You have a Medicare advantage plan which is quite different from regular Medicare plus a supplement. In that case you would have to talk to a representative. Or your dr might be able to research for...
You’re on Medicare. Do you have a supplement and if so which plan? What about your prescription plan? I have supplement plan F which pays the 20% that regular Medicare doesn’t pay. So far, infusions...
This disease is so damn hard! You feel miserable and desperately want to feel better. And running to the bathroom and not making it is downright humiliating— or I thought so anyway. At this point...
I’ve been taking Aimovig injections for my migraines and it cut mine from over 15/ month to pretty much zero now. When I do get one it’s more like a regular headache now and I can deal with it....
Glad to hear you are finally getting some relief. It does sound like xeljanz is going to work for you! Congrats!...
Good to hear! Congrats!...
After my 1st infusion (entyvio) they had me stay for observation but never again after that. I guess they figure if you’re going to react it would be the first time....
I haven’t eaten popcorn for years due to diverticulitis. They now say that it’s ok to eat but I don’t want to take chances. Why doesn’t their website say what it actually IS? I had to go to the...
I would have your daughter start Metamucil for the constipation. I fought that all my life and nothing ever worked — not prune juice or drinking a ton of water or adding fiber — until I started...
Each time I’ve been hospitalized for gut issues the standard was either no food at all or liquid /soft diet. Other experiences could be different. But with my route, no worries about hospital food as...
All you can do is try it and see. Best to start small and build up. One dr told me once that insulin can cause gas and I noticed that it did for me so I avoid it as gas can be painful during a flare....
I know I tend to feel that drs know ALL. But I think there must be some cases that mystify them and they kind of flail around too. They have their textbook cases and patient histories and they know...
Wayne you really won’t notice lessening of symptoms after only one loading dose Hopefully you’ll see some after your third infusion but even then you most likely won’t be symptom free yet. Modifying...
I would just add to not underestimate the damage long term inflammation can cause. I ended up with some pre-dysplasia polyps (pre-cancerous) After being in remission they haven’t found anymore so...
Just a guess — but the covid rules and permissions have expired. Covid was why they started allowing telehealth visits in the first place and also not requiring you to make in-office visits. I really...
After my first infusion of entyvio I felt very much stronger that night. There was no difference in symptoms, just that small sign of feeling stronger when I’d been feeling quite sickly and weak. So...
You’ll notice slight improvements after you finish the loading doses. Very slight and there will still be bad days mixed in. My first major improvement was being able to complete a prednisone taper —...
Good luck tomorrow, let us know how it goes...
I like the community and personal touches here — especially since the Flame Wars ended!...
My GI requested blood at each infusion initially. But my infusion is through a hospital he’s not associated with and he said the reports weren’t getting to him so now I got to quest every 3-4 months....
Labs are mainly to monitor liver and kidney levels. Some infusions need to be timed. I don’t understand it all — I just hear the nurses talking at my infusion center. Remicade is weight based so the...
Wow. Way different from other companies I’ve dealt with. I guess you have to hope for the reimbursement. That sucks....
Simon it sounds like you actually talked to a pharmacy and not AbbVie patient assistance? I looked up this: https://www.abbvie.com/patients/patient-support/patient-assistance.html Try them. I’ve...
Usually the drug manufacturer has a free program for cases like yours. It will take a couple of weeks tho as it involves both you and your dr filling out an application and then they have to check...
That kind of heartburn pain doesn’t respond to anything but omeprazole and the like. Is there a reason you don’t want to take that? Seriously nothing helped. I had it sitting up too. Regular antacids...
So glad to hear you are doing better. Prednisone—the med we all love to hate!!!! It does help so much with symptoms but the side effects are horrendous! Fingers crossed your taper goes well. But I...
This happened to me too! I mean I had some reflux issues before but this was astronomical compared to that. A burning in the throat that nothing OTC helped. I went on omeprazole. Didn’t want to but I...
Curious as to what the flaxseed is supposed to do???...
Sassy … in remission, I no longer have to watch what I eat. I think that’s true for most of us. My only issue is I tend toward constipation and that is bad news for my diverticulosis issues. I find...
Also… there are the newer JAK inhibitors and the like, which are pills. Xeljanz and Rinvoq. Several here have had great success with these newer medications. They seem to be rather fast acting too....
Seriously! Thought you would have had it by now!...
Personally I would try entyvio first. It’s not weight based so the infusion time is only 30 minutes compared to 2-3 hrs for remicade. I have never had a reaction of any kind. Usually I’m a little...
I was scared and hesitant to go on a biologic as well, but honestly it’s been great and wonderful. Injectables you can do at home which is convenient. As far as keeping it cold while on a cruise I’m...
You should call your dr — is this a GI, I hope? — and get in sooner or ask if it’s ok to bump up the prednisone to the level you were on right before symptoms started back up again. And I agree with...
How about this one: Twisted and tortured! Thinking I probably have some narrowed areas or something because one solid piece of poop will have different diameters. Starts out fairly normal then...
Ditto!!! But I’m here!...
Update: I still haven’t used his pharmacy yet, but I’m on the mailing list. Just got an update with lowered prices. Mesalamine was one. $30 for 90 is a great price. I think this must be the same as...
I get it too. UC is an invisible disease often from the outside, especially if one isn’t in a losing weight stage. And I don’t like being a complainer so when people would ask how I was I’d always...
As far as constipation have you tried miralax? It’s not a stimulant as much as others so doesn’t cause as much cramping. Also some psyllium is super helpful. I use Metamucil powder at night (a big...
Damn! Like you need another headache right?...
What exactly did you say to get them to reduce it? Wondering because I just had my levels checked in February (which would be before the cutoff). The first time I had levels checked I saw they...
I link it more to the autoimmune condition. Diabetes is also an autoimmune disease as is colitis. They don’t know what causes a person to become diabetic but there is a strong genetic component. For...
I take stool softeners fairly regularly to keep from getting constipated. But if you’re having mushy stools be careful. Too many can cause cramping and frequent pooping. Rectals would probably be a...
🤞🤞🤞...
I don’t know why he would insist you get it now. Why don’t you get your flare under control and then get it? It’s not a live vaccine so doesn’t necessarily need to be done before starting a...
I got them to give me Xanax (had a prescription already) in hospital. They didn’t want to since they were monitoring my heart, but I literally did not sleep a wink the first night or two. Hospitals...
Well I proved that as wrong!!!! 🤣😀...
Hah! Where else can we celebrate only air farts!! 🤣🤣🤣 General public and even friends and family can never REALLY understand the joy!...
Oh I will get the vax eventually. But I’ll have to work myself up to it and will also see what the recommendation is after having covid. I think it was 4-6 months? Maybe that’s just wishful thinking....
Not sure it would do any good to remove it if it’s not infected? Do you think it’s contributing to your UC flare? I hadn’t had an appendix for 30+ years when I developed UC....