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        New Message Board Archives >> Jan-Mar 2003 >> I'm New.....Help Me
        
(Message started by: Janice on Mar 6^th, 2003, 8:16pm)

Title: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by Janice on Mar 6^th, 2003, 8:16pm

:'( I am new to this site and I am just about to go crazy here. Looking for answers. Maybe one of you can help me. I am in my 7th week of CH this cycle, looking at at least 5 more weeks of this hell. I went to get my Imetrix injections today and was informed that my insurance company will not pay but for 6 a month. I am currently using at least one a day. My doctor can't do anything to help me there. His hands are tied! The doctor currently has me on Lithium and Veramprimil (excuse the spelling) and just finished a 3 week round of Predisone......still the attacks come at least twice a night. I am on the verge of suicide here! Nothing stops the pain but the injections. Anybody, anywhere have any suggestions?

Title: Re: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by suzy617 on Mar 6^th, 2003, 8:45pm

Hi Janice, nice to meet you.
Sorry you are in so much pain. Have you asked your Dr. if he has any samples of the imitrex? Most have plenty to give out. There are also ways of making your imitrex last longer. See the imitrex tip on the side bar. That can help you to be able to stock up a bit.
Wish I could help you out better but good luck to you.

suzy

Title: Re: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by Jarvis on Mar 6^th, 2003, 8:45pm

Janice - hang tough your not alone.. . Suicide is not covered by insurance either so thats not an option. Sounds like youve been through a few cycles before.

Title: Re: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by lonenightowl on Mar 6^th, 2003, 9:00pm

Welcome aboard!
Have you tried Oxygen?used correctly it has helped
many of us here.
Remember suicide doesn't stop the clusters it just
keeps us from dancing.
PFDAN,
BillyJ

Title: Re: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by Mark C on Mar 6^th, 2003, 9:10pm

Hi Janice,
Sorry you getting hammered by your head AND your insurance company. Your Doctor needs to write your insurance company a letter of "Medical Necessity" to justify the extra dosage of Imitrex needed. If your Doc don't want to help, get a new doctor. Many of us here have went through what you describe. My insurance finally came off a more sensible dose, but only after being contacted by my doctor. See if you insurance company has a patient advocacy program, you will not know unless you ask. Samples, samples samples....always ask. Stock up as much as possible when you are between cycles.

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/resources/ins.htm

PFDAN's
Mark

Title: Re: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by 2late on Mar 6^th, 2003, 9:19pm

welcome aboard Janice! if you haven't try 02! & forget that suicide shit, your way to strong for that! .........Jack

Title: Re: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by Lori on Mar 6^th, 2003, 9:33pm

Please take the advice of the others and remember that this will end. Suicide is not an option. I know it's tough to deal with the pain and tiring, but you can make it!! You have to!
Let us know how you are and if you need more help.

Title: Re: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by Lori on Mar 6^th, 2003, 9:41pm

Just wanted to add..
Definitely try the 02..seems to work for many here. Also ask doc for prescriptions/samples of other triptans if he won't give you more imitrex. There's also imitrex nasal spray and pills, zomig, maxalt, and others. See?? There are other options here. But maybe doc will give samples or letter to ins. co. so may not need to ask for other triptans. But it's a back up for you if you need them.

Wishing you painfree nights..

Title: Re: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by Prense on Mar 6^th, 2003, 9:41pm

Tiring is an understatement...

Title: Re: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by JDH on Mar 6^th, 2003, 10:17pm

Hi Janice.
Sorry that your getting hit so bad but suicide is not a solution, you CAN and WILL beat this like you always do.
If you haven't tried oxygen yet you should, it works great for a lot of us. Also maybe your Dr will increase your Verapamil, that can make a difference.
Another thing, there's info. at the top of the message board about a CH clinical trial. I don't know what area you're from or if there's a participating clinic near by but I took part in this several months ago and they supplied me with free samples of imitrex injections for the whole time of the study ;D, sweet!...might be worth looking into.
pfdan's to you
Jim

Title: Re: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by cootie on Mar 6^th, 2003, 10:18pm

I asked the same question once.....your insurence co 'should' have a physicians hotline phone number of some sorts for docs to call and explain why you need more then 6 imitrex a script or month. That's what I had to do and it worked.......they let us have 27 a script (pills for us) but our doc had to call each month and do the same routine every time. Hope that helps you..........Pam-Coots

Title: Re: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by Ted on Mar 6^th, 2003, 10:31pm

Fighting for ones fair share of Imitrex from the insurance companies:

http://headaches.about.com/library/weekly/aa-bc-error-a.htm

This is the last of a three-part series so in the begining where it ways "continued from..." click on that link and when at the second part click again on the "continued from" link.
That's only if you want the story more in depth. This third part I've given the link for pretty much sums the story up well before it proceeds with this weeks update section.

Title: Re: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by woobie on Mar 6^th, 2003, 10:51pm

Hi Janice..

Sorry you are going thru a rough cycle. I dont have any answers.. except what's already been posted here for you. O2 - definately the oxygen. can't hurt to try it.

Nice to meet you... hope you get some relief soon.

Tina :-*

Title: Re: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by Charlie on Mar 6^th, 2003, 11:02pm

Welcome Janice. I know how frustrating it is. Even though I haven't used much in the way of meds, there was a lot of posting before about stretching Imitrex by using a half dose. So far as I know, some people had good results. Others here can tell you more about it

Stick around. You'll find lots of things here to help.

Charlie

Title: Re: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by Janice on Mar 7^th, 2003, 9:58pm

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and comments. I am a lab rat when it comes to the medicines, 02, and anything else that has been posted. What worked 4 yrs. ago did not work 2 yrs. ago, and now the same is true this year. The 02 never worked for me, only the Imitrex Injections bring a positive relief which I started taking half injections until I ran out. I did have a peaceful night last night as I put myself back on the Amerge my Neuro took me off of, but I had to do something! Finally a good nights sleep.....first in over 7 weeks. THanks again for everyone's help as we all continue to live from day to day with these things!

Title: Re: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by cbolony on Mar 8^th, 2003, 4:13am

Quote:

I went to get my Imetrix injections today and was informed that my insurance company will not pay but for 6 a month

Janice you are lucky they give you 6 a month.My insurance company gives me 2 vials a month or 1 stat
dose.I ask other drs i see for imitrex samples some times i get 5-6 a month from them.I get 3-4 ch a day in the first 4 wks of my cycle and then they go to 1-3 for the rest of the cycle.I get 3-4 cycles a year.I cut each shot into 1/3 to get me threw the month and times
thats not enough so i ride a lot of smaller ones out
just to save a shot.I just started vera 480 mg.Janice
hang in there betters days are coming.WE are all here
to help you if we can.And btw i pay $920 a month for
my health insurance for me and my wife and they give me nothing.

Title: Re: I'm New.....Help Me
Post by Karla on Mar 8^th, 2003, 6:46am

Janice, why did your dr take you off of amerge if it works for you? That is ridiculous. Have you tried axert and frova? These are newer triptans that may help you. See for one in a half weeks you can use imitrix if you use the imitrix tip on the left. For another week or two you can use amerge. Than if axert or frova help you could use those to extend your weeks so you are covered for the month. Good luck!