Back to Stelara

Back in August, I started my battle with insurance over my Crohn's medication. I received approval, and then they went back on their approval, I was forced onto the biosimilar Wezlana, and I have been working through all of the side effects. 

I saw my GI about a week ago, and I was actually ready to work through a transition plan, because it was my last appointment with him. He is leaving the practice at the end of this year, and I wanted to get his thoughts on where I go from here. I can't tell you how devastating this news is; I am beyond grateful for my GI, and I trust him completely. He has fought for me on many occasions, and I was so disappointed when I heard that I would have to find someone new. But I know that the Lord has a plan, and I am praying for the right care as I search for a new GI. 

When I relayed to my {still current} GI the side effects that I have been facing, he was NOT happy. As a last chance effort and parting gift, he wanted to try to appeal the insurance one last time, as he felt I was stable on Stelara and should never have been moved to the biosimilar in the first place. {Again- he's amazing, and I appreciate his care for his patients so much}. I honestly didn't expect much, considering how long our fight took last time and that he was leaving, but I appreciated his zeal, said my goodbyes, and left. 

In less than one week, I received an uncontested approval from the insurance and a dose of the Stelara on my doorstep. Just like that, and I am back to Stelara. I can't tell you how floored I was to hear that they approved it. I didn't believe it at first; I didn't trust it. And then the pharmacy was filling the script, and it arrived on my doorstep. There's still a part of me that is waiting for the insurance to say, "haha, just kidding!" And I guess, technically, they still could. 

But for now, the Lord {unexpectedly} moved mountains for me! I didn't even ask Him to this time. I have refills for the next 9 months, and I am back on Stelara. I am praying that the transition back is smoother than the transition away. And I am praying that the blip in treatment is just that: a blip. That I remain in remission.