I am 93 years old and on Medicare as well as a fixed income. Unfortunately, I take several medications and some of them are very expensive. On Medicare part D, when I get to that place where they don’t pay, the cost is overwhelming. I would appreciate any help I could get.

Les W., Houston, TX

I have always been a very healthy and active person but this last summer almost overnight I starting having horrible health problems. It started with a hospitalization for what they believed was a failing gall bladder but test after test showed that the gall bladder was functioning perfectly. The doctors and specialists then looked into other gastrointestinal problems and ran every test imaginable and still remain stumped. While we were running tests and trying drug regiments the symptoms only grew worse. I started suffering tremendous pain throughout my body, both muscular and bone pain. In addition I started suffering from seizures and weakness down my left side. Eventually a neurologist said that the latest MRI showed that my cerebellum was enlarged and that was causing the symptoms so they put me onto an anti-seizure medication. This has helped some but I am still experiencing the pain throughout my body, extreme weakness and fatigue, lesser seizures than before and irregular loss of muscle coordination. Because of the ongoing medical problems and repeated hospitalizations I was forced to go on FMLA but now my employer has decided that upon my return they were replacing me because they just didn’t know what my continuing health issues would be. I am currently on a drug regiment that seems to be controlling most of the symptoms while we continue to try to figure out the root cause and how we can manage the symptoms daily. However, now that my employer has let me go I no longer have the medical or prescription insurance coverage that allows my doctor visits, testing and the very prescriptions that are necessary to keep the seizures at bay. I am trying to find a new job but have a tremendous fear of what will happen until I have insurance coverage again if I go off of the anti-seizure medications that I cannot afford without my prescription drug coverage.

Lori W., Vancouver, Washinton

It was 9 years ago, after the birth of my son, I was experiencing heartburn almost every day.

I was given a gastrologist’s name and made my appointment. After extensive tests I was told that my heartburn was a problem caused by my stomach producing more acid than normal. At that time, Nexium was not being sold or distributed so my doctor prescribed Prilosec 20mg twice a day. The medication seemed to work. However, if I skipped the second dosage my heartburn returned with a vengeance. I had to learn to take the 2 pills every day.

During a check up from my doctor he introduced me to Nexium and told me that it was a 40 mg pill and that I would only have to take 1 pill instead of the two and this might help me with my absent mindedness. Well, to say the least, the single pill has been a miricle for me. I take 1 Nexium every day and I’m heartburn free. I will state this, though, if I skip just 1 pill….my heartburn is back in full force. I sometimes wonder now if taking Nexium has left me dependent on this drug for the rest of my life because I cannot seem to go one day without it.

Anyhow, Nexium is a wonder pill for me and I thank the makers of this product from the bottom of my “heart” for making such a drug to keep me from getting that awful heartburn again.

Thank you for you time in reading my little story.

Lory W., Rhode Island

The medicine is just to much of a burden wit basic insurance (700). With daily expenses and my two kids not being covered makes me think twice if i have to go to the pharmacy. I tried switching the medicine the doctor prescribed to a cheaper generic version, did not work so im stuck. Thank you so much for this chance.

Susan

I had been able to use various drug discount cards before medicare came out with the new drug program, saving much more money that way. Now my drugs are much more and my husband suggests maybe we should only use our medications every other day to save money.

SKS, Pine Bluff, AR