Arm Muscle Pain

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herdizziness
herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
edited June 2011 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I've got to tell ya, the side effects I've had from any treatment have been sooo minimal, that when I do suffer, I guess I turn into a big baby.
I'm still on that muscle pain from Avastin, my left arm is much worse then right arm.
If I want to shave my left armpit, I have to pick my arm up with the right hand, place it on the ceramic tile and shave that way to hold it in place in order to shave.
If I want to raise the left arm I have to raise it with the right physically, and sometimes the pain is excruciating. Am I the only one? I'm only doing Avastin at this time (can't afford the 480.00 copay for the Xeloda I'm supposed to be on)so I know it's just an Avastin side effect. And if you are suffering from it, what do you do to ease it? Cause, to be sure I need it eased.
Winter Marie

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  • Unknown
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  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
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    Assistance with co-pay
    Dear Winter,

    I don't know if you have researched getting assistance for the co-pay, but here is a site I found specifically for the Xeloda.


    Do You Need Help With Your Co-pays?


    Sometimes, your health care plan asks you to make a co-pay. Your co-pay is a fixed fee for a doctor visit, a procedure done in the office or for your medicine. XELODA® (capecitabine) is a medicine you take as a pill. Many plans want you to make a co-pay when you pick up your XELODA.
    With some health care plans, the co-pay is small - maybe a few dollars. Some plans ask you to make a very high co-pay. It can be up to several hundred dollars each time you need more XELODA. The amount of the co-pay is up to your plan. Paying it is up to you. It might be more than you can afford to pay. Does this mean you need to give up on your XELODA treatment? No. XELODA® Access Solutions has ways to help you.
    We might refer you to an independent, non-profit organization, or an INO. The INO can find ways to help you with the co-pay. Each INO has its own set of rules. We do not influence or control the INOs. But we can help you through the process of applying for help from an INO. We can also refer you to the INO offering the best help for you. We may also be able to help you apply for a program.

    From the net at http://www.genentechaccesssolutions.com/portal/site/AS/menuitem.7ef3b8542d7c63460313edacd79c23a0/?vgnextoid=6a9e672fb3498210VgnVCM100000dc06f60aRCRD
  • SisterSledge
    SisterSledge Member Posts: 332 Member
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    Assistance with co-pay
    Dear Winter,

    I don't know if you have researched getting assistance for the co-pay, but here is a site I found specifically for the Xeloda.


    Do You Need Help With Your Co-pays?


    Sometimes, your health care plan asks you to make a co-pay. Your co-pay is a fixed fee for a doctor visit, a procedure done in the office or for your medicine. XELODA® (capecitabine) is a medicine you take as a pill. Many plans want you to make a co-pay when you pick up your XELODA.
    With some health care plans, the co-pay is small - maybe a few dollars. Some plans ask you to make a very high co-pay. It can be up to several hundred dollars each time you need more XELODA. The amount of the co-pay is up to your plan. Paying it is up to you. It might be more than you can afford to pay. Does this mean you need to give up on your XELODA treatment? No. XELODA® Access Solutions has ways to help you.
    We might refer you to an independent, non-profit organization, or an INO. The INO can find ways to help you with the co-pay. Each INO has its own set of rules. We do not influence or control the INOs. But we can help you through the process of applying for help from an INO. We can also refer you to the INO offering the best help for you. We may also be able to help you apply for a program.

    From the net at http://www.genentechaccesssolutions.com/portal/site/AS/menuitem.7ef3b8542d7c63460313edacd79c23a0/?vgnextoid=6a9e672fb3498210VgnVCM100000dc06f60aRCRD

    live link
    http://www.genentechaccesssolutions.com/portal/site/AS/menuitem.7ef3b8542d7c63460313edacd79c23a0/?vgnextoid=6a9e672fb3498210VgnVCM100000dc06f60aRCRD
    Do You Need Help With Your Co-pays?
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
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    It's pretty much bullcorn
    for those of us on medicare. They cannot not help medicare patients pay for their medicine, if you have other insurance they will give you a credit card that pays only for their medication to the pharmacies (great thing for those of you with normal health insurance to know about)of $100.00 per prescription which cuts down on your co-pay. Other then that if you are on medicare they send you over to cancercare co-payment assistance which I have done and still await an answer from (start early, it's been 3 months and they just sent me a letter saying they need my doctor's statement which was faxed to them from the doctor's office 3 months ago, so have to call onc's on Monday and have them re-fax)and if by the time cancercare gets all the ducks in a row, and find out that they are out of funds then you get no help. Period. So thanks for the links but have been there doing that.
    This really isn't about the Xeloda, this is about MUSCLE PAIN!!!! I read 10 to 29 percent of those doing Avastin get muscle pain, that's who I'm looking for, someone other then me that suffers from this and WHAT they are doing to help it. Aspirin, tylenol nor vicoden help with the pain. What are you doing if you have this problem to help solve the pain from it to ease?
    Winter Marie
  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    Options

    It's pretty much bullcorn
    for those of us on medicare. They cannot not help medicare patients pay for their medicine, if you have other insurance they will give you a credit card that pays only for their medication to the pharmacies (great thing for those of you with normal health insurance to know about)of $100.00 per prescription which cuts down on your co-pay. Other then that if you are on medicare they send you over to cancercare co-payment assistance which I have done and still await an answer from (start early, it's been 3 months and they just sent me a letter saying they need my doctor's statement which was faxed to them from the doctor's office 3 months ago, so have to call onc's on Monday and have them re-fax)and if by the time cancercare gets all the ducks in a row, and find out that they are out of funds then you get no help. Period. So thanks for the links but have been there doing that.
    This really isn't about the Xeloda, this is about MUSCLE PAIN!!!! I read 10 to 29 percent of those doing Avastin get muscle pain, that's who I'm looking for, someone other then me that suffers from this and WHAT they are doing to help it. Aspirin, tylenol nor vicoden help with the pain. What are you doing if you have this problem to help solve the pain from it to ease?
    Winter Marie

    Sorry
    Didn't mean to divert the thread from your intended purpose.
  • herdizziness
    herdizziness Member Posts: 3,624 Member
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    Sorry
    Didn't mean to divert the thread from your intended purpose.

    No Problem
    I appreciate the links, I think they may help someone else, so it's cool.
    I'm just kind of looking for that person in the same situation as I am. From elbow to shoulder I cannot lift my left arm at all without taking my right arm to position it and if I let go with my right arm the left falls immediately, the pain is constant from evening to day. My right arm hurts to move it, but I can at least lift it. From elbow to hands there is no problem with lifting either arm nor its there any pain there, it's from the elbow to shoulder that is painful and unable to lift. Pain killers do not seem to help, so I'm trying to see what might help.
    Winter Marie
  • Unknown
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    No Problem
    I appreciate the links, I think they may help someone else, so it's cool.
    I'm just kind of looking for that person in the same situation as I am. From elbow to shoulder I cannot lift my left arm at all without taking my right arm to position it and if I let go with my right arm the left falls immediately, the pain is constant from evening to day. My right arm hurts to move it, but I can at least lift it. From elbow to hands there is no problem with lifting either arm nor its there any pain there, it's from the elbow to shoulder that is painful and unable to lift. Pain killers do not seem to help, so I'm trying to see what might help.
    Winter Marie

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