Sorry for not updating yesterday but I stayed home from work sick and basically spent all day lying on the couch watching TV in my pajamas. I don’t have that much to report right now anyway. I seem to be having a small flare-up in my right shoulder at the moment which started sometime last week. The pain isn’t that bad, it’s just more of an annoyance. I think I should be able to get rid of it without having to resort to going back on prednisone. I hope.
Regarding other exciting RA info – I keep meaning to call PANF (Patient Access Network Foundation) to see if I still have available funds from them to use toward my next few Remicade infusions. I’m due soon for my next infusion and I don’t want to have to put it off, of course. This shoulder flare-up is making me suspicious of needing the Remicade soon. PANF helping me out with my deductible/out-of-pocket for the insanely expensive Remicade infusion is wonderful and I appreciate it so much. However I’m also not looking forward to having to deal with all of the paperwork crap and waiting two months for everything to go through from Fairview billing/health insurance/PANF. Dealing with all of that is such a huge pain, but I know I shouldn’t complain. Without the help from PANF and/or the HealthWell Foundation, I would not be able to get the medication I so desperately need.
Inflamed: Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis 
Hi Angela – I just found your blog – every person who has an autoimmune disease or chronic illness that blogs makes us stronger! Thank you for your courage to share your story. I just wanted to mention that Remicade has help for co-pays too. It’s called Remistart and pays up to $4400/year. The paperwork is worth it! Have a pain free day! Jenna
Hi thanks for your comment! I actually started to look into Remistart last year but then my application renewal with PANF came through. Yes, all the paperwork crap is worth it, I agree. People don’t realize it’s not just the physical pain of the disease you’re battling against, but everything else that goes along with it (fighting w/insurance companies, billing depts, clinics, etc).
Hi Angela – I too just came across your blog today. I’ve had PsA since 2003 and going through a horrible flare the last few weeks and i try to absorb all the info I can on PsA as well as RA, since my symptoms mimic RA quite often. Doc just added Methotrexate to my Enbrel regimen …hoping for relief, but mostly exhausted. Hope you feel better soon!
Hi Suzanne, thanks for the comment and reading my blog. I’m really sorry to hear you’ve been having a bad flare-up. I hope adding the methotrexate will help! I was on Enbrel with methotrexate a few years ago and the combo worked pretty well for me. I’m still on methotrexate but with Remicade, which has also been working out well for the most part. Hang in there!