GOOD NEWS TODAY ON THE CORONAVIRUS FRONT!
Yes, I am one of the people they are talking about who are most at-risk from the virus.
And yes, the virus is spreading around DC. (What? You thought we would be exempt for some reason? Yeah, right. Remember the President HATES us! DC would be last on the list for prophylactic measures he would pay for, I’m sure!)
I got back from my medical appointment this afternoon to a phone call from my allergist — which in itself was a little surprising, it being mid-afternoon and all. She said that they had a major meeting of the medical faculty at noon because of the virus (the minister of a major DC church was in the GW ER yesterday and yes, he’s got it). That sped up their planning and alternatives for special-care patients (like me).
She said they realized the odds that they would be quarantined themselves had gotten moved forward — to, like, this week maybe. And for patients like me, who depend on biologics being administered on a strict schedule, that meant they needed a new battle plan.
Xolair, the biologic I’ve been on since 2012 and which addresses my severe allergies — I could go for weeks without it. Not great, but it won’t potentially have a fatal impact.
But that’s not the case with my miracle drug, Fasenra. Even being late on that is concerning (and there’s a whole ‘nother dramedy I’ll write about tomorrow on that subject). In fact, before I began taking it, Astra Zeneca, the manufacturer, sent me an entire notebook with detailed information, which boiled down to:
1. This ain’t like nothing else you’ve ever taken.
2. You MUST NOT MISS A DOSE! In fact, YOU MUST NOT BE LATE WITH A DOSE! If you are traveling and are delayed, let us know and we will arrange to get it to you wherever you are!
3. There’s no cure. You will probably be on this the rest of your life.
(I swear, the notebook was about 1/2-inch thick and that’s what it boiled down to. Wish they would have paid ME to write it for them and let me keep the rest of the production budget!)
So every eight weeks, I trek down and they give me the injection. But it’s not something that just any doctor or nurse will administer. In fact, at GW, ONLY the Asthma & Allergy Clinic will administer biologics. Not pulmonology. I don’t think oncology even does. Anyway, if they close it down — quarantine the clinic or MFA — then what do I do?
My doctor proactively figured it out. Luckily Astra Zeneca had already created a “pen” dispensation system (like with insulin) and gotten FDA approval for patient-self injection!
Yippee!
So calls to my insurer (check), specialty pharmacy (double-check), specialty pharmacy’s delivery company (triple-check). All my allergist has to do is write the new scrip and the next order will, if necessary, be for a pen version and shipped directly to my apartment.
What a relief!
