My copay for Copaxone this month is $539. That’s just the copayment, keep in mind. Copaxone is anything but an inexpensive medication.

Social Security gives me $643 a month to live on, so until and unless I get some assistance from Shared Solutions, I am without my DMD. I mean, while I could see what living on $104 for the month would be like, I doubt it’s the lifestyle that any of us wants me to become accustomed to.

Happily, I can report that being without Copaxone has not lead to any ill side effects. If anything, I feel better not having to give myself a shot every night before bed. The nightly “bee sting” is something I can happily do without, though I’m not sure how it’s affecting my brain chemistry to be completely honest.

One thing I’ve always hated about taking the drug is that it’s supposed to reduce the formation of new lesions and relapses by up to 40% – but you just have to trust em on that. You’re still gonna get new plaques and you’re still gonna have relapses. You’ll just have fewer. PROMISE. Just keep poking yourself with needles… *smirk*

It really does go to show how broken our system is, however. My monthly living stipend from the government doesn’t even cover the copay on my drugs, let alone the cost of the pharmaceutical copays + the cost of copays for my doctors visits that I need to go to just to keep me functional. And the government is the entity choosing the plans available through Medicare, so they know exactly how much I’m paying and why. You’d think that they would take those things under consideration. I mean, it’s not like you can fake multiple sclerosis or the seizure disorder I have. The lesions show up on the fMRI scans. The seizure activity shows on ictal spec and on EEG… so it’s not like I’m using government funds for lollipops and hookers. (I’m not in Congress! Sheesh!) Based on that, if I were doing the algorhythm for fund allocation, I would put something in the “Extra Help” fund for folks like me.

But that’s because I’m me, and I need extra help. 🙂

Or do I? I mean, I am on this fantastic new diet… and Dr. Wahls hasn’t needed any DMDs for some time.

Maybe I’ll make myself some kale chips, meditate a little while they bake, and see if I can’t save myself and my country some money by attempting to control this disease with diet.

I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? I’m only gambling with my brain. I could do worse with Malort.