My 15 year old daughter was diagnosed with RA late last year. Because of this, my family applied for our states insurance as we had no insurance before then. We were able to qualify (thankfully) and all was good. Her rheumatologist started her on Humira at a very pricey $1500 a month. Well, long story short, our insurance is shut off and I have no way of getting her meds this month as we are financially strapped.

It kills me to know that my daughter is/was just starting to make some improvements with the swelling and feeling better and now she has to stop taking the one thing that helped her.

My question is: does anyone here know of any financial help for this drug and where I could go?

I appreciate anyone who took the time to read this, thank you in advance.

My name is Terri.  I was officially diagnosed with RA about 2 years ago but I had it for many years before that.  Couldn't go to a Rheum. doctor till I got insurance.  He has me on 7 Mtx. a week and 5 mg. Pred. a day.  he tried to take me off the Pred. back  in Sept. and that lasted 3 weeks. On my last visit in Sept. he told me the Mtx. was not maintaining the disease and wanted me to go on one of the biologics.  He told me to research them and in Nov. to tell him what I have decided. I will probably go on Enbrel as that is the one that I found that will help me with the cost.  Even thought I  have ins. my deductible is so high on name brand med's I couldn't afford to do it otherwise.  My question is once I start on Enbrel and it starts to work will it help with the pain?  I take a Darv. at night and Tylenol during the day. I would like to take the Darv. during the day but it makes me dizzy and I can't do that at work. Also will I have to stay on the Mtx. while I am Enbrel? Does the Enbrel help with the fatigue?  Any help with this would be greatly appreciated!  Terri

First, my background.  I'm a 42 year old formerly very active woman who has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my neck (one bulged disk as well), back, feet, hands, and right knee.  Unfortunately I have other various symptoms that make me believe I could also have Sjogren's.  The symptoms come and go, but really never go away completely. They are: dry skin, itchy rashes, occasional flushed warm skin (lasts for hours), dry eyes (gunky, itchy, watery), dry mouth with sores, dry nose with occasional sores, achy joints (especially now that it is cold and rainy), occasional hoarse voice and acid reflux, (have had aspiration pneumonia 2x in the last 5 years), raynaud's in hands, etc.  I've had my eyes tested for dryness and came back positive.  Had various blood tests including ANA, sed rate, CRP and all have come back normal.  How accurate is the salivary gland test?  Is it expensive?  Any answers or advice will help me tremendously.  Thanks!

Hi!  I am scheduled to have finger fusion surgery on my middle finger next week.  I am wondering what to expect and what the pain threshhold is.  I am concerned about that because I have allergies to all standard forms of pain meds and the doctor is going to prescribe dilaudid for post-op pain.  I am also wondering if i will have to be casted (I read something online).  I suffer from inflammatory osteoarthritis (11 years now) have the hebernen's nodes on my first joints.  Not a pretty sight and at times very painful.  Thanks for all your input!

Darcy~

My dad is 85 and has lost a lot of weight this past year. He is skin and bones and real weak. He had pain in his right elbow and shoulder and could not get a diagnosis. His pain became hard to bare. Finally a doctor diagnosed rh arthritus but could not control his pain, so we switched doctors. this doctor thought he might have tb or lung cancer. He removed 1600 cc's of fluid off his right lung. He said he thought the pain was referred pain from the lung. He got dad's pain under control with a duragesic patch 75 and lyritra at night. but he is still very weak. He also has night sweats. I talked with the nurse a few minutes ago and she said the tb test was negative. Does anyone out there have any idea.  God bless, James

Am now seeing my 2nd rheumy. Diag. Inflammatory Arthritis.  First one only wanted to presribe pain meds not associated with my condition.  New one seems to be good--but can't really call her office with many questions or you don't get a call back or if they do call back they say make a list, get an appointment or possibly 2 appointments and then they will talk to me.  One response I got back was if I wanted to find a new rheumy I could!!!  Not feeling like there is much of a caring doctor/patient relationship here.  Taking prednisone as a "bridge" since mid-August.  Seems to help a bit till I taper down from 20 mg to 15mg  and lower.  Added methotrexate for last 4 weeks (3 pills 1X a week) will increase to 5 next week.  I seem to feel that a change to a new rheumy is in my best interest, but because of my health insurance coverage I may have to pay some out of pocket costs (over $200)  May be worth it though  Need someone who have "been there--done that"  Thanks for anyone's advice

Hi,  My grandmother, who has arthritis- especially in her hands, now has to administer an injection of heparin daily to my grandfather who has recently been diagnosed with brain cancer.  I was wondering if anyone knew of any device that can help my grandmother give my grandfather this injection.  She is able to get the needle into his skin but has difficulty dispensing or pushing the syringe so my grandfather can get his medication. Any insight would be helpful.  Thanks, Laura.

PLEASE HELP ME!!

I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for the past 39 years and have worked sporadically through the years even though I shouldn't have due to the severity of my Arthritis. I am going to have more surgery, a right total hip revision, and will be recovering for the next 6 to 12 months I was told by my Dr., and my unemployment will have ended by the time I have the surgery. I've applied for financial benefits many times but I'm turned away, they say my common-law husband makes over the allowed amount, although with all the co-pays and the normal expenses we all have, we don't have any left over. Does anyone know of an organization I haven't heard of or applied for that can help me financially so that I won't have to find work again once I've recovered from my surgery? My doctors don't want me to work any longer, it's very unsafe for me to work because when I loose my balance and/or trip I can't prevent  myself from falling and I always hit my head and put more stress on my artificial hips and knees which causes more medical problems. Is there anything new available that I may not have heard of that could possibly help my family and I from losing what we have?

My doctor has just prescribed Hydroxychloroquine Plaquenil for my arthritis. Does anyone else take this? What sideeffects have you experienced? I've read about the sideeffect of damaging your retina, and it kind of scares me so I'm wanting to know what others have experienced.

Thanks,