I am trying to plan this whole thing out before my appoint on Fri. Don't know if I can handle putting this altogether let alone learning to do these things myself. My cognitive abilities are very limited at this time and anxiety is already setting in.
Thanks everyone.
Posted by pryorka (Member # 13649) on :
I do mix mine, but I have a minor in chemistry so it comes natural to me anyway. I'd tell you it's easy but maybe it's really not. If you end up mixing it just make sure you wear a mask and keep things super sanitary. It's always better to use more alcohol pads than less. And do it in an room by yourself without others around because typically it would be mixed in a hood. Once I mix mine I have enough for a week and I have to freeze 4 days worth because it's only good for three days refridgerated when mixed outside a hood. Then on the days I need one of the frozen doses I just get it out a couple hours early and let it thaw. My doses is kind of ignorant due to my insurance so I end up dealing with all this freezing and dividing up different doses, yours might be much simpler.
I've heard of people just taking their stuff to their pharmacist and as long as they aren't busy they'll usually mix it for you, so maybe try that if things sound to complicated.
Posted by keltyl (Member # 14050) on :
Wow, sounds more complicated than I thought.
Looking forward to other responses, but have to go to work now and won't be back on till tomorrow. Just don't want anyone to think I'm ignoring ppl who are kind enough to respond!
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
If you purchase your supplies through Infuserve they will mix it for you for free.
Get a script from your doctor and see if your insurance will cover the powder vials of Ceftriaxone. Your local pharmacy can fill the script then send the vials to Infuserve.
Infuserve will also submit claims reimbursement forms directly to your insurance company. So even if you pay out of pocket up front you may get some money back later.
Posted by Snailhead (Member # 18091) on :
Ok, I am confused. I mix my own cef, but it is so stinkin' easy I can't believe it. I have one vial of sterile water, one vial of powder and all supplies. I simply draw the water into the syringe, shoot it into the vial of powder, mix until disolved and then redraw using the same syringe. No hoods or anything special; everything is already in sterile vials.
My saline is in prefilled syringes that simply screw onto my PICC line.
Am I using a different protocol than others that mix at home? My original rx was filled at a pharmacy that mixed it for me, and I would get ten days supply at a time.
My insurance changed and they cover the "do it yourself at home" cef; and I must admit I have wondered what the big fuss was before as to getting it mixed at the pharmacy. Seems simple. Am I getting the same medication strength, benefits, etc? Thanks.
Posted by soleil16 (Member # 16326) on :
Sounds like there are different ways of doing this. I got my supplies through Infuserve and the Rocephin through my pharmacy, special order.
I got a saline IV bag and then a connector that pops onto the bag and the other end pops onto the Rocephin vial. Open the connector and mix.
You can also do it with a syringe as Snailhead said. I did this when I ran out of connectors.
Infuserve is super helpful. Just call, tell them what you need, and they should be able to get everything set up easily.
Posted by Snailhead (Member # 18091) on :
That makes sense. Mine is an IV "push". I forgot you can also do it from an IV drip.
Posted by keltyl (Member # 14050) on :
This all makes more sense. Snailhead...I will be asking my doc about the push, Infuserve frowns on it.
Sammy.....The ONLY reason I may mix myself is that Infuserve charges $100 a mo for shipping since it has to come by air and stay cold.
Thanks for your replies.
Posted by MariaA (Member # 9128) on :
How much are you guys paying for it now, in the 'mix it yourself' version? Where are you getting it?
Posted by keltyl (Member # 14050) on :
I haven't started yet, but the cheapest 2 gram vials I found was through therxco.com. I called then in June and it was $87, called them yesterday and it was $139. Very cheap. Then the supplies I would get through Infuserve.
I'm still new to this, still learning.
Posted by keltyl (Member # 14050) on :
Sorry, the price is for 25 vials.
Posted by MariaA (Member # 9128) on :
I just called them and got a very different price- $18 per vial for 1 gram ones. Are your prices what you're paying after insurance covers the rest, or is there some other place with a similar name?
Posted by pryorka (Member # 13649) on :
Mine comes in 10gram vials and then I have to get 100 mL of water into that vial then separate it out into seperate doses in different syringes, plus my dosing is 2 grams a day for 4 days, 3 grams for 3 days so it's really weird, that's why mine sounds tougher. Dumb insurance...
Posted by keltyl (Member # 14050) on :
Maria....I just called them 2 days ago. The # is 800 323-3873.
Posted by Snailhead (Member # 18091) on :
Lyme Ed; Wow, I am really interested in your comments. I really never knew there was a difference in how the med was administered.
I push, but never realized it could be more "concentrated" than in a drip. I push 1 mg, then wait 4 minutes, then push another 1mg and wait 4 min., etc., until my gram is done. Just wondering what your opinion would be on this as far as going slow enough; I do know you are not a medical proffessional Posted by JKMMC09 (Member # 15795) on :
quote:Originally posted by pryorka: Mine comes in 10gram vials and then I have to get 100 mL of water into that vial then separate it out into seperate doses in different syringes, plus my dosing is 2 grams a day for 4 days, 3 grams for 3 days so it's really weird, that's why mine sounds tougher. Dumb insurance...
I mix my daughter's IV using this method too. It's really not as difficult as it sounds, I thought it was going to be a lot harder than it is. Best of luck!
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