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Posted by: elantragt Mar 29 2014, 05:50 PM

We've been in the hospital for a week and Tammy is starting to show some improvement. The one infection (an MRSA) is the tough one. Her facial swelling has come down quite a bit.

I've been here by her side 24/7 (I don't recommend sleeping in a chair for a week plus lol)and it's been heartening seeing the help with the donation drive. Im not working right now so this $$ will help pay club bills. Thank you for that.

Hoping to be back here at EC soon. Sorry for any typos due to this tiny keyboard.

Posted by: FurunoFan Mar 29 2014, 06:27 PM

Hang tough Mitch.
We will keep you in our prayers.

Posted by: bhorste Mar 29 2014, 06:31 PM

Good to hear there's progress in Tammy's condition. MRSA is nothing to sneeze at even without any sort of immune complications. I bet the hospital could get you a cot or something to sleep on. Hang in there.

Posted by: Kevin Malone Mar 29 2014, 07:12 PM

Most ICU's will not do that, especially with MRSA (she is probably on isolation precautions).


Mitch, good luck with everything. Glad to hear she is improving. You need to take care of yourself too, don't forget about that.

Posted by: Alex2013GT Mar 29 2014, 07:45 PM

Thanks for the update Mitch. Was hoping to hear some signs of improvement. Take care of yourself!

Posted by: a_v Mar 29 2014, 10:05 PM

Always good to hear progress. Hang in there.

Posted by: Memster1 Mar 30 2014, 09:22 AM

Thoughts and prayers are with you both!

Posted by: trololololo Mar 30 2014, 03:48 PM

its been almost 10 years... i feel like i haven't showed enough support... :/

prayers for a speedy recovery from VA...

Posted by: xdforme22 Mar 30 2014, 09:46 PM

My thoughts and prayers are with you for a speedy recovery. Thanks for the update!

Posted by: popeye Mar 30 2014, 10:42 PM

Thanks for updating us on Tammy's condition. I know a little about sleeping (or rather not sleeping...) in hospital chairs ;-)

Posted by: elantragt Apr 1 2014, 10:36 AM

We're still in the hospital and Tammy's is fighting this infection. Her white blood count was up quite a bit yesterday and we're taking it a day at a time.

We hope to be back home and back at EC soon.

Posted by: bhorste Apr 1 2014, 02:54 PM

Go, Tammy!

Posted by: VIG Apr 2 2014, 12:07 AM

Mitch, you and Tammy are in my thoughts.

Here's to a speedy recovery.

Posted by: elantragt Apr 3 2014, 09:50 PM

Ok, Tammy is still fighting this infection but the hospital feels she's well enough to try to go home with some oral antibiotics.

She's extremely weak right now.

The big stumbling block is that one of the meds needed to fight the MRSA (Zyvox) sells for well over $100 PER PILL. And.. my insurance will not cover it. That is such bullshit. I mean, I know there are other antibiotics but this is what she needs to overcome this resistant bug. And with her lack of immune system, it's especially important that this drug is used. The amount of pills they want to send her home with equals almost $2,000.

Like I told them, I simply don't have the resources to buy that. I asked them what someone does when they can't cover the cost of a med and they said they might be able to reduce the cost of the drug.

My stress level is beyond belief.

Posted by: Stanley Hudson Apr 3 2014, 10:17 PM

I know the hospital I work at has a program to cover costs of meds like these when insurance wont.
Hopefully you can get some help with that.

Take a look http://www.pfizerrxpathways.com/?step=1

Posted by: elantragt Apr 3 2014, 10:25 PM

Hey Nolan... following the link you provided that site does not cover Zyvox. But... they sent me to a program that does. Looks like the maximum benefit is $600 towards your copay which is great if I just had a co-pay. My prescription benefit plan (Express Scripts) doesn't cover this drug at all from what I was told.

Posted by: slowgls Apr 3 2014, 10:34 PM

Well thats good.

Posted by: Stanley Hudson Apr 3 2014, 10:34 PM

I hate insurance with a passion. You pay and pay, but you have to fight to get what you need. You have a "max out of pocket", but it does not include this, this or this... the things you need.

Sorry Mitch. Glad she is doing better though.

Posted by: elantragt Apr 3 2014, 10:43 PM

Tell me about it. When Tammy got ill in 2007 and lost her job she also lost her RX benefits. She's on my plan with the part time job I have. Basically about 20% of my salary is taken out for her medical benefit. But it's worth it and my RX plan is generally excellent as I only pay about 10% out of pocket on most drugs. I need that because Tammy takes 15+ meds per day. But on the Zyvox they just don't cover it. Freakin' sucks.

Posted by: Alex2013GT Apr 3 2014, 11:25 PM

That really sucks. I know we have paid bill upon bill for my wife's problems. We have a stack that we still owe. This is all on top of maxing out our FSA and paying a pretty penny for insurance. What a load of crap health insurance is. Glad that Tammy is doing better, but wish things were different on the insurance front.

Posted by: FurunoFan Apr 4 2014, 04:11 AM

You might try talking to the company directly because it says the have other programs besides the copay assistance. Call 1-866-706-2400. It is hard to say no if the hear your story.

Posted by: popeye Apr 4 2014, 09:43 AM

The state of medicine in the US is so convoluted and backward, thanks to insurance.

Talking with a co-worker yesterday, she has been dealing with a mystery illness for the past 6 months that left her partially paralyzed on the left side. She has Kaiser, she said they were next to useless and that she had to go out of network (nice term for "out of pocket"), the doc gave her some nasty anti-viral cocktail for a week and she has been steadily improving.

All the best to you and Tammy.

Posted by: elantragt Apr 6 2014, 03:06 PM

Ok.. Tammy is at home now. We were able to get the antibiotics she needs and, fingers crossed, hoping for the best.

Her white blood count is still very high and she's quite weak. Hospitals seem to send you home way earlier than they should these days.

Posted by: bhorste Apr 6 2014, 03:18 PM

Probably because the easiest place to get an infection anymore is a hospital. Besides, people usually rest easier at home, allowing a better recovery.

Posted by: popeye Apr 7 2014, 12:08 AM

Very true. My mother had a MRSA infection after a surgery, so they sent her home with some Vancomycin and a central line. Home health came by once a day to check in and make sure all was on the up and up.

Posted by: mlumz Apr 7 2014, 01:15 AM

Mitch in the future you can always have the pharmacy and physician try to get your meds covered by your insurance with an override since it's medically necessary. Also with Tammy's condition and being unable to work she should be able to qualify for Medicaid which would cover her medical expenses.