We’re big fans of David’s new rheumatologist, hereafter referred to as Dr. Nice. He and his staff are wonderful! We get in and out in 45 minutes instead of four hours at the old rheumatologist’s office.

Today David saw Dr. Nice and they discussed the anti-inflammatory, Celebrex, that David has been taking for two months. David told him that it’s helping so much more than Naproxen was, but it’s $225 a month. Dr. Nice wrote a prescription for a different, generic anti-inflammatory drug and told David to see if it helped. He said there’s another generic David can try if that one doesn’t work. We’re so happy to have a doctor that’s willing to work with us!

I asked Dr. Nice if he thought we could get a handicap parking permit. He said sure.

I said, “Great! That will make my life so much easier. I won’t have to drop David off at the front of buildings and go park.”

“You drop him off?” he asked.

“Yeah, and she drives me everywhere. I hardly ever drive anymore,” David told him.

“It hurts to drive?” Dr. Nice asked.

“Yes,” David answered.

“Wow, you’re in bad shape!” Dr. Nice said.

This little exchange cracked me up. I just thought it was hilarious that he’d give us a permit without understanding why we wanted it. It’s funny that this doctor asks so many more questions than the old rheumy, and yet he was amazed that David can’t drive.

I shouldn’t be surprised. This happens often. People don’t understand how bad the arthritis is until they hear multiple examples of things David cannot do.

After the nurse finished the doctor’s office’s portion of the Humira financial assistance paperwork, I asked her if she’d fax all our paperwork in.

“No, they’ll want the originals. You’ll have to mail them in,” she told me.

I understood. I wouldn’t have wanted to send a fifty page fax either. But I knew I’d have to find a copy store on the way home and pay to fax in the paperwork. If they needed originals after they’d seen the fax, they could tell me and I’d mail them, but we need to this financial assistance ASAP.

The nurse and the receptionist couldn’t believe Humira was going to cost $1,000 a month.

“Didn’t you get one of the Humira discount cards?”

“Yes, that’s why it’s only $1,000 a month. The discount card got us $500 off a month,” we explained.

“With your insurance it’s $1,500 a month?” they asked.

“Yes.”

“Why don’t I go ahead and fax them that paperwork. At least they can get started on the financial assistance!”

Related Posts:

• Praise God for His Providence
• Increasing Humira
• Financial Assistance