My name is Jayme Thode and I am from Taftsville, Vermont. I am disabled and live with multiple health problems. I take over 30 medications a day, not including antibiotics and other meds I need during the month for acute issues. 

It’s just awful. I spend a good amount of my disability money to pay for my medications. I have my albuterol treatment, Advair Diskus, lidocaine patches, and a few others. They each come with their own price tag that really digs into my monthly budget. Each month, my out of pocket comes out to about $200. This may not seem like much to some people, but it’s a lot for me to manage.

Lidocaine patches alone, which help me with my spina bifida, are outrageously priced. When my doctor first prescribed it to me, I realized it was $1,000 for a single box. I just couldn’t afford it. There was a point where I was in so much discomfort that I paid $60 for just a couple of packets, but I could never afford the full dose my doctor prescribed.

I am only 42 years old and I have been living in severe pain for such a long time. I wish I were able to be more active, but I do my best to give back and volunteer in my community as much as I can. I know I would be able to do more if I could better afford the medications that keep me stable. I call on my lawmakers to do something about this. I know I am not the only one suffering, and I demand action be taken around this issue.