Sometimes I think the best laid plans do go astray, no matter how much we plan. But having RA has made me one tough cookie and I am use to having to adapt to make things work.
We had this mini-vacation planned for some time now. I had booked the best deal I could find months ago in the busy beach town of Myrtle Beach, NC. I was looking forward to our mini getaway and just knew that a few days away would do wonders for my soul. It did too!
When I originally looked into finding a hotel I had my regular checklist of must haves. For this particular vacation I wanted a family resort styled hotel as I was taking my daughter and her friend along for the ride and I wanted one right on the beach. I also wanted a full kitchen as it would not just save us a few dollars by eating out only for dinner but it would also allow my daughter to keep on track with her dietary needs which include gluten, soy, and dairy free.
The resort styled hotel I choose was a nice fit except for one thing...there was not one person to assist with our luggage. I was actually quite shocked by this fact as they advertise themselves as a resort. What resort has no porters to help with luggage? And of course I never thought to ask this question by phone. Who in their right mind would have thought to inquire about this accommodation. My poor daughter and her friend took on the role of porters and had to struggle to get our luggage from the lower level parking area. Yes, they had handicapped parking on the ground level but it was all taken. Ummmm....did I mention that I am disabled and would loved to have been able to have had a parking spot on the first level. The lower level required one to walk a long ramp to get to the elevators while pushing the luggage cart.
But barring the luggage fiasco, the resort was well equipped and I had a lovely swim in their inside pool. Did I mention that they had 6 swimming features at this resort? I now know I must find a pool to continue swimming in where I live. It was bliss. I felt so free in the water and I forgot this lovely feeling of weightlessness with ra. Too bad the astronaut program is now grounded. I can just envision myself floating out their in the space shuttle, orbiting earth, free of my gravitational ra pain. Oh the bliss of it all. But, swimming is close to this feeling and I highly recommend it if you have access to a pool.
I did manage a short beach walk. OK, it was a very short beach walk but I did get down close to the water's edge. And I was so proud of myself too! See my proof?
And last, I truly enjoyed the Broadway location at Myrtle Beach. It is also handicap accessible and has some very lovely restaurants as well as affordable shops to meander through. I meet some great new friends there. Even if their final destination was my stomach.
Yes, a mini-vacation is a sure energy recharger for those of us with chronic illness. I highly recommend it if you can swing it financially and if you can't...well do your own staycation and bring in a few of the resort styled amenities for your enjoyment.
Between the cost of ra prescriptions and the copays, we have little if any money left at the end of the month. And that's for folks with insurance! For the poor souls without insurance, the cost of ra is overwhelming.
Here are some online resources to hopefully help you…
"What is the Partnership for Prescription Assistance???
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance helps qualifying patients without prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need through the program that is right for them. Many will get their medications free or nearly free.
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance will help you find the program that’s right for you, free of charge. Remember, you will never be asked for money by a PPA Call Center representative, or on this Web site."
"Patient assistance programs are run by pharmaceutical companies to provide free medications to people who cannot afford to buy their medicine. RxAssist offers a comprehensive database of these patient assistance programs, as well as practical tools, news, and articles so that health care professionals and patients can find the information they need. All in one place."
This next website seems more specific to mental illness medications; however, at the bottom is a list of all pharmaceutical companies with their corresponding phone numbers and websites. Two things…many ra patients are also treated for depression and might need assistance with these types of medications and we all need to contact our specific medication manufacturers directly to see if they offer assistance programs for our specific ra medications.
Free or low-cost medications provided by pharmaceutical companies
Some pharmaceutical companies offer medication assistance programs to low-income individuals and families. These programs typically require a doctor’s consent and proof of financial status. They may also require that you have either no health insurance, or no prescription drug benefit through your health insurance. Please contact the pharmaceutical company directly for specific eligibility requirements and application information."
Needy Meds - They also has a link to find medical clinics in each state that operate on a sliding scale.
"Welcome! NeedyMeds is an online information resource of programs that provide assistance to people who are unable to afford their medications and health care costs.
Please note that we do not run any assistance programs, we do not have a NeedyMeds application, and we do not supply medicine or financial assistance. We do maintain current information about many sources of assistance that anyone can use without registering or entering any personal data.
All of our information is provided at no cost and is updated daily. All of the program information can be accessed from the links on the left-hand menu."
In addition About has some great resources on how to reduce your medication costs if you have to pay out of pocket for your medicine. I suggest you read the articles for full details.
A few of the About strategies include:
First, speak with your doctor
Generic medications
Shop around pharmacies in your area.
Shop for generics at "Big Box" stores.
Stick to the no-name brand when buying an over-the-counter (OTC).
Learn about pill splitting.
Go postal and buy thru the mail.
Buy medications online.
Choose your health plan wisely.
Ask your doctor to prescribe a cheaper alternative.
If you have any additional resources or suggestions that you have successfully used to cut your prescription drug costs, do share. The more the merrier!
Pull up a chair! Pull up your towel if you dare (thought I would get a smile from you on that one) and enjoy the second in the series…Blog Party - At The Pool!
Crank up the music…hit the play arrow and take a splash into the cool waters of the blog world. I have found these blogs to be refreshing and heartwarming. Jump on in!
Thanks so much to Lyda at I Don't Know.....It's a Mystery for spotlighting meon her blog today. It is a huge privilege to be a part of her blog. I was drawn to her blog due to her rheumatoid arthritis and paleo style of eating and have grown to love everything about her. We definitely do share a lot of things in common which is why I love visiting her blog. If you haven't discovered her blog yet, be sure to check it out. It is full of optimism, something I can't get enough of everyday. Thanks for giving me a good supply Lyda!
This is a post that I have been planning on writing for some time. Around February of this year, I started experimenting with a nightshade plan. Vegetables are part of a healthy diet, however "nightshade vegetables" contain alkaloids which can impact nerve-muscle and digestive functions. In addition, they can also compromise joint function. Nightshade vegetables are in the Solanaceae family of plants. Among the most common, there are some 2800 nightshades, are tomato, potato, eggplant, and peppers of all kinds, except black pepper. Tomatillos, tamarios, pepinos, pimentos, paprika, cayenne, Tabasco sauce and tobacco are also classified as nightshade foods.
"Life doesn't require that we be the best, only that we try our best."
**H. Jackson Brown, Jr. **
When non-runners look at the running world, they see the leaders like Ryan Hall or Kara Goucher eating up the roads at magnificent speeds and appreciate the skill, determination, and work that has gone into those hard won miles. Runners see the same things, but it extends much further. Anyone that has been part of the larger running community, like participating in local 5K charity races either as runners or volunteers, knows the blood sweat and tears that can go into the finishing chute with the average Joe long after the Ryan’s and Kara’s are gone.
Eating an anti-inflammatory diet is a fun challenge for me in the kitchen. I enjoy changing recipes and experimenting with spices and ingredients that take a dish to the anti-inflammatory side. Sometimes its a win and sometimes....well not so much.
Went to Costco yesterday and found two thick, fluffy, memory foam pillows for my bed. Since my camp-out at Mom’s house became permanent, I’ve added a thick memory foam pad to the guest bed. It has helped a lot in the long, painful night department. Pillows of the same material, I figured, could only be good.
I was right. I felt enveloped in softness from head to toe when I crawled into bed last night. All of my body’s painful pressure points disappeared. I fell asleep quickly and stayed asleep all night. It was absolutely lovely.
