After my rheumy has been playing quite the tease the last few months, he finally said alright on the one visit I wasn't expecting it (last time he told me I had to wait until mid-April). The wait since the Rituxan infusions in November has been unbearable, so I am very excited to finally be doing something!
They should have my insurance pre-cert done in a couple of days. The first infusion I'll get at the same hospital where I had the Rituxan, but if all goes well, they said they can do the monthly infusions at my home. A nurse comes in for the half hour or whatever and I don't even have to go out. Plus, it will cost a lot less that way I'm sure.
The other wonderful thing is that by starting it a month earlier than I expected, there is at least now a chance that I could improve enough to get back to work before they automatically terminate me at the end of May.
In other rheumy visit news...
...my heavy metals screen came back negative so no mercury exposure from my job
...I went to my rheumy sock-less (even though it's still quite chilly here in the Northeast US) so I could show him my ginormous ankles and even he was surprised at their gravitational pull
...he continued my aquatic PT script, although I think the therapist is going to give me the boot in another week or so because there isn't much result there, which is a shame because I do enjoy my teeny tiny bit of exercise that I can do
...it appears (knock on wood) that my never-ending sinus infection has, in fact, ended, so I am going to schedule my lumbar epidural before the Orencia allows the infection back again
Hope it works for you. I have been on Orencia since Oct. It has been the best med for me by far.You go girl!
Good Luck!!!
Orencia was the very very best drug for me! I had allergic reactions to enbrel and remicaid, kineret did nothing and humira was not as effective as I would have liked.
I was on Orencia for a whole 2 years. It was great, I had to go off of it in January because I developed asthma and severe sinus infections while taking it. Orencia has a black box warning for individuals with chronic lung disease and my asthma (which I did not have b4 taking orencia) was becoming unmanageable with inhalers and singulair. I am on the highest dose of Advair now. I also had surgery to clear my sinsuses last November. I was so bummed about being taken off the Orencia. I loved that drug and I hope it improves your arthritis to the extent it helped me. I am going back on Humira for 6 months to see if my asthma improves if it does not seem to help I might be able to go back on the Orencia. The infusions only last about 1/2 hour. Compared to 4 hours with remicaid. I never had any type of allergic reaction with it. Never felt funny after an infusion. ........... I am going on and on mourning my loss of the drug I loved. Hope you have a wonderful experience and it allows you to return to work!
Lala, I have waited so long for a drug to work, I simply cannot imagine how frustrating it must be to finally find one, and then lose it. I have occasional problems with asthma now, so I hope that's not going to flare up with the Orencia. Guess I'll have to wait and see. I hope you asthma improves and you're able to go back on it.Good news! I've heard some really good things about Orencia and I hope it turns out to be everything you want. Keep us posted. I hope it works great for you, and you can go back to work!! Good luck with it!!Best of luck for much success and getting yourself back to work and back into your routine!
Good luck with the Orencia.
Also I hear the gutter isn't such a bad place to be. Maybe if Orencia works you can hang out there too
Nice to hear that sinus infection cleared up hope it stays that way. And I really hope the new meds work. Good luck to you.
Like I said, incase you missed it, I am happy that you finally get to start the Orencia. I hope it works well for you and for a LONG time.
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