Heard from my allergist's office

[Guest guest]

She is at a convention and won't be back till Thursday. The other

doctor on call says I can always drive all the way back up to little

rock and get my shots. There is NO WAY I can do this...not for the

next month anyway. I can't take off from the office anymore.

I thought they had it all worked out for me to get my Xolair at my

doctor but they dopped the ball and didnt send it.

Well, im off of Xolair for the time being. I hope I don't get worse.

If I do, I always have the pred....sigh

Doug

[Guest guest]

Doug -

They won't fed ex it to you? They should have the instruction for

delivery to your gp in your file. Plus, it's your med, you and your

insurance paid for it. I'm 95% sure fed ex will deliver stuff

refrigerated if one pays for it. Call Monday and berate them or

something.

Addy

[Guest guest]

> Doug -

>

> They won't fed ex it to you? They should have the instruction for

> delivery to your gp in your file. Plus, it's your med, you and your

> insurance paid for it. I'm 95% sure fed ex will deliver stuff

> refrigerated if one pays for it. Call Monday and berate them or

> something.

>

> Addy

Yes, they can fed ex it to us, but they say that my GP's nurse has to

be trained how to give them. Gee, it's only a regular injection. The

medicine is just a little thicker is all.

Well, I am going to take a sick day off from work monday and drive to

little rock. Now, what am I going to to two weeks from now when I am

in the middle of a move???? I simply am not able to drive up there on

the 21st. Surely the allergist in the new town has been trained to

give Xolair.

The things I do to breathe! Sigh

Doug

[Guest guest]

Oh my Lord how ridiculous. It's not like putting in a catheter or

something. First of all, the instructions are written in detail in

the insert in each little box that contains one of the vials.

Perhaps it's the insurance companies who are requiring that training

take place, I don't know. Well, do what you have to do to stay well.

[Guest guest]

> Oh my Lord how ridiculous. It's not like putting in a catheter or

> something. First of all, the instructions are written in detail in

> the insert in each little box that contains one of the vials.

> Perhaps it's the insurance companies who are requiring that

training

> take place, I don't know. Well, do what you have to do to stay well.

Catheters? Oh man, I HATE those things. At the dentist, they offer

me gas just to do a filling. Why won't they give it to you before one

of those HORRID catheter's in the hospital? UGH!

I have been with this allergist since 1959 and this is the FIRST boo

boo they have ever made. The staff has always been very exact and

professional. I just couldn't believe that they messed this up.

When my doctor gets back from her allergy convention this Thursday, I

am afraid there will be some repremands. In the mean time, I will

drive to Little Rock to get my next shots monday. Now, what will I

do after I move????

Doug

[Guest guest]

I'm now curious as to who might be requiring the " training " for

Xolair. Before I started I spoke with a rep from NovaFactor and they

told me that many patients give the shots to themselves.

When I got my first shot, the head nurse " trained " two assistants by

standing there and watching them administer the shot. I would think

that any competent medical professional would be capable of handling

this.

As far as the insurance companies are concerned, I'd bet they'd

prefer that patients self-administer because it costs less. The only

risk (which isn't minor) would be if the patient screws up the mixing

part and ruins it. Again, any experienced medical personnel would be

familiar with this type of drug hydration.

My own doctor (two hour drive each way) has been reluctant to discuss

my giving the shots to myself. Probably because it cuts him out of

the loop and therefore he doesn't make any money.

> --- In , " pyle456 " <coachmac@w...>

wrote:

> > Oh my Lord how ridiculous. It's not like putting in a catheter

or

> > something. First of all, the instructions are written in detail

in

> > the insert in each little box that contains one of the vials.

> > Perhaps it's the insurance companies who are requiring that

> training

> > take place, I don't know. Well, do what you have to do to stay

well.

[Guest guest]

It is really weird how this is being handled differently depending on

the insurer and/or the medical office. There are plenty of other

drugs administered this way; you think they'd have it figured out.

Except for a weather migraine yesterday, I've had a pretty clear-

headed week - and I haven't had one since early June! (I don't

expect that Xolair will have much effect on those nor do I expect it

to work on cold-triggered asthma but who knows.) I actually feel like

getting something done at the end of the day when I get home.

Doug, can you physically take the remainder of your Xolair supply on

Monday when you go to your allergist's office? If it's paid for, it

should be yours (I think).

Good health to all!

Addy

[Guest guest]

> I'm now curious as to who might be requiring the " training " for

> Xolair. Before I started I spoke with a rep from NovaFactor and

they

> told me that many patients give the shots to themselves.

>

> When I got my first shot, the head nurse " trained " two assistants

by

> standing there and watching them administer the shot. I would

think

> that any competent medical professional would be capable of

handling

> this.

>

> As far as the insurance companies are concerned, I'd bet they'd

> prefer that patients self-administer because it costs less. The

only

> risk (which isn't minor) would be if the patient screws up the

mixing

> part and ruins it. Again, any experienced medical personnel would

be

> familiar with this type of drug hydration.

>

> My own doctor (two hour drive each way) has been reluctant to

discuss

> my giving the shots to myself. Probably because it cuts him out of

> the loop and therefore he doesn't make any money.

>

>

I was giving myself my regular allergy injections up till a year ago.

My allergist said that they have had too many people having reactions

at home and had to stop letting us do the shots ourselves. DANG!

Yea, its a bunch of gobbledigook. One xolair provider says this, and

one says another. All this while we need the medication. If I lived

in Little Rock it would be NO problem but I am 125 miles away and

will live 150 away after nov 21. I cant just take off my work at

every whim. I'd loose not only my salary but my " precious. " expensive

medical insurance coverage which is going up to 833.00 a month Jan 1.

Yes, I pay for that out of my salary package.

I just went to the mail box and have a bill from the allergy doctor

for 51.00. I thought all of that was covered?????

I wish i lived in England or Canada where medical was free.

Doug

[Guest guest]

> It is really weird how this is being handled differently depending

on

> the insurer and/or the medical office. There are plenty of other

> drugs administered this way; you think they'd have it figured out.

>

> Except for a weather migraine yesterday, I've had a pretty clear-

> headed week - and I haven't had one since early June! (I don't

> expect that Xolair will have much effect on those nor do I expect

it

> to work on cold-triggered asthma but who knows.) I actually feel

like

> getting something done at the end of the day when I get home.

>

> Doug, can you physically take the remainder of your Xolair supply

on

> Monday when you go to your allergist's office? If it's paid for,

it

> should be yours (I think).

>

> Good health to all!

>

> Addy

Yea, its paid for thank the Lord

Doug

[Guest guest]

Apparently different companies are handling the Xolair differently.

They are ALL a bit timid about a patient giving the *first* injections

themselves and that is because of some bad reactions in the study

group. After the first one however, they should be willing to do

whatever your prescribing doctor specifies, including mailing the drug

straight to your house (which is what I do)...it comes overnight

express and packed in ice, you need to sign for it and refrigerate it

immediately. Instructions for injecting yourself are very clear if

your doctor allows you to do that...I take the drug in to my

allergist, who is five minutes from my house and have them administer

it because I have a long and very colorful history of bad reactions,

so we are extra cautious, but the pharmacy we are working with asked

me if I wanted it sent to my house or the doctor's office.

ANY nursing staff familiar with reconstituting freeze dried drug with

saline should be fine with the method of preparation...the instruction

sheet is VERY DETAILED because the drug is very temperature sensitive

like most biologics...mostly it emphasizes over and over how long it

can take room temperature in dry form and how long once it is

rehydrated...*that* is the only tricky part.

Near as I can tell most doctors' offices are charging separately for

the injection process, just like they charge for allergy injections

(one big fee for the bottle of serum, smaller fee for the individual

shots) you should be able to file for reimbursement for that " procedure " .

Best advice I have heard is to ask to take the drug with you when you

go get your shot...just be sure you have an ice chest, ice and a

ziploc bag to pack it in. I think most of the pharmacies are packing

it with the needles, syringes and sterile saline needed to mix up the

drug.

Hope this helps,

P.