Shared Solutions: Paying co-pays up to $50

I recently found out from Shared Solutions (Copaxone) that they will cover insurance co-pays for Copaxone up to $50 a month if your pharmacy is one that is enrolled in their program. Unfortunately, mine is not and my monthly co-pay is $50. However, I hope to have new insurance and a new job in the next few months so I am hoping this will change! I just wanted to spread the news and say I find it interesting that all of a sudden (at least compared to a few years ago for me) drug companies are doing what they can to cover your out of pocket costs so you will use their med. Or that is the way it seems.

The brief time period I was going to consider Tysabri, I was given a number to call and discuss them covering my portion of the cost - completely. I opted not to go down that road, but, I was intrigued to hear they do this. And now Shared Solutions/TEVA is trying to do something similar only they are putting a cap on their cost coverage. I was also pleasantly surprised to call Shared Solutions and request a new auto-injector as it had been some time that I was off Copaxone and could not find my old one. They confirmed with my doctor and sent me 2! This is surprising to me because I recall 2 years ago when I was on Copaxone it was like pulling teeth to get a new injector before it's typical life cycle ended. At the time, I was thinking, it is a spring loaded piece of plastic - how long do they think it will last. Well at that time I was told 3 years. Yeah right. If I can get 1 year out of this I think that will be great. I mean we do shoot everyday.

Has anyone noticed more recently that the drug companies are trying to "help" more?

I've started Copaxone

Day Two on Copaxone. While I do like that this drug has the least amount of side effects, I am not pleased about the huge welt like site reactions I get. I've taken Copaxone about 4 years ago for 1 year then I just stopped. I stopped because my body and I could not stand these bad site reactions. Difference is now I know I have spinal MS, then I didn't know. Now I'll deal with the site reactions and never miss a shot again.

Drinking Tea Can Help Increase Interferons

I was reading Ladies Home Journal Magazine this week and they had a 3 page article on drinking Tea. They spoke of all the health benefits including increasing your bodies Interferon's. A Harvard study suggested that drinking 5 cups of black tea a day for two to three weeks increased production of a key immune protein, interferon. They said the reason was that L-theanine, an amino acid found in tea (and hardly anywhere else) can build up the bodies immune system and defenses against viruses and bacteria.

They also credited tea with sharpening your brain, boosting your powers of concentration, as well as relaxation. Drinking a cup of hot tea is relaxing. I will not quote the entire article, however, I do recommend giving it a read. I was intrigued, researched and found that Harvard did conclude the benefits in a 1998 study regarding Interferon's and L-theanine. It seems that all Teas may offer some benefit, however, only black tea was tested. You can also drink Green Tea, White Tea and Oolong Tea. The herbal teas, such as, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Ginger, Peppermint etc have their own health benefits as well, but were not included in the study.

This is a quote from the Harvard Study:
"Then, two weeks into the study, the researchers tested the blood of coffee and tea drinkers by exposing it to bacteria in the lab and comparing samples taken before the study to those taken two weeks later. "We found they [tea drinkers] made five times more interferon after they started drinking tea compared to before drinking tea," Bukowski says. The coffee drinkers showed no enhanced production of interferon."

So, I am going to start drinking 5 cups of decaf black tea five times a day and try to add it as part of my lifestyle. So maybe I can increase the Interferon's in my body without being on any Interferon shots. Hopefully, it will work or at least help. Can't hurt to test this theory. I'm tempted to see if my doctor has a way to measure my current interferon level and then again after a few weeks or a month. I'll have to investigate that.

Here are some links to check out if you are interested:

Tea Contains A Key Infection Fighter

Ladies Home Journal: The Healing Power of Tea

It's All About Me!

That title sounds very selfish I know. However, I am the complete opposite of that and always put everyone else's needs before my own. Which has left me needing to put myself and my needs, wants and desires for my future first. I will fly across the country to help a family member or a friend in need, however, i know that I would never get such care in return. So tonight hubby and I decided we shall put our needs first only. We have too, because, no one else will do it for us. We are just too caring and nice sometimes and will spend all our spare time, money and energy doing things for others. That has left us with nothing. So, as of 2009 we put us first. :)

Hubby started going to the gym today, I plan to start tomorrow. I had a real bad night tonight (It's 3am) with Leg Spasms so I am wide awake and it is just a reminder that I need to loose weight, and improve my flexibility and strength. So tomorrow to the gym.

Next, I need to find a job that I can do without zapping all my energy and just killing myself and my spirit. We need the cash. I need the mental challenge. I also need to find something new that is going to keep me interested. In today's economy it's hard not to just rely on my 10+ years of IT experience and stay in that field. However, I want more. Just not sure what that is...

I did my taxes and was SHOCKED to find out that with 12+ K in Medical Expenses last year I only get $800 back for that (on top of my other refund). That stinks! I would have thought I'd get more than that back. They want everyone to have Medical Benefits, but, when it comes to assisting with paying for the expenses you get nada. Nice.

Hubs and I are still throwing around the idea of moving somewhere else as TN is boring us lately, but, we can't commit to moving either. Have to wait and see how this summer goes and how I can or can't handle the heat. I want to know now. I'm impatient.

I wish I had some trip to look forward to, alas, right now I do not. Hopefully in a few months.

I'm not usually a big website promoter - but - you have got to check out the new Google Earth. WAY COOL! Download and check it out.

What's new with you?

Visualization - Can It Work?

Do you believe that you can use mental imagery and affirmations to produce positive changes in your life? That it is a choice to be positive or negative? Can you be taught to think positive thoughts and visualize positive life outcomes?

About 6 years ago I began therapy for Anxiety. And during my therapy sessions and doing my own research I was introduced to the ideas of creative visualization. Wikipedia defines it as - "Creative visualization refers to the practice of seeking to affect the outer world via changing one's thoughts." I recall thinking - no way can I change my world by controlling my thoughts. Visualization can help me worry less? Be more positive? Intrigued, I researched and read and tested some of the positive thinking teachings. From what I can recall it was easier to be positive when not thinking of anything in a negative way. However, for me without repetition the visualization of positive thinking would not last.

I am back here many years later planning to revisit this entire line of thought. Can we control our minds to the point we are healthier people? Is the key to any disease inside ourselves and our own minds? Will being more positive ensure me to living my best life and feeling fulfilled as a person?

These are questions I plan to figure out the answers too. I've been depressed as of late. I know it, I can tell by my postings (journaling is good for the soul), and now I am going to do something positive about it. We all have hard times, but, need to push on through and make the best of them. I admire how positive many of you are and I want to be positive too. Since I am currently not working, I am going to re-read and re-train myself if that is possible to focus only on positive outcomes.

If any of you have good stories or ever successfully used visualization to retrain your way of thinking, please do share! And here is to happier posts from me in the future! :)

Dexamethasone = Tremendous Leg Pain

Hi Blog Friends:

I saw my Neuro Monday. He thinks I may have a mild case of Optic Neuritis. Fine, blurry intermittently - I'm cool with it. We discussed my long term care options now that I am past that flare from the summer (fingers crossed as I have lingering symptoms). I am going to start Copaxone as soon as they get it to me - I bet it takes like a month. However, he tells me it takes 4 to 6 months for the Copaxone to get in there and do it's thing and he'd like to put me on pulse steroids twice a month for 3 months till the Copaxone is working soon. This is wonderful news - this is the plan I had that I wanted to do when I went in there. He looked at me, tested me and agreed I do not need Tysabri yet (about time doctors listen to the patient).

All this to say that yesterday I just took my first pulse dose (1 day supply of really high dexamethasone) and almost immediately my legs were/are in SO SO much pain. I don't understand. The steroids made my leg spasms worse too. I guess I should call him, but, don't want to feel like an idiot. Has this happened to you or anyone else and do you know why? I can't be down and out for several days each month when before I took it I was good (minus the blurry vision). My legs were fine before the steroids. If you know what is happening to me do tell....


And one other comment on my Florida post below (do read) is that Disney World is there! :)

Florida - Oh! I'm SO Excited!!!!

After my very somber previous post, I've decided to get tough and find something new to pump me up. For some time hubby and I have entertained the idea of moving to Florida. He grew up outside Tampa and I lived in Naples for a few years in the 90's. I loved it, only left due to divorce.

However after reading this article -

http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s1048944.htm

The wheels began to turn and I'd like to give myself the best chance with this disease. And yes, heat aggravates my MS. However, MS aside in TN or PA or anywhere else with less sunshine I ever lived, I feel less healthy. It is easier to lead a healthy life in Florida where there is an abundance of seafood, veggies and fruits! And unlimited sunshine. I SO miss that. I'd never left Naples if I didn't get divorced.

So right now I am formulating some ideas about the healthiest way for both me and my husband to live and moving may be one of them. However, I am not ruling out conventional MS treatment either. I like a combo of both myself. So what I need from any of you is - What is the best MS establishment in the state of Florida? Where is it located in Florida? Any Doctor Recommendations? Suggestions where I can find info etc...

I need people who live in Florida with MS to tell me how they deal with the heat during the summer.

Oh...I'm so excited!