Re: 'nother update, and shots at home

[Guest guest]

i've been on xolair since the end of january 2004. by my second

injection, i was taught how to inject myself, mix the xolair and all

that. they have me practice it every two weeks when i get my shots

in teh drs office. according to the RN, the insurance companies

prefer you giving yourself the injections at home (costs them less

$$). according to the RN, it could take up to a year to do it at

home...and some drs (maybe mine, who knows) prefer you doing them in

the office b/c its more $ in their pocket.

giving myself the shots isn't bad at all, and oddly, its

empowering...like by doing each shot myself, i'm one step closer to

spending less time in the drs office!

right now, i wait 20 minutes after the injection, they check the

sites (i get 3 shots every 2 weeks) and then i can go home.

heather

[Guest guest]

,

I guess the possibility of self-injection at home depends on your

doctor. I got five shots in the doc's office, and on the fifth

time, they showed me how to do the shots myself, much to my

surprise. If you read my earlier posts, you will find that I was

quite cynical, too. I have now done it three times at home, with

the fourth coming up. I can't think of a practical reason why they

would tell you that it would take a year before you could do it

yourself, especially after you have done it a time or two. Of

course, at least they are open to the idea. Some won't even

consider it. Mine gave me some printed instructions and sent me on

my way.

On my own front, I have been trying to cut back on the prednisone

(from 20 mg every other day to 10 mg every other day) and Advair

(from 500 to 250). Unfortunatly, I broke a major rule of scientific

investigation and changed two variables at once. My asthma has

gotten worse (although still not debilitating) and I don't know if

the culprit is the reduction in pred or the Advair, although I

suspect it is the Advair. All things being equal, I think I'd

prefer to be on the Advair than the prednisone.

Addy, thanks for the inquiry. I have been travelling a lot myself.

In fact, I'm in Wilmington, NC now, which I believe is your

neighborhood? I was in New Bern, NC last week, and on my way to

Daytona, FL later this week. Still check in on the group, but

haven't had an opportunity to post. My wife is doing ok,

considering she is now 6 months pregnant. We can't seem to come up

with a name for the baby. I'm thinking 'Doug'.

Be good.

Greg

--- In , " heather " <heaven1975@y...>

wrote:

> i've been on xolair since the end of january 2004. by my second

> injection, i was taught how to inject myself, mix the xolair and

all

> that. they have me practice it every two weeks when i get my shots

> in teh drs office. according to the RN, the insurance companies

> prefer you giving yourself the injections at home (costs them less

> $$). according to the RN, it could take up to a year to do it at

> home...and some drs (maybe mine, who knows) prefer you doing them

in

> the office b/c its more $ in their pocket.

>

> giving myself the shots isn't bad at all, and oddly, its

> empowering...like by doing each shot myself, i'm one step closer

to

> spending less time in the drs office!

>

> right now, i wait 20 minutes after the injection, they check the

> sites (i get 3 shots every 2 weeks) and then i can go home.

>

> heather

[Guest guest]

hi greg. honestly, i'm not cynical at all. i am doing better asthma

wise, but like you, many things were changed at once. i got sick a

few weeks after starting the xolair, and my flovent was increased

(to 2200 mcg a day) and uniphyl 800 mg a day was added. so i'm not

sure if i'm finally feeling better from being sick, if its the combo

of that and the meds, the xolair, the xolair and meds..too many

possibilities to think of. whatever it is, i'll take it!!! right now

we are in the process of lowering the flovent. i'm down to just

advair 500, which is fabulous. i havne't been on just advair in

about a year! my allergies are kicking my butt, so who knows.

i've been doing the shots myself every week since i was taught (the

last 7 times i did). i am eager to doing them at home.

thats great you were able to cut back on the pred...and the

advair...even being on a higher dose of advair isn't bad - much

better than the pred...blech!

wilmington? is that upstate? i'm on long island...

congrats on teh baby

~heather

[Guest guest]

<We can't seem to come up

> with a name for the baby. I'm thinking 'Doug'.>

Greg you are not serious are you??? If you are, I don't deserve that

honor.

Doug

[Guest guest]

Doug,

Why not?

Actually, my first son's name is Owen. He is a non-stop action

machine. For this reason, my wife says she wants to name our next

son 'o-f-f'. Think about it a minute.

Greg

> <We can't seem to come up

> > with a name for the baby. I'm thinking 'Doug'.>

>

> Greg you are not serious are you??? If you are, I don't deserve

that

> honor.

>

> Doug

[Guest guest]

> Doug,

>

> Why not?

>

> Actually, my first son's name is Owen. He is a non-stop action

> machine. For this reason, my wife says she wants to name our next

> son 'o-f-f'. Think about it a minute.

>

> Greg

>

Greg,

I would be most honored. I've been a Baptist Minister for 24 years;

helping and ministing to people of all walks of life and this is the

first time anyone considered honoreing me in this fashion.

You name you son how your heart leads. Remember, I didn't invent the

Xolair and I am not a doctor who prescribed it for you. Why not

consider your doctor's name too? He should get the credit, not me.

Doug

[Guest guest]

Ok, Doug - how about 'Spike'?

Greg

[Guest guest]

> Ok, Doug - how about 'Spike'?

>

> Greg

LOL!

Doug