I had my end ileo (permanent) done on 1/14/2011. I had gigantic output from the getgo passing 3 litres per day. My surgeon, gastro, and hematolgist put me on Sandostatin to slow the gut right away and now I get shots every 3 weeks. Sandosatin was designed for is a people with growth problems and people with cancer taking chemo causing massive diarrhea. I’m using it off label since I have such massive diarrhea and no longer any colin to absorb. Medicare has paid for 6 shots but my other hematologist/oncologist says that medicare will start denying my claims and he will get stuck with the bill @ $4,800 per shot, maybe even accumulatively So he refuses to give me anymore shots unless I agree to pay the $4,800 per shot if medicare does not. Remember, they come every 3 weeks so do the math. It makes me sick to even try. The drug company has an assistance plan but I have a good income but not so good as to afford this. We would probably have to sell our house to do it.
Finally, here is my question: Is my output likely to go down after my ileo ages a bit…….after a year or so or am I just plain screwed? I’m 73 and probably good for 10 more years so not much time to recover financially.
Anyone?
Dave D