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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> No insurance... NEED HELP!
        
(Message started by: slhaas on Aug 28^th, 2006, 3:39pm)

Title: No insurance... NEED HELP!
Post by slhaas on Aug 28^th, 2006, 3:39pm

Hi,

I posted here a while back when I was again going through a vicious cycle. I finally got some relief from a very understanding doctor that got me on oxygen, imitrex, verapamil and prednisolne. It was all working fine (imitrex and prednisolne in the beginning and then verapamil daily eith 02 as an abortive). When the verapamil ran out I had 1 or 2 kip 2/3 attacks and then they went away. In the mean time I lost my job and am starting with a new company that wont give me insurance for 90 days. I was hoping that would be long enough... 2 nights ago I had the worst kip10 of my life, and today I had a waking kip4. I had some left over 02, and it seemed to help (I sucked it in for 10min), but after I stopped breathing it for about 10 min the attack came back even worse. I have 3 imitrex left and am trying to ration them, and I've gone back to my fallback attempts at melatonin and RC seeds. Neither seemed to do anything. My question is what am I going to do for these 90 days? Does anyone know how I can get imitrex and verapamil cheaply? I paid $20 for imitrex and $10 for verapamil with my old job, but I simply can not afford them without insurance. Any suggestions or words of wisdom???

Title: Re: No insurance... NEED HELP!
Post by kevinpix on Aug 28^th, 2006, 6:01pm

When all else fails, go to the emergency room, they have to treat you. Tell them what's wrong and go from there. Before I got 02, I'd go there for the "bad" ones. Don't feel bad, we pay for it through taxes. Good luck and I hope the next 3 months are easy and painfree!

Title: Re: No insurance... NEED HELP!
Post by BB on Aug 28^th, 2006, 6:29pm

Read the Imitrex tip and stretch each of them into 4 .

My DH uses only 1/4 of a needle each time and although it may not stop the pain completely but it will bring it down to a level 2,3 which is much more manageable.

Also try Red Bull and make sure you hit the 02 early, get it up to 15 lpm and breath deeply and regularly for 20 mins.

Hope you get relief and painfree days and nights soon.

Hang in there.

Annette

Title: Re: No insurance... NEED HELP!
Post by Guiseppi on Aug 28^th, 2006, 6:53pm

Check your messages.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: No insurance... NEED HELP!
Post by Garys_Girl on Aug 28^th, 2006, 8:30pm

If others don't know how to procure the drugs you need at prices you can afford, at the very least, call the Doc that prescribed the O2, tell them you're back in cycle and just have them call in the scrip to whatever medical supply place you used to fill it last time.

And if you're interested in pursuing alternatives, you may want to visit www.clusterbusters.com. Psilocybin works for many where the seeds don't.

Three people have had good success with detoxing - check the medications board here. It can't hurt to try and is a very inexpensive alternative.

Don't know if you've looked into the Kudzu. For many it at least helped reduce the frequency and/or intensity and/or length of attacks - if not bust the cycle (which it has for a surprising number of people).

Laurie

Title: Re: No insurance... NEED HELP!
Post by kcopelin on Aug 28^th, 2006, 8:33pm

check your PMs.
kathy

Title: Re: No insurance... NEED HELP!
Post by BlueMeanie on Aug 28^th, 2006, 8:51pm

Do you know about the imitrex tip to the left of the page ? Ask your doc, most have free samples that'll hold you over for awhile at least. If you get an "H" tank for your 02, it'll last a very long time. It's a little expensive but much cheaper than Trex.

on 08/28/06 at 18:01:34, kevinpix wrote:

When all else fails, go to the emergency room, they have to treat you. Don't feel bad, we pay for it through taxes.

I thought, without insurance they only have to treat life threatening conditions. If they treat you, shouldn't you expect a bill in the mail ?

Title: Re: No insurance... NEED HELP!
Post by kevinpix on Aug 28^th, 2006, 10:42pm

they must have lost my info, haven't seen a bill yet. Please don't tell on me!