I was very surprised to see how much the difference in price was. If I was an insurance bureaucrat I would force the same change. Since I'm the patient it sucks. Remicade is going to have to lower...
Have you heard anything about getting the stool tests? Docs should do the biopsies when you get scoped without you asking, but if you ask and they don't do it you really should find a new doc....
I saw the claim that Accredo sent to insurance for Inflectra. No wonder they insisted that I switch. It was less than half the price (almost 1/3) the price BCBS paid for Remicade.. Crazy! Now I am in...
Does Stelara affect iron levels? I am not understanding the delay. I had iron transfusions while on Entyvio, Humira and when I first started remicade, A bad flare can for sure cause low iron level so...
Inflectra is less than half the price of Remicade (actually almost 1/3 the price of Remi). I don't like being forced to change something that has me in remission after it took me so long to get here,...
I just realized that this month is my 10 year anniversary with UC. What a long road with twists & turns, ups and downs. Hopefully I will stay in remission land for the next 10!...
When you insert the nozzle point towards your naval for the proper angle. When I had problems squeezing the bottle instead of squeezing from behind I will reach between my legs from the front to get...
The constipation is likely due to the colon & rectum being inflamed and swollen. Did you ask your doc about stool tests? You don't have to wait for a GI to order them -- your primary care physician...
When you had the flare 11 years ago and the ER said you have UC, did you have a colonoscopy? As far as I am know that's the only way to be properly diagnosed. Did you do anything for that 1st flare...
If you find a group let us know! I would definitely be interested in an organization like that....
Clo -- if your doc is sick isn't there someone else covering his patients? I hope they get it straightened out for you soon. Is it even legal for a pharmacy to change meds without notifying anyone?...
Can you use rectal meds? They might help keep the flare from getting too bad until you can decide on the way forward....
I avoid advil, aleve etc., but when I have really bad pain from my knees or a pinched nerve I take tylenol and regular coated aspirin at the same time. That would probably make a doctor's head spin,...
I almost wish it was just me that has insurance woes. So sorry you all have to deal with this too. Those companies have too many "rules" that they apply to everyone, not recognizing the need for...
I called the infusion center today to make sure they got the new orders for Inflectra. Glad I did because the doc's office never sent the new orders to them! That would have been a real mess when I...
Flowers -- I totally missed your last reply! I need to run all the numbers for medicare before I decide anything. Everyone I know who is on it loves it. Before my company switched our insurance I was...
Accredo is shipping today for delivery tomorrow so I am very hopeful it will get there before the cut off (infusion center has a cut off of 2 PM) so I can get my infusion on time on Thursday. Fingers...
I remember reading somewhere that if you had your appendix removed you were less likely to get IBD, but I don't remember anything about it helping if you already have have IBD. I had to have mine...
So Accredo (specialty pharmacy) got the script on Friday 1/20. I called this morning (1/23) and gave them my co pay assistance card number and checked on the status of the order and was told it could...
I called the number above and the person gave me this website: https://www.pfizercopay.com I did everything online. It got a little confusing when I entered the insurance info so hopefully I did it...
So it sounds like you are going 5x within 24 hours, correct? That might be a little better than before. See where you are in a week. Day to day can vary a lot. Best way to see if things are improving...
Most likely my med will be ready to ship soon. I am hoping to have my infusion by the end of the week. I have to get on this first thing on Monday. The way it's sounding I will have to pay for the...
How did you sign up for it, Rusty?...
So something made me just go back and I missed a separate message from the doc's nurse about the co pay assistance. She said she was afraid if she did it online that it would cause problems with the...
Flowers -- as long as I am working my work insurance takes priority over medicare. Since my company is so big I don't even know if I could opt out of work insurance and just go with medicare and...
Your police have an Andy Griffith/Mayberry style ... Texas sized Mayberry lol That's cool that you are working with those kids. The bad ones may be a problem until the parents are befriended so they...
This says the study was 10 patients, and 3 reached remission. If that would hold for wide scale use it's about the same success rate as most drugs so might be worth a try if you have mild disease....
Old Hat -- is this the link you were talking about? https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/get-involved/be-an-advocate/advocacy-priorities Well, my saga continues. Doc's office said that UHC...
This was more scary than funny to me. Someone sneaking around your house late at night cutting your window screens? That is criminal, not a prank. Still glad you found some laughs. Curious -- how was...
Most of my scopes were while I was flaring too. Only 2 were when I was in remission and I have had a lot of scopes. My old doc said to me "you had a lot of scopes" as if I had asked for them! Flippin...
I too am confused about the Remicade dosing. Seems like there was a big gap between the 1st and 2nd infusion. What is dosage are you going to get on the 30th? Is your doc checking for antibodies with...
I had a PA one time who didn't understand why I kept putting off a scope. I asked her if she ever did one and she said no. I said she needed to at least follow the prep instructions and then she...
Everyone loses weight overnight ... even before a bowel movement. I suggest checking your weight at the same time every day for a few days and see what that looks like, Try adding some calorie dense...
When I had iron infusions the place I went to didn't have IV pumps either. That infusion was 3 hours I think, but I think those infusions have to be done really slowly anyway. That was an oncology...
So glad you were able to get in tomorrow! I'm sure that was a big relief! I know what you mean about getting stressed over this stuff. I have to keep taking deep breaths and telling myself it will...
Thanks, Susie! I asked my doc about it and they said they would fill everything out for me. With Remicade I just filled everything out myself online. There wasn't any part that the doctor had to fill...
How do you sign up for it? On the website I found a form that I would have to fill out and take to my doc for him to fill out and send in. Isn't there a way to do it online? I know there are several...
Just heard from my doc (he called me himself!) and he said he had a lengthy call with UHC. They agreed to a 6 month authorization to stay at my current infusion center (hopefully they will renew it...
Glad you only had to go to that place 1 time since they made you pay $180! Hope this is the ticket for you. You will not know how to act when you don't have to get up 2x/night to poo :) Celebration...
They are still working on approving Remi, but my doc's office called today and said UHC is requiring that I use a stand alone infusion center. The place I would have to go is a nightmare to deal...
Stay on them. You are supposed to get medication every 4 weeks for a reason -- every 6 weeks does not work for you. They should be able to get you in ASAP since this the delay is through no fault of...
Glad the other symptoms are easing and you are feeling better!!...
Before committing to anything definitely find out out the costs and what is covered by insurance. I've never heard of this procedure. Please let us know what you find out. I am very interested to...
That's good news! Hopefully this does the trick. I am surprised that none of your docs ever did stool tests. That's usually the first thing my docs always asked for to make sure it wasn't some sort...
I do take other generic meds, but after the hell I went through before I finally reached remission I don't want to risk my blissful remission by switching to a biosimilar unless I absolutely have to....
That was a fast 5 years! Glad you are doing well!!...
Clo -- with my old BCBS plan drugs were under a separate policy with Optum, but once I met the BCBS out of pocket, all meds through Optum were free. I was told my new insurance work the same way....
Clo, Remicade is still the same -- a limit of about $20,000/year. The way it works for me is insurance pays first until I hit the max out of pocket for the year and then insurance pays everything. My...
My next infusion is the 26th so there is about 2 weeks to get it resolved. I am trying to think positive. The biosimilar may be preferred but I think that Remicade will be covered if the doc can...
Agree with Sara -- definitely sign up for co-pay assistance. Then if they charge you a lot it won't matter....