Explanation of tests/numbers

[Guest guest]

Hi all. Can anyone tell me where I can find info to explain

the " numbers " in the tests they use to dx RA? My rheumy's office

still says they cannot see me for a month so I saw my GP today. They

faxed my file to him but skipped the page with some of the blood tests

on it. The one that he was interested in was not the sed-rate one,

the other. He gave me Celebrex and Nexium and said if it didn't help

enough, come back. He said insurance wouldn't approve it for him to

write the rx for MTX. He said that insurance doesn't always pay for

those treatments either. Any experience, either way?

Thanks, have a good night.

[Guest guest]

My site has a web page dedicated to lab tests:

http://arthritissupport.info/Lab%20Tests.html

Hope this helps. I'm not sure why your doctor can't prescribe mtx,

but the injectable is very cheap. I got a bottle that will last many

months

for $36.00. You can put it in orange juice and drink it if you don't

want to inject it. It's cheaper than the pill form. I've never heard

of anyone being

denied coverage for mtx. The more expensive biological drugs may be

turned down if not ordered by a rheumatologist.

a

On Oct 19, 2005, at 7:02 PM, eandsspivey wrote:

> Hi all. Can anyone tell me where I can find info to explain

> the " numbers " in the tests they use to dx RA? My rheumy's office

> still says they cannot see me for a month so I saw my GP today. They

> faxed my file to him but skipped the page with some of the blood tests

> on it. The one that he was interested in was not the sed-rate one,

> the other. He gave me Celebrex and Nexium and said if it didn't help

> enough, come back. He said insurance wouldn't approve it for him to

> write the rx for MTX. He said that insurance doesn't always pay for

> those treatments either. Any experience, either way?

> Thanks, have a good night.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure why your GP could or would not prescribe

MTX for you. Mine did for several months when I was

between Rheumy's. No problem with insurance at all.

--- a <a54@...> wrote:

> My site has a web page dedicated to lab tests:

>

> http://arthritissupport.info/Lab%20Tests.html

>

> Hope this helps. I'm not sure why your doctor can't

> prescribe mtx,

> but the injectable is very cheap. I got a bottle

> that will last many

> months

> for $36.00. You can put it in orange juice and drink

> it if you don't

> want to inject it. It's cheaper than the pill form.

> I've never heard

> of anyone being

> denied coverage for mtx. The more expensive

> biological drugs may be

> turned down if not ordered by a rheumatologist.

>

> a

>

>

> On Oct 19, 2005, at 7:02 PM, eandsspivey wrote:

>

> > Hi all. Can anyone tell me where I can find info

> to explain

> > the " numbers " in the tests they use to dx RA? My

> rheumy's office

> > still says they cannot see me for a month so I saw

> my GP today. They

> > faxed my file to him but skipped the page with

> some of the blood tests

> > on it. The one that he was interested in was not

> the sed-rate one,

> > the other. He gave me Celebrex and Nexium and said

> if it didn't help

> > enough, come back. He said insurance wouldn't

> approve it for him to

> > write the rx for MTX. He said that insurance

> doesn't always pay for

> > those treatments either. Any experience, either

> way?

> > Thanks, have a good night.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I never did report back about what I did when the overwhelmed

rheumatologist seemed to stop doing prescriptions. I went to my PCP and

told her I wanted her to be my rheumatologist until I could find

another one. So she wrote me prescriptions for Celebrex and Enbrel. She

made it plain that she didn't want to have the job permanently, though.

I don't think she felt comfortable monitoring me on Enbrel.

I guess the insurance company didn't turn the prescription down, since

I'd already been approved for Enbrel for a couple of years, because I

got some Enbrel before mine ran out.

Medicare paid 80% of the overwhelmed rheumy's bill. I got a bill for

$10 and something. I think they're going to have a hard time getting

that $10 from me. Sue

On Thursday, October 20, 2005, at 08:29 PM, a wrote:

> I've never heard of anyone being

> denied coverage for mtx. The more expensive biological drugs may be

> turned down if not ordered by a rheumatologist.

[Guest guest]

My insurance did not pay for injectable MTX unless I went through

their mail order pharmacy, which I did. Be careful with large

bottles of MTX as some do not have a preservative in it, in which

case it should be discarded 28 days after opening.

> >

> > > Hi all. Can anyone tell me where I can find info

> > to explain

> > > the " numbers " in the tests they use to dx RA? My

> > rheumy's office

> > > still says they cannot see me for a month so I saw

> > my GP today. They

> > > faxed my file to him but skipped the page with

> > some of the blood tests

> > > on it. The one that he was interested in was not

> > the sed-rate one,

> > > the other. He gave me Celebrex and Nexium and said

> > if it didn't help

> > > enough, come back. He said insurance wouldn't

> > approve it for him to

> > > write the rx for MTX. He said that insurance

> > doesn't always pay for

> > > those treatments either. Any experience, either

> > way?

> > > Thanks, have a good night.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

a,

I was denied self injectable MTX.. but they were willing to cover

Enbrel..go figure.

They would only cover the MTX if I went into the doctors office every

week. That would cost me 250.00 for the deductables, plus 3 hours

drive time, time in office and gas..cheaper for me to pay for the MTX

myself.. This whole insurance things sucks.

Faith in california

>

> > Hi all. Can anyone tell me where I can find info to explain

> > the " numbers " in the tests they use to dx RA? My rheumy's office

> > still says they cannot see me for a month so I saw my GP today.

They

> > faxed my file to him but skipped the page with some of the blood

tests

> > on it. The one that he was interested in was not the sed-rate

one,

> > the other. He gave me Celebrex and Nexium and said if it didn't

help

> > enough, come back. He said insurance wouldn't approve it for him

to

> > write the rx for MTX. He said that insurance doesn't always pay

for

> > those treatments either. Any experience, either way?

> > Thanks, have a good night.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

My GP is the one that said he couldn't write the rx for mtx. He

said the insurance wouldn't cover it unless a rheumy wrote it.

Hopefully she will when I see her next month. Another question -

since this is a form of chemo, will my hair fall out? What is left,

most of it has already fallen out!

> >

> > > Hi all. Can anyone tell me where I can find info to explain

> > > the " numbers " in the tests they use to dx RA? My rheumy's

office

> > > still says they cannot see me for a month so I saw my GP

today.

> They

> > > faxed my file to him but skipped the page with some of the

blood

> tests

> > > on it. The one that he was interested in was not the sed-rate

> one,

> > > the other. He gave me Celebrex and Nexium and said if it

didn't

> help

> > > enough, come back. He said insurance wouldn't approve it for

him

> to

> > > write the rx for MTX. He said that insurance doesn't always

pay

> for

> > > those treatments either. Any experience, either way?

> > > Thanks, have a good night.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

My GP is the one that said he couldn't write the rx for mtx. He

said the insurance wouldn't cover it unless a rheumy wrote it.

Hopefully she will when I see her next month. Another question -

since this is a form of chemo, will my hair fall out? What is left,

most of it has already fallen out!

> >

> > > Hi all. Can anyone tell me where I can find info to explain

> > > the " numbers " in the tests they use to dx RA? My rheumy's

office

> > > still says they cannot see me for a month so I saw my GP

today.

> They

> > > faxed my file to him but skipped the page with some of the

blood

> tests

> > > on it. The one that he was interested in was not the sed-rate

> one,

> > > the other. He gave me Celebrex and Nexium and said if it

didn't

> help

> > > enough, come back. He said insurance wouldn't approve it for

him

> to

> > > write the rx for MTX. He said that insurance doesn't always

pay

> for

> > > those treatments either. Any experience, either way?

> > > Thanks, have a good night.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >