Sunday, December 6, 2009

Starting ACTH

It's been a while since I've updated this blog and alot has happened.

The meds that Yusef was on for the infantile spasms just simply aren't working. His last two EEG's continued to show frequent seizure activity. Developmentally we are at a total standstill which is the most frustrating thing that has gone on. I'd say my 10 month old is still at a 3 month level, even regressing since this all began 6 months ago.

So two and a half weeks ago, we started the ACTH treatments. ACTH or adrenocorticotropic hormone is a treatment which is sometimes effectivce with IS for reasons not understood by medical science. The cost of the six week treatment is well over 100,000 dollars. No that is not a typo. It's craaazy. Apparently, Questor is the only drug company that manufactures it, and since it used to treat a rare condition, they can charge whatever they want! Well yay, for them, and thank God, thank God, we have decent prescription coverage.





These two vials costs $93,000, and there's more to come


It's quite stressfull to even have these vials in my house. I'm deathly afraid there's going to be a fire or something. Of course, even more stressfull is jabbing my sweet boy in the leg with a needle every morning.


The treatment is a six week course. We started at the highest dose 3 weeks ago, and are tapering down each week. The first week Yusef did great. He immediately became more alert and began cooing and gooing like never before. He had a light in his eye. He looked us in the face and truly studied us for what seemed like the first time. Then last week the insidious seizures started again, and he again became like a zombie, spaced out, seemingly oblivious to the world. Since then, the seizures have come and gone. One day, I'll see seizures, and the next he'll be back again, alert. He still hasn't smiled for what has seems like months. He's still never laughed.


ACTH is still considered the gold standard in treating IS, but there are still some treatment options that I'm quite interested in, namely the ketogenic diet which has shown to be as effective in some studies. There is also a drug called vigabatrin. I'm also seriously thinking about taking him to Children's Mercy in KC to get a second opinion as I fell like this Dr. has been dragging his feet with this. This has gone on now for 5 months! Why did we drag our feet so long before starting the ACTH and why did he never mention this ketogenic diet? I'm still learning about this, but I know that it will be the next step if this treatment doesn't work. I feel in my heart, it's not going to. And now I feel trapped since we're right in the middle of the ACTH and I feel guilty because I should have taken him for another opinion sooner when we weren't seeing results earlier in this journey. Then again, this could all be the angry rantings of a desperate mother.

This has been a heartwrenching experience and it isn't over yet. In some ways it feels like getting the diagnosis all over again, the same fears and grief, and in between glimmers of hope.

6 comments:

Karyn said...

Hi Stephanie, thanks so much for visiting my blog. Wow we are going through a very similar thing - I TOTALLY know what you mean about being deathly afraid something will happen to those vials. I was so worried out boys would throw them out or break them. I will be following your journey too and thinking about you guys along the way. ((Hugs))

Cole said...

Oh Stephanie- I'm so very sorry for your pain. Please don't beat yourself up for not knowing what to do- easier said then done I know. It sounds like a 2nd opinion might be a good idea. I hope you can get in to see someone soon! We'll be thinking of you-

Jen said...

Hi Steph - I saw you're thinking about visiting Children's Mercy. I just wanted to make sure you remember that we live in Topeka, just 45 minutes away from the hospital in KC. If you decide to go there, you are more than welcome to stay with us as you need to.

Even if you just need a place to rest and grab a bite and re-energize before hitting the road, please know that our door is always open.

Love,
Jen

Anonymous said...

Hi Stephanie, I really hope this medicine will help your lovely baby boy and that soon to come he will be smiling again and laughing. I can only imagine how stressful us must be for you, my heart goes out to you, stay positive and strong.

Leila

Hajar Zamzam Ismail said...

Awww, honey. May Allah help you through this difficult experience! Insha Allah He will lead you to ther correct treatment for your baby!

Tricia said...

I'll be praying for your family.