2020 Med Changes

 In January this year my insurance company decided to change my most vital medications to generics. It was an epic failure. First off I was taken off Gamunex C and put onto Priovgen. Same dose 60g a day for two days every three weeks. I have been on Gamunex since 2010 and other than shifting the dosage to find a balance that worked for me I haven't had any problems. My labs always come back perfect. We started out with 50g a day for five days every six weeks then over the next few years as I stabilized it was changed to 55g a day for four days every three weeks. Then it was changed to 55g a day for three days every three weeks and then last year to 60g a day for two days. This January 2020 I was changed to privogen from gamunex. Same dose as the previous year of 60g a day for two days every three weeks. I didn't notice the difference right away but over time I noticed that I wasn't getting any energy boost like I did with Gamunex. I started getting horrible leg pain in the days right after my infusions. By June I started taking 16 hour naps the weekend before my infusions, By August I was taking them once a week, plus sleeping 12 hours a night, none of which is normal for me. I finally was able to see my Dr via video appointment in September and she wrote out a letter of medical necessity to get me back on Gamunex. I received my first dose in October and I am happy to report that I no longer need naps on a regular basis and no leg pain. 


    The other medication that was changed was lyrica to pregabulin. I was on 100mg of Lyrica for 13 years and my pain was managed. I wasn't pain free but it was managed. The med dose was the same 100mg of pregabulin, I was in so much pain I could barely move. It was bumped up to 200mg, still excruciating pain. 300mg still excruciating. I was so miserable it was finally changed to 900mg in July. It was better but the side effects were horrible. My face was numb, my vision was blurry and my tremors were getting out of hand. I finally got an appointment in person with my Dr. and she also wrote out a letter of medical necessity to get me back on Lyrica. I am happy to report that I am now on 200mg of Lyrica and my pain is controlled. My vision is normal and my face is no longer numb. My tremors are better they aren't back to normal yet but they are on the road to normal. 


    I'm all for saving money but for insurance companies to have this much power is wrong. I had no quality of life, I may not be able to hold a job because of my illness & I may not have children to take care of but that does not mean that my life has no value to society or the planet. I pay my premiums, let me get the medication that my doctor has prescribed to me, don't play with my life because you can. 


    That's it for today, As always believe in the magic of life.

Cheryl   

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