Do You Struggle with Arthritis Treatment Decisions?

Going to the rheumatologist can be overwhelming sometimes, especially when you are given multiple options for the treatment of your arthritis.  How can you decide what is best?  It is not like the days when aspirin was the standard of care.

Your rheumatologist will, of course, give you his/her professional opinion on which treatments you should pursue. However, it is ultimately up to you to decide if the treatment is best for you and your body.

Here are some tips to help you decide:

1. Make sure you understand your treatment options
2. What are the positive and negative aspects of those treatments? (Do your research)
3. How long before the treatments are expected to work?
4. Will your health insurance cover the treatment?  If not, can you afford the treatment?
5. Are you willing to commit to the treatment?
6. Will the treatment conflict with any other health problems?
7. Are these my only options?

The good news is that you do not need to make a decision immediately.  Making a decision without all of the facts does not do you or anyone else any good.

Ask for a couple of days to think about it.  Go home and take some time to go through the steps.  Do your research. Then, make the decision that is right for you.

One more tip: When deciding between multiple treatment options, you may want to write/type these steps in a more visually-appealing format such as a grid or spreadsheet.  This will help you to compare your options.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Can I Take Self-Injectable Meds or Syringes on an Airplane?

Summer is upon us and with that brings summer travel and vacations.  If you take injectable medications to treat your arthritis, can you bring those with you when you fly to your destination?

According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), “All medications in any form or type (for instance, pills, injectables, or homeopathic) and associated supplies (syringes, Sharps disposal container, pre-loaded syringes, jet injectors, pens, infusers, etc.) are allowed through the security checkpoint once they have been screened.”

TSA also indicates that medications do not need to be labeled.  However, in order to prevent any hold ups, I would recommend labeling your medications or keep them in their original containers that contain prescription labels.

Medications and supplies are usually screened via x-ray.  However, TSA allows you to request visual screening instead.  If you prefer the visual screening option, TSA offers these guidelines:

• You must request a visual inspection before the screening process begins; otherwise your medications and supplies will undergo X-ray inspection.
• If you would like to take advantage of this option, please have your medication and associated supplies separated from your other property in a separate pouch/bag when you approach the Security Officer at the walk-through metal detector.
• Request the visual inspection and hand your medication pouch/bag to the Security Officer.
• In order to prevent contamination or damage to medication and associated supplies and/or fragile medical materials, you will be asked at the security checkpoint to display, handle, and repack your own medication and associated supplies during the visual inspection process.
• Any medication and/or associated supplies that cannot be cleared visually must be submitted for X-ray screening. If you refuse, you will not be permitted to carry your medications and related supplies into the  sterile area.

Now that you know the rules for flying with your meds, go have a great vacation!  But don’t forget to keep your injectables at the proper temperature during travel!

Ways to Save on Prescription Drugs – Part 2

In Ways to Save on Prescription Drugs – Part 1, you were given some options of saving money on prescription drugs.  The options included various organizations and tips to lower your medicine costs.  Let’s go over even more options to help you afford your medication.

The County Rx card is a program that is available based on the county you live in.  You register for the discount program online.  It is FREE.  After registering, print out your County Rx card and give it to your pharmacy the next time you need a prescription filled.  You can even look up the price of the prescription drug you need and participating pharmacies online.  This card is great if you are uninsured.  You may even be able to use it if you do have health insurance, but have a deductible to satisfy before prescription drugs are covered.

PatientAssistance.com has a database of more than 1,000 prescription assistance programs.  It is a non-profit organization that primarily helps uninsured Americans.  Simply search for your prescription drug name and find the available programs.  Then, register for a free PatientAssistance.com account and manage your program application from their site.

Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief program provides assistance with copayments for insured Americans.  You must meet their medical and financial requirements in order to be eligible for the program.  Check their list of diagnoses to see if your disease or condition is covered.  All types of arthritis may not be covered.

HealthWell Foundation provides assistance for prescription drug copays, coinsurance and deductibles as well as health insurance premiums and other selected out-of-pocket health care costs. Eligibility for assistance is dependent on medical, financial and health insurance status.  Check their list of illnesses to see if your disease or condition is covered.  All types of arthritis may not be covered.  Their list may change so check back if your condition is not initially included.

NeedyMeds.org provides a database of assistance programs.  They also provide information on state-sponsored programs.  Just select your state and the results will show you state programs with links.

In closing, please be cautious when looking for prescription drug assistance.  Some prescription assistance programs may charge a small fee, but you should not have to pay any organization to find prescription assistance programs for you.  The information is out there for FREE.

Can Vitamins Be Harmful?

As an arthritic, who takes a TNF-blocker, my immune system has been almost non-existent in the last six months.  (I’m sure that many of you can relate.)  In an attempt to improve my health and my immune system, I began taking a daily vitamin pack.   Each pack had several pills to provide overall health.  I was so excited to find something that I thought would pull me out of the frequent bouts of sickness.  However, that was short-lived.

After about three weeks of taking these vitamins, I began having heart palpitations.  This was not a sudden onset.  At first, it happened once or twice a day.  Then, increased to the point where they would occur several times in just a few minutes.   When I realized that they were getting worse, I scheduled an appointment for my physician. 

So after two appointments with my general physician, trips to pick up and drop off a 24-hour heart monitor, wearing the heart monitor and documenting palpitations for that 24-hour period, bloodwork, four hours in the emergency room and an appointment with a cardiologist, it turns out that the culprit was the vitamins.  Can you believe that?  Because the palpitations started slowly, I did not suspect the vitamins.

These vitamins were distributed by a well known company, so I don’t believe there was a problem with the quality of the vitamins.  Instead, I think that there are so many things in vitamins that may contradict with medicine that we are already taking or our bodies may just have a reaction from a combination of some of the ingredients.  It is difficult to know exactly what caused the reaction. 

I have been off of the vitamins for about two and a half weeks now and am feeling back to normal.  Well, as normal as can be anyway. 

My suggestion to you, if you start taking new vitamins, is to be aware of how you feel while taking them.  You know your body.  If you don’t feel right, stop taking them and call your doctor if necessary. 

I also recommend discussing the vitamins with your doctor before taking them.  Obviously, your doctor will not always know how you will react on the vitamins, but it is good to let them know what kind of vitamins you want to take and find out if they will conflict with your current medications.