I'm no help with advice. Nothing pi$$es me off more than hearing
someone can't get a med because the insurance company won't cough up
the dough.

I'm sorry Rosie. Gonna say a little prayer that ya find something that
works *and* that's affordable.

Love ya,
Kimmy

Oh Rosie, I'm sorry.  I hate when insurance decides our "fate" rather
than our doctors.

Let's see, the Cytoxan worked, but you may not want the side effects,
and I'm still waiting to what portion is mine to pay.  The hospital
says that Medicare did pay some of it, which I find interesting since
it isn't (?) approved for use with RA.  It was also much less expensive
than the Rituxan (I'll take the $1500 as opposed to $12000 per
infusion).

Of course, C has a ton of side effects that aren't a lot of fun (as I'm
sure you've heard).  The worst being the nausea (get used to camping
out in the bathroom) after they get you set at the "regular" dose of it
(after the "build up").

I hope that you find that magic bullet.

I think I'll be starting on Orencia in June.  The RD didn't want me on
Cytoxan more than 6 months, and now we know a drug that works really
well for me, in the short term.  So...  At least I've got a fall back
drug now when the new ones don't work.

([([([gentle cyber hugs])])])

Smokie Darling (Annie)

argh!  the flaming hoops we must jump through.  Is there anyone down there
doing any studies you might be able to get in on?

IIRC, Kineret is the one that really hurts going in, to the point of
requiring icing before injecting.  Might be something to keep in mind, I
don't know if the fibro would make that even worse.

I'll bet the one that's best against DJD and DDD is the one that most
suppreses inflammation for you.  NOt much help there, I know!  One of these
days, they will be able to tell in advance by testing our blood.  Until then,
I'll send a few pleas heavenward that you find the winner on the first try!

don't know if you have seen this - in theory, retuxin is part of this program

All of Genentech's products are covered by the Genentech® Access to Care
Foundation, except for Pulmozyme® (dornase alfa), which is covered by the
Genentech Endowment for Cystic Fibrosis. For consideration of eligibility for
resources from the Genentech® Access to Care Foundation, the patient must meet
eligibility criteria including income restrictions. Please direct requests for
applications forms and more specific information on eligibility to:

Genentech Access to Care Foundation
1 DNA Way, MS #13A
South San Francisco, CA 94080

for those 'without' insurance
(800) 530-3083 option 2 for rituxin
FAX: (650) 225-1366

for those 'with' insurance that doens't cover all of cost

Single Point of Contact-SPOC:
888-249-4918 option 1
handle those with insurance

hth

paul

Rats -- no way the company would help bridge that gap is there. Who
manufactures Rituxan anyway.
How many infusions were there to be? I had four. Wonder if the manuf.
would kick in that bit.
Is KJ still on Kineret? I remember her and a few others having trouble
with the burning on that one.
Duckie

luv&stuff,
Denise
(Who didn't mean to lie about being home/gone on Saturday...)