Re: In need of some support!


"greyhackles" <greyhackles@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:lv6ln4linncka948olh165n0ugta0hhmp7@xxxxxxxxxx
On Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:34:35 GMT, "Grateful Deb"
<grateful.debNOSPAM@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:



Deb: Sorry to hear you're going through this - I have first hand knowledge
of
how difficult the HCV therapy is when severe anemia is added to the
effects of
the combo drugs.

I suffered both hemolytic anemia from the Ribavirin and aplastic anemia
from
the Peg-Interferon suppressing my bone marrow. Within 8 weeks of
initiating
the combo therapy my hemoglobin level went below 9g/dl, and before my
doctor
"allowed" me to finally see a hematologist it had gone down to 8.2. The
blood
doc took one look at my blood work and immediately whacked me with Epogen,
and
I spent the next 35 weeks on the maximum 60KIU weekly dose. Even so, my
hemoglobin level struggled to improve, and never did go back above 10
until
the week after I completed the 48th week on the combo drugs.

Are you aware of the reasoning behind the insurance company's refusal to
continue providing Procrit? My insurance company wouldn't cover it if my
hemoglobin went above 11g/dl (which was moot in my case) and that was
almost
four years ago. I have since heard of insurance companies that have a
10g/dl
cut-off: as the result of over-prescription of these ESA drugs for kidney
dialysis patients and chemotherapy patients and some resulting unexpected
mortality rates, insurance companies may have become even more sensitive
about
supporting the use of these drugs. You should try to ascertain their
rationale.

There are a few different epoetin alfa drugs on the market today. Along
with
Ortho Biotech's Procrit, there is Amgen's Epogen and Aranesp. Amgen has a
patient assistance program that may be able to help you.

See the web page http://www.amgen.com/patients/assistance.html or contact
Amgen's Reimbursement Connection® Hotline: 1-800-272-9376

Otherwise, hang in there as best as you can. Rest when you can, and drink
lots
of fluids - it really can make a difference in how you feel.

Good luck, and here's hoping your therapy is successful!

/greyhackles
Thank you for the info. My hemoglobin had gone down to 8.4 when I finally
was approved for the Procrit. Now after being on it for 3 months my levels
went up over 12. That is the reason my insurance won't continue to pay for
the Procrit. My doctor claims my level will have to go back down before
they'll pay it again. I've finally started feeling better and don't look
forward to going back to how I did feel. On top of that my hair is now
falling out in clumps. I really want to stick with this treatment, but I
was ready to stop it before I got the Procrit months ago. I wasn't aware of
the other drugs you mentioned, I'll look into them. Thank you for your
encouragement too. I hope your treatment also has continued to be
successful.


.

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