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        New Message Board Archives >> Jul-Sep 2003 >> I've missed you all
        
(Message started by: ebk3 on Sep 13^th, 2003, 11:16pm)

Title: I've missed you all
Post by ebk3 on Sep 13^th, 2003, 11:16pm

Hi everyone I'm Gene, I hope some of you remember me. I've been pain free since May. I'm episodic, typically attacked once a year for 4 to 6 weeks. This last cycle was by far the easiest (i've suffered CH for 15 years or so). My insurance paid for carloads of imitrex/ Found great,knowledgable GP. She prescribed my first prednisone taper. I took the first dose of prednisone in the middle of an attack, that was the last. cycle broken!!
Why didn't any of the DRs I'd seen these last 15 years know to do this for me??

This site has fulfilled for me what I assume the founders had in mind. You have educated me and as a result, I,ve been spared COUNTLESS attacks!!

To the newbies!! With a little luck, the right combo of meds,(all thoroughly discussed in this site) CH can be managed. READ everything.

Gene

Title: Re: I've missed you all
Post by Georgia on Sep 14^th, 2003, 12:08am

Welcome back, Gene. I am so glad to hear that you are pain free. I hope this means you are here to stay....and to help prevent others from suffering through the same 15 years of torture.

Peace and love,
Georgia

Title: Re: I've missed you all
Post by nancyc on Sep 14^th, 2003, 12:28am

Welcome back...glad you found the combo that works for you...let us know what insurance pays for carloads of imitrex so we can all go out and buy it. LOL...Most of them only give 3 per month...that is like teasing a clusterhead....smiles,nancyc

Title: Re: I've missed you all
Post by ebk3 on Sep 14^th, 2003, 12:53am

Nancy,
Yeah I couldn't believe my good fortune with the insurance. I work for a med sized co and we're self insured. The administrators at some office somewhere are these nice older ladies, and I was able to speak to them directly. They actually helped by speaking to my Dr.

Sorry if it seemed like a tease. I've had many a night when I'd overused my prescription (2 shots per day) taking 3 or 4 per day. My cycles usually include 8 CHs per 24 hours. TheImitrex tip from this site has saved me many attacks!!

Gene

Title: Re: I've missed you all
Post by nancyc on Sep 14^th, 2003, 1:09am

No, Gene, I meant the insurance companies tease us clusterheads by only giving us three shots a month LOL..not you.......I know my Doctor tried to talk to my insurance company but they would not budge even though I am chronic...HMOs are terrible..they had rather you take twenty different types of meds than give you more than three shots per month...makes no sense to me...Good to see you back, bro. smiles, nancyc

Title: Re: I've missed you all
Post by ebk3 on Sep 14^th, 2003, 1:28am

Nancy C,

What? three doses per month period? for a chronic? What possible logic is that. How can they justify that treatment! Unless imitrex is excluded somehow from your policy I'd sue them.

That'sa case I could win, they only can argue that it's too expensive, but if they prescribe at all shouldn't they be responsible for the appropriate dosage. That's like prescribing antibiotics for an infection only under dosing so that it has no effect.

Gene

Title: Re: I've missed you all
Post by CathiP on Sep 14^th, 2003, 10:00am

OOOH! Gene....NancyC......run with that!!
Can you expand on that point.....get it across to the Ins Cos?
Hmmmm, talk amongst yourselves.....
Cathi

Title: Re: I've missed you all
Post by Prense on Sep 14^th, 2003, 10:12am

I agree! If you have a track record of trex working, then I see three shots a month as refusal of treatment for a chronic. ::)

Title: Re: I've missed you all
Post by nancyc on Sep 14^th, 2003, 5:33pm

Well, imitrex has stopped them dead in their tracks since the first day they put it on the market...isnt that enough proof? I even had someone from Imitrex contact my insurance company but they would not budge...said it was too expensive...wanted my Doctor to send all kinds of info to them and when she did, they still would not give me anymore.....HMOs do not care if you suffer or not....they will run you thru all the red tape until you or your Doctor finally give up and stop asking...smiles,nancyc

Title: Re: I've missed you all
Post by ebk3 on Sep 15^th, 2003, 6:31pm

any lawyers out there?
Gene

Title: Re: I've missed you all
Post by nancyc on Sep 15^th, 2003, 11:36pm

LMAO, Gene...wish there were...I have a helluva good case here...smiles, nancyc

Title: Re: I've missed you all
Post by ebk3 on Sep 15^th, 2003, 11:59pm

expanding:

It seems to me that ins co that prescribe imitrex in small quantities set a precadent (sp?)

As expensive as the medication is, by prescribing at all they make the statement that this medication works for the affliction. Once they have prescribed a single dose they have signed on. To then limit dosage arbitrarily based on their costs seems to me to be actionable.

In for a penny in for a pound. Judges respond to common sense!

Argument: Your honor, the HMO has paid for imitrex for my CH as prescribed by a Neurologist. The result is PF, a reprieve from arguably the worst pain humans can suffer. There is nothing in my policy that excludes this particular medication. I suffer 188 Ch attacks per month and yet they are only willing to treat 3 of them per month. They Know that this medication would, prescribed in the appropriate dosages as ordered by my physician, alleviate major suffering. Are you going to allow this billion dollar HMO to arbitrarily deprive me of this relief that I pay a monthly premium in good faith to be protected from?
gene

Title: Re: I've missed you all
Post by nancyc on Sep 16^th, 2003, 12:08am

And the Judge says...AMEN , Brother...I find them GUILTY as charged LOL...smiles,nancyc

Title: Re: I've missed you all
Post by Tim_w on Sep 16^th, 2003, 6:33am

Gene
Iam haveing the same trouble with Maxalt!
Noro Says 72 pills for 3 months.
Ins.company says 36 pills for 3 months
You have to pick witch one you fight and witch one you ride out!
when you are getting hit up to 12 times a day even 72 pills for 3 months is not enough!!
been fighting Ins. company since March- getting no were
PFDAN Timw >:(