Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I've been diagnosed with RA overlap w/Lupus and Sjogren's for 6 years. I've taken various medication cocktails in those 6 years including Arava, Cellcept and currently on Triple Therapy (Plaquenil, Sulfasalazine and Methotrexate) for the last year. Slowly but surely the meds have quit working and I have a lot more swelling and stiffness and CRP has gone up.
My rheumy and I agree it is time to go on a biologic, but he says I cannot go on any TNF blocker biologics because I had thyroid cancer a couple of years ago. He says those biologics can reactivate the cancer and wants me to try Rituxan infusions instead. I know that Rituxan is by far a more expensive drug and in doing research on the financial assistance card says you must have tried a TNF biologic and failed it before you can get the assistance. Now I'm stressing over the cost. Can anyone whose taken Rituxan explain how they got assistance and what the infusion cost was for a full year. I'm still waiting for my insurance to approve it also. Thanks for any info.
My rheumy and I agree it is time to go on a biologic, but he says I cannot go on any TNF blocker biologics because I had thyroid cancer a couple of years ago. He says those biologics can reactivate the cancer and wants me to try Rituxan infusions instead. I know that Rituxan is by far a more expensive drug and in doing research on the financial assistance card says you must have tried a TNF biologic and failed it before you can get the assistance. Now I'm stressing over the cost. Can anyone whose taken Rituxan explain how they got assistance and what the infusion cost was for a full year. I'm still waiting for my insurance to approve it also. Thanks for any info.
On Monday, you need to phone whoever you get coverage from, and explain to them the situation. Find out what they say, before stressing over it!
In Canada, what the doctor says goes. I had to skip over a number of biologics because my liver does cannot take anything that raises enzymes. I had it all paid for, except a $25 copay fee, which I then got 80% back from my secondary private insurance.
I hope and pray this works out for you.
I didn't even bother trying for the assistance because one treatment goes way over our deductible, which means any and all medical things I need during the year is then fully covered by insurance. Hopefully, you will be approved quickly.
i am glad you posted your journey.
I am going to take it up with my rheumatologist when I see her.
I am on a strange thyroid journey of my own - the third needle biopsy is now out for genetic testing, and now the actemra that I am on has caused an abnormal hematology profile - low platelets and other abnormal blood work. I wish I could take rituxan but due to my lungs I can't. is orencia an option for you?
depot