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How long did it take to get Remicade?

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Posted 10/8/2007 3:28 PM (GMT -6)
I was just wondering how long it took after you and your doctor decided on Remicade to actually get the drug? My doctor and I made that decision about a month ago and I've gotten all the pre-op stuff done and I haven't heard anything from the doctor or anybody else. I'm really ready to start this so it will hopefully get my life back to semi-normal. I just wanted to know if it normally takes this long and if there is anything I can do to speed up the process.
Posted 10/8/2007 3:31 PM (GMT -6)
it took me days. is your insurance holding you up?
Posted 10/8/2007 3:53 PM (GMT -6)
I have no idea what the hold up is? Is it common for insurance to be hold up?
Posted 10/8/2007 4:06 PM (GMT -6)

Took about 6 weeks for me to finally get authorized
by my insurance company. (United Health Care)
Then another 2 weeks before I received my first infusion.
Had to have the TB test done.

Posted 10/8/2007 5:02 PM (GMT -6)
I got remicade two weeks after my doctor decided for me to be on it. I would try to contact your doctor and your insurance provider to see why its taking so long.
Posted 10/8/2007 5:05 PM (GMT -6)
I think it took about a month before I got started. I'm not sure what took so long, if it was the insurance company or just to get an appointment in the infusion center. Can you call your doctor and ask him? He would probably know best what step of the process they are on.
Posted 10/8/2007 5:11 PM (GMT -6)
Hmm I am curious as well.  Can you let us know what happens? My current employer just merged with a much larger corporation and we are receiving new benefits.  I am already on Remicade, I wonder what will happen now if I have to switch providers in the middle of treatment? OMG, I can't even think about it.
Posted 10/8/2007 7:23 PM (GMT -6)
It took me 3 or 4 days, if I remember correctly.
Posted 10/8/2007 7:47 PM (GMT -6)
just a matter of days, for me....
Posted 10/8/2007 9:35 PM (GMT -6)
I am in the middle of getting my approval done. I think that what happened in my case is that my doctor forgot to send the stuff on to the people in his office that needed to get it. I called him, asking what the heck was going on, why I was waiting so long and once I got them on it I have gotten them going. I got a call today from my nurse telling me that I should hear from her tomorrow morning about the insurance investigation. They went ahead and scheduled me to start my infusions for 9am on this Friday morning. I'm very excited.

Can anyone give insight into what I should expect, how I should feel after the first time?
Posted 10/8/2007 11:39 PM (GMT -6)
My GI decided on a Thursday and I got my first infusion on the following Thursday. I could have had it sooner but had to do the TB testing first. Took my insurance 24 hours to give approval.
Posted 10/9/2007 4:38 AM (GMT -6)
It would be days, should I decide to take out.  Remicade is one of the cheaper drugs of all the crohns drugs out there, so I would be suprised if insurance is holding it up.  Usually an insurance company wants you to fail at remicade before moving on to one of  the better more expensive drugs.
Posted 10/9/2007 5:42 AM (GMT -6)
It took about 2 weeks for me once the doc decided that what I needed and then got insurance approval.

Hindy, I didn't think remicade was one of the cheaper drugs out there. I mean my insurance got charged $4000 dollars for my last infusion, and mine are 6 weeks apart.
Posted 10/9/2007 9:42 AM (GMT -6)
I was in the hospital when my gi decided to put me on remicade we did all the testing that day and i had my first infusion that night.
Posted 10/9/2007 9:54 AM (GMT -6)
Every time I have received my infusions, I have felt different.  (3 infusions so far) The first time I was fine, and then the next day I had serum sickness for a week and had flu like symptoms.  The second infusion was fine as I had benedryl with it, I got really nauseas during the infusion and just really tired.  The third time, I could barely stand up, and was extremely tired, I slept like 5 hours once I got home.  I know a lot of people say it makes you tired.  The next day I was feeling better though, and more normal.  It may take a few times before you really know how you will react to it. OMG I have to pee like every half hour once they start the infusion, so I can sleep very well during it, all that liquid makes me have to go sooo bad.  Anyone else experience this?
Posted 10/9/2007 12:02 PM (GMT -6)
I just talked to my doctors office and they just sent it off to the insurance yesterday. For some reason it took them 2 weeks to make that phone call which irritates me a little bit. This whole time i've been feeling like crap and they just hadn't made a phone call. Ugh! Either way, the people who deal with the insurance at their office said it would probably be one or two days before they got approval so hopefully by the end of this week I will be able to start. I really hope after waiting this long that the remicade actually works! Wish me luck!
Posted 10/9/2007 3:40 PM (GMT -6)
I had my Remicade within 3-4 days. No problems at all with the ins comp. Even when I my infusions were every 4 weeks, no problems.

Susie
Posted 10/9/2007 3:50 PM (GMT -6)
It took me about a month before my insurance company (United Healthcare) approved my Remicade treatment, but once they finally did I had the first infusion within a week. You should contact your Dr. office and ask them what is causing the delay. Good luck!
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