Enbrel

[Guest guest]

Way to go little miss smart cookie.I pray the Enbrel works wonders for you.

Something to check into is if your state will separate a child's income from

their parents for Medicaid. We pay almost $900 a month for insurance but only $

25 co pay for the Enbrel. You or your mom need to do some more resarch because

Enbrel is still a few thousand dollars more a yr then 8 grand.I think the

average for 8 vials a month is $12,000. If we didn't have insurance it would

cost us $1,400 a month.

Keep fighting the good fight young lady and get yourself feeling like a 12 yr

old.

Much love,

Becki and 12 systemic onset

________________________________

From: Shea Reasoner <sheareasoner1@...>

Sent: Wed, September 15, 2010 9:53:24 PM

Subject: enbrel

After speaking with our rhuemy we all decided on Enbrel. I will be started on

Enbrel this Friday and I am taking the injection twice a week. On Friday I will

talk to my rhuemy about the premixed and mixed options. We went ahead and called

the pharmacy, they have to order it before they fill it or something like that.

When we called the pharmacist asked us if the doctor had let us know about the

cost of Enbrel. We knew that Enbrel was super expensive, but I have really good

insurance. My grandma is a teacher and works for a school on the army base.

Which means she has Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal.

The nurses have told us that our insurance is one of the only ones where I don't

need to have insurance approve it before I fill it. We expected that it would

cover almost all of the costs. Although insurance did cover it, we were still

going to have to pay for it, and that wasn't a problem till we were told how

much our co pay was. $480 for ONE month!!!!!!! WHAT?!?! We were taken aback! We

were trying to figure out what we could possibly do to cut down that cost. My

mom's insurance! But her insurance only covers generic brands, and I am 99.9%

sure that there is no generic Enbrel. Then I had a stroke of genius, maybe the

people at Enbrel could help us. We called the hot line and these people are like

awesome.

For the first year of medication they are putting in 8,000 dollars to help out.

Which means we pay zero. We won't have to really worry about all of this for a

year. Later on we will figure out what to do when the year is up, but for now I

am just happy to know that soon things will get better.

If any of you have any last minute advice about the shot or any thing like that

please let me know.

Thank you for your continued support.

Shea Reasoner

[12 polyarticular and pain syndrome]

[Guest guest]

Thank you for all of your support! You guys are awesome and I love you all! All

of the kids and parents on here are amazingly great!

Love you allShea Reasoner

________________________________

From: Becki Larson <sojramom@...>

Sent: Wed, September 15, 2010 11:24:11 PM

Subject: Re: enbrel

Way to go little miss smart cookie.I pray the Enbrel works wonders for you.

Something to check into is if your state will separate a child's income from

their parents for Medicaid. We pay almost $900 a month for insurance but only $

25 co pay for the Enbrel. You or your mom need to do some more resarch because

Enbrel is still a few thousand dollars more a yr then 8 grand.I think the

average for 8 vials a month is $12,000. If we didn't have insurance it would

cost us $1,400 a month.

Keep fighting the good fight young lady and get yourself feeling like a 12 yr

old.

Much love,

Becki and 12 systemic onset

________________________________

From: Shea Reasoner <sheareasoner1@...>

Sent: Wed, September 15, 2010 9:53:24 PM

Subject: enbrel

After speaking with our rhuemy we all decided on Enbrel. I will be started on

Enbrel this Friday and I am taking the injection twice a week. On Friday I will

talk to my rhuemy about the premixed and mixed options. We went ahead and called

the pharmacy, they have to order it before they fill it or something like that.

When we called the pharmacist asked us if the doctor had let us know about the

cost of Enbrel. We knew that Enbrel was super expensive, but I have really good

insurance. My grandma is a teacher and works for a school on the army base.

Which means she has Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal.

The nurses have told us that our insurance is one of the only ones where I don't

need to have insurance approve it before I fill it. We expected that it would

cover almost all of the costs. Although insurance did cover it, we were still

going to have to pay for it, and that wasn't a problem till we were told how

much our co pay was. $480 for ONE month!!!!!!! WHAT?!?! We were taken aback! We

were trying to figure out what we could possibly do to cut down that cost. My

mom's insurance! But her insurance only covers generic brands, and I am 99.9%

sure that there is no generic Enbrel. Then I had a stroke of genius, maybe the

people at Enbrel could help us. We called the hot line and these people are like

awesome.

For the first year of medication they are putting in 8,000 dollars to help out.

Which means we pay zero. We won't have to really worry about all of this for a

year. Later on we will figure out what to do when the year is up, but for now I

am just happy to know that soon things will get better.

If any of you have any last minute advice about the shot or any thing like that

please let me know.

Thank you for your continued support.

Shea Reasoner

[12 polyarticular and pain syndrome]

[Guest guest]

Shea,

Enbrel has an assistance program as well. Check out their webpage if you

haven't already. I think it's Enbrel Assist. It might be the same thing you're

already doing now. They pay the co-pay for x amount of time, then they pay all

but $10 a month. That expires after a year but they will renew it immediately

and continue to pay everything except the $10. You might run into issues with

you're Grandma working on the base. Not sure if you will be excluded from the

plan because of her affiliation, but perhaps you could go with your Mom's

insurance? Anyway, just something to look into. Sounds like you've got it

under control already! Way to go! Hope Enbrel turns out to be your wonder

drug. It's been remarkable for . She is actually having pain-free

days occasionally!

Kirsten

Mom to Kat, 6, spondy

>

> Thank you for all of your support! You guys are awesome and I love you all!

All

> of the kids and parents on here are amazingly great!

> Love you allShea Reasoner

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: Becki Larson <sojramom@...>

>

> Sent: Wed, September 15, 2010 11:24:11 PM

> Subject: Re: enbrel

>

>

> Way to go little miss smart cookie.I pray the Enbrel works wonders for you.

> Something to check into is if your state will separate a child's income from

> their parents for Medicaid. We pay almost $900 a month for insurance but only

$

> 25 co pay for the Enbrel. You or your mom need to do some more resarch because

> Enbrel is still a few thousand dollars more a yr then 8 grand.I think the

> average for 8 vials a month is $12,000. If we didn't have insurance it would

> cost us $1,400 a month.

> Keep fighting the good fight young lady and get yourself feeling like a 12 yr

> old.

> Much love,

> Becki and 12 systemic onset

>

> ________________________________

> From: Shea Reasoner <sheareasoner1@...>

>

> Sent: Wed, September 15, 2010 9:53:24 PM

> Subject: enbrel

>

> After speaking with our rhuemy we all decided on Enbrel. I will be started on

> Enbrel this Friday and I am taking the injection twice a week. On Friday I

will

> talk to my rhuemy about the premixed and mixed options. We went ahead and

called

>

>

> the pharmacy, they have to order it before they fill it or something like

that.

> When we called the pharmacist asked us if the doctor had let us know about the

> cost of Enbrel. We knew that Enbrel was super expensive, but I have really

good

> insurance. My grandma is a teacher and works for a school on the army base.

> Which means she has Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal.

> The nurses have told us that our insurance is one of the only ones where I

don't

>

>

> need to have insurance approve it before I fill it. We expected that it would

> cover almost all of the costs. Although insurance did cover it, we were still

> going to have to pay for it, and that wasn't a problem till we were told how

> much our co pay was. $480 for ONE month!!!!!!! WHAT?!?! We were taken aback!

We

> were trying to figure out what we could possibly do to cut down that cost. My

> mom's insurance! But her insurance only covers generic brands, and I am 99.9%

> sure that there is no generic Enbrel. Then I had a stroke of genius, maybe the

> people at Enbrel could help us. We called the hot line and these people are

like

>

>

> awesome.

> For the first year of medication they are putting in 8,000 dollars to help

out.

> Which means we pay zero. We won't have to really worry about all of this for a

> year. Later on we will figure out what to do when the year is up, but for now

I

> am just happy to know that soon things will get better.

> If any of you have any last minute advice about the shot or any thing like

that

> please let me know.

> Thank you for your continued support.

> Shea Reasoner

> [12 polyarticular and pain syndrome]

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yea! for the enbrel!! I know that you are excited and a little scared. I think

that it will make a big difference in your life.

For any helpful hints, I can only tell you what my kids like. All kids are not

the same.

First of all EMLA cream is a deadening cream that takes away the pain of the

actual needle away. It also takes away some of the fear and dread. You put

about a nickel sized area on where you will five the shot. Then you cover it

with a tegaderm dressing. Leave it on for 30 min - 2 hours. likes 2

hours. Longer than that it will not work anymore. Your doctor will need to

prescribe this. They do have a generic version. But the emla mixture(it has

prilocaine in it), works MUCH better than plain lidocaine ointment.

Do you need the EMLA? Not really. The needles are small and don't go in real

deep. But it helps my kids and that is what matters.

liked Ice rubbed around the injection site for a while once we started

the Humira. It helped reduce the burn. Or it made me feel like I was doing

something to help. Either way, we did it and it seemed to help.

The only other thing is they like the old fashioned syringe not the pen that

automatically injects. They like to inject it very slowly. I have a friend

with a child that likes the pen, because it is fast and gets it over with.

Either way, is your choice. Actually you can have the pharmacy order it like

you want it. You can also change to try the other. Or I should say, we could.

Good luck with the Enbrel. I hope it works great for you.

Audra

14 poly 07

Peyton 12 poly 08

>

> After speaking with our rhuemy we all decided on Enbrel. I will be started on

> Enbrel this Friday and I am taking the injection twice a week. On Friday I

will

> talk to my rhuemy about the premixed and mixed options. We went ahead and

called

> the pharmacy, they have to order it before they fill it or something like

that.

> When we called the pharmacist asked us if the doctor had let us know about the

> cost of Enbrel. We knew that Enbrel was super expensive, but I have really

good

> insurance. My grandma is a teacher and works for a school on the army base.

> Which means she has Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal.

> The nurses have told us that our insurance is one of the only ones where I

don't

> need to have insurance approve it before I fill it. We expected that it would

> cover almost all of the costs. Although insurance did cover it, we were still

> going to have to pay for it, and that wasn't a problem till we were told how

> much our co pay was. $480 for ONE month!!!!!!! WHAT?!?! We were taken aback!

We

> were trying to figure out what we could possibly do to cut down that cost. My

> mom's insurance! But her insurance only covers generic brands, and I am 99.9%

> sure that there is no generic Enbrel. Then I had a stroke of genius, maybe the

> people at Enbrel could help us. We called the hot line and these people are

like

> awesome.

> For the first year of medication they are putting in 8,000 dollars to help

out.

> Which means we pay zero. We won't have to really worry about all of this for a

> year. Later on we will figure out what to do when the year is up, but for now

I

> am just happy to know that soon things will get better.

> If any of you have any last minute advice about the shot or any thing like

that

> please let me know.

> Thank you for your continued support.

> Shea Reasoner

> [12 polyarticular and pain syndrome]

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Audra, can you get the pen for the kind you mix yourself? is 12 and needs

to learn how to self inject. He comes off the Enbrel in Feb after he meets

protocol of a study at Cinci for the withdrawl of TNF's.He has to prove 6 months

of inactive disease even though he is pushing 4 yrs of medicated remission.I

pray it's gone for good but there is a 60% chance it will come back and with him

getting older and all he needs to learn or atleast try because someday we will

not be there to give it.

Becki and 12 systemic onset

________________________________

From: audra <wynhama@...>

Sent: Thu, September 16, 2010 9:39:08 PM

Subject: Re: enbrel

Yea! for the enbrel!! I know that you are excited and a little scared. I think

that it will make a big difference in your life.

For any helpful hints, I can only tell you what my kids like. All kids are not

the same.

First of all EMLA cream is a deadening cream that takes away the pain of the

actual needle away. It also takes away some of the fear and dread. You put

about a nickel sized area on where you will five the shot. Then you cover it

with a tegaderm dressing. Leave it on for 30 min - 2 hours. likes 2

hours. Longer than that it will not work anymore. Your doctor will need to

prescribe this. They do have a generic version. But the emla mixture(it has

prilocaine in it), works MUCH better than plain lidocaine ointment.

Do you need the EMLA? Not really. The needles are small and don't go in real

deep. But it helps my kids and that is what matters.

liked Ice rubbed around the injection site for a while once we started

the Humira. It helped reduce the burn. Or it made me feel like I was doing

something to help. Either way, we did it and it seemed to help.

The only other thing is they like the old fashioned syringe not the pen that

automatically injects. They like to inject it very slowly. I have a friend

with a child that likes the pen, because it is fast and gets it over with.

Either way, is your choice. Actually you can have the pharmacy order it like

you want it. You can also change to try the other. Or I should say, we could.

Good luck with the Enbrel. I hope it works great for you.

Audra

14 poly 07

Peyton 12 poly 08

>

> After speaking with our rhuemy we all decided on Enbrel. I will be started on

> Enbrel this Friday and I am taking the injection twice a week. On Friday I

will

>

> talk to my rhuemy about the premixed and mixed options. We went ahead and

>called

>

> the pharmacy, they have to order it before they fill it or something like

that.

>

> When we called the pharmacist asked us if the doctor had let us know about the

> cost of Enbrel. We knew that Enbrel was super expensive, but I have really

good

>

> insurance. My grandma is a teacher and works for a school on the army base.

> Which means she has Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal.

> The nurses have told us that our insurance is one of the only ones where I

>don't

>

> need to have insurance approve it before I fill it. We expected that it would

> cover almost all of the costs. Although insurance did cover it, we were still

> going to have to pay for it, and that wasn't a problem till we were told how

> much our co pay was. $480 for ONE month!!!!!!! WHAT?!?! We were taken aback!

We

>

> were trying to figure out what we could possibly do to cut down that cost. My

> mom's insurance! But her insurance only covers generic brands, and I am 99.9%

> sure that there is no generic Enbrel. Then I had a stroke of genius, maybe the

> people at Enbrel could help us. We called the hot line and these people are

>like

>

> awesome.

> For the first year of medication they are putting in 8,000 dollars to help

out.

>

> Which means we pay zero. We won't have to really worry about all of this for a

> year. Later on we will figure out what to do when the year is up, but for now

I

>

> am just happy to know that soon things will get better.

> If any of you have any last minute advice about the shot or any thing like

that

>

> please let me know.

> Thank you for your continued support.

> Shea Reasoner

> [12 polyarticular and pain syndrome]

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I don't think you can. But it isn't too hard to teach to self inject with a

syringe. The mental part is the worst. If the self-mix doesn't really burn,

then you could use emla and then it would be a breeze. When we were in nursing

school, we practiced on oranges.

I just really hope that he ever needs it again!!

Thanks,

Audra

14 poly 07

Peyton 12 poly 08

>

> Audra, can you get the pen for the kind you mix yourself? is 12 and

needs

[Guest guest]

hello i am on the embril injections. its been about 2 months, i havent had much

success with it but the docrter says give it more time.  i do take the

methotrexate at the same time. but i am also on the fentanyl patch 37

milligrams. that is what helps my pain. but on the third day when its time to

change it, i start getting a really bad backache.. its hard to find the right

combination of medications. i have been struggling for yrs. dont take nsaids

while on these meds..

________________________________

From: Janine <Raabster@...>

Sent: Thu, September 23, 2010 10:47:35 AM

Subject: [ ] Enbrel

 

Hello Everyone!

I thought I would ask my questions to those who have done the weekly Enbrel

injections as well as my Dr.

I am adding Enbrel to my list of meds this week and hoping for great results.

Do you do the Enbrel injection at the same time as the methotrexate? I will

continue to take methotrexate by pills.

Any advice for injections?

Thank you for all the support. This group has been a blessing to me as I learn

about RA.

Have a great day!

Janine Raab

[Guest guest]

I took the Embril and the doctor put me on Cimzia because it was stronger but to

tell you the truth neither one has helped. In fact the Cimzia is giving me

terrible side effects. I agree with you it is a struggle. Sometimes I feel

that I am a lab rat that scientist are experimenting on. Good luck and God

bless - Vivian

[Guest guest]

Hi:

I have been on Enbrel for about a year now. I think it made a tremendous

improvement on my RA (even though I am getting a little bit of breakthrough now

and then). I take the Enbrel injections every Sunday and the MTX on Fridays

(cause MTX gets me a little sick so Saturday I can rest if need be from the

nausea),

Anyways, i inject in my thigh, they say the top of the thigh, but I prefer the

side (more meat) Last week I tried in my belly, it was weird and left a bruise,

it didnt hurt, I just am not a fan of the belly shots, they says it's better

though, so i rotate from thighs to belly now.

They say its better to be aggressive with the DMARDS and all the meds, than

conservative with one drug at a time. everyone is different and eveyr case is

specific. This works for me.

I hope your life is better with Enbrel.

OKD

[Guest guest]

OKD - I am glad it is working for you. They took me off the MTX because

the nausea, vomiting and GI upset were severe. Embrel and Cimzia gave me

adverse reactions. Like you said everyone is different. We will see what

is next. Vivian

[ ] Re: Enbrel

Hi:

I have been on Enbrel for about a year now. I think it made a tremendous

improvement on my RA (even though I am getting a little bit of breakthrough

now and then). I take the Enbrel injections every Sunday and the MTX on

Fridays (cause MTX gets me a little sick so Saturday I can rest if need be

from the nausea),

Anyways, i inject in my thigh, they say the top of the thigh, but I prefer

the side (more meat) Last week I tried in my belly, it was weird and left a

bruise, it didnt hurt, I just am not a fan of the belly shots, they says

it's better though, so i rotate from thighs to belly now.

They say its better to be aggressive with the DMARDS and all the meds, than

conservative with one drug at a time. everyone is different and eveyr case

is specific. This works for me.

I hope your life is better with Enbrel.

OKD

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi Janine,

>I have been on Enbrel for 9 months now. It has helped me some but not

as much as I had hoped it would but my doctor said it could be slowing

down the deterioration to my joints. My doctor told me to do the Enbrel

shots and the Methotrexate (pills) on different days. I read on here to

take the shot out 30 minutes before the injection and to give the

alcohol time to dry. I'm also on Plaquenil, Celebrex, and Folic Acid.

I'm also on Fentanyl patches for pain. I was hoping I wouldn't need the

pain patches anymore, but so far it hasn't happened. I hope you have

great results with Enbrel.

Pam

> Hello Everyone!

>

> I thought I would ask my questions to those who have done the weekly

Enbrel injections as well as my Dr.

>

> I am adding Enbrel to my list of meds this week and hoping for great

results.

>

> Do you do the Enbrel injection at the same time as the methotrexate?

I will continue to take methotrexate by pills.

>

> Any advice for injections?

>

> Thank you for all the support. This group has been a blessing to me

as I learn about RA.

>

> Have a great day!

>

> Janine Raab

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Vivian:

Now dont get me wrong, I deal with nausea, matter of a fact, today was pretty

bad, I was late to work (dont wanna puke in the street) ugh, its AWFUL to vomit

and have nausea. Usually, after I vomit I am ok, sometimes its bad.

The nausea is the lesser of the two evils (RA).....

OKD

[Guest guest]

I've been on Enbrel for about 7 years. I started with the self-mix and

injected twice a week. Then I switched to the pre-mixed once a week. My

rheumy suggested that I NOT go with the auto inject because you have no

control over the speed of the injection. Sometimes even the self-inject

really stings if the mixture is not warm enough or in injected on a spot you

have used many times. I would suggest starting with the pre-mixed and

making sure to warm it up to body temp. before using. There should be a

nurse (or someone) who will show you how to inject.

Good luck.

Katriina