The miracle of Remicade

Hi-

I am a 23 your old graduate student from south dakota. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when I was 18. I struggled for years and years and tried every drug in the book and was constantly on prednisone. I was ready to give up. I even stopped taking my medication and going to the doctor and tried to pretend that i could go on with my life. Finally when I was a senior in college i had a horrible attack and was so malnourished that i had to go to the emergency room. It was so bad they had to feed me fat and nutrition through a central line. Everyone wanted me to go ahead and have surgery. I didnt want the surgery. I had heard so many stories about the surgey not helping or even making life worse. I convinced the doctor to let me try remicade which was just fda approved for colitis. Remicade changed my world. I had been sick for so many years that i didnt remember what it was like to be normal. I have been on remicade for 1 year and 8 months and live a completely normal life. I am working on my doctorate now. This is something i would not have been able to do without remicade. I know that not everyone has had my kind of luck with remicade, but i have to tell you that it is worth a try. You can get your life back....

Luckyfrog...I 've had the same success with Remicade as you. I even started a new career and got myself in the best shape of my life. Goodluck!

I guess I am not sure what your friends situation is for sure. If you have colitis and your doctor prescribes it, then insurance should cover it. I know I am covered. I still have to pay some, but its not as bad. I know that most doctors want to try other options first though. I also know that there are some programs out there to help cover the costs of remicade. Just google something like remicade assistance programs, etc. Let me know what you find out.

Because of Remicade I have not been to these forums in over six months.

Danno

Thanks Carol. Yep 2 years in November. My Gi likes to schedule the newbees to get their infusions with me because I have had such positive results.

Its so nice only having to see my Gi every six months. Although he usually pops in sometime during my infusion.

I have been getting my infusions at 6 weeks for the last 6 months because I start to get symptoms tword the end but nothing like a flare.

Hope all is well with you.

Danno

 

It is a drug infusion done via IV and yes it runs from $3,200 to $6,500 per infusion. this is done every 4-8 weeks depending on your bodys ability to break it down. the infusions take about 2-3 hours. I am fortunate enough to have my insurance cover it. Although I did spend 4 months on disability trying other medication.

Danno