Praise!!!

[aprilchen]

Hi Friends,

Just to let you know, even though it took FOREVER and a day (a whole nerve racking day) to get the medicines from the pharmacy and mix them after a mini-training.

I FINALLY got TriCare to cover the Heparin which is the most expensive part. I think 6 doses of Heparin would have been $245 without insurance. Geez...how do people afford this stuff?

My husband and I did my first instillation tonight. I felt instant relief, but I think over several days it will eventually help more and more and perhaps reduce. I'm resting at home and only going to my primary care provider tomorrow...otherwise, sleep!

On another note, does anyone know if they believe in pain management in Germany? If not, **laughs**, maybe I can just make a periodic visit to Holland for some special brownies...

Hugs,
April

[aprilmae]

YIPPEE!!! So glad you got some relief and that the insurance is helping you out!! I hope you are able to get a lot of rest!

So, are ya'll headed to Germany?

[aprilchen]

Possibly. It depends on if my husband gets into a school next year that is in MD or if not, we're putting Ramstein and our first choice for AFB's. It'd be kinda cool to live over there for a couple years AS long as they can take care of my medical needs...and my husband feels the same way, too.

Take Care and have a great day!
April

[Sarojini]

I'm glad the rescue instillations helped you!

[topcop229]

So glad the instills are helping and that your insurance company decided to cooperate as well!

[Bessie]

Yeah......glad you have gotten some relief and your insurance company is doing the right thing :woohoo:

[topcop229]

April,
I saw in another post that mamacox6977 is in Germany as her husband is stationed there. She commented that she had not been able to find a good uro there yet. (It's in the Help! I'm in a Flare section). Maybe you should PM her about the docs/ meds in Germany. Good luck!

[Berkshire Road]

That's great, April!

[aprilchen]

April,
I saw in another post that mamacox6977 is in Germany as her husband is stationed there. She commented that she had not been able to find a good uro there yet. (It's in the Help! I'm in a Flare section). Maybe you should PM her about the docs/ meds in Germany. Good luck!

Thanks. I will do that. I really appreciate the information. Also, thank you all for your support. My husband is helping me do another instill at home tonight when gets here. Just also wondering, I think it's different for everyone and the doctor told me I could do them everyday if needed, but what's an average of how often I am going to need them. Today I can definitely tell a difference in my pain. It's in my hips and top of legs, but the bladder IS NOT spasming and no pain there today...or retention! YAY!

[Trishann]

Really happy that the medicine is helping you and the relief that the insurance is paying for it. The cost of medicine is so high and there is no way to pay without insurance or some kind of help. Glad you are not under that burden now.

Hugs, Trishann

[aprilchen]

Really happy that the medicine is helping you and the relief that the insurance is paying for it. The cost of medicine is so high and there is no way to pay without insurance or some kind of help. Glad you are not under that burden now.

Hugs, Trishann

Yes, insurance is a blessing. Also, the pharmacist we found who knew how to mix it because his daughter has IC was also a blessing. All the other compound pharmacies were saying they did not carry the heparin in 4000ml vials. Well, apparently it does not come that way...only in 2000ml and this pharmacist called and had the niceness to ask the doctor if he could just give me twice as much. By the time I found out SOMEONE was working out a way to mix the medication *he taught us how to mix it*** I had been shaking and my BP was 240/98...with pain meds...so I was a nervous wreck to say the least. Anyway, the insurance paid for the heparin which was most expensive and for 25 doses it was about $50 because we had to pay for the Lidocaine. So, a blessing this was!!!!

[L. Thomas]

I have been doing home instills since 2004. I started with 3 a week and had to increase to one a day for a while. Then every other day. On the average I would say every three to 5 days now.

I coumpound the meds at home. PM me if you have anything I can help with.

[ihurttoo]

My insurance wouldnt cover my home instills either. I have appealed, but havent heard back from them yet. However, mine are much less expensive than yours. Mine cost about $3 per instill. I do save money by sterilizing and and reusing my caths. However, if my insurance company decides to cover them, I will start using a new one each time, just to be safe, since I am pretty prone to infections.

Right now I take a low dose of Macrobid daily to ward off the infections and that has worked very well. (I have only had one or two since I started the Macrobid, but before that, I had 10 last year alone.)

My Dr. prescribed my instills every day, but I do them approx every other day, since doing them daily was too irritating to my urethra. But, I do get alot of relief from the instills. More often than not, I get relief instantly. (It just doesnt last long enough. )

If you do end up moving to Germany, I hope you find a kind Dr. who is knowledgable about IC and compassionate.

Hugs,
Amy

[aprilchen]

Thanks Amy. I hope your insurance company covers this eventually. Most insurance companies cover IBS meds...why not IC meds? I guarantee it'd be cheaper for them to cover the home instills than to pay for a urology visit everytime. Just a thought.

[ICNDonna]

My insurance company doesn't cover home instillations, but they are willing to cover the greater expense of instills in my doctor's office.


Donna