How much does Lyme cost you per month?

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How much does Lyme cost you per month? (Page 1)

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Author	Topic: How much does Lyme cost you per month?
Tincup Frequent Contributor Posts: 2234 From: The Moon Registered: Jun 2004	posted 26 February 2005 23:57 Thanks again to everyone responding. I am not sure this has been done before.. but I would like to know about how much Lyme disease costs you (one person) per month? I am thinking of using these figures to share with the Senate folks... or maybe in an article? Anyone willing and able.. can you make an estimate and let me know? It took me about 10 minutes to do mine.. just rough estimates are fine. I KNOW it will vary month to month.. and will change if you are better or worse.. and depending what meds you are on. But if you can.. try to get a decent idea and add it up using this for an example... Example- You have one MRI in a year. It would cost about $1,200.00. Divided up that would be about $100.00 per month. Got it? If insurance pays.. still count it as YOUR expenses.. and estimate. **Please also indicate what tick borne diseases you have.. and how long you've been sick.** Thanks!!! Medical (LLMD or other) doctors visits Chiropractic visits Natural doctors visits Nursing services Specialists, eye, ENT, obgyn, gastro, etc Physical therapy Blood tests Prescription drugs (antibiotics, pain meds, yeast, seizure meds, antidepressants, etc) Supplements (from vitamins to sea salt, etc) First Aid supplies- (examples IV supplies, wrist braces, heating pad, ace bandages, therometer, tweezers, sun tan lotions, etc) Tests (example- Xrays, MRI, CAT scans, EKG, EMG, Spinal taps, neuro, cognative) Special diets (additional costs for eating low carb, low sugar, fresh foods, etc) Over The Counter medicine (sinus, asprin, Rolaids, Pepto, etc) Help in/around home (cleaning, grass cutting, book keeping, car repairs, other chores you could do before but can't now) Additional transportation (to/from doctors offices, pharmacy, labs, etc) Equipment (oxygen, eye glasses, wheelchair, blood pressure cuff, hot tub, sauna, cane, wheelchair lifts and ramp, exercise equipment, gym or pool fees, yoga classes, etc) Misc. expenses Lost wages and benefits Total monthly expenses [This message has been edited by Tincup (edited 27 February 2005).] IP: Logged
Corinne E Frequent Contributor Posts: 424 From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada Registered: Oct 2003	posted 27 February 2005 02:58 Hi Tincup, Will tell you tomorrow, it's too late to figure out right now. Although I was going to say too much. IP: Logged
HaplyCarlessdave Frequent Contributor Posts: 3748 From: ithaca, NY, usa Registered: Nov 2000	posted 27 February 2005 03:17 When I was the worst, and on the most expensive drugs, around $1k a month or maybe a little more, including direct doctor expense. But, oh yes-- if you include transportatation it goes up to $1100 . And thats still low, perhaps- sometimes there was some pretty friggin' expensive "lab work", too. And this is direct epense . Combined with lost income the expense gets even higher. DaveS IP: Logged
HaplyCarlessdave Frequent Contributor Posts: 3748 From: ithaca, NY, usa Registered: Nov 2000	posted 27 February 2005 03:22 including lost income and physical rehab, I'd revi$e my estimate to an average of nearly $2000 a month.... DS IP: Logged
shadow13 Frequent Contributor Posts: 780 From: Binghamton, NY Registered: Aug 2001	posted 27 February 2005 03:40 When on IV's that cost alone is almost $1500 per week - not counting the home nurse which is probably about $100 a week at least. Right now using your list and including lost wages and benes my monthly expenses are about $5480. IP: Logged
shassler64 Frequent Contributor Posts: 773 From: Kiama,Australia Registered: Dec 2002	posted 27 February 2005 06:37 Lost wages-$5ooo per month Medications-$1000 per month Tests and docs-$150 per month Supplements-$100 per month chiro-$200 per month Acupuncture-$50 per month cleaning-$100 per month Total $6600 approx IP: Logged
lymemomtooo Frequent Contributor Posts: 748 From: SE PA Registered: Mar 2004	posted 27 February 2005 08:02 Not sure..Will try later..How about the following: Almost no friends Lost junior year in high school Not allowed to attend full day or extra curriculars for half of senior year.Now no desire to do so. Rules regularly changing for school Not physically and mentally able to drive or get learner's permit Never invited to a dance or attended on own Unable to continue varsity sports or any sports. Was an athlete. Constant stares by peers and teachers Always feels she is dirty.Takes 3 showers a day minimum. Often feel of being an aggrivation going to nurses office Obvious dislike by principal Some telling you to stop talking about it to just do it..Commit suicide Invited to one party in last 2 years Severe and chronic pain Extreme level of OCD Unable to relate in any loving way to family or her own pets Fear of every day Dispair of continuing life due in her mind too lack of significant improvement..No hope. Unable to date. No real takers.. Numerous suicide attempt including current one 2-25-05 Numerous visits in psych wards or psych hospitals Low self esteem when she used to be one of the big fish on campus Hopes for being a Vet probably unatainable Constant love for the outdoors and woods has now become a fear. Was on the school district envirothon team for 5 years. Cognitive skills so deterioriated that unable to take SAT's. Had been a distinguished honor student. Fun loving personality down the drain Antagonistic to many Unable to participate in family functions Turned 18 without a good grasp on reality. Currently signed a hospital form to not let parents get info from the hospital..$#*^ The list could go on for a much longer time,forget the meds and Dr's bills, how do you put a price on this monthly? I suppose this is not what you want, but I think this is so much more expensive than the other things.So this monthly bill is bankruptcy!!with the constant potential for loss of life. Sorry Tincup, I am sure this is not what you want but I am so po'ed with lyme and bartonella currently that this is invading all of my thoughts..lymemomtooo [This message has been edited by lymemomtooo (edited 27 February 2005).] IP: Logged
Lymetoo Frequent Contributor Posts: 16145 From: Missouri Texan Registered: Feb 2001	posted 27 February 2005 08:11 If you're talking about only medical expenses, I would say $600 a month. lymemomtoo said it all IP: Logged
cigi Frequent Contributor Posts: 301 From: Upstate, NY USA Registered: Dec 2004	posted 27 February 2005 08:29 Right now, between docs, meds, supplements for me and my son around $800.00 per month. Some months it's more - rarely less. Cigi [This message has been edited by cigi (edited 27 February 2005).] IP: Logged
fatigued15 Flash Member Posts: 29 From: NY Registered: Oct 2004	posted 27 February 2005 08:55 This is a scary one to admit too. With supplements, doctor visits, travel, food, acupucnture, Qigong we spend at least $1050.00 a month out of pocket. ABX covered by insurance (for now I think it is only a matter of time.) are another $600.00 a month. My daughter has been sick for a little over 2 years. We are new to Lyme she was dx about 4 months ago. IP: Logged
lynnic86 Frequent Contributor Posts: 162 From: PA Registered: Feb 2003	posted 27 February 2005 11:35 tincup: gotta figure this one out and not able to today.. will get back to ya. lynne IP: Logged
ShelleyA Frequent Contributor Posts: 568 From: Bel Air, Md Registered: Oct 2000	posted 27 February 2005 12:06 Easily $100/mo Inability to work.....no income so ??? prob. lose $1500-2000 in wages/mo. In 1990's I prob. had spend or lost around $20,000 in medical bills and loss of work...travel for answers (Mayo)...inability to cont. education for higher wages for higher paying job..... IP: Logged
lymeyinok Frequent Contributor Posts: 45 From: Norman, OK, USA Registered: Jun 2004	posted 27 February 2005 12:13 Will take some time to figure later the cost of doctor visits and travel out of state and the fact that insurance covers only 1/3rd of these dr. visits and tests. Out of pocket - not covered by insurance - monthly: compounded heparin troches, hormones, oral antibiotics, supplements - $800-$1000/mo !!! This blew me away when I figured it up! As lymemomtooo put it - how do you figure the loss of your 'normal' life? PRICELESS !!!!!! IP: Logged
NP40 Frequent Contributor Posts: 669 From: Northern Wisconsin Registered: Jan 2005	posted 27 February 2005 14:01 Let's see, son was diagnosed Oct. 04. Insurance costs since then approximately $75,000 divided by 5 months = $15,000 per-month. Out of pocket meds = $1,000 per-month Supplements = $100 per-month Lost wages ? Don't even want to think about it. Total = $16,100 per-month Dem insurance execs is a reeeeeeeeal smart fella's, just look at da money they's a savin' ! [This message has been edited by NP40 (edited 27 February 2005).] IP: Logged
TheCrimeOfLyme Frequent Contributor Posts: 2547 From: Greensburg, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 2003	posted 27 February 2005 14:20 Meds, supplements: 200.00 a month. Insurance pays for all scripts though, so this is my out of pocket expense. Lost wages: 2,000.00 a month, as I have to work VERY close to home in a lower paying job, instead of in the city where my degree is worth alot more Other than that, I can't put a price on the life stolen from me, or the time spent watching my kids grow- that I didnt get to do. IP: Logged
kam Frequent Contributor Posts: 2661 From: CA USA Registered: Dec 2002	posted 27 February 2005 16:42 I am very limited on what I can spend each month. When I have it: Epsom Salts: $20 est. Podi Patches: $100 a month for first two months. Approximately $50 a month now for maintenance Vitamins: whatever is on sale Excedrin: I go through one bottle a month. I'll get back to you on this as I am working on medical costs right now. Clay: I think that was $100...don't know how long it will last me at this point. Power Chair was donated. Not sure how I am going to pay for batteries when they need replacing or wheels. Amtrak: $60 approximately every 3 months. LLMD: $190 every 3 months Transportation (Gas Money): this varies too. Some people do not charge me and others do. I recently had a blood test to check liver, etc. Not sure what that cost is. In the past had MRI, Cat Scans, ...sorry brain is going...will come back to this. Sorry, I am unable to come up with bottom line right now. Need to walk through each thing as it pops in my mind...teflon mind. IP: Logged
monkeyshines Frequent Contributor Posts: 169 From: Northern VA Registered: Oct 2004	posted 27 February 2005 16:46 If I understood correctly, based on last year I'd say about $4,000 a month was paid on my behalf. I definitely have lyme. Babesia suspected. I've been strongly symptomatic 4.5 years. Not sure if I had it much longer and suppressed it. IP: Logged
arg82 Frequent Contributor Posts: 1779 From: Rochester, MA Registered: Oct 2000	posted 27 February 2005 18:30 Okay, I didn't go indepth with figuring this out, but here's what I came up with: Per month (all amounts are approximate): LLMD visit: $350 Travel expenses: $75-100 (including staying over during bad weather) Rx Meds: $120 (co-pay, not total med. cost) Supplements: $150 Insurance (COBRA): $300 (would be free if I was able to be in school full-time) Monthly Nursing Visit (while off IVs): $60 Various testing: $100 (not sure if this is accurate. doesn't include routine labwork covered by insurance) Last year I was on IV antibiotics for 3 months at about $1000/week. When averaged out over the whole year, that comes to $1000/month. Other IV supplies: Not sure. Covered 100% by insurance. Okay, when I add all that up it comes to about $2000/month. Wow! Thank goodness I have my parents to help me out with these expenses. And I'm really grateful to have my insurance paying for most of my meds and IV supplies! And this year hasn't been that testing-intensive as previous years. This amount doesn't take into consideration various other expenses that I couldn't approximate, such as special diets I was on for about 6 weeks or lost wages because of being unable to work (I've never been able to work full-time so I'm not sure what I'd be ABLE to make). I could approximate that I would make a minimum of $1000/month if I were able to work full-time at minimum wage. I'm able to work about 16 hours a month, so that amounts to $900/month in lost wages. That would bring my total to $3000/month. The actual number is probably higher than that, because I'm undoubtedly forgetting some other expenses and there are some things that I just don't know the cost of. Imagine all the things we could do with all this money we spend on our health-related expenses. I'll take a cruise to somewhere exotic, please! Peace and healing, Annie ------------------ Click here to join Lyme Pals. Click here to see my Lyme journal. Lyme Out Retreat Information Webpage IP: Logged
hiker53 Frequent Contributor Posts: 418 From: Illinois Registered: Aug 2004	posted 27 February 2005 21:59 Since on I.V.'s $8,000 per month [This message has been edited by hiker53 (edited 28 February 2005).] IP: Logged
treepatrol Frequent Contributor Posts: 5189 From: PA Where the Creeks are Red Registered: Jun 2003	posted 28 February 2005 07:18 ? $100.00 to $400.00 a month wife included now same. Without good insurance I would be dead or crippled right now. Insurance pays the bulk. This dosent include torn cartilage's knee, torn tendons and pain numerous 15 or 20 trips to hospitals wondering what was wrong also dont forget physical therapy knee, mri's etc . [This message has been edited by treepatrol (edited 28 February 2005).] IP: Logged
cmichaelo Frequent Contributor Posts: 550 From: NY Registered: Jul 2004	posted 28 February 2005 11:17 I've been treated for Lyme and Babs since June 2004. During those 8+ months the total cost for me and the insurance company has averaged around $2,500 per month. This includes all office visits, all lab tests, special tests such as MRI, LP & SPECT, drugs and supplements. Michael IP: Logged
lymebrat Frequent Contributor Posts: 3000 From: NH , USA Registered: Oct 2002	posted 28 February 2005 14:29 For Myself: Medical (LLMD or other) doctors visits $$30.00 Specialists, eye, ENT, obgyn, gastro, etc $35.00 Physical therapy $15. Blood tests $50. Prescription drugs (antibiotics, pain meds, yeast, seizure meds, antidepressants, etc) $150. Supplements (from vitamins to sea salt, etc) $15.00 First Aid supplies- (examples IV supplies, wrist braces, heating pad, ace bandages, therometer, tweezers, sun tan lotions, etc) $30. Tests (example- Xrays, MRI, CAT scans, EKG, EMG, Spinal taps, neuro, cognative) $150. Over The Counter medicine (sinus, asprin, Rolaids, Pepto, etc) $30.00 Equipment (oxygen, eye glasses, wheelchair, blood pressure cuff, hot tub, sauna, cane, wheelchair lifts and ramp, exercise equipment, gym or pool fees, yoga classes, etc) $30.00 Total monthly expenses $535.00 Loss of wages...$1500. a month IP: Logged
Lymetoo Frequent Contributor Posts: 16145 From: Missouri Texan Registered: Feb 2001	posted 28 February 2005 14:39 OH.....I have very good insurance. So...my $600 a month is only the co-pay part. I would hate to think what it would be without the insurance. ------------------ oops! Lymetutu IP: Logged
lymebrat Frequent Contributor Posts: 3000 From: NH , USA Registered: Oct 2002	posted 28 February 2005 14:39 For my son Derek: Medical (LLMD or other) doctors visits $ 70.00 Physical therapy $30.00 Blood tests $75. Prescription drugs (antibiotics, pain meds, yeast, seizure meds, antidepressants, etc) $350.00 Supplements (from vitamins to sea salt, etc) $15. First Aid supplies- (examples IV supplies, wrist braces, heating pad, ace bandages, therometer, tweezers, sun tan lotions, etc) $15. Tests (example- Xrays, MRI, CAT scans, EKG, EMG, Spinal taps, neuro, cognative) $200.00 Over The Counter medicine (sinus, asprin, Rolaids, Pepto, etc) $30.00 Equipment (oxygen, eye glasses, wheelchair, blood pressure cuff, hot tub, sauna, cane, wheelchair lifts and ramp, exercise equipment, gym or pool fees, yoga classes, etc) $100.00 Total monthly expenses $885.00 on the low side... IP: Logged
lymebrat Frequent Contributor Posts: 3000 From: NH , USA Registered: Oct 2002	posted 28 February 2005 14:44 My Daughter Medical (LLMD or other) doctors visits $70.00 Specialists, eye, ENT, obgyn, gastro, etc $20. Blood tests $75.00 Prescription drugs (antibiotics, pain meds, yeast, seizure meds, antidepressants, etc) $200. Supplements (from vitamins to sea salt, etc) $15.00 First Aid supplies- (examples IV supplies, wrist braces, heating pad, ace bandages, therometer, tweezers, sun tan lotions, etc) $ 15.00 Tests (example- Xrays, MRI, CAT scans, EKG, EMG, Spinal taps, neuro, cognative) $20.00 Over The Counter medicine (sinus, asprin, Rolaids, Pepto, etc) $10.00 Total.... $425.00 IP: Logged

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