Guest guest Posted January 31, 2008 Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 The general answer for why insurance companies dump docs is that these docs are costing them too much money, running too many tests, spending more than 7 minutes with each patient. BC BS is evidently the worst one. We think he got dumped because he would not send his patients to Labcorp. >> well poo thats not good news, her plan has a 5000 deductable and I am pretty sure it started over on the first of the year.........any idea of the cost, maybe she could just pay outright and do you know why they dumped him? I hate insurance companies...they sure want our money but they dont want you to need them! > > > Re: Re: Armour Good News!> > No BC-BS, at least not most plans. They dumped him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2008 Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 It's just the first visit with Dr. R. that's overnight. There's a long consultation the first day then you stay overnight and have blood drawn at his office in the morning. After that labs can be done where she lives. She might have to go two or three times the first year and probably less after that. Do you know if she's had adrenal testing, Cortisol test??? Dr. Launius doesn't treat adrenals. Dr. R. does. I'm a little concerned some of her symptoms sound like adrenals. Carol > > >> > > Sorry to butt in but I have been on this site for a week now > researching for my Sister who has severe graves, I went to the link > http://www.drlowe.com/#Search%20Engine that Jan kindly provided and > have been reading most of the afternoon ( my head is spinning) I just > wanted to say thanks for everyones input, this disease is so > complicated I am having trouble trying to sort it out and I am not > even sick..I dont know how you ladies cope! and it is amazing how > many docs dont seem to know their you know what from a hole in the > ground ( as Mom used to say) , but anyone new to here should > definately check that link out lots of great info there. > > > > > > I am trying to complile a list of tests my Sis should be asking > her Dr for, she is only on Synthroid ight now and I think from the > symptons she is dealing with and reading here that she is dealing > with a lot more issues than she thought.> > > > > > But you all give us hope that she can get to feeling better if we > can just get her a new Doc that has a brain!> > > > > > Anyway thanks for all info> > > Darla> >> > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2008 Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 Darla, you are certainly a thoughtful and caring sister. It's so hard for family to watch and feel so helpless about a loved one who is ill. And when the illness is so complex and the doctors seem so clueless, it's even worse. She is very lucky to have you in her corner. The first visit is a long consult, probably 60-90 minutes, and requires an overnight for a blood draw 8am the next morning. A lot of hotels are very close to their office. It's really easy to get around there. Some places offer medical rates, but I can't remember which ones. Then you must return two weeks later for the readout of labs and another 60-90 minute consult. You cover everything under the sun about the lab results and how everything is connected and you get the meds plan and other parts of the regimen. The next follow up timeframe varies for everyone. You can get the labs done locally before the rest of your visits, and they send the results to Lubbock. I went back in 6 month intervals twice. Some folks have gone back in 3 months. After that, it still varies depending on your individual needs. I've been back on 9 month follow ups. My DH is on a 12 month follow up. We stayed overnight the first few visits, but when I got better, we just started doing a one day drive out and back. I think we should have just done that from the beginning, as it would have better to get back to my own bed. Yes, the time, effort and cost are always a consideration and hard to grapple with, but what is the alternative if you don't get the right things properly addressed all at the same time? Possibly getting sicker, spending more money and time and energy chasing one doctor after another, not being able to get back to earning a living, and not having some kind of quality to your life with your family and friends. Maybe I typed it wrong, but it's supposed to be TTG for Texas Thyroid Group. We have face to face meetings in different cities from time to time. Our last one in Dallas was a few months ago and I don't know if Jan is thinking about another one soon. We usually go to a place like Whole Foods or a chain restaurant where we can sit and talk. I can't remember if there is a group in Fort Worth. That is just appalling about the doctor's comments to your sister. You would not believe what a difference it is to sit across from a doctor who understands, has sympathy, and is so smart. I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but he is hypothyroid himself, his wife is Hashi and was deathly ill but is going great guns now, and they have a child who is hypo, too. This is a physician who really understands. This is a tough disease, for sure. (((hugs))) Sara > > Sara I appreciate your comments, believe me I spent the better part of an hour trying to convince her today to go to Lubbock as I see from all of the ladies here I definately think it would be the best thing for her, she has blue cross insurance , does anyone know if he accepts it, I am going to call her tomorrow and read your e mail to her, I would take off work and drive her out if it will make her better, she is kinda hard headed her argument was the time, effort and cost , you said you drive out and back in one day is that enough time I read here that you need to go for a couple of days for testing and results...that might sway her if everyhing she will need done could be done in one day...and what is a TIG meeting, are they going to have one in our area any time soon, I think it would be awesome if she could meet and actually talk to some of you experiencing the same thing she is...I just feel so helpless, she is my baby sister and I just want her to feel better, talking to her and hearing the exhaustion in her voice just breaks my heart.....I think you are right she has just been through so much this year and it has been so frustrating to have these incompetent uninformed Drs, the one she is seeing now is more worried about being sued than he is about her felling better ( endo that wants all done by the numbers) he doesnt care how bad she feels, he told her she would just have to adjust to it, what a crock! makes me so mad! sorry ..anyway I will let you know what she says after I read you message to her. > > Thanks Darla > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2008 Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 It sounds like what she has is a High Deductible plan. If so, that deductible applies to everything including drugs. Folks with those plans are allowed to have Medical Savings Accounts, which are funded with pre-tax dollars, much like flexible spending accounts, except that you can roll the balance over from one year to the next. >> Let me ask, do you think that deductible may be for in-hospital stays only, not for office visits, etc....? If so, this would make a big difference.> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2008 Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 Here's a link to an introductory article on About.com thyroid: http://thyroid.about.com/cs/endocrinology/a/adrenalfatigue.htm There's a lot more information there, you can search the site for 'adrenal'. These are complicated medical conditions and not easy to understand. Just look at all the supposedly smart doctors who don't understand it. Your sister has a legal right to her medical records from this doctor or any other. Here's a link to the Texas Medical Board about how to obtain records: http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/consumers/faq/mrec.php Carol > > > >> > > > Sorry to butt in but I have been on this site for a week now > > researching for my Sister who has severe graves, I went to the link > > http://www.drlowe.com/#Search%20Engine that Jan kindly provided and > > have been reading most of the afternoon ( my head is spinning) I just > > wanted to say thanks for everyones input, this disease is so > > complicated I am having trouble trying to sort it out and I am not > > even sick..I dont know how you ladies cope! and it is amazing how > > many docs dont seem to know their you know what from a hole in the > > ground ( as Mom used to say) , but anyone new to here should > > definately check that link out lots of great info there. > > > > > > > > I am trying to complile a list of tests my Sis should be asking > > her Dr for, she is only on Synthroid ight now and I think from the > > symptons she is dealing with and reading here that she is dealing > > with a lot more issues than she thought.> > > > > > > > But you all give us hope that she can get to feeling better if we > > can just get her a new Doc that has a brain!> > > > > > > > Anyway thanks for all info> > > > Darla> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2008 Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 ME too! I laughed for days, what gal! what nerve! > > > Actually, he did not tell me that. I read it in the database on our > site. He told my internist to increase my $ynthroid because my TSH > needed to be suppressed, as I am a thyca patient. When I asked about all > the different thyroid hormones, he explained that T4 converts to T3, and > you don't need anything else. > > Then I called Walgreens and asked the pharmacist if there was a thyroid > medication with all of the thyroid hormones. Yes. There is Armour. I > called my internist and asked for an Rx for Armour. He told me flat no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2008 Report Share Posted January 31, 2008 Perhaps a little astrophysics between patients? Only 3 hours left? Well, I guess we should be glad for that 3 hours or we would have all been in serious trouble... > > Dr. R was three hours shy of a math degree too! Odd people that we are, we used to like to work calculus problems because they were fun and relaxing! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 2, 2008 Report Share Posted February 2, 2008 That's great news, Kim. Amazing you've been able to hold up through this. Sara > > I am very thankful that my daughter should have a very good recovery. We're not sure of the chronic pain but it looks like she is going to get most of her leg function back. > > Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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