid that easily dissolves in water,

making the calcium readily accessible in the body. In contrast,

calcium carbonate (which is what is obtained from coral reefs) does

not dissolve as well in water and its calcium component is not as

easily absorbed by the body. Citrate sounds like citrus because its

acid form, citric acid, is found in large amounts in citrus fruits

but citric acid is not the allergen in citrus fruits, other molecules

(proteins) are.

I'm so sorry your family continues to be so outrageously

unsupportive. As we've discussed at length before, it seems that this

is just the way they are - they suffer from rigid thinking, ignorance

and arrogance, a terrible combination, and unfortunately, you suffer

the consequences much more than they appear to. But it is nearly

impossible for us to totally give up hope in these situations.

I have a similar problem with communication with my family but for a

different reason, and by now we haven't spoken in many years, so I

can definitely identify. Even after all these years, I still continue

to at least wish for change, even without any evidence or remaining

belief that it can happen. I also wish for you that your family will

eventually come around. Just know in your heart that until they do,

if they do, it's about them and not about anything you have done

wrong. It's so important for your eventual peace of mind that you

come to accept that awareness but it does take time.

It sounds like you're on track for trying to get your hands on

Boniva. If they won't help, for sure see if the Fosamax company will

(and tell them Boniva wouldn't help! That'll get their competetive

juices going!).

I'm also concerned about the joint and back symptoms you describe.

The pain and crackles would not likely be related to low bone density

but rather to arthritis of some kind. If you haven't been checked out

by your primary for these symptoms, I strongly suggest you do so even

though I'm sure the idea of dealing with one more diagnosis must feel

overwhelming. Your point about having all these problems already at

such a young age is a good one and the sooner you seek diagnosis and

treatment for them, the better you are likely to do.

I'm sending a big hug once again - Fran

> >

> > today was a busy day. So this entry, will be more like an

> instrument

> > to vent.

> >

> > Today, I had to get my allergies tests. By the 41st prick, I was

in

> > tears. (I guess I have a low pain tolerance). The worst part was

I

> > had to sit there for 15 minutes and could not itch or scratch it.

> >

> > Then, after the 1st 51 pricks in the back, I had to get 27 more

in

> > the arm. The skin reaction lit up like a Christmas tree. I had

> bumps,

> > even a road with speed bumps looked smoother than my skin

> >

> > I then saw the dr. He said there was no doubt in his mind that I

> had

> > to stay the course on Xolair and he will have a very straight

> forward

> > conversation with BCBS. I am staying on the shot 2x a month. He

> also

> > thinks I am allergic to more things than what seems to be the

case

> > now. Oh joy! :-\

> >

> > I may be an adult, I may live miles away and independently from

my

> > family. Yet times like these, when I was in so much pain and the

2

> > dr's I had to see in the same day before this dr were no picnic

in

> > the park, I called home. After doing so, I kick myself and

> say " why,

> > you stupid idiot, you know the outcome " . I guess I call because I

> am

> > hopeful. Those of you who know my posts from the past, know the

> rest.

> > Those of you who don't, my family does not believe the severity

of

> > the asthma/asthma. They believe it is in my head rather than my

> > lungs.

> >

> > After the other needle injections, pardon the pun, I was shot. I

am

> > just delighted that I will maintain the shots 2x a month and BCBS

> > won't deny it

> >

> > Here's a question I need to put out there. I can't afford another

> > medication to my budget. I have been placed on Boniva for the

bone

> > loss. I can't afford the co-pay. Instead, I picked up at the

store

> a

> > bottle of calcium 1500 and vit D. I have also switched to soy

milk

> > (some time ago and it seems to help). I l LOVE the chocolate one.

I

> > feel like a kid again! Does anyone have other ideas and what

is

> > coral reef?

> >

> > Thanks all!

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile.

Try it now.

>

>

[Guest guest]

If they're treating you with Xolair I don't quite see the purpose of

skin testing. It's really a bit barbaric in my opinion. I just had

a simple blood test for IgE as someone else mentioned here on these

boards before getting Xolair.

Unless there is an awfully good compelling reason I would not do the

skin tests again. The Xolair should help with most of the allergens

to which you reacted - at least eventually. I last had skin test

about 46 years ago and tested allergic to about everything. So what

do you do with that kind've reaction? Intersting but no solutions -

except Xolair.

My doc (non allergists) also said that skin tests are very

unrealistic. What can happen on the skin does not necessarily happen

in other parts of the body. The misery it caused you was

unreasonable, in my humble opinion.

How is the Xolair going? I didn't notice any difference at all until

they kicked it up to 375 every 2 weeks. Even then it was very

gradual. Now I'm taking a bit less pseudoephedrine (sudafed) which

is great! Lungs are less tight most of the time (not always) - will

try sleeping tonight w/o Advair to see if I can do it yet!

I too have arthritis - runs in my family - needs to be controlled

before the inflammation destroys joints. But, beware that sometimes

the high powered arthritis drugs can make lung diseases worse.

I'm on ethinyl estradiol to reduce bone loss but I'm older than you

are.

Good luck to you!

>

(This is why they lable the medical world practice, they practice til

they get it right. The mistakes are in the cemetary, ok maybe not

that extreme).

>

> I spoke to my asthma dr in NY the night of the test. He called my

dr in Fl. Last night (Friday night), NY dr called me back and said

that they (FL) said I was in a lot of pain and it was more than 51

one pricks on my back and more than 27 on my arm. That sounds

strange. I just know I don't want to do that again. Next time I am

due for this, I hope they have a better method of doing so. He too

agreed, that I am allergic to more things that first thought. I feel

like I am a lab rat, no longer a person.

>

[Guest guest]

The purpose of skin testing even though you're on Xolair is of

course, as at any other time, to identify your own specific

allergens. In the case of environmental allergens, the testing

becomes the basis of immunotherapy (desensitization shots)which can

still be very effective in addition to Xolair. And for some patients,

immunotherapy is not possible until they go on Xolair because they

have such severe reactions to the allergy shot that they are not

tolerable until Xolair quiets things down some. In addition, for food

allergies the skin testing can point out one or more severe food

allergens that can then be avoided to improve symptoms. Xolair alone

is not necessarily sufficient treatment for all patients.

While it is true the what is going on in the skin is not necessarily

exactly what's going on in the rest of the body, it turns out that

skin test results generally are both quite sensitive and quite

accurate in pinpointing specific allergies manifested by other parts

of the body. There is an extensive medical literature spanning many,

many years backing this statement. As miserable as the skin testing

can be at times, it can provide extremely useful information. An IgE

test does not give any such specific information.

Fran

> >

> (This is why they lable the medical world practice, they practice

til

> they get it right. The mistakes are in the cemetary, ok maybe not

> that extreme).

> >

> > I spoke to my asthma dr in NY the night of the test. He called

my

> dr in Fl. Last night (Friday night), NY dr called me back and said

> that they (FL) said I was in a lot of pain and it was more than 51

> one pricks on my back and more than 27 on my arm. That sounds

> strange. I just know I don't want to do that again. Next time I am

> due for this, I hope they have a better method of doing so. He too

> agreed, that I am allergic to more things that first thought. I

feel

> like I am a lab rat, no longer a person.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Fran,

I was told skin test results would not be valid while on Xolair. But in

thinking I bet just the negatives would not be accurate. If my skin still

reacts, it should be valid, correct?

[Guest guest]

Well, it takes a (variable) number of Xolair injections over time to

clear the maximum amount of IgE for a given patient, so until that

plateau is reached there still can be plenty of free IgE around to

bind to mast cells. Also, we're making new IgE all the time and once

a Xolair dose been mostly used up binding to free IgE, the new IgE

coming down the pike before the next Xolair dose would be available

to bind to mast cells in the skin, making skin tests positive. I

agree that false negatives could be more likely once a patient is on

Xolair, but a positive skin test would still be meaningful. -Fran

>

> Fran,

>

>

>

> I was told skin test results would not be valid while on Xolair.

But in

> thinking I bet just the negatives would not be accurate. If my skin

still

> reacts, it should be valid, correct?

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>