Life like running is filled with many starting and finish lines. Some you are ready for. Some you thought you were ready for. Some you wonder how you got there and some you wish you never crossed.

Any finish line can bring such a sense of accomplishment, pride, and sometimes even disappointment. It is easy looking back to play the I should have, I meant to, or why didn’t I game. These games are ones that sometimes are important so tht going foward you don’t keep making the same mistakes. The problem is if you never look back and learn from each finish line that you are destined to repeat the same race. Live, learn but don’t always repeat. The most important thing is to keep looking for your next starting line otherwise you will miss out.

Any Starting line is a scary event. They are also exciting. Right now, I am preparing to enter another new race. Actually I have a few but I’m going to talk about this with you first. It is exciting, scary, and one I am very hopeful about.

For the past 2 years since my surgery left me to live with hypoparathyroidism, I’ve kept moving forward. I’ve made the adjustments. I’ve come to terms with my limitations knowing that I have still been so lucky. I’ve done what I needed to do but honestly just waiting for the shoes to drop because either I live in the grey zone of low calcium or keep those levels up waiting for the problems that brings. As I’ve said before, I’ve been very lucky to have with in a year found a specialist in NYC that has both helped me navigate this pathway and also keep me from some of the pitfalls of not being treated properly. It is a delicate balancing act that mentally takes a toll too. I’m tired of being sick and tired and everything in between.

That being said, I am getting ready to enter another new corral that will hopefully bring to a close so many of the side effects of living with hypoparathyroidism.

I’m scared.

I’m excited.

I’m nervous.

Most of all I am ready. 

I have been approved to start a daily injection of Natpara.   This injection replaces the PTH hormone that my body no longer produces.   This will allow my body to self regulate my calcuim levels and function properly.   Something that it has been unable to do and the pile of pills that I take each day now bring their own potential side effects.   This is a better option.

This treatment is EXPENSIVE, but thankfully I have both good insurance and there is copay/deductable assistance. Even with good insurance I would never be able to afford this $8,000 to $10,000 A MONTH medication coast. There is precertification, putting all my ducks in a row, and dealing with the various paperwork to get it done. It requires training on my part as the medication needs to be mixed and injected daily. There is potential for side effects especially in the beginning as dosage is worked out. Although they do have some other very scary side effects listed, through research have found that this side effect has only been in mice and not humans. I’m willing to take the risk because living in the grey area of your life sucks.

I am hopeful.

A new starting line