Guest guest Posted January 17, 2003 Report Share Posted January 17, 2003 , Wow you have been through the ringer. YES Thyroid problems go hand in hand with both HCV and the treatment. If you do choose to do treatment again, I would do the PEGASYS and not the PegIntron. Pegasys has less side effects and a better response rate. Both have now been approved by the FDA so you should have no problems getting on the treatment. I went through the same sides as you, but without the thyroid troubles. Lost my hair, lost a ton of weight, skin troubles, not to mention the mood swings. If you do treatment again, ask the dr to put you on an anti depressant. I know it made a HUGE difference for me. Nutrition and exercise is very important to help keep your liver healthy so you are doing the right thing in that department! As for finding a Dr who takes Medicaid, have you called Medicaid and asked them if there are any liver specialists on their list? That may be the easiest way to find one. Then you can " interview " the doc and ask how many HCV patients he sees, if he is up on all the new meds, etc. Hang in there!! LeighAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2003 Report Share Posted April 21, 2003 Hi Suzanne, Remicade shouldn't fall under injectibles because it cannot be self administered. For example, Medicaid does not have a prescription drug coverage but does cover Remicade because it must be given in a hospital or doctor's office. If your new insurance doesn't cover injectibles does that mean it doesn't cover insulin as well? That's awful! What kind of insurance is it? I have been on Remicade and it is my miracle drug. I get it every 8 weeks at the local hospital (which is great because it's across the street from my apartment). Take care, in VA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Good morning, >I am new to the board but not to RA. I first had symptoms of it in >1998. Finally diagnosed in mid 1999. I am a 25 yr old female >living in ville, FL. I have at time been so eaten up with pain >and inflamation that I was in a wheelchair most of my day. I have >also done so well with meds recently that I was able to jog half a >mile! >For the past two years I have been on Enbrel and Methotrexate which >has worked perfectly for me, they were the miracle combo! Enbrel got >me off prednisone which I celebrated heavily for! But now I have a >new job with new insurance, that does NOT cover injectibles AT ALL. I >have 3 dosed of enbrel left and can't afford to buy them without >insurance ($1300 for one month). I am wondering if anyone here can >give info on something other than an injectible or IV therapy. I >think Remicade(which I have not tried) will fall under the >injectibles clause. Any ideas? > >Thanks so much for your help! I started a message board on >several years ago for arthritis, but never thought to look here in >groups. Hope everyone has the most pain free day possible! > >Suzanne Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 21, 2003 Report Share Posted April 21, 2003 Suzanne, I found a web site that seems to offer help with financial assistance for medicines. I don't qualify so I haven't looked into it but it may help you. http://www.helpingpatients.org "In 2002, PhRMA members provided free prescription medicines to more than 5.5 million patients in the United States." Also Enbrel has a toll-free number to call for assistance in getting your insurance company to pay for Enbrel. Good luck and God bless. Grandpavan1927 ----- Original Message ----- From: Suzanne Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Monday, April 21, 2003 5:52 AM Subject: New & Old Good morning,I am new to the board but not to RA. I first had symptoms of it in 1998. Finally diagnosed in mid 1999. I am a 25 yr old female living in ville, FL. I have at time been so eaten up with pain and inflamation that I was in a wheelchair most of my day. I have also done so well with meds recently that I was able to jog half a mile!For the past two years I have been on Enbrel and Methotrexate which has worked perfectly for me, they were the miracle combo! Enbrel got me off prednisone which I celebrated heavily for! But now I have a new job with new insurance, that does NOT cover injectibles AT ALL. I have 3 dosed of enbrel left and can't afford to buy them without insurance ($1300 for one month). I am wondering if anyone here can give info on something other than an injectible or IV therapy. I think Remicade(which I have not tried) will fall under the injectibles clause. Any ideas? Thanks so much for your help! I started a message board on several years ago for arthritis, but never thought to look here in groups. Hope everyone has the most pain free day possible!Suzanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2003 Report Share Posted April 22, 2003 I have to do some checking into it, I just got the insurance. I know that Remicade will still be expensive for me since my coverage is 80%. I will still be responsible for the 20%. I just can't afford it. I am trying to get with the insurance company now to find out about the injectibles rule I saw in my handbook. Thank you so much ! ~Suzanne > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 22, 2003 Report Share Posted April 22, 2003 Wow, Thanks so much! I will check out that site tonight. And I am a member of enliven which is through enbrel I think. I never realized they would help you with the insurance problems. I will contact them too. I have been on it since 1999. Thanks again! ~Suzanne > Suzanne, I found a web site that seems to offer help with financial assistance for medicines. I don't qualify so I haven't looked into it but it may help you. http://www.helpingpatients.org " In 2002, PhRMA members provided free prescription medicines to more than 5.5 million patients in the United States. " > Also Enbrel has a toll-free number to call for assistance in getting your insurance company to pay for Enbrel. Good luck and God bless. > > Grandpavan1927 > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Suzanne > Rheumatoid Arthritis > Sent: Monday, April 21, 2003 5:52 AM > Subject: New & Old > > > Good morning, > I am new to the board but not to RA. I first had symptoms of it in > 1998. Finally diagnosed in mid 1999. I am a 25 yr old female > living in ville, FL. I have at time been so eaten up with pain > and inflamation that I was in a wheelchair most of my day. I have > also done so well with meds recently that I was able to jog half a > mile! > For the past two years I have been on Enbrel and Methotrexate which > has worked perfectly for me, they were the miracle combo! Enbrel got > me off prednisone which I celebrated heavily for! But now I have a > new job with new insurance, that does NOT cover injectibles AT ALL. I > have 3 dosed of enbrel left and can't afford to buy them without > insurance ($1300 for one month). I am wondering if anyone here can > give info on something other than an injectible or IV therapy. I > think Remicade(which I have not tried) will fall under the > injectibles clause. Any ideas? > > Thanks so much for your help! I started a message board on > several years ago for arthritis, but never thought to look here in > groups. Hope everyone has the most pain free day possible! > > Suzanne > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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