Recommended UC Support Group - CCFA

I called up CCFA and they were very helpful. They have a new forum here that should help people with UC support each other. I added a link to CCFA in my sidebar because they sounded very professional on the phone and I'll take any support that I can get!

They were eager to provide info and I think their site has alot of good stuff to read, too.

The next step.

Since Asacol HD is too expensive now, the doc prescribed Balsalazide. He said they have it in generic form. I will still pay the full cost of this medicine but I hope it is cheaper. I will also take Rowasa but that is not a long term thing, again because of the cost.

Nothing has been too effective so far, hopefully Rowasa will help more since it is basically directly applying the medicine to the effected area.

We are trying a patchwork of things at this point. I hate having to put so many different drugs into my system, especially steroids, but there doesn't seem to be a good alternative because of insurance issues!

The discount card program for Asacol HD changed started this year. I paid $50 monthly last year and only get $50 off now. Apparently if you have a insurance plan that covers Asacol HD already, with the changes to the plan you could pay nothing for the meds. Good for some but not for me. =/

Wow.

My Asacol HD meds cost me $640 this month! Insane. The discount card program ran out at the end of 2010, I called the manufacturer to check. Now they just give about $50 off... which still runs me over six hundred big ones.

I called Humana about insurance for me, they can only offer me supplemental insurance. When I told her how much my meds cost this month, their rep on the phone said 'Wow.' Wow, indeed.

The lady at the pharmacy looked at how much I had to pay and she said 'God bless you.'

I am not sure what to do. I will look into ordering from Canada, I suppose.

A nono from the doc!

Doc says a big NO to taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It seems like it may aggravate the problem for those with UC. This includes Aleve, ibuprofen and others like it. I don't like taking painkillers anyways unless I absolutely have to. Maybe I just have dull nerves!

Probiotic yogurt etc.

My doctor recommended I eat probiotic yogurt and other such products. Anything would help me at this point. He also suggested Accuflora like I wrote about previously. A pill is ok but I really prefer solid foods for this kind of thing, like most people. Kefir tastes great, it is kind of strong but mixes well with my protein powder.

Asacol HD Discount Card

I am on Asacol HD. I am really getting sick, literally, of taking these big pills 3 times a day. They make me nauseous. Seems like I don't have any other good options.

Interestingly, once I get all my symptoms to go away the doc said I could continue taking only this medicine to keep symptoms away for good (hopefully).

If Asacol HD is too expensive for you, ask and search around for info on the discount card. This is a must and should make your costs more manageable if you are qualified.

Citrucel, you see.

My doc recommended Citrucel to help with UC and to straighten out general digestion issues. This was after I told him Metamucil was not effective for me.

The pink lemonade Metamucil tastes fine I think, and the standard orange flavor for Citrucel tastes even better in my opinion.

Metamucil is more natural than Citrucel but the latter is better for me!