Re: Alternative Approaches

[Guest guest]

, I'm so happy that your biopsy showed little damage. This is

wonderful; your liver is doing you right. However, you know that the

inflammation, unless eliminated, will cause damage eventually. Are you going

to start prednisone? As I mentioned, I think the alternative approaches are

great supplements in healing, but it's too risky in my opinion to not do what

has shown to be most effective in stopping the inflammation (prednisone).

Roxanne

[Guest guest]

Roxanne,

Thanks for your reply! I know I'm lucky to have caught it before any damage

has been done, and that inflammation can lead to scarring. I'm seeing a

liver specialist in a month, who will put me on a treatment. I'm not sure

what yet. She has access to all the current treatments, and may also

suggest involvement in a study. I'm not sure what I'll be able to swing

financially. I have a student loan to pay back, and literally cannot afford

expensive drugs (as important as they are). I'm hoping they'll be able to

help me with this! I'm too afraid to rely on the herbals alone. I wish

there was more research to prove them so I wouldn't have to go on these

scary drugs. I'll definitely do what I need to do though. Most of my

family and friends agree that I should definitely go on the drugs. The

friend I went out with tonight is strongly opposed, and pro-herbal. He had

the same thoughts as I did initially...better to do everything I can

naturally, and possibly avoid years of pills and negative side effects.

I've accepted that they are necessary though. If the herbals worked without

a doubt, everyone on this list would probably be on them! Anyways, thanks

for your advice. I agree with you.

>From: CREE8V1@...

>Reply- onelist

> onelist

>Subject: Re: [ ] alternative approaches

>Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 18:13:09 EDT

>

>From: CREE8V1@...

>

>, I'm so happy that your biopsy showed little damage. This is

>wonderful; your liver is doing you right. However, you know that the

>inflammation, unless eliminated, will cause damage eventually. Are you

>going

>to start prednisone? As I mentioned, I think the alternative approaches

>are

>great supplements in healing, but it's too risky in my opinion to not do

>what

>has shown to be most effective in stopping the inflammation (prednisone).

>

>Roxanne

>

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[Guest guest]

,

I hope that money won't be an obstacle to you getting any treatment you

need, but I know how rough it can be for a student. If it helps, I pay

less than $7.00 a month for my Prednisone. My insurance co-pay is $10.00,

so I don't even have to pay the full co-pay. I don't know how expensive

Azathioprine is, but our insurance company charges the lesser co-pay for

it. Those are the two most likely drugs you'll be given.

Your doctor should be able to help you, but also, I believe that there is a

program offered by the pharmaceutical companies that will provide

medications for people who must have certain drugs to survive. I don't

know much about it but your doctor might be able to help you. If not, I

can help you find out more about it. I met a man in my doctor's office who

was getting his medications that way.

Take care,

Geri

[Guest guest]

I too could not afford the drugs at first that were i had my break downs

always in the pharmacy. Predisone is cheap, imuran is expensive and

budisonde is more expensive. Imuran has just come out with a genetic

brand which is a bit cheaper about $ 40 for 60 tabs. pred is like $10

for my scrip, and I have not had to pay for budisonde yet. Well as of

last year I have a medical plan now threw work, but the first two years

were hard. visa etc... to pay and I had to to stay healthy. The

pharmacy can not deny (in canada someone there pills) they kept an

account for me until I could pay interest free!!

So I always owed, it's amazing what u can afford to when you have too!!!

[Guest guest]

:

I paid about $8.99 for Prednisone and $37.00 for Imuran when I was paying for

it.

Sue AIH

Wisconsin

[Guest guest]

Geri,

Thanks for the information on the cost of the meds. Maybe they won't be as

much as I initially thought!

>From: Geri Spang <spangs@...>

>Reply- onelist

> onelist

>Subject: Re: [ ] alternative approaches

>Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 04:28:08 -0700

>

>From: Geri Spang <spangs@...>

>

>,

>I hope that money won't be an obstacle to you getting any treatment you

>need, but I know how rough it can be for a student. If it helps, I pay

>less than $7.00 a month for my Prednisone. My insurance co-pay is $10.00,

>so I don't even have to pay the full co-pay. I don't know how expensive

>Azathioprine is, but our insurance company charges the lesser co-pay for

>it. Those are the two most likely drugs you'll be given.

>

>Your doctor should be able to help you, but also, I believe that there is a

>program offered by the pharmaceutical companies that will provide

>medications for people who must have certain drugs to survive. I don't

>know much about it but your doctor might be able to help you. If not, I

>can help you find out more about it. I met a man in my doctor's office who

>was getting his medications that way.

>

>Take care,

>Geri

>

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[Guest guest]

,

I agree with you. I know I'll find a way, one way or the other, to pay for

the meds. Hopefully I'll be able to find a job with a drug plan.

>From: " .Hutchinson " <brandy.hutchinson@...>

>Reply- onelist

> onelist

>Subject: Re: [ ] alternative approaches

>Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 08:20:41 -0700

>

>From: " .Hutchinson " <brandy.hutchinson@...>

>

>

>

>I too could not afford the drugs at first that were i had my break downs

>always in the pharmacy. Predisone is cheap, imuran is expensive and

>budisonde is more expensive. Imuran has just come out with a genetic

>brand which is a bit cheaper about $ 40 for 60 tabs. pred is like $10

>for my scrip, and I have not had to pay for budisonde yet. Well as of

>last year I have a medical plan now threw work, but the first two years

>were hard. visa etc... to pay and I had to to stay healthy. The

>pharmacy can not deny (in canada someone there pills) they kept an

>account for me until I could pay interest free!!

>

>So I always owed, it's amazing what u can afford to when you have too!!!

>

>

>

>

>

>

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[Guest guest]

,

There are other meds to be taken in conjunction with prednisone and Imuran.

For example, if indicated, you could be told to take something like

Prilosec and a diuretic. If that happens, be sure to ask your doctor to

give you the least expensive generic drug. They tend to prescribe the

newest and most costly. Some doctors will give you a large supply of

samples, and that would be helpful. When I first went on the hormone patch

(Climara) in Seattle, our insurance company wouldn't cover them. My

gynecologist gave me a 6 month supply. One way or the other, if you can

keep your AIH from progressing with meds, do what you have to do and look

for the best way to cut the costs. Life is too precious to be measured in

dollars.

Take care,

Geri

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

You are an inspiration! Even tho I take the medication, I also seek a

spiritual path through my 12 step program, also have my arts projects

that I get completely lost in, garden (get lost in the plants too!),

spend time playing with my dogs, and since 1986, have been journaling

just about daily. You have hit the nail on the head with enjoying eash

day to the fullest! It is about One Day at a Time for me - and it works!

~ Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Hello Gretchen,

I know I am young in ages 33, yet some things I have been

through have taught me not to take anything for granted. I do

enjoy my life and am very excited to get my daycare off and

running. As of May 1st it will be starting officially!!! I can't

wait!I will be taking children day and night and some weekends.

I just knew I always wanted to be a teacher and now I am one.

Yes, I think we all seek alternatives in how to live our lives.

I do not do well with medication at all. It affects me in a very

bad way, so I try not to take it. However, I empathisize with

what some are going through and do not contradict how one

chooses to live their lives as all of us are unique with different

needs. Humanity needs to become our future and not our past.

Journaling is a very productive way to allow our future generations

to see where we have come from.

Thank you.

Heidi

What great news about becoming a teacher at last, Heidi! I

remember when you were still in school! Congratulations on

achieving your goals! ~ Gretchen

[Guest guest]

The best approach I've found... animals. they always seem to sense when

you're hurting and try their best to help you out. I could go into numerous

stories, but I'll share just one for now.

It was the middle of a NH Winter and in order to bring the horses in, we have

to take them down an icy hill. I decided I could do it, so I was leading this

big TB named down the hill. had extra energy that day because of

the cold, so he was prancing and snorting around. Well I slipped going down

the hill and fell right by his feet... If he had kept prancing, he would have

stepped on me, but I swear, the second I lost my balance, he planted all four

feet on the ground and stayed there until someone came to help me out. I

also know that my cat can always tell when I'm upset... even when I'm on the

phone from here (KY)... Whenever I can and am upset, Rascal comes over to my

mom or my Dad whoevers on the phone and tries to rub up against the phone and

purr. I talk to him on the phone and he purrs and rubs up against it.

Anyway, thats more than one story, but animals are my medicine.