posted
My doctor has prescribed IV rocephin for me. I had my first infusion yesterday in his office. It cost $145.00 for the rocephin and the infusion.
My doctor does not accept insurance. I was told by my insurance company that they will pay for the rocephin but that I have to get it through a pharmacy, not through the doctors office.
For me to get the actual infusion covered I need to go to someone who accepts Medicare. Where can I go to bring the rocephin with me and have someone give me the IV?
How do people get it by IV twice a day? Does everyone have pic lines?
Any ideas or if anyone knows aboub this any help would be greatly appreciated as I am getting no where! Thanks!
posted
Try PMing Lymedad. Maybe he'll have some information as I believe he lives near your area and his daughter was on IV rocephin for quite some time. But his daugher probably had a PICC and you're looking for someone to give you IVs?
Posts: 984 | From San Diego | Registered: Nov 2006
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I'm looking for either. I think a PICC line may be easier. I've been on the phone with insurance company but no one seems to know. I think to have a PICC line I would need home heatlh care. I don't know if I qualify for that.
I think I did PM Lymedad awhile ago but didn't get a response. Maybe I'll try again.
I used to live in San Diego and think I got this disease after moving into an apt. in Mission Beach in 1979 where the person who moved out had a dog or cat that left hundreds of fleas and possibly tiny ticks in in the shag carpet. Haven't been the same since!
-------------------- sunnymalibu Posts: 192 | From california | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
I am on IV Rocephin. I have a mediport in my chest. It's a litte round thing, they put right under the skin. It's really convienient and safe. A RN will have to put the needle in, but i change the dressings 2x's / week and i pull the needles out. I administer all the IV's, so you can do it all at your home, except inserting the needle. YOu will have to do labs once per week, so see if someone at the lab can insert the needle for you or if you have friends taht are an RN, they can do it. It's really not hard to do, i just want to learn before we attempt it.
I get my Rocephin from Home Care Solutions out of Florida, Ph# 888-273-9820. I pay $70 per day for 2 gm's 2x's / day (total of 4 gms / day), 4 days / week. That is for the meds only. I buy the supplies myself, as it is much cheaper for me to purchase them myself. They wanted $130 / day for rocehpin and supplies. They send it in a nice little bag, where you squeeze it to mix the powder and saline, so it's really easy. They also send the saline and heparin to flush your line.
YOur veins will not be able to handle a needle IV 2x's / day for ext. period, plus it's painful.
The $70 is the self pay price.
My LLMD does not use PICC lines, he said they are dangerous, he almost had a patient die on one, but there are several people here who have had no trouble with them. I liked the mediport because i am active outdoors and it will not limit my physical activity. It's been two weeks and i don't really notice it's there any more.
Good luck
Posts: 44 | From Lafayette, LA | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
Jamiet-thanks for taking the time to give me all of this information. Certainly a lot to ponder!
I like the idea of the Mediport instead of the PICC line. I'm not very familiar with either one but the less invasive the better.
Self pay at $240.00 per week is a lot of money. But if you get your health back it's worth it. How long will you use the rocephin? I hope that you are getting wonderful results and that your symptoms have disappeared!!
Best wishes and thanks again!
-------------------- sunnymalibu Posts: 192 | From california | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
My wife has a Groshong catheter. It does not need needle access (and therefore should not need a nurse to access it!) and is flushed with normal saline after each use... daily in her case.
Her doctor had a nurse appointment in his office for teaching patients how to care for their new catheter... dressing changes, sterile technique etc.. We are both nurses so the teaching was minimal for us... but point being, HE HAD A NURSE TEACH LAY PEOPLE to care for the Groshong in just a couple of hours.
After about a month there are NO dressings. There is an 8 inch catheter hanging out of the chest (inserted at lower neck and tunneled beneath skin to chest exit). Infusions are simple. Wash your hands, clean the catheter tip with alcohol, and screw on the iv tubing. When finished you simply unscrew the iv tubing and flush the catheter with normal saline. You DO need the teaching for sterile technique but it is not rocket science.
Now that the catheter site is well healed, my wife takes showers and bathes pretty much normally. A Groshong is far safer than a PICC and will surely last a lot longer than the PICC... and shouldn't need a nurse for the infusions.
I am newly diagnosed and will likely need Rocephin too at some point. I will INSIST upon a Groshong even if I have to pay for it. A
The Groshong is inserted by an Invasive Radiologist generally, under conscious sedation. Even in a self pay situation, if one negotiated with a free standing Radiology Center you might be surprised at how much the cost could be discounted. My daughter recently had a head CT done for less than $400! If you don't have to pay for a nurse to do the infusions paying full price for the Groshong would become a bargain real quick.
Another issue to CONSIDER is that my wife is currently on a very LOW dose of Rocephin. Her doctor feels Low and Slow is better than Hard and Fast. Lower dose of course means Lower cost... but longer of course means the cost is just spread out...
Posts: 70 | From AZ | Registered: Sep 2007
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
I had a Groshong and self-administered- it was easy-
Yup, I would try LymeDad- he is a helpful guy!!! ANd he will know re your area!!!
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
I have a Groshong catheter in my chest as well. The opening is about the size of a drinking straw so you're not left with any big scar.
A vascular surgeon put it in as an outpatient. Had my first infusion in the hospital.
On the second day a home health nurse came and showed me how to do the IV. It's a piece of cake. The tube fits right inside your bra. After it is healed you can bathe and shower etc.,
I wouldn't go any other way. After one year on orals I find it easier than popping twenty pills a day.
I do however advocate oral antibiotics as I had plenty of progress on them as well.
Barb
Posts: 281 | From san francisco | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
I have had 5 PICC lines and 1 port (which I have had since March).
Speaking solely about the two types of IVs I have experience with: If you aren't looking at doing long-term infusions, I think that a medi-port might not be the best option. Once you're done infusing you either have to have it surgically removed, or you have to have it flushed/maintained once a month. Though I, and a couple other Lymenetters, are pretty self-sufficient and can maintain our ports, for others this would mean long term home care services (or at least a doctor willing to do the work, which there are very few who will).
You are most likely going to have to shop around for home care that accepts medicare/medicaid to help with your daily infusions - which you can get pre-mixed or ready to mix depending on who's dispersing your meds. Though they can be a giant pain in the rear more times than not, home care has proven very handy to have around at times. The nurses that come to do your infusions are (or should be) very knowledgable about IVs. I have learned a ton of tips and tricks over the years.
Here are two of the larger home care firms, though each of your area hospitals should typically have 1 or 2 recommendations for infusion services.
posted
I forgot to add... It really depends on what your doctor and insurance prefer with regards to home health. I have gone with and without, only starting home health recently because of a clot in my line that, with home health, I most likely would not have required a trip to the ER for.
Without home health, you should have someone else in the home that can be trained on how to change dressing in a sterile field. This is what my boyfriend and I did last year with my PICC line, and we'd visit my doctor every two weeks for labs, check ups, and to pick up my meds.
-------------------- Sometimes when I say �Oh, I�m fine� I want someone to look me in the eyes & say �tell the truth�
posted
Post insertion, my wife's Groshong was scheduled for 3 dressing changes over 4 weeks... we changed it one extra time on day 4 only because it had a bit more post dried blood than she liked.
After 4 weeks she could shower and/or bathe as desired... as long as she didn't submerse the site and used reasonable care. She cleans the site daily with an alcohol pad, that's it.... no dressings of any sort.
Using the Groshong is as simple as wiping the hub with an alcohol pad, flush with saline, infuse the med(s), and flush with saline. There are no clamps. My wife tapes the pig tail to the opposite chest for logistic reasons... even if snagged it would be hard to pull it out... just painful.
I would think a little communication by a doctor with a half way intelligent insurance bureaucrat would secure a pre-authorization. They would save bundles of cash if they don't have to pay for an infusion nurse.
The Lymie, would then have long term access... even if the insurance bugs out, the Lymie would only have to pay for meds and supplies.
Posts: 70 | From AZ | Registered: Sep 2007
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posted
sunnymalibu.. i will be starting Rocephin IV on 10/15. i know nothing about PICC or Groshong but right now, i'm leaning toward the Groshong - it just sounds more manageable.
my Dr mentioned something about 28 days and insur.. his nurse had to call to arrange. i'll stay on Rocephin as long as necessary, with or without insur. i'm all about getting well FIRST.. i'll handle the expenses later.
i started Azithro 9/18 and i'm pretty achy. i'll be on Mepron later this week, along with some good supplements. i'm going aggressive thru 12/31.
i'm a "Valley" local so PM me if you want to chat or need any add'l info.
-------------------- "The hell with Drs.. we have each other!" My story began here:
quote:Originally posted by sonicbmx: my Dr mentioned something about 28 days and insur..
I think that all insurance will give up without a fight is about 30 days of IV. I know there are more Lymies shuffling about that have been approved for more, but I am not sure about the logistics.
-------------------- Sometimes when I say �Oh, I�m fine� I want someone to look me in the eyes & say �tell the truth�
posted
Good luck sonic, i had never heard of the groshong.
I went with the mediport b/c i have two good friends that are RN's, so they insert the needles. Also, another reason, is i am on 4 days on, 3 days off, so, i get to take the needle out completely for 3 days (over the weekend) so i can hunt / fish.
I would say, if your doc agrees and dep on your schedule and the length of time, the groshong may be the way to go. My only question, is, the tube is in for very long, isn't it company for infection?
Good luck
rgds,
jamie
Posts: 44 | From Lafayette, LA | Registered: Apr 2007
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