JFX001 wrote:
We have excellent insurance, but the purple pill (Nexium) costs 256 bucks a bottle, and it's not covered.
I have the same trouble. They made Nexium (esomeprazole) to start a new patent when the prilosec hit 10 years. Truth is, the "es" in esomeprazole is a hydroxide molecule tacked on that turns into water as soon as it hits your stomach... but its "different" so they can get another patent.
The insurance companies know that, so they don't cover it, they just say "get prilosec" which isn't covered because its OTC now.
The good news is that prilosec OTC (omeprazole) also comes in prilosec MG (omeprazole magnesium) and they are planning on phasing out the OTC. The MG stuff doesn't work for me, so I might have a case for actually getting a prescription paid for.
I know I sound like a commercial, but don't take this lightly. I had 13 ulcers in my esophagus, one perforated, and another one started a teeny little tumor which was removed and never heard from again. My buddy Rick wasn't so lucky - 3 years of chemo and radiation and it doesn't look good for him.
another statistic: It is estimated that 40-60% of Americans have a hiatal hernia, but only about 15% are diagnosed. Most people just blame the lasagna they had and pop a tums. Not good.
The thing that sucks for it is that there is no real fix other than band-aiding it with drugs that reduce your acid production. My concern is that some day I'm going to see a commercial on TV that says, "have you taken prilosec and now have kidney failure? Contact the lawfirm of steinberg and steinberg. You may be eligible for a settlement of $20 for your death."
, we are concentrating on a possible herniated disk and I have to have an EMG and maybe a bone scan.
