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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> how do you manage to pay for all this?
        
(Message started by: phil098342wq on Mar 7^th, 2006, 1:45pm)

Title: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by phil098342wq on Mar 7^th, 2006, 1:45pm

I thought I posted yesterday, guess not. I was worried about making it to the nuroligist, I am not worrying about spelling. I did get it cleared. You see I am on a low income program and they don't pay for everything. I manage with precription assistance and them. I tried health insurance through Humana and got screwed as I always do. I just paid 360 dollars for my glasses to cut the glare to releive the eye strain. I pay all my damn dental bills and some of the health. Does anyone know any more ways to pay for this expensive disease? Wouldn't it just be cheaper to call a press conference on an overpass and tell them that because of the rising health care cost and that you can't get coverage for pre-existing problems you're jumping! ::)

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by Melissa on Mar 7^th, 2006, 1:50pm

I cut WAY down on my expenses by only using O2 and Kudzu. Also, http://www.clusterbusters.com is another good route for an inexpensive treatment.

Other suggestions would be ice packs, hot/cold showers, dramamine, benedryl, etc. Check out this page...

http://www.ouch-us.org/chgeneral/nonmed.htm

There are many here who have to pay 100% for everything. BUT, there is always a way my friend.

:)mel

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by phil098342wq on Mar 7^th, 2006, 2:07pm

My f*&^ing doc wont let me have O2...but they also want CT scans, MRI, etc. And I agree. But everything is so darn $$$$

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by Melissa on Mar 7^th, 2006, 2:10pm

on 03/07/06 at 14:07:04, phil098342wq wrote:

My f*&^ing doc wont let me have O2...but they also want CT scans, MRI, etc. And I agree. But everything is so darn $$$$

Fire your doc and get a new one. There is NO reason why a doc won't prescribe O2 for CH's, unless they're uneducated.

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by Gator on Mar 7^th, 2006, 2:41pm

If you are having trouble paying for meds, try this website:

https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php

There are links to hundreds of assistance programs for which you may qualify.

As far as how do we pay for it all, it's simple. We don't so we go without a lot of the time. It sucks. I don't know anyone who gets everything they need in the quantities they need it.

There are many people here who will help you through their own personal experience with alternative and coping strategies. We will also be here for you when you need to kick and scream about things. I will tell you that NOBODY here takes the thought of suicide as a joke.

As bad as it hurts during an attack - there are worse things than CH.

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by nani on Mar 7^th, 2006, 2:54pm

You can get welders O2. PM Mr Happy for info.
You can lease or buy a tank.

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by Gator on Mar 7^th, 2006, 2:56pm

on 03/07/06 at 14:07:04, phil098342wq wrote:

My f*&^ing doc wont let me have O2...but they also want CT scans, MRI, etc. And I agree. But everything is so darn $$$$

The CT Scans and MRIs are to rule out possible other medical conditions that can mimmick CH. I wish they weren't so damned expensive.

Regarding O2, print this and give it to your doctor. Dr. Rozen is one of the leading doctors in the country for clusters.

http://www.chhelp.org/mhni.html

If he don't listen, like Mel said, fire the prick.

In the mean time, welding oxygen is the same thing as medical oxygen and it works.

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by sandie99 on Mar 8^th, 2006, 3:32am

I know that I'm lucky... Back here in Finland university students get to see neuro very cheaply. In my case, it IS luck, because here in Jyväskylä where I study, the neuro happends to be one of the best ch experts in the country. :) And the neurologists joined the YTHS (the medic care system for students) only in fall 2004, when I begun my studies here. :)

The meds cost arm & leg, but KELA and insurance cover some of them. The catch is, of course, that you will have to pay them first and get money in return later on and you'll never can be sure how much they will cover. Luckily I had been healthy before ch; that was the first thing I've ever needed to apply coverage, so it was okay and insurance bill didn't rise.

Best wishes & PFdays,
Sanna

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by chewy on Mar 8^th, 2006, 6:34am

Are you employed ? Insurance ?

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by phil098342wq on Mar 8^th, 2006, 9:26am

I am employed, however it is a goverment program through the state because I am a student. Offically yes I am, however on for some things I am not. It really messes with the paper work but works to get on low income programs since most of my income is not countable. I make about 11,000 a year

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by Dragnlance on Mar 8^th, 2006, 10:59am

I simply do without. I also cannot afford all that is required.
Kudzu does help a great deal and is a whole lot cheaper than some of the meds out there

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by JenniferD on Mar 8^th, 2006, 11:28am

phil, what prescription are you taking?

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by Drk^Angel on Mar 8^th, 2006, 11:47am

I don't pay... When it came down to either meds/dr. visits/tests/more meds/etc. (none of which seemed to be working in the end) or food/clothing/shelter/utilities... I chose the latter. (Okay... I do still have the O₂ concentrators, but only because I'm too much of a wimp to give 'em up. I should've just bought the damned things... Would've been cheaper by now. Not like I'll ever be able to afford what I owe anyways.)

PFDAN.................................... Drk^Angel

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by nani on Mar 8^th, 2006, 11:51am

I finally gave in and bought a welders tank. A $165.00 upfront investment (with $25.00 refills) for the tank and I never have to worry about leasing, expired prescriptions, or snooty clerks again.

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by maffumatt on Mar 8^th, 2006, 11:59am

http://www.needymeds.com/program_list.taf
check this out and see if you qualify for any.

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by chewy on Mar 8^th, 2006, 12:28pm

How about the school you are attending. I assume it is a University or College? They sometimes offer affordable student health insurance.

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by mynm156 on Mar 8^th, 2006, 1:19pm

When I do my taxes every year it just kills me to see all the money spent on scripts and doctor visits. Just insane! Then there is all the other stuff too.

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by Karla on Mar 8^th, 2006, 1:58pm

An MRI is suffiecient by itself. You don't need cat scans also. An MRI will reviel anything wrong if there is anything. Most of the times there is nothing. I would find a different dr. or see if your dr will comprimise. Good luck!

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by phil098342wq on Mar 8^th, 2006, 2:03pm

Precriptions, well let me pull out my wallet, I put them all down on a card. I take Valproic Acid, 100mg, Rantididine 150mg(for the effect of the acid), Imitres 100mg, Phenergan 25mg all for cluster. I also take excredin for the smaller ones, melatonin for sleep or other things. I may also take Dramamine for the added nausea and that is pretty much for that. For my acid reflux I take Protonix 40 mg

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by medic1852 on Mar 8^th, 2006, 2:05pm

Luckly I am just a seaonal eposodic. I get my O2 since I work Ambulance, verapimil and me just dont get along, Imetrex is so dam expensive. So I huff my O2 and pace and cuss and pace some more,,then pace some more..Did I mention that I pace. If you want and have the time try pacing..I pace.
Rodger

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by phil098342wq on Mar 8^th, 2006, 4:20pm

When I am in under the spell I seem either I can't move and just crawl in a hole or it hurts so much that I rock, wiggle, hard to explain, rub my head, cuss. Haven't had enough energy or mind set to try pacing!

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by medic1852 on Mar 8^th, 2006, 4:22pm

on 03/08/06 at 16:20:14, phil098342wq wrote:

Believe it or not pacing in the cold helps..Stick your head in the freezer and breath the cool air through your nose..It sounds stupid but it sometimes helps me.

Title: Re: how do you manage to pay for all this?
Post by chewy on Mar 8^th, 2006, 4:28pm

The first thing I wopuld do, especially if paying out of pocket, is discuss proveneffective CH meds with my Doc.

Like verapamil, predisone, zomig, etc.

Quote:

I take Valproic Acid, 100mg, Rantididine 150mg(for the effect of the acid), Imitres 100mg, Phenergan 25mg all for cluster.

How CH educated is your doc?