I was so blessed to be approved by my doctors and by my health insurance for IVIG. The infections (lyme and co-infections) have destroyed my immune system, leaving me unable to fight other illnesses as well. It took about 6-8 months from the time Dr. Abidin mentioned the possibility, to actually being approved by my insurance.
"IVIG stands for intravenous immune globulin; it is a sterile solution of concentrated antibodies extracted from healthy donors which is administered into a vein. IVIG is used to treat disorders of the immune system or to boost immune response to serious illness, and to treat immuno-suppressed recipients of bone marrow transplants. Antibodies are responsible for defending our bodies from pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria. (article)"
"There is a highly specialized and lengthy process used to manufacture IVIG. It begins in blood centers across the country where tens of thousands of healthy individuals donate their plasma (the portion of the blood where the immune globulins and other blood proteins are contained). The plasma from all of these individuals is then pooled together, and then chemically treated to isolate the immune globulins and remove any other blood proteins or blood-borne pathogens. The end result is a highly purified immune globulin preparation that is then packaged and ready to be infused. (article)"
This 6 hour long infusion takes 10,000 plus donors for one infusion and costs about $10,000 for the infusion that lasts one month. This is a very expensive treatment and is very hard to get insurance approval. As we know lyme's controversy, I would never be approved for this treatment based on that diagnosis. Praise God that I found Dr. Abidin who found me immuno-suppressant. He gave me 2 doses (over the course of a couple of months) of vaccinations in hopes to boost my immunity. With no luck, he sent me to Dr. Alpan who drew 9 vials of blood. You see the lyme took out my sinus immunity, but tricked the doctors by revealing normalcy in my regular immunity. This is hard to explain but the relevant part is the fact that other doctors did not think I needed the IVIG. Even Dr. Alpan (the doctor who would administer it to me) questioned Dr. Abidin's decision to send me for IVIG. He complied for 6 months, and it's been the best 6 months in my health profile. I would get so sick before.
Six months was just up at my last infusion, and I prayed that God's will would be done. I asked God to give me grace with IVIG, so that I could continue lyme treatment with a fighting chance.
And would you believe it?!
Dr. Alpan (the doctor who questioned me on it) approved me for up to 2 more years of IVIG!!!
I couldn't believe it. Again, my Lord amazes me! When He opens a door, let no man shut it... no matter the odds stacked against you.
And so here I sit in my 7th infusion for 6 hours, from 10,000 plus donors, at a very high cost to my insurance company.
I want to say thank you to all of you who have donated blood over the years. Thank you!
"IVIG stands for intravenous immune globulin; it is a sterile solution of concentrated antibodies extracted from healthy donors which is administered into a vein. IVIG is used to treat disorders of the immune system or to boost immune response to serious illness, and to treat immuno-suppressed recipients of bone marrow transplants. Antibodies are responsible for defending our bodies from pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria. (article)"
"There is a highly specialized and lengthy process used to manufacture IVIG. It begins in blood centers across the country where tens of thousands of healthy individuals donate their plasma (the portion of the blood where the immune globulins and other blood proteins are contained). The plasma from all of these individuals is then pooled together, and then chemically treated to isolate the immune globulins and remove any other blood proteins or blood-borne pathogens. The end result is a highly purified immune globulin preparation that is then packaged and ready to be infused. (article)"
This 6 hour long infusion takes 10,000 plus donors for one infusion and costs about $10,000 for the infusion that lasts one month. This is a very expensive treatment and is very hard to get insurance approval. As we know lyme's controversy, I would never be approved for this treatment based on that diagnosis. Praise God that I found Dr. Abidin who found me immuno-suppressant. He gave me 2 doses (over the course of a couple of months) of vaccinations in hopes to boost my immunity. With no luck, he sent me to Dr. Alpan who drew 9 vials of blood. You see the lyme took out my sinus immunity, but tricked the doctors by revealing normalcy in my regular immunity. This is hard to explain but the relevant part is the fact that other doctors did not think I needed the IVIG. Even Dr. Alpan (the doctor who would administer it to me) questioned Dr. Abidin's decision to send me for IVIG. He complied for 6 months, and it's been the best 6 months in my health profile. I would get so sick before.
Six months was just up at my last infusion, and I prayed that God's will would be done. I asked God to give me grace with IVIG, so that I could continue lyme treatment with a fighting chance.
And would you believe it?!
Dr. Alpan (the doctor who questioned me on it) approved me for up to 2 more years of IVIG!!!
I couldn't believe it. Again, my Lord amazes me! When He opens a door, let no man shut it... no matter the odds stacked against you.
And so here I sit in my 7th infusion for 6 hours, from 10,000 plus donors, at a very high cost to my insurance company.
I want to say thank you to all of you who have donated blood over the years. Thank you!
