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June 13, 2008
Blood Work Update: June 2008
As you know I have a pituitary tumor that causes hormone problems. At one point I was taking 3 mg of Dostinex weekly in doses of 1.5 mg (three pills) at a time. To de-confuse that a little it would have been six pills a week and if you multiply that by 4.3 weeks per month it comes to 25.8 pills monthly (of course, that's not how it worked out, that's just average).
At $31.00 a pill, for the non-generic, it comes to $800 per month or about $9600 per year. I'm sure that's not what my insurance company paid but when you consider the pills are the size of Tic Tacs, and you get about 100 of those for a dollar (and minty-fresh breath to boot) it seems like quite a markup.
Blah blah blah. Enough pseudo-bitching.
I've been taking .25 mg per week for something like the last six months. This is 1/2 pill per week and I guess that would still be $15.50 weekly or $806 annually. And while I still have to supplement with something else for kissable freshness, it is a serious improvement.
Anyway, I got yesterday's blood work back and my Prolactin is at 8.6 (where 2.1 to 17.7 is normal). So I'm doing fairly well.
I'm down three pounds from last time as well.
And in the mornings I can cut diamonds.
The Hormone Table (will be updated this weekend with the new data).
While I still haven't done anything to make it look pretty, the most-recently edited version of my Hormone Tale is on another blog.
The photo in this entry is of my fridge. You'll notice things on it like outdated coupons for Mel's Diner, the Bicycle Magazine gloves review, things my kids have made and picture after picture of my children, nieces and nephews.
Technorati Tags: Pituitary, Prolactin, Health
Posted by delmer at June 13, 2008 8:09 AM
Comments
So much of the crap on your fridge looks familiar! Oh that would be because I have matching crap on my fridge - including your GP's phone number (in case of?)
Where's the little windmill? I couldn't see it!
Posted by: Lady P at June 13, 2008 11:08 AM
Look at the fire extinguisher and move right from the circular guage -- the windmill is on the side of the fridge (it gets banged around less there).
Posted by: delmer at June 13, 2008 11:11 AM
Good sense of humor during tough times. You rock, Delmer.
Posted by: Black Hockey Jesus at June 13, 2008 12:22 PM
I just wanna say how impressed I am with how you have journaled your experience and kept track of your hormone levels so diligently. Most doctors dream of patients who take this much interest and effort in their own health.
Your willingness to be so transparent about the whole thing will help others, I'm sure.
Sending kudos and wishes for better health every day to you!
Posted by: Ginger at June 13, 2008 12:52 PM
That's good news Delmer. You may be able to go off it completely eventually.
My test last month the prolactin has remained unchanged since last year, though I've increased the doseage. So now I wait for the MRI in November to see what's going on. But I'm feeling much better so no complaints.
Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Bill at June 13, 2008 2:36 PM
Glad you're doing well. It sucks to have a chronic condition, but at least you can manage it.
Posted by: Finn at June 13, 2008 3:08 PM
I love that you have a fire extinguisher there. We have one too, but it seems like not many people around here do.
I'm glad you are doing well. This post sort of reminds me of how I feel about the cost of my stupid thyroid medicine. Yes, it is a small price to pay in order to be alive and all, but still a pain in the butt to have to pay for something that everyone else's body seems to do on its own.
Posted by: radioactive tori at June 13, 2008 4:42 PM
interesting that i noticed a fire extinguisher in a picture obviously about a fridge, yet what i got out of the post was mostly that fucking drug companies are thieves, you seem to be progressing quite well (yay!) and your penis stands proud in the mornings.
all in all a terrific post!
(glad you hear you are doing wee.)
Posted by: hello haha narf at June 13, 2008 8:13 PM
I've gotten lots of bits about this whole hormonal ordeal you've been going through the last couple years, but I had to go to that other blog to get the whole story.
Having gone through my own health nightmare, I can relate.
Are those little British pikemen magnets on your fridge???
Posted by: The Phoenix at June 13, 2008 9:30 PM
BHJ: As a famous man once said (in Usenet's Alt.Support.Impotence), and I paraphrase, "When your dick doesn't work it's important to have a sense of humor."
Ginger: Once in a while someone will happen along and tell me the found the blog while trying to find info on pituitary tumors, low testosterone or high prolactin, and that makes me feel good. (And I'm able to forgive myself for a lot of the questionable stuff I write.)
Bill: I'm happy to hear you're feeling good. I asked about an MRI today and I won't be having another one unless I quit responding to meds.
Finn: I've often said that if a person has to have a problem, mine wasn't the worst one to have. Figuring out what was wrong was a trick, and not knowing I had a problem and feeling like crap sucked. But I responded to cabergoline pretty well.
R Tori: And they're such small glands! How could they be such a big (and expensive) problem? A buddy's mom went on something for her thyroid (this was 20 years ago) and the change was so dramatic I didn't recognize her when she answered the phone; it was amazing.
HHN: It stands proud a fair portion of the day ...
Phoenix: Glad to see you back and it looking like your blog may go active again; I hope it wasn't illness that kept you away. And yes ... those are British Pikemen (maybe Beefeaters) and there should be one of those guys with the big wooly hats.
Posted by: delmer at June 13, 2008 9:55 PM
When my father-in-law sees how much junk is stuck to my fridge he says "looks like you need another refridgerator!" Always the joker. At least he doesn't look at the junk in my trunk...
Posted by: elise at June 14, 2008 6:47 AM
I think there's a law that states all children MUST make those frames. I have a bunch of those too.
I'm still trying to get the dosage right with the thyroid pills that I take. Even though I sometimes need stronger doses, I notice a huge difference. I'm so glad that you are able to be diligent and active in your own treatment.
Posted by: metalmom at June 14, 2008 7:06 AM
Yeah, what is with morning wood anyway? lad the economics are working and favorably and continued good health. : )
Posted by: John at June 14, 2008 11:04 AM