Cost of Aspirin Desensitization

[Guest guest]

I am still considering the process of aspirin desensitization. However,

I am unsure as to a number of questions my health provider, my doctors,

and specialists continue to avoid. Maybe some of you can assist.

1. What is the cost of this procedure (ballpark figure only. The plan

is to spend 5-7 days in a nearby university hospital where they

complete the procedure. I am talking total costs including what the

health provider might cover.

2. Aspirin desensitizatin seems to help some of you with your asthma.

Is the program worth that if you asthma is under control?

3. Will the sense of smell return? This is one of the primary benefits

I would hope to regain.

4. What exactly does this procedure involve? I mean from the day I walk

into the hospital. Do I have to stay in the hospital 24-7?

5. Are there consultants out there that can perform this procedure

without hospitalization?

[Guest guest]

I'm currently doing 20mg of aspirin every other day at home, increasing next week to everyday, then 40mg. I do not have Samter's - just salicylate sensitivity. My doc is a dept head at a U. I am not an expert on this subject, but I think a lot depends on how badly you react. My doc did not agree to do this until I stopped reacting wildly.

Sheila

--mail to: sheilafitzpg@...

-------------- Original message -------------- From: "craig.ashbrook" <craig.ashbrook@...> > I am still considering the process of aspirin desensitization. However, > I am unsure as to a number of questions my health provider, my doctors, > and specialists continue to avoid. Maybe some of you can assist. > > 1. What is the cost of this procedure (ballpark figure only. The plan > is to spend 5-7 days in a nearby university hospital where they > complete the procedure. I am talking total costs including what the > health provider might cover. > > 2. Aspirin desensitizatin seems to help some of you with your asthma. > Is the program worth that if you asthma is under control? > > 3. Will the sense of smell return? This is one of the primary benefits > I would hope to regain. >

> 4. What exactly does this procedure involve? I mean from the day I walk > into the hospital. Do I have to stay in the hospital 24-7? > > 5. Are there consultants out there that can perform this procedure > without hospitalization? > > > > >

[Guest guest]

I used the incremental approach as outlined in one of the previous posts. No hospitalization, no disruptions to daily life - just takes a lot of time (about a month). This is more like the usual desensitization used for allergies. Start with a very low dose and gradually increase. I currently take 650mg twice day of enteric coated aspirin. It has eliminated my biggest problem of waking up completely plugged. I did not have significant asthma just more like an allergy. Aspirin did not bring back my sense of taste and smell. Prednisone restores both taste and smell and I'm currently trying to reduce the to lowest dose that will allow taste and smell. Long term prednisone can cause other problems but at my age (78) that isn't so much of a problem. If you use the incremental approach be sure to have the necessary rescue medicines available even though I didn't need mine.

Good luck!

Cost of Aspirin Desensitization

I am still considering the process of aspirin desensitization. However, I am unsure as to a number of questions my health provider, my doctors, and specialists continue to avoid. Maybe some of you can assist.1. What is the cost of this procedure (ballpark figure only. The plan is to spend 5-7 days in a nearby university hospital where they complete the procedure. I am talking total costs including what the health provider might cover.2. Aspirin desensitizatin seems to help some of you with your asthma. Is the program worth that if you asthma is under control?3. Will the sense of smell return? This is one of the primary benefits I would hope to regain.4. What exactly does this procedure involve? I mean from the day I walk into the hospital. Do I have to stay in the hospital 24-7?5. Are there consultants out there that can perform this procedure without hospitalization?

[Guest guest]

I know there has been this thread of doing self asa desens as home but I just cannot stress how truly dangerous and foolhardly this is. Of course if you die then it is too late and everyone will be sorry and then try to blame it on someone or something but it would just be then a damn shame.I think this thread of even recommending doing it yourself desens is truly wrong and really should be avoided. Somehow, somewhere there is going to be a member that is going to try this and die from the trying and the members on this message board will feel really bad.I don't think we should even be talking about this. I think Dr son at Scripps would also agree. Carol

Cost of Aspirin Desensitization

I am still considering the process of aspirin desensitization. However, I am unsure as to a number of questions my health provider, my doctors, and specialists continue to avoid. Maybe some of you can assist.1. What is the cost of this procedure (ballpark figure only. The plan is to spend 5-7 days in a nearby university hospital where they complete the procedure. I am talking total costs including what the health provider might cover.2. Aspirin desensitizatin seems to help some of you with your asthma. Is the program worth that if you asthma is under control?3. Will the sense of smell return? This is one of the primary benefits I would hope to regain.4. What exactly does this procedure involve? I mean from the day I walk into the hospital. Do I have to stay in the hospital 24-7?5. Are there consultants out there that can perform this procedure without hospitalization?

[Guest guest]

The dangerous fact is that your sensitivity to aspirin probably will increase. So you don’t really know how you will react before hand. I have heard that this can happen even when you are desensitized, so, if you miss a day (actually 48 hours), it could be surprising what your reaction is.

Pam

On 5/13/07 8:21 PM, " Carl Ondry " <ondry@...> wrote:

I think the key to whether or not to self deses is the type of reaction one has to ASA. I don't think I stressed how mild the asthma component of my Samters was. Anyone with a violent reaction or significant asthma would be best treated in a hospital. Again I stress that this should only be done outside a hospital if your MD is in accord and provides the necessary rescue medicines. Even a mild reaction when the dose is increased should be discussed with your MD. Having another person available in the home is important.

Re: Cost of Aspirin Desensitization

I know there has been this thread of doing self asa desens as home but I just cannot stress how truly dangerous and foolhardly this is. Of course if you die then it is too late and everyone will be sorry and then try to blame it on someone or something but it would just be then a damn shame.I think this thread of even recommending doing it yourself desens is truly wrong and really should be avoided. Somehow, somewhere there is going to be a member that is going to try this and die from the trying and the members on this message board will feel really bad.I don't think we should even be talking about this. I think Dr son at Scripps would also agree. Carol

[Guest guest]

You may be a mature adult but you have no idea when or if your mild reaction to asa may turn into a severe and violent reaction to asa. There is no guarantee that just because it was mild once that it will always be mild. Everyone on this forum may be mature but not all make good decisions, some are afraid of doctors and some substitute the 'advice' on the forum for medical advice or truly don't understand the risk that they may take. Although some can get away with it some people may truly underestimate how very dangerous this can be and how it can put them in a place they may never come back from ( bad English here). I stand by my prior statement. I think if anyone makes a post about self desens- they ought to put about fifteen disclaimers on it.Plus if someone died from self desens- we would most likely never know about it. Carol

Re: Cost of Aspirin Desensitization

Sorry CarolI for one have to disagree, I am an informed mature adult capable of making my own decisions. I self desensitized due to my fairly mild reaction to ASA. I may have gone about it wrong had I not received some good info off of this forum. That is not to say I would recommend it to everyone. Some of the members on this forum have extremely severe reactions to ASA and they would be better off going the hospital route.I believe I am both mature and informed enough to make the decision on my own. I also think that posting the various methods and hearing other members experiences with ASA desens (whether self administered or not) is enlightening to all in this group.I know you have your concerns and I respect and understand them. Hopefully you will understand my desire for an open and complete Samters forum.RegardsMarcus"It is no good to try to stop knowledge from going forward. Ignorance is never better than knowledge." Enrico Fermi

[Guest guest]

I agree also. When I was at Scripps in Oct. 2003, I was amazed at the

precautions they took during desens. I asked a nurse why they were so

cautious and she told me that they have had patients go into

anaphylactic shock with as little as 5 mg of aspirin. If this

happened at home, you would be in deep trouble.

Jim (Tx)

> I know there has been this thread of doing self asa

desens as home but I just cannot stress how truly dangerous and

foolhardly this is. Of course if you die then it is too late and

everyone will be sorry and then try to blame it on someone or

something but it would just be then a damn shame.I think this thread

of even recommending doing it yourself desens is truly wrong and

really should be avoided. Somehow, somewhere there is going to be a

member that is going to try this and die from the trying and the

members on this message board will feel really bad.I don't think we

should even be talking about this. I think Dr son at Scripps

would also

agree.

Carol

> Cost of Aspirin Desensitization

>

>

> I am still considering the process of aspirin desensitization.

However,

> I am unsure as to a number of questions my health provider, my

doctors,

> and specialists continue to avoid. Maybe some of you can assist.

>

> 1. What is the cost of this procedure (ballpark figure only. The

plan

> is to spend 5-7 days in a nearby university hospital where they

> complete the procedure. I am talking total costs including what the

> health provider might cover.

>

> 2. Aspirin desensitizatin seems to help some of you with your

asthma.

> Is the program worth that if you asthma is under control?

>

> 3. Will the sense of smell return? This is one of the primary

benefits

> I would hope to regain.

>

> 4. What exactly does this procedure involve? I mean from the day I

walk

> into the hospital. Do I have to stay in the hospital 24-7?

>

> 5. Are there consultants out there that can perform this procedure

> without hospitalization?

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Got a little couch potato?

> Check out fun summer activities for kids.

>

[Guest guest]

Just got my statement from my treatment - $4000! - BC/BS paid $1400

and wrote off $2600....

I did the office treatment at my asthma specialist doctor...it was

supposed to be 3 consective fridays - all day treatment regimen. I

only went to the first treatment and then finished on my own (not

recommended)...but went fine...it appears they charged me full price

though - thank goodness for insurnance!

[Guest guest]

>From: Pamela <pam@...>

>Reply-samters

><samters >

>Subject: Re: Cost of Aspirin Desensitization

>Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 20:43:46 -0400

>

>The dangerous fact is that your sensitivity to aspirin probably will

>increase. So you don¹t really know how you will react before hand. I have

>heard that this can happen even when you are desensitized, so, if you miss

>a

>day (actually 48 hours), it could be surprising what your reaction is.

>

>Pam

>

>

>On 5/13/07 8:21 PM, " Carl Ondry " <ondry@...> wrote:

>

> > I think the key to whether or not to self deses is the type of reaction

>one

> > has to ASA. I don't think I stressed how mild the asthma component of

>my

> > Samters was. Anyone with a violent reaction or significant asthma would

>be

> > best treated in a hospital. Again I stress that this should only be

>done

> > outside a hospital if your MD is in accord and provides the necessary

>rescue

> > medicines. Even a mild reaction when the dose is increased should be

> > discussed with your MD. Having another person available in the home is

> > important.

> >

> > Re: Cost of Aspirin Desensitization

> >>

> >> I know there has been this thread of doing self asa desens as home but

>I just

> >> cannot stress how truly dangerous and foolhardly this is. Of course if

>you

> >> die then it is too late and everyone will be sorry and then try to

>blame it

> >> on someone or something but it would just be then a damn shame.I think

>this

> >> thread of even recommending doing it yourself desens is truly wrong and

> >> really should be avoided. Somehow, somewhere there is going to be a

>member

> >> that is going to try this and die from the trying and the members on

>this

> >> message board will feel really bad.I don't think we should even be

>talking

> >> about this. I think Dr son at Scripps would also agree.

> >> Carol

>I never had lifethreatening reaction to AsA or another NSAID inthe past

>although the last time I was exposed was years ago.Nevertheless I went to

>an allergist who desensitized me to the level of 81 mg ASA. I had a

>reaction just before I left his office and in fact never told him as I

>wanted this completed.The following day I reacted again taking my first

>baby ASA.I managed the reactions myself and his treatment cost me 35

>CDN.After this I very gradually increased to 650mg b.i.d.Its been about 2

>mos. now.Haven't noticed a big difference yet,but also went on Sporonox

>which seems to have alot of side effects.Seems to me that most will react

>before 81mg and can probably slowly reach the maintenance dose on their own

>after that.It would be useful to know where others have reacted along their

>desensitization.Now I would never suggest that anyone having had a severe

>reaction should ever consider desensitizing themselves.No one should do

>this when alone.If one doesnt have the resources go to the hospital with

>someone who knows whats going on and do it close to help.Seems to me if

>your going to react it will probably be within a few hours.It would be

>great to have the members input here so people could be informed as to best

>case and worst case scenarios given particular medical histories.A

>statistical analysis from say someone like Dr. son or another

>investigator or HCP would give us better direction.How common is a good

>outcome and how often does the unforeseen happen here?Epinephrine,

>cortisone, o2 should be available under emegencey care but even this might

>not save everyone so there will always be risk or mortality

>involved.Benefit vs. risk!

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[Guest guest]

I have tried to get desensitized but my

insurance- BC/BS of NH keeps denying me!!! My doctor has been in contact with

them and still no luck. How are you getting it through insurance? Mine says it

is not a proven procedure. I am very frustrated to hear that other members of

BC/BS have had this done. Can I ask where you are from and who your Doctors

are? I am not sure how to get past this --- I have contemplated doing it on my

own but feel it is just too risky and why should I when I have health insurance

that SHOULD pay for it!!!!

NH

From: samters [mailto:samters ] On Behalf Of danmorrow2323

Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 1:08 PM

samters

Subject: Re: Cost of

Aspirin Desensitization

Just got my statement from my treatment - $4000! -

BC/BS paid $1400

and wrote off $2600....

I did the office treatment at my asthma specialist doctor...it was

supposed to be 3 consective fridays - all day treatment regimen. I

only went to the first treatment and then finished on my own (not

recommended)...but went fine...it appears they charged me full price

though - thank goodness for insurnance!

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Talk to your doctor about a self pay rate. It should be affordable considering that you will need less visits and drugs, theoretically. BCBS did not cover mine.

Pam

On 5/14/07 6:03 PM, " anmcarter " <anmcarter@...> wrote:

I have tried to get desensitized but my insurance- BC/BS of NH keeps denying me!!! My doctor has been in contact with them and still no luck. How are you getting it through insurance? Mine says it is not a proven procedure. I am very frustrated to hear that other members of BC/BS have had this done. Can I ask where you are from and who your Doctors are? I am not sure how to get past this --- I have contemplated doing it on my own but feel it is just too risky and why should I when I have health insurance that SHOULD pay for it!!!!

NH

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