Somehow I let more than two years go by without writing - and left everyone hanging wondering what the heck happened after my colonoscopy in 2011! Eesh, I need more brain cells. If anyone has any, pass them over!
Well, it is funny timing since I'm actually due for my next colonoscopy already - that's how long I waited to write again. D'oh! But I'm avoiding it and will continue to do so until my doctor won't refill my meds without it so that part hasn't changed lol.
Speaking of - I'm on new meds. As you may remember from my old blogs, I was on Asacol for several years and it was working miraculously! Last year I got a note from my doctor in the mail which said I was being moved over to Lialda because Asacol was being discontinued. I literally set the letter down and walked away in disbelief. Then in denial. Then I read it again. Still denial. I let it sit for two more weeks. The doctor's office called me to make sure I got the letter. I didn't call them back. Then another letter came, this one more insistent and the doctor's office was leaving regular messages. So I caved. I called my doctor back to talk about it and even scheduled an appointment to see her.
One thing with chronic illnesses is there is ALWAYS something to learn. You never know it all. So this time what I learned is about patents. Oooo, ahhhhh. Apparently the Asacol patent was up, which means that it could now become a generic and other companies can make it; which in turn means the manufacturer loses money. So they let the patent lapse and it is no longer on the market. They made a new formula, but my insurance company doesn't seem to like it so I have been put on Lialda, made by some other company. The good news is I'm taking 2/3 less pills a day - just 3 horse-size pills one time a day instead of the smaller 9 pills a day I was taking before.
I was admittedly really nervous changing meds. I had panic attacks thinking I might get back to where I had been years ago, not functioning, ill most of the time. I saw myself losing my active life - my bands, my boyfriend, my volunteer work, and my ability to function and being bedridden again. I was a wreck. I tried to talk my doctor into letting me go on the new meds the Asacol manufacturer was making as in my little head I thought I'd have a better chance at success since it was a similar formulary. But, because of my insurance (for which I am forever grateful), I had to talk Lialda and fail at it before I could try the other out-of-network pharmaceutical.
So I've been on Lialda about six months. It's not great, but okay. I'm having more trouble than I was, more fatigue, things aren't as hunky dory downstairs as they were. But my life didn't completely implode so it's all good. I'm still figuring things out.
And before I forget - my 2011 colonoscopy was a success! Didn't even do the general, they put me 'just under' and it was another blink of an eye and I was out and had an easier recovery than when I was under complete general. Love my new doc! And diagnosed with it being "quiescent"- which is a good thing.
2014 promise….more blogs. Stay tuned!
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