WooHoo Lyrica! Boo insurance companies

[Guest guest]

So if finally got my PCP to prescribe me something off the list of

recommendations from my chiari docs while I'm waiting to get my final MRI

besides just Tylenol 3. It was Lyrica. Unfortunately my insurance wanted prior

approval my PCP had samples so he gave me some. It is approved for fibro and

other nueropathy issues but not specifically chiari. He only started me at 50mg

a day (the starting dose is normally 150mg a day) and there was some

improvement. Well the insurance denied it because I've never been diagnosed with

fibro so I explained to the nurse that my two chiari docs feel I have all the

symptoms of fibro but because of the chiari ( and it having most of the symptoms

of fibro) I will never have that as a diagnosis. They have agreed to appeal the

insurance companies decision. In the meantime they are working on getting me

more samples and I have increased the lyrica up to 100mg a day and have noticed

even more improvement!! I'm not symptom free by any means but the days are so

much better!! It doesn't seem to have helped much with the memory/focus issues

but I've gone from taking the Tylenol 3 and advil on a daily basis at max doses

to not needing any at all most days. There have been minimal side effects at

this point. The first couple days I had really bad headaches and my balance was

even more off but that only lasted 2 days and by the 2nd day it wasn't so bad.

I am hoping and praying it will get approved and with the manufacturers coupons

available it won't be too expensive. But right now I am just trying to enjoy

this little break it is giving me!!

Will really be putting the meds to the test this weekend, we are going out of

town for the weekend for a wedding and we are taking the grandbaby with us. I'm

keeping my fingers crossed all goes well. The last wedding I went to totally

wiped me out. I had felt like I got hit by a bus by the next day and could

barely move or do anything the next day because my entire body hurt so much and

was so stiff.

Has any one else tried lyrica? What was your experience like?

Debbie