This maybe a small bag of medicines but it packs a punch against me and my pockets as one drug causes me to lose appetite and to dry my fund so fast. I bought some Cinacalcet 30 mg ten tablets only (because it is a pocket-buster), my Renvela 800 mg thirty tablets per bottle, and then some of my Gabapentin 600 mg tablets and my mother bought only five tablets for now, I just take a third of it every after dialysis which is only twice per week.
Renvela is what I use to bind phosphates or phosphorus to the foods that I eat so that my phosphorus levels would remain low or normal because it is really the main cause of my bone issues as it triggers my Parathyroid to release excessive amounts of its hormones that causes Calcium loss from my bones.
Recently its cost was cut down to almost half because of the law that was passed by my country's government to help the people afford expensive and widely used medicines and fortunately it included "Sevelamer carbonate" which is the Renvela (brand name) that I am using right now.
Cinacalcet is very hard to take, it causes me to have a loss on appetite which I had been complaining about for about three years now.
But I truly needed it because I cannot have a parathyroidectomy yet and also not sure if I can get that kind of operation. So meanwhile I am taking these drug alternative to that operation so that my parathyroid would be controlled or suppressed with its destructive hormone to my body that causes bone weakness which explains my Leontiasis condition.
But I am elated that things are getting better for my bones due to the fact that my pains are getting eased up as months go by that is why I am able to walk and gain some distance without my back killing me.
It is a long process because it takes time for bones to heal and I am still also not sure if my parathyroid hormones is already in the normal levels. So I just have to take my Cinacalcet everyday to help me heal my bones for all the pains to go away for good.
I am also thankful that I am getting discount as a person with disability (PWD) card holder and in that way almost all my medicine cost is cut down with 12% tax discount plus 20% discount for my privilege as a PWD. It does help a big deal for me considering the cost of Cinacalcet alone is really poking big holes in my pockets.
For now I can still afford these medicines because I still have funds but my funds are just limited considering that I am also a dialysis patient and no one around really helps me to help me buy these medicines except from this community.
But I am still having a sense of security because of you all and it is really something that I a truly thankful for and appreciate until the day the good Lord God takes away my spirit. Sor now my struggle still continues and I am happy that I am at least gaining grounds, thanks be to God.