Jim.... Funny part is..I think he is married...for the 7th time..
and I couldn't agree more..maybe he thinks he asked the proper questions about the idenity of RSD....and just didn't.... Ok, Jeanie..I will stop..

Kathy

My dear friend Kathy; all I am saying is right now YOU....need to save your energy and fight for that ketamine treatment that is going to put you in remission or maybe cure you!! Your intentions are awesome, and your energy is great, but save that for something that you can change.....and that is YOU! You are what is important to me, not Larry King or any other person out there who doesn't have an ounce of compassion!! After you get your Ketamine, then you can fight for the cause and possibly the cure for this unknown illness. I will support you whatever you choose to do! BTW, I am in Michigan....brrrrrr.

Wishing You All a pain free evening,

Jeanie

Okay Jeanie.. I'se gotz re-newed strength to dig my heels back in and fight after today (that is)...See MVP, my ins...well they won't approve it for my treatment but they constant call me and say..how ya doin??? Well if y'd approve my treatment..one might think I'd be feeling better, no I don't say that..ya would think I was a grump or somethin..I just paly along..nicely..so the person behind the MVP wheel then says..keep fighting for the approval..Seriously, i know in my heart it is the right thing to do and then mydream is to come back and help everyone here..not fair I should rep the benefits and not all of you too...That would make my day..whole year!!!

Man, Jeanie.. Michigan..how ever are we going to borrow sugar that far away???? Have ya seen my walk?? Ain't pretty... I know, I will row over/down there...keep watch so I don't flow too far down stream, my dear friend!

Hugz and I am with Jeanie... bless you All!

Kathy

That about sums it up---an unknown desease. Funny because as we speak my wife and I and attorney are gathering all medical records for my wife's SSDI judge. The older records reflect my wifes efforts not to be tortured and jerked around by doctors who think all she needs to do are jumping jacks and a few laps around the track in order to clear up her RSD and the lawyer knowing how tough it can be to articulate this unknown desease to a judge.

My previous insurance company would not approve my wife's ketamine infusion. We fought it and won. Looking back they didn't put up much of a fight however.

Jim..Was it for your wife to have the 10 day out paitent infusion or the 5 day icu inpatient sleep??? They are asking me to have the 5 day inpatient sleep..

Kathy

Acturally it was a 4 day outpatient infusion. It didn't work so they tried a 4 hour lidocain infusion with no luck.
Question, is this a 5 day coma treatment and if so where in the US do they perform this? Because I've thought only Germany and Montarey Mexico perform that procedure.

Hi Kathy,

Have you maintained that you want to return to work? And that the only treatment remaining for you to try is ketamine? You've exhausted substantially all others in your valiant attempts at getting back on your feet? Even the stupid SCS which made your RSD angry and even more painful!!

My RI RSD friend who traveled to Drexel for the 5 day inpatient ketamine infusions ended his treatment there today. So far all reports are positive - he is pain free!!! and suffered no problems during his stay in the ICU. Great news for him and his family!

It's interesting that the insurance company is keeping in touch with you. Hmmm. Wonder what that's about?...

Sorry for your disappointment so far. Don't ever, ever give up. If they will pay for the 10 day outpatient, why not try that? It's better than nothing.

Love and peace, Sandy

Hi Sandy...

Thats aweome news about your RI friend..Plz. congrats to him when you can and his wife..also keep us up to speed how long he has his pain relief....

Yea, I have exausted all of my other attempts for help to this point.... UGH/... yes, I thought it was strange also that the insurance company called and chatted with me..She is from another area of the company..When I inquired she explained this is another part of my benefit that when a person is diagnosised with a serious illness they try to help you out and monitor you both physically and mentally... hummm..lets see the cash but she said that is not part of her obligation there...she has called several times, today being one of them... As far as the 10 day outpatient..great thought..I did ask about that instead and Dr. S said he felt I would not benefit from the low dose so he zoomed right past that...I thought it too would be a possibility...Yea..I 'd give my front teeth to be able to go back to work..I have mentioned that to the Dr. and plan to mention it in my negocations too...it's lonely at home..

Jim..To clearify..the 5 day in patient in the US is done @ Drexel..the Heineman Hospital..although it is a "sleep" but not a coma, it's the moderate dose level ..The coma, higher dose of Ketamine is done outside the US in Germany, possibly Mexico still...

I love visiting with you all..Thank you for such thoughtful questions and concerns....

Sleep well and rest without pain...

Hugz, Kathy

I would swear that someone mentioned, about 5 - 8 weeks ago, that Dr. Schwartzman's German operations were no more. Does anyone recall?

And let's not underestimate the abilities of our favorite Philadelphia doctor to be delivering what he believes are truly therapeutic doses, especially in an ICU unit. Granted, people may not be intubated, but I am curious as to the doses that - for instance - Sandy's friend was getting.

And don't get me wrong, he's one of a very few doctors I've had in whose hands I would willingly put my life. (Just with my glaucoma, ketamine isn't an option. A "nontransmural" MI a few years back didn't advance the cause either.)

Mike