HELP

[Cheyennewarrior]

Hello Fellow Warriors,

I need a little help. For those of you that do not remember, treatment fail with me .
I am currently working with an attorney trying to get S.S. disability. I have a hearing date the first week of February. Monday morning me attorney informed me to go back to the clinic that treated me for a followup on my condition. The problem is that clinic lost it's funding and cannot help me.

I'm looking for a clinic that treats the disease for low income people. I have no insurance and have been unemployed for over a year. The doctors that I've spoken to want anywhere from $250--$300 for the first initial visit--just to evaluate my medical history.

If anyone knows of a clinic or a doctor in the Tampa Bay area that can assist me, PLEASE respond ASAP.

[alice]

CW,
I hope someone closer to you can find some more useful info. I just wanted to let you know that I am in the same boat as you--- unemployed and uninsured, and fighting for SSD. I am able to find free meds and doctors who are willing to work with my situation. I'll bet you can too!

Maybe call the county health department. here is the number.

Hillsborough County Health Department
Call us at (813) 307-8000
Good luck. I hope yo find what you need

alice

[Cheyennewarrior]

Thanks Alice, but the health department was another dead end. If you know a doctor that can work with me, let me know sooooooon!

[B]

I know it's QUITE a distance, but there is a Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and they do a lot of clinical trials, at least in the one here in AZ.  You may qualify and may not have to spend a lot of time there to participate. 

[DougV]

Or closer, Shands, didn't think of them.  Financial assistance available. 

http://www.shands.org/hospitals/uf/default.asp

Just not sure if you can get in soon enough.

Doug

[p.hat]

Yes I believe that you can get treatment if you signed up fo a clinical trial, good luck! I know here in san diego that if you call a GI doctor they will tell you who is doing a clinical study....

[AlexsMommy1109]

Cheyennewarrior, I too am in your situation. I am also in the Tampa area, and am in need of a doctor/clinic. No insurance makes things very difficult doesn't it? I also have no income at the moment =/ I was referred to the Judeo Christian Clinic.. Im not sure what area of tampa you are in, but it is located on the same street as St. Joseph's Women's hospital off of MLK/MacDill. Where have you tried so far? If you don't mind my asking. I was just diagnosed yesterday, and am still freaking out alil bit. I have no idea where to even begin! Have you looked into Hillsborough County Healthcare? I have an appt to try and get set up with them on Tuesday. Pls let me know if you hear of anything, or have any recommendations, and i will do the same for you.

[hope life]

you might try going to a GP it would be cheaper and he could do your blood work.

                                     hope life

[Cheyennewarrior]

Hello AlexsMommy1109 (and the rest of you),

Forget about the Judeo Christian Clinic. They do not do HCV, and they have no idea where to send you for help. I
searched alll over the Net and the Bay area. I got the same story everywhere I turned. The federal government cutoff
funding to all of the HCV clinics in Florida.

I was told countless times that my only options are to get in on a clinical trial. The people over at Chance in St. Pete
sent me the following list of people in the area that are doing clinical trials. Currently & unfortunately, I did not qualify
for any of them. I ended up having to get an appointment with one of the doctors on this list. The first appointment is
$300.00 plus labs--OUCH. Thank God for credit cards.

Good Luck Alexmommy,
Cheyennewarrior

                                                                            Drug Trial List

　
Advanced Research Institute inc.
3633 Little Rd. Suite 102
Trinity, Fl 34655
(727) 835-3261
Accepting non-responders only

　

ADVANCED Gastroenterology Associates

Joanne Root, CCRC, Research Department
34041 Us Highway 19 N Palm Harbor, FL 34684
(727) 216-0768


Infectious Disease Research
Dr. Bienvenido Yangco
Tampa, Fl
(813) 875 4375 Ext. 221 Sharon
Treating African American & Hispanic Patients

Florida Medical Clinic
Zephyrhills, Fl
(813) 780-8368
Genotype 1
Treatment Naïve (no prior treatment)
                  Or
Non-Responders (within the first 4 weeks)

[thesame40]

I am in fort myers and in Charlotte county they just opened a free/low cost clinic.
But u have to be a resident. I can not believe that in Tampa there is not 1 place
for u to get help . Actually I shouldn't be surprised the nearest support group is 60 miles
away from me. Never give up .... never give in.... fight the good fight... fight to win
If i can be of any help let me know. I am being treated for free by my dr. and got all meds
from pharma co for free. unemployed. begged, borrowed and did not steal money to keep
myself moving forward. I am in my 4th month. I am und and will stop tx in 6-7 weeks.
Oh yeah there is a very bright light at the end of this unusual ride. wanted to bike ride
but platelets are to low,so I am getting blocks to put my bike up on and will
peddle my a** off.  Remember what you think about, you bring about.

[alice]

CheyenneWarrior--- I was recently approved for reduced cost on my hospital dr and procedures bills--- 50% off everything. I filled out the application while in the billing office and was approved on the spot. lots of big city hospitals have HCV clinics so you could probably get into the hospital clinic, then get into the reduced fee thing... just a thought. This no job/no insurance/no money business is one giganto sucking Hoover, isn't it? 

good luck buddy. you're not alone in this one.
alice

ps: my hospital pharmacy also sponsored me so I could get free neupogen. I couldn't get those through my doctor. Just another thought...

[ScaredyCat]

Well - looks like free sexually transmitted or pregnancy help.

What about the Red Crescent Clinic?  It has gastro listed as a specialty. I just googled free clinics in Tampa and that was one that came up. Gads.

Maybe some of the people that were able to get the SSD will jump in here and tell you what you can do. 

How about -take what's wrong with you that would allow you to receive the SSD and go to the hospital (Tampa General says its associated with teaching) with that ailment- or make an appointment if you can and let them know your financial situation. Or, go as a pre-treatment - Do as Shalice suggested and fill out the paperwork for uninsured/unemployed people. There's got to be a hospital in that area that poor people go to. Shands is a far but good option.
Someone I know whose son drank and drugged himself nearly to death go three weeks of hospital care, a couple or MRI's and who knows what else - free.

I've never heard of any free hcv clinic.
Good luck with this CheyenneW- wish I could be more help.
 
SC

[greyrocker]

I've never heard of any free hcv clinic.

http://hcvsupport.org/forum/index.php/topic,4674.0.html

[ScaredyCat]

Sorry! 

[Cheyennewarrior]

Thank you all for your input. I really cannot afford to take the treatment now even if it was given to me. Yes,
GreyRocker there were a few free clinics around. My first round of treatment did cost me anything but every
side affect know. I stayed at the point of needing a transfusion from week 10 all the way to week 48. They did
weekly labs because my blood was so screwed up. Financially, it didn't cost me a penny--all free.

The reason it was all an emergence was to satisfy the S.S. people and my attorney. After working with this attorney
for more than 2 years, he springs this on me with less than a month before our hearing. Most of the specialist in the
area have a 2 month waiting period to get in to see the Dr.

After the way the Interferon beat me up the first time, I was hoping a non-interferon based treatment would
hurrrrrrry-up and arrive!

Thanks For Everyone's iinput.