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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> the cost of a cluster
        
(Message started by: Boots on Oct 29^th, 2003, 12:31pm)

Title: the cost of a cluster
Post by Boots on Oct 29^th, 2003, 12:31pm

i first started with ch when i was 18 (now 42) the first 12 years there where no drugs that colud touch them or doc's that knew what they were. the cluster would last 6 weeks and every ha would last for almost 1 hour to the minute,remember those ? since getting trex in the early 90's each cluster now lasts for 5 months but the pain only is 6 minutes and now 2 years between clusters......is that good ?
this years cluster.......
gave Walgreens -------------------$8493.19
2 er visits----------------------------$1264.32
4 nero visits------------------------- $570.00
o2------------------------------------- $411.12
that is just the cold #'s, 56 trips to Walgreens
2 trips to hospital
4 doc,s
don't remember all the trips to o2 place,lost time at work,lost time with family and friends.....
i think without insurance for money,wife for support,and this message board,my birth certificate would of expiried by now

thanks for listening..............Bill

Title: Re: the cost of a cluster
Post by gmlevenhagen on Oct 29^th, 2003, 1:03pm

:-/ feelin' you pain man

Gena

Title: Re: the cost of a cluster
Post by BarbaraD on Oct 29^th, 2003, 1:06pm

I know, I've been making house payments for my pharmacist and doc for years now. They let me come visit to see what I've paid for. :-/

I'm chronic and there have been times when my med bills exceeded $2-3000 a month - out of pocket.

But try to look at the bright side -- it's a TAX write off....

Hugs BD

Title: Re: the cost of a cluster
Post by TomM on Oct 29^th, 2003, 1:21pm

on 10/29/03 at 12:31:04, Boots wrote:

i think without insurance for money,wife for support,and this message board,my birth certificate would of expiried by now

THAT says it all.

Title: Re: the cost of a cluster
Post by OneEyeBlind on Oct 29^th, 2003, 1:36pm

I love insurance. Hate paying for it, but hey, when ya need it ....... 6,000.00 + for meds per month - makes me smile that the insurance company has to cover it .... and I get a refund on all the premiums I have paid for all these years. Of course, not being sick would be better !

As for the supporters ....... let me just say ...... God has blessed me.

My birth certificate ain't getting turned in yet !!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: the cost of a cluster
Post by Boots on Oct 29^th, 2003, 1:50pm

it took me 5 months to spend $10k,and i thought i had it bad

Title: Re: the cost of a cluster
Post by Linda_Howell on Oct 29^th, 2003, 2:01pm

I've been here a long time and I don't think I remember anyone actually putting dollar figures out here like that, so thanks for doing this.

Makes me really angry. Shall I eat or get my Imitrex/02 ???

oh, and Bill? Now that you've found us, you also have us for support.

LindaH

Title: Re: the cost of a cluster
Post by Ree on Oct 29^th, 2003, 2:10pm

WELCOME BILL... WHEN DAVE AND I first got married and he didnt have insurance it totally pissed me off to deal with these... it seems like our insurance has a major change every time he has a cycle... This year they didnt cover much as far as meds go but we hoarded some from the last cycle...that price list you made up should be saved and used for later reference... the quality of life suffers when a huge part of your salary goes to meds and dr. visits...........take care buddy... ree

Title: Re: the cost of a cluster
Post by TomM on Oct 29^th, 2003, 2:31pm

on 10/29/03 at 13:36:46, OneEyeBlind wrote:

I love insurance. Hate paying for it, but hey, when ya need it ....... 6,000.00 + for meds per month - makes me smile that the insurance company has to cover it .... As for the supporters ....... let me just say ...... God has blessed me. My birth certificate ain't getting turned in yet !!!!!!!!!!

$6K per month. OUCH! I feel extremely lucky and to keep you feeling good I won't post my numbers.

God has blessed me. My birth certificate ain't getting turned in yet !!!!!!!!!! ---that will be my new montra.

Title: Re: the cost of a cluster
Post by Boots on Oct 29^th, 2003, 2:32pm

when i first got these ha's i had insurance but no drugs,when i got drugs it was covered under major med.......had to get $500 in bills and they would send a check.how long at $130 for 2 injections did that take? every 4 days i would send a letter to ins co,it would take them 2 to 3 weeks to get a check back to me.asked my sister for $ she said how much do you need ? when i told her $1600 to get me to next friday for drugs she thought i was on coke.12 years with no drugs,how did i do it ?does money really matter ?

Title: Re: the cost of a cluster
Post by OneEyeBlind on Oct 29^th, 2003, 3:03pm

Sorry, I should have been clearer on that. The 6K was my husband's meds ...... mine was only 2200.00. Ain't life grand when you collect more from the insurance company than you ever paid in ???????? NOT. I think they should find a friggin cure for this shit !!!!!!!!

Title: Re: the cost of a cluster
Post by BarbaraD on Oct 29^th, 2003, 3:22pm

on 10/29/03 at 15:03:53, OneEyeBlind wrote:

You got my vote.... hugs BD

Title: Re: the cost of a cluster
Post by BarbaraD on Oct 29^th, 2003, 3:22pm

Don't have the hang of these quotes yet.. Need more practice I'll VOTE of the cure part... BD

Title: Re: the cost of a cluster
Post by brain_cramps on Oct 29^th, 2003, 3:45pm

Just curious...

You say your cycles were 6 weeks long and now are 5 months long.

Have many episodics seen the length of their cycle increase since they started using imitrex?

grant 8)

Title: Re: the cost of a cluster
Post by TomM on Oct 29^th, 2003, 3:49pm

Yeah, but was that per month or year?
Nevermind...that's a shit load of $$$ no matter how you slice it.