Stelara antibody blood test

Hi

Ive been on 4 week interval Stelara injections since the fall. I feel great. Zero urgency.
Which has basically given me my life back. Living with Urgency is really rough. The constant fear that you won’t get to a bathroom fast enough. Or you’ll get caught somewhere where their isn’t one.

Colonoscopy several weeks ago. Doc told my wife before I woke up that “he got a B”.

He wanted to test my blood for Stelara antibodies. Went this morning.
Not sure why he would want to do this test because I’m feeling so well. But I’ll do what he wants.

Maybe it’s to justify to the insurance company that I need to be on this dosage?
(I’m sure every 4 week intervals of the drug are crazy expensive).

What’s the range I’m hoping for from the blood test. Anybody here know?

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Post Edited (Rusty Barr) : 6/28/2024 10:44:17 AM (GMT-8)

Thanks.

Anyone have any experience with this blood test?

P.S. So happy you’re felling so great! Especially after all you went through getting to this point!

Rusty,

No advice... Just ditto on you being in remission. I'm so glad that you are feeling so much better.

FYI...in my support group...for some reason every person there has been asked to get a blood level check on medication and antibodies right before or immediately after their scope. This year I didn't have a scope but my doctor had to order the tests twice to get my pre-approval with insurance to go thru. My GIs PA said the insurance is requiring proof that the meds are needed and that they are still working... She indicated that insurance is frequently trying to get people to switch to generic or a different medication if they don't think it's helping as much as it should. My doctors have had have those "consults" with the insurance companies doctors more frequently this year vs last year.

Clo

Post Edited (clo2014) : 6/29/2024 10:59:18 AM (GMT-8)