Re: If your allergies don't improve by 16 weeks we will discontinue the Xolair

[Guest guest]

hmmm...I have a feeling BCBS is telling you that you have to show improvement on

Xolair by 16 weeks or they'll pull the plug because that is exactly what they

are doing to me. & nbsp; I have to provide clinical documentation every 16 weeks

that my asthma is stable or they will cut me off. & nbsp; Only thing....now if we

get one of those brutal weather spells that throws me for a loop and causes me

to go on Prednisone I'm going to have to fight this battle all over again.

What I would suggest you do is try to find even the slightest amount of

improvement in the control of you asthma. & nbsp; Can you drop 1mg of pred? & nbsp;

Perhaps your PFT's are just a touch higher? & nbsp; Can you document your activity

and notice improvements? & nbsp; BCBS knows full well that X doesn't work

immediately and I suspect they are just trying to find a way to get you off

it. & nbsp; Dig deep and find some kind of improvement and be sure you document

everything so when they question you you'll have the information they need.

From: shirl.halpern & lt;shirl.halpern@... & gt;

Subject: [ ] If your allergies don't improve by 16 weeks we will

discontinue the Xolair

Date: Saturday, June 14, 2008, 11:23 AM

Hi- What have all of you done about the time limit some doctors and

insurances mandate for improvement or discontinuation of Xolair. I

know many of you took a year or more to respond.Thanks.

[Guest guest]

- Thanks for replying. I read that insurances may read these. Congrats to

you as well! Happy summer!Shirl.

----- Original Message ----

From: McLaughlin <gmclaughlin1000@...>

Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2008 3:57:09 PM

Subject: Re: [ ] If your allergies don't improve by 16 weeks we will

discontinue the Xolair

hmmm...I have a feeling BCBS is telling you that you have to show improvement on

Xolair by 16 weeks or they'll pull the plug because that is exactly what they

are doing to me. & nbsp; I have to provide clinical documentation every 16 weeks

that my asthma is stable or they will cut me off. & nbsp; Only thing....now if we

get one of those brutal weather spells that throws me for a loop and causes me

to go on Prednisone I'm going to have to fight this battle all over again.

What I would suggest you do is try to find even the slightest amount of

improvement in the control of you asthma. & nbsp; Can you drop 1mg of pred? & nbsp;

Perhaps your PFT's are just a touch higher? & nbsp; Can you document your activity

and notice improvements? & nbsp; BCBS knows full well that X doesn't work

immediately and I suspect they are just trying to find a way to get you off

it. & nbsp; Dig deep and find some kind of improvement and be sure you document

everything so when they question you you'll have the information they need.

From: shirl.halpern & lt;shirl.halpern & gt;

Subject: [ ] If your allergies don't improve by 16 weeks we will

discontinue the Xolair

Date: Saturday, June 14, 2008, 11:23 AM

Hi- What have all of you done about the time limit some doctors and

insurances mandate for improvement or discontinuation of Xolair. I

know many of you took a year or more to respond.Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Interesting question I hadn't thought much about. Nothing was ever

said to me about a deadline and if they're pulling that on you I'd say

someone is on the take somewhere along the line.

As I recall, at 16 weeks my doc saw an improvement of 2 points on

pulmo function tests but frankly I couldn't see or feel anything better

at all. I was quite disappointed. It was probably at least 6 or 7

months before I saw the slightest improvement in my opinion and then it

was minor. At about 9 months I realized I wasn't having the rip

roaring sinus headaches and could be around some things w/o immediate

asthma attack. It was not dramatic at all ... very gradual. I still

have to use all the inhalers I used before but pulmo tests steadily

improved every time except for the last time. And, the headaches are

much better.

I would ask for proof in writing that improvement had to be apparent in

16 weeks. It's really absurd. Somebody's making this up.

Good luck and hang tough!

>

> Hi- What have all of you done about the time limit some doctors and

> insurances mandate for improvement or discontinuation of Xolair. I

> know many of you took a year or more to respond.Thanks.

>

[Guest guest]

>

> As I recall, at 16 weeks my doc saw an improvement of 2 points on

> pulmo function tests

Are they suppose to give pulmo function test for each zolair shot?

My dr. only had me use a peak flow and wrote down how I did on this.

I only had the one shot so far, due for 2nd one end of this month.

Should I question this or am I being too premature? Thanks. Jean

[Guest guest]

>

>

> >

> > As I recall, at 16 weeks my doc saw an improvement of 2 points on

> > pulmo function tests

>

> Are they suppose to give pulmo function test for each zolair shot?

> My dr. only had me use a peak flow and wrote down how I did on this.

> I only had the one shot so far, due for 2nd one end of this month.

> Should I question this or am I being too premature? Thanks. Jean

>

In the almost 5 years I have been on Xolair, they always check my bp,

ask me if I have had any ER visits and if any of my medications have

changed. Then, I blow into the little kazoo, get my shots, wait 30

minutes and leave.

Oh yes, they always ask me to bring my epi with me to every visit.

Doug

Group founder

[Guest guest]

>

> Thanks Doug.

> Keep my daughter in your thoughts. Her allergist is finally

submitting to our insurance for her to receive xolair shots. She has

to have some blood work done first. Her asthma isn't bad but he is

hoping because of her IgE and all her atopic dermatitis and

drmagraphism that they will approve it. She is so itchy 24/7 and her

allergist said she is on the strongest meds. for the itching and that

this is the only option Jean

I have Psoriasis and xolair has never helped it one bit but atopic

dermatitis and drmagraphism are other things.

Doug