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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.????
        
(Message started by: FRANKYT1963 on Jul 21^st, 2006, 10:47pm)

Title: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.????
Post by FRANKYT1963 on Jul 21^st, 2006, 10:47pm

I'VE READ ABOUT ALL THESE TREATMENTS, AND SUGGESTIONS, ON HERE. BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU HAVE NO MEDICAL INS.? OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES CAN GET EXTREMELY HIGH. [smiley=huh.gif] [smiley=huh.gif] [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by Dissident on Jul 21^st, 2006, 11:16pm

Well a good start would be a preventative like Prednisone. It has been somewhat successful (for some people) at making cycles more tolerable and in some cases ends the cycle completely. It is relatively inexpensive for a full Prednisone taper (maybe about $15.00 ). For an abortive...02/Oxygen is the way to go. If you cannot afford medical grade oxygen or cannot afford the doc to get a script...maybe you can go with some non-medical 02. I did the non-medical 02 for two cycles before getting the good stuff. Read some of the archived thread around here that explain how to make the non-medical 02 a little more tolerable (less "dry" ).
If these treatments are not acceptable maybe you can google "prescription assistance". There are quite a few assistance programs that are "real" and willing to help you. Hope this helps :-/

BJ

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by Derrick on Jul 22^nd, 2006, 12:15am

Hello, Honestly screw the cheap company you work for and get a job that gives you good benifits! Buying your own HI another option. some of the medications are extremely expensive, fortunately I have worked and studied hard and am w/ a great company! My pharmacist said that my imitrex refills (vials w/ 10 disposable subcutaneous syringes) go for $712.00 w/out HI. Cost me $36 bucks w/ my HI! Also if you read my other post "Awesome Neurologist in Raleigh, NC" my whole day w/ Dr. Konanc cost about $150.00 (Don't even want to know how much it would have been without HI) and I am experiencing COMPLETE relief right now!. Drinking coronas as I write this, and was able to go out last nite for drinks, even played acoustic guitars onstage w/ my 2 buddies at the bar! If that is not an insentive to get HI I don't know what is!! Due to my line of work I am able to use 100% aviators breathing oxygen, this to me is "the good stuff" and I highly recommend it, although I don't have it at home. Another cheap option that again, due to my line of work I haven't tried is mushrooms. Have you considered asking one of your friends if they can find any??

Best of luck to you!
-Derrick

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by FRANKYT1963 on Jul 22^nd, 2006, 12:33am

UNFORTUNATELY, i was injured while at work nov 2005, under pa law, once its determined that you cannot go back to your previouus job classification, your employer can terminate you, there for you lose all your med benefits. right now the only thing covered is any treatment or meds for my back, and that is covered under wokers comp ins. :) :)

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by Derrick on Jul 22^nd, 2006, 12:44am

I am really sorry to hear that and if I did, I did not mean to come across as being rude! the other guy that mentioned the prednisone taper is correct, I'm on it now as well and combined w/ the verapamil, magnesium, and co q 10 I have only had one shadow (last night over the 1st foster's) as opposed to a constant shadow all day and going to bed really late!! Havent had to abort one since 3 days ago too!!! Obviously you know there is a wealth of knowledge here -try all of them- you will find what works!!!!! Let me know if I can help w/ anything else!

-Derrick

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by TxBasslady on Jul 22^nd, 2006, 1:09am

Have your doc give you samples. Ask for them. When they run out go back and ask for more.

Not all docs will do it the 2nd time...but mine would.

Also, check out the Kudzu threads..that stuff has worked for lots of us.

Good luck,

Jean

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by Derrick on Jul 22^nd, 2006, 1:47am

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by BarbaraD on Jul 22^nd, 2006, 6:15am

I haven't had med ins for years and the one I had didn't pay for anything much. I finally dropped it and put the premium back to pay for meds. Right now I'm off most meds (except as needed). I take Melatonin at night and keep Red Bull and O2 handy in case of a hit. O2 is not that expensive and works great for me (most of the time).

How do you do it without med ins --- you just do it.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by jenrob2006 on Jul 22^nd, 2006, 7:17am

My health insurance expired on May 24th. My cycle started on May 26th. Aint that the beast for ya! What has gotten me through is samples from my doctor and the fact that the prednisone and verapamil are both less than 30.00 per presription. The O2 is 50.00 a month. The most expensive thing I paid for so far was the Amerge which was 215.00 for 9 pills and doesnt work anyway. I got samples of Imitrez injections from my doctor who is charging 84.00 a visit without ins. It sucks, but I do it because I have to. I say try as many of the OTC drugs like melatonin and kudzu and ask for samples. If you explain to you doc or even the doc's receptionist (usually works) they usually will accomodate.

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by pattik on Jul 22^nd, 2006, 8:41am

I don't have prescription coverage with my insurance, and some of the previous posts have good info. Many of the "nutritional" supplements (kudzu, melatonin, magnesium, etc) can be very helpful. Oxygen doesn't have to put you into the poor house. You can buy your own high-flow regulator and
clustermasx (http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~tritech2/clusterx/index.html).
I rent my O2 tank and the refills cost me around $20 (M sized). You could even buy your own tank and use welders O2. There are many here at this site that can tell you how to go about this.

You might also want to look into Clusterbusters:
http://www.clusterbusters.com/

Best wishes finding solutions that work for you.
Pat

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by kissmyglass on Jul 22^nd, 2006, 12:01pm

on 07/21/06 at 23:16:42, Dissident wrote:

I did the non-medical 02 for two cycles before getting the good stuff. Read some of the archived thread around here that explain how to make the non-medical 02 a little more tolerable (less "dry" ).

BJ

Huh?????? ::)

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by Berbank on Jul 22^nd, 2006, 6:43pm

In America, if you don't have medical insurance, you're fucked! >:( :o

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by Sean_C on Jul 22^nd, 2006, 9:13pm

on 07/22/06 at 18:43:46, Berbank wrote:

In America, if you don't have medical insurance, you're fucked! >:( :o

Not necessarily.......................

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by NONI on Jul 23^rd, 2006, 9:29am

.Hey All

Even though I am in Canada I just started my medical insurance and have to pay 100 dollars in meds before it even starts I pay 53 dollars a month just to have it ,It sucks too just applied for new job with the gov't hopefully they will call as I know they have the best benefits.Told my doc I could'nt afford the meds he gave me enough for over a month and then if I am still in cycle I'll have to wait and see ,,that was after I had tried 2 meds and paid for them.It sucks for us here too medicare does'nt pay for everything ,,Thank God it pays for doctor and emergency visits..My heart goes out to all of you that have to pay for those as well. [smiley=heart.gif]

NonI XOXOX

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by Dissident on Jul 23^rd, 2006, 2:12pm

on 07/22/06 at 12:01:00, kissmyglass wrote:

Huh?????? ::)

Yeah, Sucking 02 straight off the bottle (non-medical bottle with no mask or regulator - right from the hose) will really dry your mouth and throat out. You can "hydrate" the non-medical 02 by running it through water before inhaling etc...it was a few years back when I read that particular thread. I'll go see if I can find it. It definitely helped me when I used welders 02.

BJ

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by Gator on Jul 23^rd, 2006, 2:39pm

Try this website. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance has hundreds of programs listed that help sufferers get the meds they need.

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

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by chopmyheadoff on Jul 24^th, 2006, 5:05am

really feel for you folks. i really do.

im LUCKY, im a chronic brit who LOVES the NHS and the fact that i have 20 refils of imigran subject injection on repeat at my doctors that i can pick up however often i feel like FREE !!!

:P ;) :D ;;D

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by sandie99 on Jul 25^th, 2006, 3:42am

Thank you for bringing this topic up. :)

I have to check what kind of medical insurance I have for the time being... I know that my parents had one long insurance for me, but I think it ended last year (when I turned 25).

During the past 5 years my only problem has been CH. And I survived the last cycle (I'm episodic again) with the help of Red Bull/other energy drinks with the same amount of caffeine & taurine (yes, also cheaper ones with the same amount worked with my head).

So I haven't exactly needed to check my insurance. And my university offers cheap medical service to students. It's brilliant - when I went to see a neuro in fall 2004, it cost me only 14 euros/18 USD/9.5 GBP. :)

But I have to check it before something bigger happends!

Sanna

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by spidey426 on Aug 9^th, 2006, 8:05am

I'm also without insurance. I didn't know what it was I suffered from until my last cycle, so it was my first time being able to look for treatment. For 7 years I ate bottle after bottle of aspirin. But this year I was able to really fight the beast, even without insurance. Just avoid your triggers, first and foremost. Of course you will still get hits. I took melatonin at night with good results and drank lots of energy drinks with Taurine. That got me through the first 10 days. Then I decided to take the mushrooms, ..cycle ended in a week. So, without OTC meds or O2 I had the easiest cycle of my life. I'm actually looking forward to my next cycle to battle the beast again, I like a good challenge: ) You can do it, don't stress about not having insurance.. I highly recommend the mushrooms.. but you never know, what works for one person doesn't work for another unfortunately: / good luck and pain free wishes..

spidey

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by Charlotte on Aug 9^th, 2006, 8:17am

kudzu is relatively cheap and available quickly by mail. Overnight mail is a little more expensive but you can start it quick & order it regular later if it works for you.

It also helps with migraine & similar headaches, and is a good nutritional supplement in general. I use the liquid form, 2 ml three times a day. I have a similar headache and it has calmed it down from the top level to bearable. It is not an abortive, it is systemic.

.http://med-owl.com/clusterheadaches/tiki-index.php?page=Kudzu

Title: Re: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INS.
Post by Karla on Aug 9^th, 2006, 10:09pm

beg your dr for free samples. Try o2 and the natural alternatives. Good luck!