Starting Remicade Wednesday at 9:00 am

     I've been flaring severely for the last two weeks and getting progressively worse...no control at all, bleeding a lot.  I saw my GI last Tuesday and he had my insurance company notified for an approval ASAP.  Thought for sure my husband was going to have to take me to the hospital over the weekend but I hung in there.  This morning my husband phoned the GI's office and asked them "what if we put the money out of pocket first and then wait to be reimburrsed."  Apparently, it just doesn't work like that.  So he told the nurse at the doctor's office (because she said some insurance companies drag their feet) to tell the insurance company that I need help ASAP or I am looking at hospitalization on TOP of Remicade.  That seemed to get the ball rolling.  Within half an hour the nurse was back on the phone and said the insurance company approved it.  Wonderful news too....all I have to do is pay the $5 co-pay I pay at the doctor's office!!!  It is done in one of his offices at the surgical center.

     So...please pray that this works.  I cannot live like this much longer

Christine, that's GREAT you're getting started so soon. I'm happy your doctor's office stepped up to the plate and got things moving, too. I'll be thinking of you on Wednesday and I hope that Remicade brings you immediate relief so that you are able to fully enjoy Thanksgiving!

That's awesome news! I hope it works for you, you really deserve it. Keep us posted! =)

Good Luck!

Christine,

Reading this makes me sooooo happy for you!  I pray that it works as good as it has for everyone else. 

Good luck and keep us posted!

Good luck...I am hopefully going next week for mine...as long as I am fully recovered from the swine flu. Keep us posted as to how you are doing.

Good luck with your infusion, it was a great help for me. I am having my 20th (and last) infusion this coming Saturday. Bring a book, maybe an MP3 player, a snack, I take along a needlepoint project -- the first infusion takes the longest as they go really slow and monitor you periodically to make sure you aren't having any reactions. At this point my infusions take about 2 1/2 hours, but the first one was closer to four hours.

You'll be sitting in a nice comfy chair and all the nurses are super super nice.

The Remicade helped me for a good long time but now it's not working as well and I'm planning on surgery January 12. But I am much better physically now than I was a couple of years ago when I started the Remicade. I'll be able to handle the surgery better physically AND mentally than if I had had to go and do it then, when I was very unwell.

For many people the Remicade works for long periods of time. Most people seem to tolerate it quite well. And for many people the improvement is almost immediate (I felt much better by the next morning, no more blood, no more urgency). The good results now last me for four weeks (I get infusions every 6 weeks and just tough out the couple of weeks I start to feel bad as I don't want to go any sooner).

Meesh

That's great news !  Will be sending positive thoughts your way. I hope the Remicade works as well for you as it does me.

Christine -
the best of luck to you! I hope it works beautifully for you! How wonderful that your doctor's office was assertive in coming up with the right words to spur the insurance co into action!!

     Thank and God bless you all!!!!  With all this positive energy I know things will turn around.  I feel quite weak this morning as I have no control....and mostly blood with liquid stool is coming out.  Hope they can do the Remicade with me in a weakened state like this.  I wake at 4am with the urgency.  Lost five pounds since last week.  UGH!

I'll be thinking of you tomorrow, Christine. I know you've been absolutely miserable for a while now. I hope the Remicade does it for you. Remember, it can take up to five infusions to see a real difference, although most people seem to see improvement by the third infusion. Good luck!

I wish you the very best Christine! I truly truly hope this works for you! Be sure to let us know how it turns out.