Community Forum

Greetings! My son (22) has had Crohn's disease for 10 years. Treatment has always been difficult for him to follow through on. Now, in his third year of college he is finally getting motivated to move toward better living because maintaining the college pace and a job has been extremely challenging at best.

Here's the problem; he is uninsured which reduces his options to the Emergency Room and bills to follow or indigent clinics which generally are not geared toward Crohn's disease. He has access to his colleges insurance plan for students, but in talking with people at the college is seems this is geared toward the average college challenges; flu, pneumonia, stds, depression, eating disorders, traumatic injuries, etc. He is applying for the Wisconsin High Risk Insurance group. Our family is on Badger Care which kids off the program at age 19. Yes, there are options in Badger Care for single young people and the waiting list have like is like eleventy-billion waiting to enroll.  The high risk program will cover medications very quickly after acceptance but additional treatment has a 6 month waiting period on pre-existing conditions. He wants to act NOW because life with untreated Crohn's is just becoming too difficult. He lives in the Milwaukee, WI area. This is the first time he has seemed very motivated to address his challenges and we want to support his current attitude as much as we can and as quickly as we can.

Several Questions:
1. Who know whom (Physicians, GI Specialists) in the Milwaukee area that know how to work with Crohns and will work with income sensitive patients.
2. What financial assistance is available directly from Milwaukee area medical facilities
3. Should we initiate a process of applying for disability and find a Dr that is sympathetic in that direction?
4. Do you have specific recommendations for care providers?

 Reply posted for CACB.

I suffered from UC for 3 1/2 and then started researching online. My husband was my donor and it has now been almost 4 months of being back to normal, having normal bowel movements - no gas, no cramps, no urgency, no blood, etc.  I am back to eating anything I want after 6 months on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. I have even been eating some things that are considered illegal on SCD, but with no problems.

If you would like to read my story and see links to other articles, email me.

Just don't give up thinking it is hopeless - there is another way. I am not on any drugs and completely symptom free.

These digestive issues are caused by a imbalance in the bacteria in your gut, most likely from antibiotic use or sometimes food poisoning.

Just google Fecal Transplant and you will find how it is being used to heal digestive issues - I had UC and it healed me.

Email me for a link to my blog - kwi_sky@yahoo.com

Teri

 Reply posted for CACB.

I suffered from UC for 3 1/2 and then started researching online. My husband was my donor and it has now been almost 4 months of being back to normal, having normal bowel movements - no gas, no cramps, no urgency, no blood, etc.  I am back to eating anything I want after 6 months on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. I have even been eating some things that are considered illegal on SCD, but with no problems.

If you would like to read my story and see links to other articles, email me.

Just don't give up thinking it is hopeless - there is another way. I am not on any drugs and completely symptom free.

These digestive issues are caused by a imbalance in the bacteria in your gut, most likely from antibiotic use or sometimes food poisoning.

Just google Fecal Transplant and you will find how it is being used to heal digestive issues - I had UC and it healed me.

Email me for a link to my blog - kwi_sky@yahoo.com

Teri

 Reply posted for my teen.

I have suffered from severe UC for over 15years.  And I have tried everything to alleviate the symptoms and feel "normal" again (many different diets, etc.).  And while the doctors have prescribed some very severe medications to stop the bleeding when a flare up occurs (Asacol, Prednisone, 6MP Mercatipurine), the other symptoms would never go away (e.g. bloating, gurgling, urgency to "go", rancid gas, etc.).  I was reluctant to go on the humira or remicade because of the potential for serious side-effects.  And I am very attached to my colon, so I am reluctant to let the quacks take it out.  I was convinced that there could be a more natural solution to keep my condition in long-term remission and reduce or eliminate the other challenging symptoms.

I recently found an all-natural product that has changed everything!!!  I have never felt better in the past 15years as I do today.  The product is called EMPOWER.  It is an all natural anti-inflammatory supplement that has help IBD, UC & Crones sufferers alike.  The creator of the product has a compelling story of his own battle with UC, where he went on to win Mr. North America 18 months after doctors told him he would need to have his colon removed, but he instead treated himself with this product.  You can learn more about it here: http://www.oceanarizona.com/ocean-avenue-empower/ 

I am now completely off all meds (6MP and Asacol).  Try it for yourself.  I think you will be amazed!  A 30-day supply is a fraction of the cost of any other treatment your will find.  And you may soon be free of all of those invasive chemical medications that come with some serious side effects.

I hope that by sharing my experience, other may too regain the quality of life that I have, free of the symptoms and flare-ups.

 Reply posted for sduff21.

Even if insurance will not cover a colonoscopy as preventitive care, you can still get one and pay your out of pocket and deductible. Your doctors office can explain to insurance that it is medically necessary in order to find the best treatment option. The human resources contact at her job should also be able to give some helpful tips. We went through the same situation when we moved to Mississippi and my husband had a flare up. He also hasn't had a colonoscopy in 10 years since his diagnosis. Also having a good specialist is very important. If you have a university hospital within a few hours of you, that is usually worth the drive. You want the colonoscopy to be done by the specialist so that he can interpret and diagnose and make a plan for treatment. Medical flex plans are also a big help if available through her work. Hope this helps. 
Kara.copes@gmail.com

My 26 year old daughter lives in PA. She is a 10 year  poster child for remicade, having taken no other medications for her steroid dependent Crohns disease since receiving the first treatment. She can survive on four treatments per year. Her doctor will not give her another treatment until having a colonoscopy. It has been over 10 years since she has had her first and only colonoscopy. She has a decent job, and had decent coverage until last year when the company she works for, cut benefits, and  only offered a  very limited plan. They will not cover a colonoscopy for her because it is not considered preventative at her age. Because she has some insurance, she does not seem to qualify for any high risk PA pool/programs. Healthy Woman program starts for age 40-64.  APhiladelphia program gives $895 colonoscopies for 55 and older. The price for a colonoscopy varies from 3,000 to 5,000. Does anyone know of a place for her to get a colonoscopy at a reasonable cost??? Her health is starting to slide out of remission. It has been 7 months since a Remicade treatment and she is feeling that ilieum pain.

 Reply posted for CACB.


http://www.ccfa.org/living-with-crohns-colitis/find-a-doctor/  Here is a link to the CCFA healthcare professional list.

To get primary care services you can look at community health centers  http://www.hrsa.gov/gethealthcare/affordable/hillburton/index.html

To learn more about health insurance reform measures including insurance for pre existing conditions, check out www.healthcare.gov

You may also contact the Information Resource Center at info@ccfa.org or (888) 694-8872