I just finished my first month on the sample pack my doctor gave me of the Xarelto blood thinner for the clots in my left leg. Imagine my surprise when I went to pick up the prescription for the next 30 days and it was $467.16. Wow! It's just like street drugs, the first one is free! I called my agent that handles my Medicare Drug Supplement and thankfully, it is on the list of covered drugs but unfortunately for my wallet, there is a $400 annual deductible and then it should be less than $100 per month. I've already seen improvement in the swelling in my lower leg, thanks to this miracle drug and my stylish compression stocking that goes all the way up to my crotch. I have a greater understanding and compassion now for what women go through with pantyhose!
I had a nice telemedicine visit with my doctor this afternoon and we went over a range of things. The 17 vials of bloodwork didn't reveal any anomalies that could lead to clotting. I did mention that I had forgotten all about my 3200-mile road trip around the Midwest in early August and now felt that it was a contributing factor. Doc said it might also be one of the side effects of the Covid that I had in June in Kenya, he had seen one other patient that began clotting after a bout with the virus.
The good news is that I will probably only need to be on this drug until mid-December and maybe use it as a preventative before long road trips or flights to Africa. I am going to have my leg re-examined with ultrasound equipment in early December and then we'll go from there. Doc did give me the history of how things went before these newer drugs. You needed to start them in the hospital at great expense and then you went on Coumadin, also expensive, which required blood work every few weeks to monitor its effects. So, while these meds, including Eliquis are expensive since there are no generics yet, they are far more cost effective than earlier treatments were. My prayer is 3 months and done is what will happen.
When I do a road trip from now on, I need to follow my usual practices for plane flights. Get up every hour and a half maximum, stay hydrated, stretch out, walk to keep blood flowing and use common sense. I can do that!
Thanks everybody for your concern, I'll keep you posted as the journey continues. The picture to go with this post is an Osprey with a freshly caught fish at Lake Georgetown. I know it just caught it because I saw it and it still has its head. The first thing the Osprey will do when it gets to a tree on shore is to bite the head off. It takes the fight right out of the fish! Blessings everyone!
