Awesome response!
I was able to find Vivonex at a medical supply store, my insurance company says they will try to get it authroized, and yes a script is needed for my insurance. You nailed it!
Sounds like it will be a week or more If Im lucky, before Ill get to try it. LDN has helped so much with the daily bm's but the pain is horrid....
Writer said...
Regarding the Vivonex, it's available without a prescription because it's a medical food (from a regulatory standpoint) rather than a prescription drug. It's really just the insurance company that wants to see a "prescription," or doctor's order, because otherwise they will claim it's a food you're using on an optional basis rather then a treatment for a disease. Getting coverage is often possible, even if your state doesn't require the coverage, but you generally have to appeal the your insurance company, with your doctor's support and that's where having a written on a prescription pad comes in handy. If you do want to try it as a treatment, I would call your doctor, explain the cost issue, and ask if he/she can help you get coverage.
You could also try Ensure Plus. It's a polymeric formula, and elemental and polymeric formulas seem to work about the same, although some people will respond to one and not another (not predictable in advance).
Whichever type of formula you try, it is most likely to induce remission if you have only the formula and water, without any other food and beverages. If it's going to work, you'll probably start to notice at least some improvement within a week. Then it's a good idea to stay on it until you have tapered and withdrawn the steroids so you have something keeping you in remission during the tapering process.