HELLOOOO from my new kidney!

[Laurie]

I'm sorry you're having a bad day. I had the same problem with Valcyte. They told me my co-pay would be $623.00 a month. My social worker had me apply for a grant from the American Kidney Fund and Southwest Transplant Foundation. So far I have received $250.00 from the Southwest Transplant Foundation.
I have since found out that my insurance company considers Valcyte to be a specialty drug and requires it to be filled with a specialty pharmacy, so if I use their pharmacy the cost will be $100.00 per month. (Thank goodness).
Maybe you could check with your insurance company.
I hope you have a better day tomorrow and you get assistance with you meds. 

[okarol]

Jenna was on Valcyte for 3 months.

Roche has a patient assistance program for CellCept and Valcyte too.

I found out about it here: http://www.needymeds.com/generic_list.taf?_function=name&name=valganciclovir
which leads you to the program site here:
http://www.rocheusa.com/programs/patientassist.asp

You should contact them right away.

[kidney4traci]

Donnia, good to hear from you, and sorry you are stressed over meds and insurance.  Karol, you are just an angel, and so helpful with your experience and knowledge.  I hope you get this all worked out - the hospital staff should have prepared you more for what meds might you need and the coverage you had,etc.  Seems they were slacking off.   Glad to hear the new kidney is working!!  Are you drinking lots of water yet?

[donnia]

I am drinking quite  a bit of water, but because of my fluids that I still have on from surgery ( about 8 lbs worth now) I try not to go too far.  They have me on 40 of Lasix to draw those fluids off.  I think when we get that off, I  will feel more comfortable drinking,

[twirl]

please drink a big glass of water for me
so happy for you
hang in there
God bless you and your donor
 

[Bajanne]

Belated congratulations on your new kidney!!

So sorry that you had a bad day, but I am glad that you can share it with us and so our caring thoughts and prayers are with you all the way.

I am praying that everything works out well for you.  I appreciate your donor very much - what a wonderful person!!!

Keep on keeping on!!   

[MyssAnne]

Definitely, my congrats on a good transplant, but sucks to the medical community for loading you with the pressure of medical bills!!
Duh!!!

Twits.  Listen to Karol, she knows whereof she speaks, as do a lot of people on here.  Apply everywhere you can, or have your SW do it for you!!! SHE'S not recuperating!!!!

[monrein]

I hope things are looking up a bit Donnia, that the fluid is coming off, the creatinine staying down and the financial situation getting sorted out.  There are so many factors that it can be overwhelming.  Hugs to you and of course to Joyce.

[angela515]

I don't know why they troubled you by telling you about the cost of the medicine because my social worker told me before hand Valcyte pays for everything 100% if your insurance don't, and you take it for 3 months post transplant.

Anyways, glad your creatnine is doing good, and yes, you will have good and bad days as is life. Congrats! 

[donnia]

Things are going much better.  I got the funding for the Valcyte, so that stress is gone... labs are looking great!  Just got word my creatinine has gone down from 1.1 to 1.0   

[pelagia]

great news Donnia, about the Valcyte and the creatinine 

[donnia]

Well, I am finally home and loving it.  I never realized exactly how comfortable my bed is!!  I guess it was worth the $$$$  I spent for it 

I am feeling good, but tired... took a 2 hour nap today at lunch.  I talked to my transplant coordinator and she said my Phosphorus level is still a little low but going up.... I think it was 2.1 today.

My WBC count on Wednesday was high at 16 so we were watching that closely... today it was 9.9 I think.  My creatinine is up from 1.0 to 1.1 .... which freaked me out, but my TC said that is normal, it could be just what I ate yesterday.

I am starting to have cramps in my hands and feet.   I will talk to my TC about that on Monday.

[pelagia]

So happy to hear that you are home. 

My husband has been having cramps in his hands and feet too.  He's going to ask about it when he has blood drawn on Monday.  Maybe we can compare.

[waitlisted]

Late congratulations on the new Kidney!!! 

[pelagia]

Happy 6 month Kidneyversary Donnia 
 
 
 

[donnia]

AAAWWWWW!  Thank you so much!!!  It is so hard to believe it has already been 6 months.  I went to my tx doctor on Nov. 22 and they did blood work.  My Cylex level was high (701).  They like it between 250-500.  They said under 250 you have too much risk of infection and over 500 you have too much risk of rejection.  I have to go back this month to redo the labs.  They did say that most of the Cylex labs were high so they think it is lab error.  I am pretty nervous about it.

[kellyt]

I hope it was a lab error!  I'll be thinking of you!