Harper and her daddy enjoying a beautiful day at the beach.
I'm hoping I still have some followers left after my extended absence on 365. :) Thank you so much for the comments/concern that I've just read from many of you. All is well. And I hope to get back in touch with everyone over the next few days. I've missed the 365 gang!!
Ah you are back Peggy I have missed you !! As soon as I saw this photo I wanted to look closer...it just has your stamp on it !!! Fabulous shot & such a sweet pose of father & daughter !!
Hurrah!! Hello Peggy - I dropped by the other day to see if I'd been missing your posts - so happy you're back! This is a very sweet shot - is that a stunning N Carolina beach? I can feel a series of daddy/daughter shots like this appearing as she grows up!
Hi Peggy - so many great things about this shot....beach! Sand! Sunshine! Shorts! Flip-flops! Harper's little legs and bare feetsies! A girl and her Dad! Welcome back!!!
@judithg Thanks, Judith! I've really missed 365!! I actually have a whole series of daddy/daughter shots from this weekend alone. We were at a family wedding (my niece) at the beach just south of Charleston, SC. I'll try to space them out a bit as filler. :)
@girlie Thanks, Robin! A bit of a set back with the RA. But I'm adjusting...again. You know the story. My rheumatologist wants me to start on a new biologic drug. I'm hoping to get approval from my insurance company. It's incredibly expensive so I'm not getting my hopes up. I hope things are working out well in your life. It's good to be back on 365 and to catch up with everyone!
@peggysirk Sorry to hear that. Can you give me the name of the drug? Mightn't be released here but my rheumatologist is always happy to hear about new drugs. We're going through bad family stuff at the moment but hope the worst will be over some time in June. In the meantime a little dose of 365 every day or two helps distract me from all the negatives.
@girlie Robin ~ I'm so sorry things are still unsettled with the family situation. I'll be hoping that life is smoother for you in June. Hang in there!
There are several relatively new biologic drugs...Enbrel, Humira, and Simponi are three that my rheumatologist recommended for me because they are self injectable 1x weekly. There are some others that require monthly infusions at the dr's office. I've researched the three he recommended and think I'll start with Enbrel...it seemed to have better patient reviews. I'll see how it goes with the insurance company. They tend to balk at an ongoing med therapy that costs 3,000.00 USdollars a month.
Well if I'd read your title properly I'd have known where it was! In fact I got badly sunburned feet on the beach 20 years ago (after a wedding in Charleston!) but I can't blame the beach - no suncream applied!!! Very beautiful down there & we watched the dolphins swimming by. Looking forward to your fillers!
PS I'm really interested to see that these drugs are reaching the clinic. Humira was partially developed at a company in Cambridge - I know quite a few of the people there and did similar types of work myself over the years. It's just a shame that it's so expensive to develop these drugs - and these particular ones are complex proteins so production and purification takes a lot of work as well. On top of that the FDA etc require more and more very expensive clinical trials. Ironically if they can sell enough the price comes down - we'll just have to hope that the insurance people will stump up until that happens.
Thanks for that info. I looked up Enbrel and see that it's on the government pharmaceutical benefits scheme, which means it's very cheap here for RA sufferers (about $4.80 a month). I don't need a change of meds at the moment but will keep this in mind in case. Hope you have luck with your insurance company.
@judithg I think the pharmaceutical companies are trying to pick up the slack with the cost of the medications...most offer some sort of financial assistance with insurance co-pays and/or Rx financial rebates for those without coverage. I'm not sure of the eligibility requirements...usually assistance programs have an income cap.
I've read some encouraging reviews of the efficacy of these biologics. I'm hoping to give one a shot. No pun intended. :)
Hi Peggy! Seems I have been on the same hiatus as you. I'm hoping to start posting again today. I'm currently in Colorado spending 2 weeks with James and Annie. Prior to that I spent a week on Little Gasparilla Island off the west coast of Florida (enjoyed dolphins at our dock nightly!) and before that spent a few weeks helping out my aging parents who live a 3 hour drive from us. Too much traveling to fit 365 in. I miss it and my 365 community. Reading the above posts makes me so angry about our medical system here. I certainly hope you are able to work something out with your insurance company. It just stinks. Or perhaps Robin would adopt you and you could move to Australia. Of course, you would have to take Harper along! Glad you're back. Think I'll post a photo right now!
@barbsmith So good to see you back, Barb!! Sounds like you've been a busy lady lately. I hope all is well with your mom and dad. It's good that you're close enough to help when necessary...and I'm sure it's a comfort to them. The trip to Little Gasparilla sounds like heaven...a little R&R in paradise is always a good thing. And now I know you're having a fabulous time with James and Annie ~ enjoy your two weeks with that adorable duo!! Will they be spending the summer with you at the lake after school is out? Last summer was great ~ I'm ready to vicariously go to "Camp Smith" again via your photos! :)
Thanks for the support/interest regarding the biologic RA meds. I'll let you know how that all plays out. Still researching the ones my doctor recommended before I take on the insurance company. It might be that they okay it without a problem. We shall see.
Again, it's great to touch base with you! Enjoy your time in Colorado!
There are several relatively new biologic drugs...Enbrel, Humira, and Simponi are three that my rheumatologist recommended for me because they are self injectable 1x weekly. There are some others that require monthly infusions at the dr's office. I've researched the three he recommended and think I'll start with Enbrel...it seemed to have better patient reviews. I'll see how it goes with the insurance company. They tend to balk at an ongoing med therapy that costs 3,000.00 USdollars a month.
I've read some encouraging reviews of the efficacy of these biologics. I'm hoping to give one a shot. No pun intended. :)
Thanks for the support/interest regarding the biologic RA meds. I'll let you know how that all plays out. Still researching the ones my doctor recommended before I take on the insurance company. It might be that they okay it without a problem. We shall see.
Again, it's great to touch base with you! Enjoy your time in Colorado!