Road to Cosentyx, or should I say Co$entyx

[PAmerican]

I went to a top rheumie, and then got 2 second opinions from other rheumies. One of them said all of her patients are on Cosentyx and none pay, and looking at my chart from my original doc, my insurance was not going to approve it. She was right! Now he is handling the appeal and I don't trust him. He just goes too fast with lots of trusts me's and most of what I know I found out on my own. All he's been good for so far is the dx (which I am grateful for, I've had 5 related surgeries and no one ever said arthritis), and gabapentin rx- which doesn't work for me when I take it, maybe bc I take it at night and there's too much pain built up by then. I don't know why I bother, it's a wasted copay. My mom and grandmother died of Lupus/cancer related to treatments, my sister and aunt have Lupus, so I can't take TNFs. I won't take anything that requires liver function tests bc I already do that for another class of meds I take, and you only get one liver, and I'm not pushing it further. My mom's rheumie agreed that Cosentyx was the way to go. After much research, I finally get on board, and boom, not approved. Who knows how long appeals take? My rheumie said to call the insurance co everyday for a status update. As if anyone I would end up on the phone with would have any kind of sway in the matter! 

I found an internist (regular doc) in Montana (2 days drive, I ride the subway) that co-treats with diet and if needed, hormones. I'm getting my blood drawn for food allergies tomorrow. The test is about $300 and is not covered, and then I have to have the appt with the doctor to go over the results, which is also not covered. That's alternative medicine for ya. But I'll do it, bc I have it in both feet, both hands, both knees, both elbows, my lower back and this month starting on my upper left back and neck. Woohoo, just turned 40! I don't even have wrinkles yet!

I spent more than I made this week on doctors. All in a week's work.