Auto-immune diseases happen when the body attacks itself. Find out how to manage your condition and save money on autoimmune treatment.
There is a very long list of auto-immune disorders, some of the more common ones are:
- Celiac disease – sprue (gluten-sensitive enteropathy)
- Graves disease
- Hashimoto thyroiditis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Polymyositis
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Psoriasis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Eczema/Atopic Dermatitis
Managing Autoimmune Disorders
Managing or being diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder frequently involves seeing a specialist or going through an extensive medical investigation. Some are luckily identified by primary care physicians rather than requiring years of the patient trying to figure out what is wrong.
Sometimes the route to diagnosis is through a primary care physician who needs to refer the case to a specialist due to the complexity. Larger research clinics at universities or places like Cleveland Clinic or Mayo Clinic do more complex investigative clinic visits that can sometimes span over days in an attempt to identify the cause of someone’s illness clearly. This extensive workup frequently discovers auto-immune disorders that would be missed in those 10-minute primary care visits.
If you suspect you might have a specific auto-immune disorder, online support groups can be useful to identify symptoms, patterns of symptoms, useful lab tests, or frequent misdiagnoses. They can also be a useful resource for research and other information to discuss with your doctor.
Many auto-immune disorders have advocacy groups. Look at the funding for any such group you take information or advice from. Some are funded by drug companies who conveniently direct patients to their drug as the best solution for the condition, ignoring other viable options. Others are funded by typical non-profits created by people impacted by an auto-immune disease. These groups can be a great source of treatment options, doctor referrals, and self-care tactics.
Biologics
Biologic drugs have become a common treatment for many auto-immune disorders. They also frequently come with a large price tag. Dig deep into your insurance pharmacy coverage and how it works. Some require you to buy these drugs through specific pharmacies they partner with or have rules dictating when and how they will pay for these drugs.
If your coverage is rejected by your insurance, be prepared to have your doctor submit forms to your insurance documenting the medical need. Calling your insurance can also nudge denials in your favor if you can explain to someone over the phone why this drug is necessary and that other options don’t exist. Some drug manufacturers still offer co-pay assistance or discount programs. Make sure to look at the fine print for these. If they only offer help for a short period of time you will again be on the hook for an expensive out-of-pocket cost when the assistance expires.
Biosimilar versions of some biologic drugs exist, this is similar to a generic version of a non-biologic drug and can come at a reduced cost. If you are considering starting a biologic, discuss if there are biosimilar drugs that might be an option with your doctor, and investigate the cost and insurance coverage to see if you would see any actual cost savings.
Medications
Other medications can be expensive too. Shopping for generics can help with costs for most older medications. Newer brand medications may be your best option but make sure before committing to the cost. Some doctors throw every new drug at patients assuming that newer is always better. Some newer drugs can have dangerous side effects and lack the years of data collected on older drugs. If you do opt for a newer brand medication, check the price at multiple pharmacies and research how your insurance will or will not cover it. Also, ask your doctor if you can stop taking the drug if it doesn’t work well, or if you decide you can’t afford it long-term. Some medications are problematic to discontinue and should be weight against the potential benefit.
Drug-Free Options
Some lifestyle changes can be beneficial for certain conditions. Diet changes either to a healthier diet or eliminating certain foods can help with some autoimmune conditions. For example, many people with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis find that removing wheat and gluten from their diet improved their condition. Various other dietary changes are suggested for different disorders.
Exercise or being more active is suggested for many autoimmune disorders. Too much exercise, or the wrong kind, can flare up some autoimmune disorders. Do your research before taking up a new exercise program. Also, be aware that some physical therapists and trainers are clueless about autoimmune disorders and how some types of exercise may cause flare-ups.
Stress levels and sleep quality play a role in many autoimmune disorders. Take a hard look at the stressors in your life and decide if they are mandatory. Some changes may be in order to preserve your health. That might be finding better, more efficient ways to do things, like ordering groceries instead of fighting crowds in the store, or ceasing things that really don’t serve you well.
Poor sleep can make autoimmune disorders worse. Is your bed holding you back from a good night’s sleep? Is it causing you pain? Is your bed partner disrupting your sleep? Changes to improve your sleep can reap major health benefits. You can track how well you are sleeping with a fitness tracker that includes sleep monitoring. Wearing one of these to bed for a few weeks can provide some surprising data about your sleep.
Working on these drug-free options may improve your condition, and reduce the need for expensive medications and doctor visits.