Visit the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Website
Glad I found this board, I will quickly give my cc PMH I was diagnosed with CC approx 5 years ago after being unwell for years with an autoimmune illness.
I was on prednisone approx 30mg a day for almost 2 years as my CC was severe, then I was switched to entocort and this helped a lot, my issue is my husband lost his job and then lost his medical insurance 6 months ago and it has been a downhill slide since then.
I am very ill I have lost over 35 pounds I can barely function I still have to work and this has also become very difficult as each day passes.
I have now noticed my eyesight is changing I am not sure if this is from constant dehydration ( I try to keep hydrated ) but I do not know how long I can keep going like this.
I take immodium so I can work but this barely has an affect on me, I would appreciate the support.
Hi I am new to the board and very ill
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Dear kiwimumof4
welcome to the family. I am so sorry to read about your problems, but glad you found us. The people on this board will help you through this. I am not the expert (although sometimes get opinionated) and I am sure more experienced people like Tex will soon post to you. Entocort is expensive. IMHO a short-term and cheaper fix could be Pepto Bismol if you do not react to it. It is not a cure, but I took 9 pills a day for two months and it provided about an 80% improvement. Importantly it allowed me to gain weight. But it is not good to take for a long time and when I tapered off it my symptoms returned. However, if it works even short term it can buy you some time while working out other treatments.... and that would most certainly be diet. I will let others post about that, but I am sure you have already read here Gluten, Diary and probably Soy should be cut out of what you eat.
Again, welcome.... ask questions and let off your frustrations on this board. We walk the path to remission together!
All the best, Ant
welcome to the family. I am so sorry to read about your problems, but glad you found us. The people on this board will help you through this. I am not the expert (although sometimes get opinionated) and I am sure more experienced people like Tex will soon post to you. Entocort is expensive. IMHO a short-term and cheaper fix could be Pepto Bismol if you do not react to it. It is not a cure, but I took 9 pills a day for two months and it provided about an 80% improvement. Importantly it allowed me to gain weight. But it is not good to take for a long time and when I tapered off it my symptoms returned. However, if it works even short term it can buy you some time while working out other treatments.... and that would most certainly be diet. I will let others post about that, but I am sure you have already read here Gluten, Diary and probably Soy should be cut out of what you eat. Again, welcome.... ask questions and let off your frustrations on this board. We walk the path to remission together!
All the best, Ant
Yes, welcome, welcome! Sorry to hear of your situation. It's really frustrating when you find something that works like Entocort and then it becomes out of reach. One thing you should definitely do is let your doctors and local pharmacists know your insurance/financial situation and how well Entocort works for you. Many doctors and pharmacists have or are starting medication take-back programs for people who try something and it doesn't work for them or they just refilled a prescription and they don't need the medication anymore. They can't resell the medication since it has already been distributed, but if they know someone that can use it, some will check to make sure it's the correct medication in the bottle and give it to someone who they know can use it.
Karen
Karen
Hi Kiwi,
Welcome to our internet family. I'm sorry that you are so ill, but I'm glad that you found us. As you probably know, Entocort is one of the few meds for which a patient assistance program is not offered by the manufacturer, and it's arguably the best med for CC. Karen's suggestion is certainly worth a try, and how well that works out, probably depends on where you live.
If that doesn't work out, (or if you just want to get away from having to depend on a corticosteroid, on a long-term basis), I have to agree with Ant's suggestion. Considering your circumstances, an 8 week treatment program, using 8 or 9 Pepto-Bismol tablets per day, (or the equivalent, if you prefer the liquid form), will bring remission in about 85% of the cases. Some people are allergic to it, though, so lets hope that you are not one of them. If you start noticing neurological symptoms, stop taking it.
As ant mentioned, while it has been known to bring long-term remission to a few people, for most of us, a few days, or a few weeks after we stop taking it, the symptoms will return - unless we adopt the gluten-free diet, when, (or before), we start taking the Pepto. Most of us also have to cut casein out of our diet, (the primary protein in all dairy products), and about half of us also have to avoid all products that contain any form of soy. Actually, you can do it without the Pepto, (in case you can't tolerate the Pepto), but the Pepto will bring remission much faster than the diet alone, because it will help the gut to heal faster.
Obviously, you can also do the diet along with Entocort, and then after the gut has had time to heal, you can taper the Entocort dose, and eventually stop taking it altogether, and remain in remission by diet alone, (assuming that you are able to avoid all your intolerances). The reason the diet works, is because when the gene that causes MC is triggered, another gene is almost always triggered, that causes gluten sensitivity. Consequently, we are as sensitive to gluten as celiacs, but we test negative, when given the classic celiac blood tests. Certain amino acid sequences in casein, and soy, (and a few other things), are almost identical to the peptide in gluten to which we react, and the immune system confuses them with the gluten peptide, so that's why we react to a few of the other proteins. As I'm sure you realize, mainstream medicine pretends to be totally unaware of this gluten connection with MC, but it does exist, and a few mainstream medical researchers are beginning to investigate it, now. A few non-mainstream GI docs have been aware of it for many years, however, and Dr. Ken Fine, in Dallas, is apparently the first one to discover this connection, and he is the one who developed the Pepto treatment. Many GI docs suggest the Pepto treatment to their patients, but they always "forget" to mention that the GF diet is part of the treatment, and so their patients almost always relapse, soon after the treatment ends.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything - we've been through it, so we totally understand what you're having to deal with, and we'll try to help, in any way we can. Yes, you can get your life back. MC, (CC and LC), can't be cured, but the symptoms can certainly be controlled, and it can be done without expensive meds, if you're willing to follow the diet.
Tex (Wayne)
Welcome to our internet family. I'm sorry that you are so ill, but I'm glad that you found us. As you probably know, Entocort is one of the few meds for which a patient assistance program is not offered by the manufacturer, and it's arguably the best med for CC. Karen's suggestion is certainly worth a try, and how well that works out, probably depends on where you live.
If that doesn't work out, (or if you just want to get away from having to depend on a corticosteroid, on a long-term basis), I have to agree with Ant's suggestion. Considering your circumstances, an 8 week treatment program, using 8 or 9 Pepto-Bismol tablets per day, (or the equivalent, if you prefer the liquid form), will bring remission in about 85% of the cases. Some people are allergic to it, though, so lets hope that you are not one of them. If you start noticing neurological symptoms, stop taking it.
As ant mentioned, while it has been known to bring long-term remission to a few people, for most of us, a few days, or a few weeks after we stop taking it, the symptoms will return - unless we adopt the gluten-free diet, when, (or before), we start taking the Pepto. Most of us also have to cut casein out of our diet, (the primary protein in all dairy products), and about half of us also have to avoid all products that contain any form of soy. Actually, you can do it without the Pepto, (in case you can't tolerate the Pepto), but the Pepto will bring remission much faster than the diet alone, because it will help the gut to heal faster.
Obviously, you can also do the diet along with Entocort, and then after the gut has had time to heal, you can taper the Entocort dose, and eventually stop taking it altogether, and remain in remission by diet alone, (assuming that you are able to avoid all your intolerances). The reason the diet works, is because when the gene that causes MC is triggered, another gene is almost always triggered, that causes gluten sensitivity. Consequently, we are as sensitive to gluten as celiacs, but we test negative, when given the classic celiac blood tests. Certain amino acid sequences in casein, and soy, (and a few other things), are almost identical to the peptide in gluten to which we react, and the immune system confuses them with the gluten peptide, so that's why we react to a few of the other proteins. As I'm sure you realize, mainstream medicine pretends to be totally unaware of this gluten connection with MC, but it does exist, and a few mainstream medical researchers are beginning to investigate it, now. A few non-mainstream GI docs have been aware of it for many years, however, and Dr. Ken Fine, in Dallas, is apparently the first one to discover this connection, and he is the one who developed the Pepto treatment. Many GI docs suggest the Pepto treatment to their patients, but they always "forget" to mention that the GF diet is part of the treatment, and so their patients almost always relapse, soon after the treatment ends.
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything - we've been through it, so we totally understand what you're having to deal with, and we'll try to help, in any way we can. Yes, you can get your life back. MC, (CC and LC), can't be cured, but the symptoms can certainly be controlled, and it can be done without expensive meds, if you're willing to follow the diet.
Tex (Wayne)
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Welcome Kiwi!!! 
I'm so sorry that you are dealing not only with your MC, but also with having to be the main breadwinner.
I agree with all that's been written by others. I also am taking Entocort. By making diet changes (see my Avitar in the sidebar) along with Entocort, I've been able to reduce to just one 3 mg. pill every other day. You have come to the most comprehensive support site on MC that exists on the Internet. I'm sure you are reading and learning a lot on this site.
Please don't hesitate to ask for help - we are here to answer any questions you have. You will get better!
Gloria
I'm so sorry that you are dealing not only with your MC, but also with having to be the main breadwinner.
I agree with all that's been written by others. I also am taking Entocort. By making diet changes (see my Avitar in the sidebar) along with Entocort, I've been able to reduce to just one 3 mg. pill every other day. You have come to the most comprehensive support site on MC that exists on the Internet. I'm sure you are reading and learning a lot on this site.
Please don't hesitate to ask for help - we are here to answer any questions you have. You will get better!
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Hi Kiwi,
Will cut to the chase. Best course of action for you right now would be to immediately cut out all forms of gluten as fast as you find out where it's hidden. Eliminate dairy, at least with the sugar lactose, maybe later, you will have to eliminate all forms of dairy protein or things with casein in them, and some other things. It would be nice if you'd already had the more traditional diagnostic testing for celiac while you had insurance, but most if not all of us have a major sensitivity to gluten -- all things derived from barley, oats, WHEAT, rye, and things like spelt, whether or not your blood tests or even biopsies from the small intestine who flat villi on the path slide.
Since money is an issue, you probably don't want to fork over any private pay money for a test you could get from Enterolab, so if that's true, looks like we're talking elimination diet here. You don't have to buy alot of expensive gluten free processed junk foods. All you have to do is buy uninjected meats, fowl, and fish at some of the better stores, and eat simple things like canned or well cooked vegetables in small quantities for a while, until your gut begins to heal. You will need to read vegetables carefully. Try to get things that only have, say, salt, as a preservative, rather than any chemical sounding names. Frozen foods are often free of anything, and they are generally frozen right in the field, so you get them at peak of season and picking time. They are also usually cheaper than fresh...and fresher!
You can find wild salmon in a can anywhere -- make sure it's red -- then you'll KNOW it's got to be wild, and red tastes better anyway. It's much cheaper in a can.
I usually tell people starting out to get some of those Uncle Ben's boiling bags of white rice (get two different sizes at the store if you can find them) as when you are tired, anything that saves you time helps, and the energy you save you will need to start studying the gluten free diet. The rice is fairly gentle on the gut, For flavor, try adding a little gluten free chicken broth or chicken stock to cook it in.
If at first, you can't even tolerate the cooked til soft vegetables, try giving the vegetables to your family, and you drink the water it was cooked that's left in the pot on the stove. Many of the vitamins and other nutrients will have leached into that water, so at least, you get that.
For fruits, try eating canned pears and canned peaches in small quantities. The rice will help fill you up in the absence of bread, baked goods, and breaded foods. This sounds kind of boring at first, but this is where you need to start. You won't be able to tell by when you have a reaction, right away, whether or not what you are eating is working, at least not until you figure out the time it takes for your foods you are sensitive to to work their way through your gut -- that is different for all of us. If you have a reaction IMMEDIATELY after eating something, remember, it's not the food you just ate. That's what is so confusing to many people just starting out.
There are many on this site who are wonderful in terms of finding you interesting things to eat, but right now, we have a crisis, so get on it. If you feel bad in terms of your body, you may notice less pain and tightness if you have those symptoms. There are many symptoms that can go away pretty quickly if you have them to begin with. If you just go by the gut symptoms, it may take a little longer, but you should, at least, notice a slowing down of diarrhea using this method after a while. The other symptoms can really help, in a way, as they are the ones that tend to go away the fastest -- sometimes three days. Many times, continued diarrhea (often much milder) goes away as other sensitivities are removed, like dairy casein, soy protein, dietary yeast, and eggs. A very few other people on this site have a few other foods they had to remove. Go to foods as unprocessed as possible until you understand more. We need to get you feeling better right way, so this is why I'm laying it all out for you with hardly a "howdy do." Also, I'm short on time right now.
I do wish you the best. I know what it's like not to be able to work or perform while you are working. This is what worked for me. Believe me, when this is over, you'll be a better chef than you ever thought possible, but right now, keep it simple, and have some trust in those who've walked before you. If all goes well, you may be able to wean off that expensive medication. Just remember that once you are off the gluten, you can't get on and off of it like some other diets. It can even be dangerous to restart it.
Yours is the kind of post that brings back some VERY emotional times.
Stick around and you will get lots of help, and make some really wonderful friends!
Yours, Luce
Will cut to the chase. Best course of action for you right now would be to immediately cut out all forms of gluten as fast as you find out where it's hidden. Eliminate dairy, at least with the sugar lactose, maybe later, you will have to eliminate all forms of dairy protein or things with casein in them, and some other things. It would be nice if you'd already had the more traditional diagnostic testing for celiac while you had insurance, but most if not all of us have a major sensitivity to gluten -- all things derived from barley, oats, WHEAT, rye, and things like spelt, whether or not your blood tests or even biopsies from the small intestine who flat villi on the path slide.
Since money is an issue, you probably don't want to fork over any private pay money for a test you could get from Enterolab, so if that's true, looks like we're talking elimination diet here. You don't have to buy alot of expensive gluten free processed junk foods. All you have to do is buy uninjected meats, fowl, and fish at some of the better stores, and eat simple things like canned or well cooked vegetables in small quantities for a while, until your gut begins to heal. You will need to read vegetables carefully. Try to get things that only have, say, salt, as a preservative, rather than any chemical sounding names. Frozen foods are often free of anything, and they are generally frozen right in the field, so you get them at peak of season and picking time. They are also usually cheaper than fresh...and fresher!
You can find wild salmon in a can anywhere -- make sure it's red -- then you'll KNOW it's got to be wild, and red tastes better anyway. It's much cheaper in a can.
I usually tell people starting out to get some of those Uncle Ben's boiling bags of white rice (get two different sizes at the store if you can find them) as when you are tired, anything that saves you time helps, and the energy you save you will need to start studying the gluten free diet. The rice is fairly gentle on the gut, For flavor, try adding a little gluten free chicken broth or chicken stock to cook it in.
If at first, you can't even tolerate the cooked til soft vegetables, try giving the vegetables to your family, and you drink the water it was cooked that's left in the pot on the stove. Many of the vitamins and other nutrients will have leached into that water, so at least, you get that.
For fruits, try eating canned pears and canned peaches in small quantities. The rice will help fill you up in the absence of bread, baked goods, and breaded foods. This sounds kind of boring at first, but this is where you need to start. You won't be able to tell by when you have a reaction, right away, whether or not what you are eating is working, at least not until you figure out the time it takes for your foods you are sensitive to to work their way through your gut -- that is different for all of us. If you have a reaction IMMEDIATELY after eating something, remember, it's not the food you just ate. That's what is so confusing to many people just starting out.
There are many on this site who are wonderful in terms of finding you interesting things to eat, but right now, we have a crisis, so get on it. If you feel bad in terms of your body, you may notice less pain and tightness if you have those symptoms. There are many symptoms that can go away pretty quickly if you have them to begin with. If you just go by the gut symptoms, it may take a little longer, but you should, at least, notice a slowing down of diarrhea using this method after a while. The other symptoms can really help, in a way, as they are the ones that tend to go away the fastest -- sometimes three days. Many times, continued diarrhea (often much milder) goes away as other sensitivities are removed, like dairy casein, soy protein, dietary yeast, and eggs. A very few other people on this site have a few other foods they had to remove. Go to foods as unprocessed as possible until you understand more. We need to get you feeling better right way, so this is why I'm laying it all out for you with hardly a "howdy do." Also, I'm short on time right now.
I do wish you the best. I know what it's like not to be able to work or perform while you are working. This is what worked for me. Believe me, when this is over, you'll be a better chef than you ever thought possible, but right now, keep it simple, and have some trust in those who've walked before you. If all goes well, you may be able to wean off that expensive medication. Just remember that once you are off the gluten, you can't get on and off of it like some other diets. It can even be dangerous to restart it.
Yours is the kind of post that brings back some VERY emotional times.
Stick around and you will get lots of help, and make some really wonderful friends!
Yours, Luce
You've come to the right place
Hi, the wonderful folks on the forum know what they're talking about and they turned my life around. I joined a few months back once I found out I had LC. I was really sick and housebound with 20+ bouts of D (often explosive) a day, lost 2 dress sizes, and thought my life was over. I lived on Imodium and Pepto and often wore Depends. The pain was unbelievable.
The people here told me about gluten intolerance and MC - no medical folks did. I cut it out and saw an almost immediate benefit down to 3-5 bouts a day. I stopped raw fruit and veggies for further improvement. Receiving more advice and reading other posts, I cut out dairy and bingo, down to 1-3 bouts and not always D. I took out soy milk as well.
For the last 2 weeks I have been D free, 1 semi-normal bm a day, and my weight has stabilised, and I'm getting my life back. I have Pentasa to heal my colon, and hope eventually to be weaned off that, and then maybe re-introduce some of the things I cut out. I expect I'll have to stay gf for the rest of my life but so be it.
The bottom line of all this is that the meds didn't make me better; the diet advice I got here was what has put me back on my feet and I was well on the way to remission thanks to the forum before I got the meds. These folks have lived with MC, and they know more than the medical community. Plus, you can ask/tell them anything, including about bm's - no one else wants to hear these things!
XOXO to all - you're the best
The people here told me about gluten intolerance and MC - no medical folks did. I cut it out and saw an almost immediate benefit down to 3-5 bouts a day. I stopped raw fruit and veggies for further improvement. Receiving more advice and reading other posts, I cut out dairy and bingo, down to 1-3 bouts and not always D. I took out soy milk as well.
For the last 2 weeks I have been D free, 1 semi-normal bm a day, and my weight has stabilised, and I'm getting my life back. I have Pentasa to heal my colon, and hope eventually to be weaned off that, and then maybe re-introduce some of the things I cut out. I expect I'll have to stay gf for the rest of my life but so be it.
The bottom line of all this is that the meds didn't make me better; the diet advice I got here was what has put me back on my feet and I was well on the way to remission thanks to the forum before I got the meds. These folks have lived with MC, and they know more than the medical community. Plus, you can ask/tell them anything, including about bm's - no one else wants to hear these things!
XOXO to all - you're the best
Maxine
Welcome to the best place you can be. I am sorry about your husband's job and the insurance loss.
I am a new member also. My GI doc didn't say anything about diet, I learned that here. At first I was skeptical about the diet but I jumped on it very quickly as I was so ill and at the end of my rope. It can help if you give it a chance.
It is very difficult to work when you feel so sick. I am the insurance carrier for my family so I have to keep going.
Take heart and listen to the folks here. There is so much great information.
You have many people here ready to listen and encourage you. I hope you feel better soon. Connie
I am a new member also. My GI doc didn't say anything about diet, I learned that here. At first I was skeptical about the diet but I jumped on it very quickly as I was so ill and at the end of my rope. It can help if you give it a chance.
It is very difficult to work when you feel so sick. I am the insurance carrier for my family so I have to keep going.
Take heart and listen to the folks here. There is so much great information.
You have many people here ready to listen and encourage you. I hope you feel better soon. Connie
I certainly agree. Posts such as that make me very proud to be a part of this family, and Maxine, you are definitely a part of the family here.
Connie, your post is excellent, too, and filled with support.
Thank you both, for sharing,
Tex
Connie, your post is excellent, too, and filled with support.
Thank you both, for sharing,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
-
jodibelle352
- Angel
- Posts: 610
- Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 10:57 pm
- Location: Michigan
- Contact:
Welcome Kiwi:
OMG! Sweety, you are not alone anymore and you have no idea how much love, support and comfort you are about to recieve.
Your story is so much like myself and I assure you that with time we'll all do our best to help you.
I was dx with CC myself in March of 2008. I came across this board in June of 2008. However, the symptoms of CC were apparent in June of 2007 when my husband; David became very ill so I assumed everything I was experiencing was because of STRESS! Just like yourself I at one time weighed 156lbs. by the time I found my family here I weighed 82lbs. Today even though my weight is not exactly where I want it to be I now am teetering between 98lbs and 102lbs which is MUCH MUCH better than 82lbs. So Kiwi with time and support you will progress.
Much that you learn here will sometimes seem strange and you will even ask yourself at times;"How in the world am I ever going to gain weight and feel better eating what is suggested by these people?" Kiwi it truly works especially doing your best to become GF, DF and possibly even SF. Enterolabs will be suggested as a great dx tool which if your income is as compromised as mine was and still is being able to afford these labs just can't be worked in to our budget. My suggestion to you is to #1 start a journal making sure you write down all the things you are eating. By posting them here or even looking them over yourself start ELIMINATING things you've ate that have triggered you to encounter the Big D!
If you are at the same place with your illness as I was emotionally you are a 'train wreck'. Emotionally, medically and physically you are no longer functioning normally. When I first came to this family of friends I was riding the same train you are now and I was scared to death. Family and friends were harping on me to JUST EAT! Without realizing that everything I ate caused me pain as well as multiple trips to the bathroom. IOW, everything that went in my mout came out my bottom. I was only eating enough to survive or sustain my body to function.
Kiwi, with your financial situation with your husband loosing his insurance benifits there is no doubt in my mind that you should beable to qualify for Patient Assistance Programs that a Drug Company has for patients who can't afford medication. Entocort is made by Prometheus but distributed by Astra Zenica. Go online to AstraZenica.com and IMMEDIATELY apply for there Patient Assistance Program so that you can get your Entocort. Please do this Kiwi it is very important.
While you are waiting for a reply from Astra Zenica so that you can start on your medication A.S.A.P. contact one of the following: Family Independant Agency, Human Developement, United Way and above all else contact any and all churches in your area even if you are not a regular church member. Many counties have a Good Samaritan Organization made up of area churches to help families get much needed help especially medications.
Right now your depression level is about as low as it can be and we are here to do our very best to bring you back to where you need to be physically and emotionally. DO NOT HESITATE TO UNLOAD ON US! That's why we are here.
Hope some of my suggestions at this time will help you. You have no idea how many 'Guardian Angels' you have watching over you at this time who really want to help you. Including myself.
Love and God Bless:
Jodi
OMG! Sweety, you are not alone anymore and you have no idea how much love, support and comfort you are about to recieve.
Your story is so much like myself and I assure you that with time we'll all do our best to help you.
I was dx with CC myself in March of 2008. I came across this board in June of 2008. However, the symptoms of CC were apparent in June of 2007 when my husband; David became very ill so I assumed everything I was experiencing was because of STRESS! Just like yourself I at one time weighed 156lbs. by the time I found my family here I weighed 82lbs. Today even though my weight is not exactly where I want it to be I now am teetering between 98lbs and 102lbs which is MUCH MUCH better than 82lbs. So Kiwi with time and support you will progress.
Much that you learn here will sometimes seem strange and you will even ask yourself at times;"How in the world am I ever going to gain weight and feel better eating what is suggested by these people?" Kiwi it truly works especially doing your best to become GF, DF and possibly even SF. Enterolabs will be suggested as a great dx tool which if your income is as compromised as mine was and still is being able to afford these labs just can't be worked in to our budget. My suggestion to you is to #1 start a journal making sure you write down all the things you are eating. By posting them here or even looking them over yourself start ELIMINATING things you've ate that have triggered you to encounter the Big D!
If you are at the same place with your illness as I was emotionally you are a 'train wreck'. Emotionally, medically and physically you are no longer functioning normally. When I first came to this family of friends I was riding the same train you are now and I was scared to death. Family and friends were harping on me to JUST EAT! Without realizing that everything I ate caused me pain as well as multiple trips to the bathroom. IOW, everything that went in my mout came out my bottom. I was only eating enough to survive or sustain my body to function.
Kiwi, with your financial situation with your husband loosing his insurance benifits there is no doubt in my mind that you should beable to qualify for Patient Assistance Programs that a Drug Company has for patients who can't afford medication. Entocort is made by Prometheus but distributed by Astra Zenica. Go online to AstraZenica.com and IMMEDIATELY apply for there Patient Assistance Program so that you can get your Entocort. Please do this Kiwi it is very important.
While you are waiting for a reply from Astra Zenica so that you can start on your medication A.S.A.P. contact one of the following: Family Independant Agency, Human Developement, United Way and above all else contact any and all churches in your area even if you are not a regular church member. Many counties have a Good Samaritan Organization made up of area churches to help families get much needed help especially medications.
Right now your depression level is about as low as it can be and we are here to do our very best to bring you back to where you need to be physically and emotionally. DO NOT HESITATE TO UNLOAD ON US! That's why we are here.
Hope some of my suggestions at this time will help you. You have no idea how many 'Guardian Angels' you have watching over you at this time who really want to help you. Including myself.
Love and God Bless:
Jodi
May God and All His Angels, watchover, protect and guide you "One Day At A Time".
Jodi,
Actually, I believe that AstraZeneca sold the distribution rights for Entocort EC to Prometheus Laboratories, (rather than the other way around). You are correct, in pointing out that AstraZeneca used to have a great patient assistance program. Since they've sold the rights, though, they no longer have a patient assistance program for Entocort. Unfortunately, the last time I checked, Prometheus has no patient assistance program in place, either, which makes it one of the few drug companies that does not offer patient assistance on expensive drugs that they sell. I could be mistaken about this, but the last time I searched for patient assistance programs for Entocort, I came up empty handed. If anyone has any information to the contrary, please don't hesitate to correct me.
Love,
Tex
Actually, I believe that AstraZeneca sold the distribution rights for Entocort EC to Prometheus Laboratories, (rather than the other way around). You are correct, in pointing out that AstraZeneca used to have a great patient assistance program. Since they've sold the rights, though, they no longer have a patient assistance program for Entocort. Unfortunately, the last time I checked, Prometheus has no patient assistance program in place, either, which makes it one of the few drug companies that does not offer patient assistance on expensive drugs that they sell. I could be mistaken about this, but the last time I searched for patient assistance programs for Entocort, I came up empty handed. If anyone has any information to the contrary, please don't hesitate to correct me.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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jodibelle352
- Angel
- Posts: 610
- Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 10:57 pm
- Location: Michigan
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Hi Tex:
Thank You so much for the update and heads up on Astra Zenica. I know personally because of David and I both being on Medicare and having Medicare Part D for prescriptions that soooooo many Patient Assistance Programs will no longer help us. So this info is very valuable to all of us.
I still feel that Kiwi needs to look into some of other places I have mentioned including area churches for help. These usually are not known to the public as they don't advertise but if you call and ask they just might lead you to the help you need.
GSK is also another patient assistance that has made it almost next to impossible to qualify for there help.
Drug companies no longer make available to doctor offices sample meds like they did before. It's very troubling how many doors just shut in your face without even listening to your circumstances. Things truly need to change.
Love and God Bless:
Jodi
Thank You so much for the update and heads up on Astra Zenica. I know personally because of David and I both being on Medicare and having Medicare Part D for prescriptions that soooooo many Patient Assistance Programs will no longer help us. So this info is very valuable to all of us.
I still feel that Kiwi needs to look into some of other places I have mentioned including area churches for help. These usually are not known to the public as they don't advertise but if you call and ask they just might lead you to the help you need.
GSK is also another patient assistance that has made it almost next to impossible to qualify for there help.
Drug companies no longer make available to doctor offices sample meds like they did before. It's very troubling how many doors just shut in your face without even listening to your circumstances. Things truly need to change.
Love and God Bless:
Jodi
May God and All His Angels, watchover, protect and guide you "One Day At A Time".
Jodi,
You're right, there certainly may be local assistance available, if you look in the right places, (such as the ones you suggested). The biggest problem is the fact that the drug companies rip off the consumers of this country, in the first place - we pay the highest prices for drugs in the world. Waaaaaaaaaay higher than most other countries. There's no moral justification for it - they do it, simply because they can get away with it. There's nothing to stop them. Their lobbyists "persuade" our legislators to not only look the other way, (by making huge campaign contributions, and probably payoffs, in some cases), but they've even managed to convince them to pass laws preventing us from buying cheaper drugs from other countries. As a result, congress has virtually granted the drug companies a license to steal. It's interesting how free trade is promoted by our government, for almost all products, except for drugs - the drug manufacturers are protected from all outside competition. What a deal!
Love,
Tex
You're right, there certainly may be local assistance available, if you look in the right places, (such as the ones you suggested). The biggest problem is the fact that the drug companies rip off the consumers of this country, in the first place - we pay the highest prices for drugs in the world. Waaaaaaaaaay higher than most other countries. There's no moral justification for it - they do it, simply because they can get away with it. There's nothing to stop them. Their lobbyists "persuade" our legislators to not only look the other way, (by making huge campaign contributions, and probably payoffs, in some cases), but they've even managed to convince them to pass laws preventing us from buying cheaper drugs from other countries. As a result, congress has virtually granted the drug companies a license to steal. It's interesting how free trade is promoted by our government, for almost all products, except for drugs - the drug manufacturers are protected from all outside competition. What a deal!
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.