Advice for Ayesha's sister

[Guest guest]

Hi Ayesha,

    First of all, welcome. And, as a person with a less-than-supportive family

to deal with my RA, thank you for trying to help your sister. That said, do NOT

engage in a cash arrangement with the doctor for Remicade. I have been on

Remicade for 10 years and spent about 5 months on their patient assistance

program (PAP). I'm surprised your sister's rheumy didn't suggest (that may be a

sign that he isn't a good doctor). Visit www.remicade.com and click on getting

support. I was in a similar situation as your sister and I didn't have any

trouble getting approved.

Take care,

Steph in Virginia

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  " Never underestimate the

power of a small, dedicated group of people to change the world -- indeed, it's

the only thing that ever has. " (Margaret Mead)AmeriCorps Alums -- Still Getting

Things Done

Advice for people living with RA -- www.newwayra.com -- click on Real People,

Real Stories and from Virginia to see my videos

My sister was diagnosed with Auto Immune RA about three years ago.

She was unable to work for a couple years and has recently started

working. (YAY!) But she's lost her health insurance and was unable to

complete one full course of treatment, as the medications were so

expensive even with insurance.

We are working on getting her infusion treatments of Remicaide on a cash pay

basis, not sure how much luck we'll have.

She is dealing with pain 24 hours a day. Swollen foot and ankle she walks with a

cane.

Is there any suggestions about medications, services, keeping the swelling down?

I feel really bad for her, she's my younger sister who essentially has

a life filled with pills that don't really help the pain and very

limited resources to get cured.

Thanks,

Ayesha

[Guest guest]

Thank you Steph.

I don't think getting the actual drug is the problem, but administering it.

I need to find an infusion center that will do the infusions and how much

that would costs.

Finding new things everyday!! This is a battle I've got to dig into to help

her.

Thanks again for your thoughts.

Ayesha

On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 5:35 AM, DeNicola- <

stephdenicola@...> wrote:

>

>

> Hi Ayesha,

> First of all, welcome. And, as a person with a less-than-supportive

> family to deal with my RA, thank you for trying to help your sister. That

> said, do NOT engage in a cash arrangement with the doctor for Remicade. I

> have been on Remicade for 10 years and spent about 5 months on their patient

> assistance program (PAP). I'm surprised your sister's rheumy didn't suggest

> (that may be a sign that he isn't a good doctor). Visit www.remicade.comand

click on getting support. I was in a similar situation as your sister

> and I didn't have any trouble getting approved.

>

> Take care,

> Steph in Virginia

[Guest guest]

Enbrel and Humira are given by injection, which she could do herself.

These companies also have similar programs. These two drugs work in a

similar manner as Remicade does, as I understand it.

Sue

On Jul 29, 2010, at 11:32 AM, Ayesha J wrote:

> Thank you Steph.

>

> I don't think getting the actual drug is the problem, but

> administering it.

> I need to find an infusion center that will do the infusions and how

> much

> that would costs.

>

> Finding new things everyday!! This is a battle I've got to dig into

> to help

> her.

>

> Thanks again for your thoughts.

>

> Ayesha