Re: need supporter support

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for replying. We haven't ruled out the medical course, just are

looking at her options. I am very worried about the joint damage, that's why I

was

wondering if anyone had tried using homeopathy or other alternative

treatments or if it was pretty much a given that we needed at least some of the

medical

course. Since you started young also, are you seeing many side effects from

the treatment drugs?

I checked into the rheumatologist this morning, who wants 500 up front for

consultation. We will check into the state programs (TN) and see what we come

up with there. She doesn't meet the local unsured clinic guidelines for help

as she is a full-time student and they require patients to be employed at least

20 hours/week. Back to my research. . .

Thanks,

Beth </HTML>

[Guest guest]

,

She's been to an ARNP for lab work since symtpoms were pointing in that

direction who is wonderful and willing to work with us any way possible. Her

RF,

CRP, and sed rate are all elevated and next step medically would be a

consultation with the rheumatologist. The ARNP is willing to work with her in

monitoring, etc., so the rheumatology visits could theoretically be minimized,

which

would help tremendously I would think with the financial aspects. Just checked

out the Medicare site for TN and she doesn't qualify there as she's 21 and

not pregnant.

So, so far there are two voices for medical is the way to go as opposed to

natural/alternative. Thanks for replying.

Beth </HTML>

[Guest guest]

,

Struck out everywhere financial help-wise, TN has cut way back on their help

offered unless you're under 19 or pregnant, BUT we do have the University of

TN Medical Group with a Rheumatology Department within an hour of here and they

seem like they will be much more reasonable expense-wise than our local

Arthritis Group, so I guess we'll start there. I would think quality of care at

a

teaching practice would be comparable and be up on the latest practices (?).

About how often would we likely be seeing the rheumatologist if our local

family-type clinic is willing to work with them with monitoring, etc.?

Thanks,

Beth </HTML>

[Guest guest]

Beth,

I would not take a homeopathic way of dealing w/ RA. RA destroys

your joints and w/o proper medication...joint damage will be

inevitable. I am sure there are diets you can follow to help with

inflamation, but medications can help prevent further joint damage

especially in hands. RA needs to be followed up with a

rheumatologist because labs are extremely important in helping

control the disease. I have worked in heatlhcare for the past 10

years until the disease finally got the best of me and I had to quit

working. (I am 30 and I was diagnosed when I was 23). Since your

daughter has been working hard to be a surgical tech, clinic will

only get harder because she will have to hold instruments and with

RA...it will make it extremely hard. Is the reason you are looking at

homopathic is because you don't have healthcare insurance?

I don't have medical insurance either. States are required to have

some sort of indigient care program for people who don't have

healthcare insurance. Check with your local general hospital and they

should be able to tell you how to sign up. Cost is based on income.

I am unable to work and I pay $7 co-pays and $5 for prescriptions. (I

pay nothing for brand name medications since many times medication

for those who need a brand name medicaiton; it is donated by

pharmacudical companies). She can normally get qualified for the

program the same day as she goes in. She will then have access to

specialists, primary care doctors and medications to help her if she

does have RA. If she doesn't then they can help her find relief so

she can do her job as a surgical tech.

I can only stress to you that this is something she doesn't want to

ignore. I good friend of mine was diagnosed as a diabetic and wanted

to go with more of a homopathic way of treating her disease. She

didn't go to doctors for follow-up care since she thought she could

control her diabetitis through herbs and diet. She ended up slipping

into a diabetic coma and passed away a few years ago. If you want,

just tell me the state that you live in and I will help you find your

states indigent care program and where to go.

>

> My 21-year-old daughter has not been diagnosed with RA yet, but all

> signs and symptoms and lab work are pointing in that direction.

She's

> really struggling right now trying to get through an intensive

surgical

> tech program getting ready to start clinicals in a couple of weeks

> while dealing with constant hand and foot pain and swelling and

> shoulder pain, etc., waking her at night every hour or so. Of

course,

> we have no insurance (divorced several years ago) and not much

money

> with her in school. Are there folks who have foregone the

> rheumatologist and gone with homeopathy or other ways (food

> sensitivities, etc.) to deal with this and had some success? It

sounds

> like diagnosing is sort of a hit and miss progression - how

important

> is it to get the diagnosis/prognosis if we're looking towards

> alternative treatments? I've transcribed Rheumatology for the last

> several years and really would like to avoid the medical route if

> possible - is this realistically possible? Any help or direction

is

> welcome - have been doing LOTS of research online and would love to

> hear suggestions from real people on how to best help her.

>

> Thanks,

> Beth

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth,

I don't personally believe that there is a natural cure and all the

documentation that I have read points to intervention at the earliest with

DMARDs of some kind to be the best way to go. If she is in school, isn't there

some kind of health center that she can go to (I only say this because my son is

in his senior year right now and he visits the health center occasionally).

Good luck. mary

[ ] need supporter support

My 21-year-old daughter has not been diagnosed with RA yet, but all

signs and symptoms and lab work are pointing in that direction. She's

really struggling right now trying to get through an intensive surgical

tech program getting ready to start clinicals in a couple of weeks

while dealing with constant hand and foot pain and swelling and

shoulder pain, etc., waking her at night every hour or so. Of course,

we have no insurance (divorced several years ago) and not much money

with her in school. Are there folks who have foregone the

rheumatologist and gone with homeopathy or other ways (food

sensitivities, etc.) to deal with this and had some success? It sounds

like diagnosing is sort of a hit and miss progression - how important

is it to get the diagnosis/prognosis if we're looking towards

alternative treatments? I've transcribed Rheumatology for the last

several years and really would like to avoid the medical route if

possible - is this realistically possible? Any help or direction is

welcome - have been doing LOTS of research online and would love to

hear suggestions from real people on how to best help her.

Thanks,

Beth

[Guest guest]

Okay then good, we at least have a starting plan now with the teaching

hospital group. Hopefully she won't need any extensive testing until after she

gets

out of school and goes to work/gets insurance. 100s at a time I reckon we'll

find some way to swing. Thanks for the info and I'll try to stay in lurk

mode and pick your brains quietly for more hints on helping her function ;o)

Thanks again,

Beth </HTML>

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry to hear about your daughter. See if your closest large medical center

has a

clinic. Otherwise get to a Rheumatologist at least for the initial diagnosis

and treatment.

Early diagnosis and treatment is imperitive for best outcomes. The good news is

prednisone and methotrexate are both old drugs and very cheap.

Good luck

[Guest guest]

Beth,

The only side effects that I have had was when I was on high doses of

predisone was weight gain (which I have never been able to loose) and

insomnia. I have taken methotrexate, remicaide, arava, sulfasalazine,

plaquinel, diclofenac w/o any long term side effects.

I did a quick search for Tennesee, but I didn't find anything. I

would call your local general hospital (wherever most of your state's

medicaid patients go) and ask if they provide an indigent care

program or where she can go for care. Normally w/ an indigient care

program she can only see doctors who are at the hospital. She would

get her labs/xrays done there and see that hospital's specialists. If

she has too, LIE, so she can get covered.

If she does have RA...she can't buy healthcare insurance due to

having a " pre-existing " condition. If she gets healthcare insurance

through an employer, the " pre-existing " condition rule tends not to

apply, but there might be a grace peroid before they will cover her.

Since she is a student, most college's (even small ones) tend to have

a heatlhcare clinic for it's students. Maybe they can get her in

somewhere so she doesn't have to met guidelines of being employed.

Paying out of pocket for ongoing specicalist care is expensive. Let

me know if there is anything else I can do.

>

> ,

>

> Thanks for replying. We haven't ruled out the medical course, just

are

> looking at her options. I am very worried about the joint damage,

that's why I was

> wondering if anyone had tried using homeopathy or other alternative

> treatments or if it was pretty much a given that we needed at least

some of the medical

> course. Since you started young also, are you seeing many side

effects from

> the treatment drugs?

>

> I checked into the rheumatologist this morning, who wants 500 up

front for

> consultation. We will check into the state programs (TN) and see

what we come

> up with there. She doesn't meet the local unsured clinic

guidelines for help

> as she is a full-time student and they require patients to be

employed at least

> 20 hours/week. Back to my research. . .

>

> Thanks,

> Beth </HTML>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am a patient at the University of Michigan-which is

about three hours for me to get to and back. Teaching

hospitals are very knowledgeable and up to date with

their treatments. My first visit was a few hundred

dollars and each time I go, it's about $100.00. I had

to have extensive lab work for liver testing a couple

of years ago and the bill was near $12,000. I have RA

and Fibromyalgia. I have to see the rheumatologist

every 12 weeks unless I have an emergency and need to

be seen sooner.

--- third19@... wrote:

> ,

>

> Struck out everywhere financial help-wise, TN has

> cut way back on their help

> offered unless you're under 19 or pregnant, BUT we

> do have the University of

> TN Medical Group with a Rheumatology Department

> within an hour of here and they

> seem like they will be much more reasonable

> expense-wise than our local

> Arthritis Group, so I guess we'll start there. I

> would think quality of care at a

> teaching practice would be comparable and be up on

> the latest practices (?).

> About how often would we likely be seeing the

> rheumatologist if our local

> family-type clinic is willing to work with them with

> monitoring, etc.?

>

> Thanks,

> Beth </HTML>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Beth,

There was a bill to go into effect in May for HUGE cuts in Medicaid

and Indigent programs throughout the country. Legislature is hoping

to put it off until next year when a new predsident is elected who

could veto it since it was initated under the Bush administration.

Teaching hospitals are great to go to, they offer the latest

treatment options and get more funding for new treatments. (The

indigent program that I have is for the local general hosptial in

Denver and it is a teaching hospital). Your daughter would be in

good hands with the Vol's.

As far as how often you see a rheumatologist depends on your

treatment. Sometimes it's every month or every few months. Please

keep us posted on what happens. I found it difficult when I was first

diagnosed because I was so young. You feel like you can't keep up w/

friends and it's easy to get depressed. Having a good support system

like you and this web board helps.

>

> ,

>

> Struck out everywhere financial help-wise, TN has cut way back on

their help

> offered unless you're under 19 or pregnant, BUT we do have the

University of

> TN Medical Group with a Rheumatology Department within an hour of

here and they

> seem like they will be much more reasonable expense-wise than our

local

> Arthritis Group, so I guess we'll start there. I would think

quality of care at a

> teaching practice would be comparable and be up on the latest

practices (?).

> About how often would we likely be seeing the rheumatologist if our

local

> family-type clinic is willing to work with them with monitoring,

etc.?

>

> Thanks,

> Beth </HTML>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In my state, even though I am single and my only

source of income is my SSDI, I cannot get Medicaid. I

have a spend down where they want me to spend HALF of

my monthly income on any medical care before they

will pay for anything. Therefore, I am stuck with all

copays that Medicare does not pay for, so either way,

I still spend a lot out of pocket.

--- <man_u8@...> wrote:

> Beth,

>

> There was a bill to go into effect in May for HUGE

> cuts in Medicaid

> and Indigent programs throughout the country.

> Legislature is hoping

> to put it off until next year when a new predsident

> is elected who

> could veto it since it was initated under the Bush

> administration.

> Teaching hospitals are great to go to, they offer

> the latest

> treatment options and get more funding for new

> treatments. (The

> indigent program that I have is for the local

> general hosptial in

> Denver and it is a teaching hospital). Your

> daughter would be in

> good hands with the Vol's.

> As far as how often you see a rheumatologist depends

> on your

> treatment. Sometimes it's every month or every few

> months. Please

> keep us posted on what happens. I found it difficult

> when I was first

> diagnosed because I was so young. You feel like you

> can't keep up w/

> friends and it's easy to get depressed. Having a

> good support system

> like you and this web board helps.

>

>

>

>

>

> >

> > ,

> >

> > Struck out everywhere financial help-wise, TN has

> cut way back on

> their help

> > offered unless you're under 19 or pregnant, BUT we

> do have the

> University of

> > TN Medical Group with a Rheumatology Department

> within an hour of

> here and they

> > seem like they will be much more reasonable

> expense-wise than our

> local

> > Arthritis Group, so I guess we'll start there. I

> would think

> quality of care at a

> > teaching practice would be comparable and be up on

> the latest

> practices (?).

> > About how often would we likely be seeing the

> rheumatologist if our

> local

> > family-type clinic is willing to work with them

> with monitoring,

> etc.?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Beth </HTML>

> >

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

> >

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

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[Guest guest]

Hi,

In answer to your questions regarding follow-up she will probably need some

bloodwork

about every 6 weeks or so, depending on what medications they start her on. May

start

with a trial of prednisone and then a DMARD. The Hopkins web site has some

excellent and treatment info.

I wish you and your daughter the best .

- In , third19@... wrote:

>

> Okay then good, we at least have a starting plan now with the teaching

> hospital group. Hopefully she won't need any extensive testing until after

she gets

> out of school and goes to work/gets insurance. 100s at a time I reckon we'll

> find some way to swing. Thanks for the info and I'll try to stay in lurk

> mode and pick your brains quietly for more hints on helping her function ;o)

>

> Thanks again,

> Beth </HTML>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

After a few years with my present Rheumy and paying only about $17 per visit

if anything at all, I got a bill for $87 for the last visit because Medicare

paid him only $7.81 for their part! That's the start of a real problem we'll

all face as things get worse. I don't think a new president will make much

difference, too much is run by legislators and PAC's and lobbyists.

Local help is almost non-existent, too. My wife and I are living on SSD only

and have our 11 year-old granddaughter with us. We don't even qualify for

food stamps, but did get one month of medicaid for the girl. Even though we

live below the poverty level, it's not low enough since we can still buy

food. For 3 weeks of taking her to school and back, our gas bill for the car

was $175! Again, no reason to need any help. One year when we applied, we

got $10 worth of food stamps and didn't even use that. I pity anyone who

really needs help. Too often the answer is NO!

Dennis in eastexas

Re: [ ] Re: need supporter support

> In my state, even though I am single and my only

> source of income is my SSDI, I cannot get Medicaid. I

> have a spend down where they want me to spend HALF of

> my monthly income on any medical care before they

> will pay for anything. Therefore, I am stuck with all

> copays that Medicare does not pay for, so either way,

> I still spend a lot out of pocket.

> --- <man_u8@...> wrote:

>

>> Beth,

>>

>> There was a bill to go into effect in May for HUGE

>> cuts in Medicaid

>> and Indigent programs throughout the country.

>> Legislature is hoping

>> to put it off until next year when a new predsident

>> is elected who

>> could veto it since it was initated under the Bush

>> administration.

>> Teaching hospitals are great to go to, they offer

>> the latest

>> treatment options and get more funding for new

>> treatments. (The

>> indigent program that I have is for the local

>> general hosptial in

>> Denver and it is a teaching hospital). Your

>> daughter would be in

>> good hands with the Vol's.

>> As far as how often you see a rheumatologist depends

>> on your

>> treatment. Sometimes it's every month or every few

>> months. Please

>> keep us posted on what happens. I found it difficult

>> when I was first

>> diagnosed because I was so young. You feel like you

>> can't keep up w/

>> friends and it's easy to get depressed. Having a

>> good support system

>> like you and this web board helps.

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> >

>> > ,

>> >

>> > Struck out everywhere financial help-wise, TN has

>> cut way back on

>> their help

>> > offered unless you're under 19 or pregnant, BUT we

>> do have the

>> University of

>> > TN Medical Group with a Rheumatology Department

>> within an hour of

>> here and they

>> > seem like they will be much more reasonable

>> expense-wise than our

>> local

>> > Arthritis Group, so I guess we'll start there. I

>> would think

>> quality of care at a

>> > teaching practice would be comparable and be up on

>> the latest

>> practices (?).

>> > About how often would we likely be seeing the

>> rheumatologist if our

>> local

>> > family-type clinic is willing to work with them

>> with monitoring,

>> etc.?

>> >

>> > Thanks,

>> > Beth </HTML>

[Guest guest]

While I have read that there is research indicating that food " allergies " can

cause RA in some people (2 - 30 %) it is not the cause of RA in most people. I

have tried eliminating certain foods (wheat) without effect. Some say it can

take up to a year. In the mean time, without medical intervention, much damage

can be done to your joints, you may be exhausted, and it could get so bad that

you can't work or do daily household chores. The initial expense may be very

hard but I think in the long run that getting the care you need will be well

worth it.

I hope you can find some resources to help or a doctor that will work with you.

ez

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

Never miss a thing. Make your homepage.

[Guest guest]

I have a spenddown that is more than my SSDI because of my husbands

income. Fortuneately, I have a counseling agency that will bill the

whole amount for Medicaid, yet I'm only responsible for the sliding

scale fee of ($0) due to other govt programs. Can you try this?

> > >

> > > ,

> > >

> > > Struck out everywhere financial help-wise, TN has

> > cut way back on

> > their help

> > > offered unless you're under 19 or pregnant, BUT we

> > do have the

> > University of

> > > TN Medical Group with a Rheumatology Department

> > within an hour of

> > here and they

> > > seem like they will be much more reasonable

> > expense-wise than our

> > local

> > > Arthritis Group, so I guess we'll start there. I

> > would think

> > quality of care at a

> > > teaching practice would be comparable and be up on

> > the latest

> > practices (?).

> > > About how often would we likely be seeing the

> > rheumatologist if our

> > local

> > > family-type clinic is willing to work with them

> > with monitoring,

> > etc.?

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > > Beth </HTML>

> > >

> > >

> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> > removed]

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

______________________________________________________________________

______________

> Be a better friend, newshound, and

> know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

>

[Guest guest]

Dennis,

Can you get Tanf for the grand living with you? If she lives with you, you

should be able to apply and receive not only TANF but also Medicaid for her.

She would be considered a family of one and your income wouldn't be factored

into hers. It might not be much, but every little bit helps.

Phyllis

Re: [ ] Re: need supporter support

> In my state, even though I am single and my only

> source of income is my SSDI, I cannot get Medicaid. I

> have a spend down where they want me to spend HALF of

> my monthly income on any medical care before they

> will pay for anything. Therefore, I am stuck with all

> copays that Medicare does not pay for, so either way,

> I still spend a lot out of pocket.

> --- <man_u8@...> wrote:

>

>> Beth,

>>

>> There was a bill to go into effect in May for HUGE

>> cuts in Medicaid

>> and Indigent programs throughout the country.

>> Legislature is hoping

>> to put it off until next year when a new predsident

>> is elected who

>> could veto it since it was initated under the Bush

>> administration.

>> Teaching hospitals are great to go to, they offer

>> the latest

>> treatment options and get more funding for new

>> treatments. (The

>> indigent program that I have is for the local

>> general hosptial in

>> Denver and it is a teaching hospital). Your

>> daughter would be in

>> good hands with the Vol's.

>> As far as how often you see a rheumatologist depends

>> on your

>> treatment. Sometimes it's every month or every few

>> months. Please

>> keep us posted on what happens. I found it difficult

>> when I was first

>> diagnosed because I was so young. You feel like you

>> can't keep up w/

>> friends and it's easy to get depressed. Having a

>> good support system

>> like you and this web board helps.

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> >

>> > ,

>> >

>> > Struck out everywhere financial help-wise, TN has

>> cut way back on

>> their help

>> > offered unless you're under 19 or pregnant, BUT we

>> do have the

>> University of

>> > TN Medical Group with a Rheumatology Department

>> within an hour of

>> here and they

>> > seem like they will be much more reasonable

>> expense-wise than our

>> local

>> > Arthritis Group, so I guess we'll start there. I

>> would think

>> quality of care at a

>> > teaching practice would be comparable and be up on

>> the latest

>> practices (?).

>> > About how often would we likely be seeing the

>> rheumatologist if our

>> local

>> > family-type clinic is willing to work with them

>> with monitoring,

>> etc.?

>> >

>> > Thanks,

>> > Beth </HTML>

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8:10 PM

[Guest guest]

Hello Beth,

It is so wonderful that you are doing research for your daughter! This is

Steph in VA. I'm 30 and was diagnosed with juvenile RA with adult persistence in

1999 when I was 22. I understand your inquiry into the homeopathic realm for

treatment. I believe that there is a place for alternative treatment -- as

complimentary. The Arthritis Foundation has some wonderful info about nutrition

that I have found helpful. Some people are also helped by acupuncture or massage

in conjunction with traditional treatment.

You are right to worry about joint damage. RA is a destructive disease that

attacks your joints before moving onto to organs like your eyes, heart & lungs.

The biologic meds (injections & infusions) have the best chance of slowing down

the progression of the disease. However, in order to get help with RA meds you

usually have to be under the treatment of a rheumy. I take ibuprofen, folic

acid, methotrexate, flexerill & Remicade. This cocktail works well for me -- I

have been on it for just about 7 years now.

Take care,

Steph in Va

My 21-year-old daughter has not been diagnosed with RA yet, but all signs and

symptoms and lab work are pointing in that direction. She's really struggling

right now trying to get through an intensive surgical tech program getting ready

to start clinicals in a couple of weeks while dealing with constant hand and

foot pain and swelling and shoulder pain, etc., waking her at night every hour

or so. Of course, we have no insurance (divorced several years ago) and not

much money with her in school. Are there folks who have foregone the

rheumatologist and gone with homeopathy or other ways (food sensitivities, etc.)

to deal with this and had some success? It sounds like diagnosing is sort of a

hit and miss progression - how important is it to get the diagnosis/prognosis if

we're looking towards alternative treatments? I've transcribed Rheumatology for

the last several years and really would like to avoid the medical route if

possible - is this realistically possible? Any

help or direction is welcome - have been doing LOTS of research online and

would love to hear suggestions from real people on how to best help her.

Thanks,

Beth

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The 2008 Charlottesville Arthritis Walk is Sat. May 3 at UVA's Stadium

The Walk raises both awareness of the prevalence of arthritis and money for

research & programs for people with arthritis! The Cville walk includes a

simultaneous Dog Walk as well.

" Never underestimate the power of a small, dedicated group of people to change

the world -- indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. " (Margaret Mead)

AmeriCorps Alums -- Still Getting Things Done

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

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