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From the Circle
A Newsletter from Chronic Illness Recovery

In This Issue
Therapy Tip
Comment on CIR
Getting to Know You
Inflammation Therapy
Journal Article
About Chronic Illness Recovery
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This Month's
Therapy Tip
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The addition or dose adjustment of any inflammation therapy (IT) antibiotic may modulate the immune system response to a more easily tolerated waxing and waning of symptoms.

All of the IT antibiotics, when dosed correctly, have the potential to provide a palliative effect on symptoms.

CIR Library
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Every patient enrolled in CIR's nurse counseling service has access to our extensive library about  inflammation therapy.

We have recently made over 35 articles on inflammation therapy available for public viewing.

We also have an extensive section of sarcoidosis information available to the public.

Anyone wishing to access our patient library without enrolling in our nurse counseling service should email us about library access.

We will require your physician's contact information. A donation of $25 annually is suggested.
 
Comment on CIR

"I am Dr. ___'s assistant and you are helping two of his patients. What a great service you provide to them!"
~ Lisa
 
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Issue:5    February 2010
Greetings!

February is the traditional month during which we think about hearts and loved ones. All of you are dear to our hearts and it's with you in mind that we continue to focus our efforts on informing physicians about inflammation therapy. We started this unique non-profit organization in the middle of a recession, so it's very gratifying to see that our business plan is working. Enrollment is growing steadily and inquiries arrive daily.

We hope you will spread the word about CIR to your doctor and any friends who may be interested. Reaching out to help others is a heartwarming experience.

Warm regards,
 
Meg Mangin and Belinda Fenter 

Getting to Know You
Meet Carol Foster

CarolCarol Foster, administrative assistant at CIR, keeps busy, even during the cold, snowy days of winter. Once the holiday rush for her hand-crafted wreaths has past, it's soon time for her whole family to join in maple sugaring.

Spring will find Carol's garden overflowing with more than 100 varieties of irises, which she and her 13-year-old son have cultivated over the past few years. During the growing season, she is often in the kitchen, canning and freezing fresh fruits and vegetables.

Since 1995, Carol and her husband have home-schooled their four children. (One daughter has since graduated and attends college.) Still, Carol finds time to volunteer for CIR.

"CIR is an organization that supports my belief that patients and physicians alike, but especially physicians, need and desire the competent, professional support that CIR offers about using inflammation therapy," Carol said. "When I realized that I might have skills that would benefit CIR, I was glad to support them.  It is also a way of expressing gratitude for all that CIR has done for my family, and a way for me to give to the 'community' without having to leave my home."

Carol said there are several things she appreciates about CIR, including "the peace and confidence I have, knowing that my doctor and I are receiving precise guidance for inflammation therapy from the most experienced medical professionals in the world. The library and the friendships that are developing on the forums are added bonuses," she said.

When asked what facts about CIR she wishes were better known, Carol quickly said, "Everyone at CIR freely volunteers their time, and we have a full-service web site to help support people as they recover. The forum community is great, and each doctor gets regular reports about their enrolled patients."
About Inflammation Therapy
Insurance Coverage and Inflammation Therapy

In the USA, private, employer-provided, federally-funded and state-funded insurance coverage varies widely. If your doctor accepts insurance, clinic visits are usually covered by most insurance plans with the usual deductible and co-pay stipulations. Clinic visits usually don't need to be frequent during inflammation therapy (IT), especially if you enroll in the CIR counseling program.
 
Routine lab tests to monitor organ function are usually covered by insurance with the usual deductible and co-pay stipulations. The Vitamin D tests have been covered without question when using the correct codes. Other tests (e.g., x-ray, CT scan, MRI, etc) can add significant expense to treatment, even if covered by insurance. Let your doctor know if cost is an issue so you can discuss which tests are essential and which can be omitted or done less often.
 
Insurance plans don't cover the cost of NoIR or the other recommended sunglasses.
 
Most inflammation therapy (IT) patients find that the therapy antibiotics are covered by their health insurance.
 
It isn't unusual for an insurer to initially deny payment for the required dosage of Benicar. Patients have the right to appeal that decision. Your prescribers may need to justify a "prescription override" to the insurance company to help you obtain the optimal benefit.

If all attempts to obtain insurance coverage for the recommended IT Benicar dosing fail, you can accept their lower level of coverage and pay out-of-pocket for the other needed tablets. For details, see Insurance Coverage of Inflammation Therapy.
Medical Journal Article
Effect of angiotensin receptor blockade on endothelial function: focus on olmesartan medoxomil.

vein_reduced_functionFerrario C.. Vascular Health Risk Management 2009;5(1):301-14. Epub 2009 Apr 8.
PMID: 19436655

Download a PDF file of the complete paper.
About Chronic Illness Recovery
This month we are providing answers to some of the typical questions we receive about Chronic Illness Recovery.

Does CIR have a place to communicate with other patients?
The members of our warm and friendly community share recipes and ideas, make friends, ask questions about inflammation therapy or science issues and chat informally in a private general discussion forum. In fact, one member has just booked a flight to visit her new friend.

Can CIR patients read the reports of other patients?
Patient reports are posted anonymously but can be read by other CIR patients. To protect privacy, lab reports that patients post as attachments can only be opened by the CIR staff or enrolled physicians.

How does CIR keep up with research?
The professional CIR staff monitors discussions and anecdotal reports on other websites, reviews new pertinent scientific studies, collaborates frequently by email or phone and meets weekly with the entire CIR staff to discuss issues concerning therapy management.

How is CIR different from other websites?
The many important differences between other websites that offer advice and information about inflammation therapy and Chronic Illness Recovery are discussed and listed in the document, CIR's Unique Service.