Enbrel was approved !

enbrel was approved this morning from insurance !!!!! I'm currently sitting at my rheumy office waiting for them to get back from lunch I picked up a hard copy from my primary doctor because I wanted to drop it off myself so they can't say they didn't get the fax. I'm so happy ! called off work today so I could take care of this ! :) :)

More Enbrel Updates

I called my PC Doctor office today & was told to call back mon/tues because by then they should have an approval hopefully from insurance for Enbrel. So i'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will finally get moving! I received this Enbrel travel kit in the mail the other day, 2 of them actually. I posted a pic. It was free, it's a mini cooler & came with a booklet that teaches you how to self inject and just information and a sharps container and alcohol wipes, this will come in handy as I plan on going to FL for my spring break next month!! So i'm not sure if i'll have to take my Enbrel injections with me or not depending on if I start by then which i'm hoping too. I just need to get a thermometer to make sure it says cool enough on the plane ride. I'm really excited about my vacation, I haven't been out of California is about 3 years so it will be nice to get away and have some fun. My next appt with my rheumy isn't until the end of April which is more then 6 weeks from the last time I saw him ugh but they are booked. Besides that I've been feeling alright, still get sore & although I do have pain meds i've been trying to not take them if I really really don't need too. Anyways off to bed I think, feeling sleepy and I have work in the morning.

more progress

So I got a voice mail today from Erica over at my RA office. She finally got the tb results and my rheumy approved the OK for the prescription for Enbrel FINALLY! but now... what did she say? She has to FAX the prescription over to my PC Doctor who has to approve it THEN send it off to insurance for approval *sigh* at least i'm getting closer and closer I guess. I'm going to call my PC Doctor office next week to check up on things. I never thought it'd be this much work just to get on this medication =/

I've been feeling like complete shit lately. Hours are picking up at work again now that the scheduling issue's are fixed. So i'll be working about 30 hours these next two weeks. The good news is they are longer shifts 7-8 hours from now on so I will get more days off instead of working crap 4-5 hour shifts. Let's see how this will make me feel =( But gotta make money to pay those bills. Ugh.

Tomorrow is my nieces 1 year birthday party so i'm looking forward to that & spending some time with my family, let's hope i can have enough energy to get through the day. I'm so tired, I'm going to sleep now, just got home from laser tag with friends which was fun.

Medications and such...

I love waking up to doctor offices calling me in the morning. Good way to start my day don't you think? Well it's something i'll just have to get used too i suppose.

I was thankfully able to sleep through most of the night, didn't wake till around 5am at first. I've been feeling the side effect of prednisone which is now a dear friend of mine called insomnia. My Rheumatologist wants to take me off of it as soon as possible, he isn't a fan and i'm not going to argue =] one less pill i'll be having to take hopefully but this won't go into effect until my methotrexate kicks in. (which i mentioned in my previous blog entry) Speaking of medications why don't i give the run down on what i'm currently on.


Diclofenac 75 MG (2x a day)
Prednisone 5 MG (2x a day)
Omeprazole 20 MG (1x a day)
Methotrexate 2.5 MG (6x this past sunday & this sunday then moving up to 8x
every sunday after that)
Folic Acid 1 MG (Vitamin 1x a day)

I have to get blood work done every 6 weeks as well but my Rheumy gave me a standing order so i just have to go in whenever i get the chance every 6 weeks.

I've been researching a lot and have heard good things about something called enbrel. I plan on asking my Rheumy about it on my next trip. It is something that i would have to inject myself so i'm not sure i'm ready to do something like that but who knows. If it helps then i want to at least give it a try.

My approval from insurance went through today which is why i had the nice wake up call. So i'll be calling the Rheumatologist office soon here to schedule my next appointment. =D

It's been raining all week… no pouring all week is more like it here in southern cali. This weather makes me even more sore, can't wait till the sun comes back!