Hi
Minka – The assessment went well, thanks. Passed all of the hurdles that I had to, so access to my treatment drug is safe for another 6 months.
“are the tests to ensure that the mediation is working” – Basically all of the newer drugs that are used to treat RA are hugely expensive. (To give you an example of cost. My treatment drug costs the PBS approx $2,000 every 4 weeks and I pay the normal cost of a prescription – about $39.) When they were listed on the PBS it was with very restrictive requirements that are essentially designed to ensure that no-one gets access to them in the first place unless their symptoms are bad enough to warrant it, and no-one keeps access unless they maintain a significant improvement in symptoms. When you first qualify you have to pass the blood test and joint examination requirements – these became my baseline measures. To keep access I have to maintain a 25% reduction in 2 blood test levels and I have to maintain a 50% reduction in the number of major joints with active RA, based on those baseline measures. I do understand why there are these restrictions – it’s a massive amount of taxpayer funds to spend subsidising drugs and the government only wants to cover that cost where there is significant benefit. So while the process is stressful, as a taxpayer myself I understand the reason for the limits that have been set.
“well done for reducing the inflammation! I’m gathering that IF plays a part in that?” – It’s not so much the IF that affects inflammation as my weight. If I can stay roughly under 80kg my inflammation levels are usually low enough to meet the blood test requirements. I have also been using an eating window every day for over year (which means I have a complete fasting period of 14-16 hours every day), so I guess with or without 5:2 I get the health benefits of fasting.
Just finished my second FD for the week. The next one won’t be until Friday, so I get 2 NFDs which is always better for me.
10:24 am
21 Mar 17