Hi George and Steve,

Thanks for the comments.

I have tried Cellcept I've been on it for about five years or more.
My doctor and I have been trying to get the Rutuximab treatment for 8
months now.  It was a bit of a surprise to me that you got United
Health Care to pay for it.  We have been battling them since August
and it ended the end of January with no resolution.  Of course UHC has
many plans and ours was a self-funded one that they administered so
maybe that was a factor.  We had nothing but problems.  Even though
the appeal is supposed to be peer-reviewed, the doctor that made the
decision in my case was a pain management doctor not a
rhuematologist.  When my doctor complained it was ignored.  We went
through three appeals and were on the last appeal allowed which was
directly to the company my husband works for.  Then my husband changed
jobs.  I'm sure if we wait long enough we can get the treatment
approved.

But the problem is that I have been on a large dose of prednisone for
over a year now because of pericarditis and in the last month I've
become diabetic.  So my doctor feels we no longer have the luxury of
time.  I have  called the company that makes it and they do have some
sort of program if you are denied but it is financially based and we
don't qualify.

So the only thing left is the Cytoxin.  I have researched it and find
it depressing (especially when I know there is a better option out
there for me) but feel I really have no options left.  I can find a
lot of information about the drug but not so much about people's
personal exeperience with it, if you know what I mean.  So I very much
appreciate your comments.

Thanks

Jeanne