Well, I TRIED to get a bone density scan

September 7, 2001

Called my regular Dr.'s office yesterday to find out what I had to do to get a

bone density scan. Turns out I have to turn 20 years older it seems! I carefully

explained to the receptionist that I was a GD patient and would like a baseline

scan. She said no problem and they'd call me with the appointment. Naturally,

once they checked my chart and discovered how old I was, they called back and

said the Dr. is sure I don't have osteoporosis and don't need a scan at my age.

DUH! I'm reasonably certain I don't have it either, but that isn't why I asked

to have it done! (sorry, Graves' rant at stupid doctors). Of course, the Dr.

probably didn't get the whole message about how it's a baseline scan. Still, it

really burns me that there must be some Dr. manual that says 32 year old women

can't get a bone density scan. I've added up that I have at least 5 risk factors

for osteo, but does that seem to make a difference? Apparently not. So the

office also says that the Dr. wants to set up an appointment with me anyway to

" talk about my disease " . Boy, does that ever sound like fun...at this point, I

probably know more about it than he does. (sorry, another cynical GD moment).

Perhaps I can talk him into the scan in person. More likely he'll try to

pressure me into actually doing something more aggressive about my GD (like

RAI). Sigh. Anyone else tired of dealing with doctors who treat you like an

idiot who doesn't know anything about your own body? So, I'm seeing him next

Friday. At least he's in town and cheaper than the endo which reminds me, is

anyone else shocked at what endo's charge for seeing patients? Mine was $315 and

that didn't count the labwork! My insurance company is so going to raise our

rates.

Definitely in a PMS mood,

September 7, 2001

Hi ,

I have run into this before regarding several different topics. What I have

done is called my insurance company, explained the situation, ask if my

insurance covers it, gotten their name and number and when the answer is 'oh

yes we cover it, there are no age restrictions' I call the dr. back, tell

them I have spoken to so and so at my insurance company, here is the phone

number, but my insurance company has assured me that YES I can have this

done, yes my insurance WILL cover it and again, here is the name and number

of the person I spoke with...please contact them, and call me back with the

time and date of my appointment for my bone density scan. I have NEVER been

turned down for a procedure doing it this way...usually the dr. won't even

call the insurance company, they will just schedule the procedure.

Just make sure that you have the name and extension number of the person you

speak with, that this person knows you have Graves Disease, that you have

however many risk factors and from all that you have been reading on GD a

baseline bone density scan is in order.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

Jody

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September 7, 2001

,

My endo is 1/4 of what yours is! Down to $46 after blue cross finishes

" disallowing " . This does not include lab work, but they reduce every lab

bill from (for instance) $120 to $29.

The rest of your email reminds me what I heard (was it here?) that if you

have a " Dr. " in front of your name (even if You are a Ph.d in xyz) you are

treated completely differently and more respectfully than if you've never

been through a Phd. program. Go figure!

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 13:26:57 -0500

> To: <graves_support >

> Subject: Well, I TRIED to get a bone density scan

>

> Called my regular Dr.'s office yesterday to find out what I had to do to get a

> bone density scan. Turns out I have to turn 20 years older it seems! I

> carefully explained to the receptionist that I was a GD patient and would like

> a baseline scan. She said no problem and they'd call me with the appointment.

> Naturally, once they checked my chart and discovered how old I was, they

> called back and said the Dr. is sure I don't have osteoporosis and don't need

> a scan at my age. DUH! I'm reasonably certain I don't have it either, but that

> isn't why I asked to have it done! (sorry, Graves' rant at stupid doctors). Of

> course, the Dr. probably didn't get the whole message about how it's a

> baseline scan. Still, it really burns me that there must be some Dr. manual

> that says 32 year old women can't get a bone density scan. I've added up that

> I have at least 5 risk factors for osteo, but does that seem to make a

> difference? Apparently not. So the office also says that the Dr. wants to set

> up an appointment with me anyway to " talk about my disease " . Boy, does that

> ever sound like fun...at this point, I probably know more about it than he

> does. (sorry, another cynical GD moment). Perhaps I can talk him into the scan

> in person. More likely he'll try to pressure me into actually doing something

> more aggressive about my GD (like RAI). Sigh. Anyone else tired of dealing

> with doctors who treat you like an idiot who doesn't know anything about your

> own body? So, I'm seeing him next Friday. At least he's in town and cheaper

> than the endo which reminds me, is anyone else shocked at what endo's charge

> for seeing patients? Mine was $315 and that didn't count the labwork! My

> insurance company is so going to raise our rates.

>

> Definitely in a PMS mood,

>

September 8, 2001

,

I suspect it is your insurance company that you need to convince

about the need for a bone density scan.

I'm going against the group's advice here, but if you're getting an

Xray type scan, there are risks as the damage is cumulative. I've had

too much radiation lately myself, so have been putting my scan off.

Knowing you are a little low on bone now would probably not change

your treatment. The problem lies with the thyrotoxicity, which you

are addressing. If you have bone loss, it should correct itself when

you return to normal thyroid, right?

Also, you can get an arm done for very little cash in 4 hour clinics

in drugstores around here. Osteopenia would probably not show up, but

osteoporosis would.

Good luck,

> Called my regular Dr.'s office yesterday to find out what I had to

do to get a bone density scan. Turns out I have to turn 20 years

older it seems! I carefully explained to the receptionist that I was

a GD patient and would like a baseline scan. She said no problem and

they'd call me with the appointment. Naturally, once they checked my

chart and discovered how old I was, they called back and said the Dr.

is sure I don't have osteoporosis and don't need a scan at my age.

DUH! I'm reasonably certain I don't have it either, but that isn't

why I asked to have it done! (sorry, Graves' rant at stupid doctors).

Of course, the Dr. probably didn't get the whole message about how

it's a baseline scan. Still, it really burns me that there must be

some Dr. manual that says 32 year old women can't get a bone density

scan. I've added up that I have at least 5 risk factors for osteo,

but does that seem to make a difference? Apparently not. So the

office also says that the Dr. wants to set up an appointment with me

anyway to " talk about my disease " . Boy, does that ever sound like

fun...at this point, I probably know more about it than he does.

(sorry, another cynical GD moment). Perhaps I can talk him into the

scan in person. More likely he'll try to pressure me into actually

doing something more aggressive about my GD (like RAI). Sigh. Anyone

else tired of dealing with doctors who treat you like an idiot who

doesn't know anything about your own body? So, I'm seeing him next

Friday. At least he's in town and cheaper than the endo which reminds

me, is anyone else shocked at what endo's charge for seeing patients?

Mine was $315 and that didn't count the labwork! My insurance company

is so going to raise our rates.

>

> Definitely in a PMS mood,

>

September 8, 2001

Hi Terry,

You wrote:

>>The rest of your email reminds me what I heard (was it here?) that

if you

have a " Dr. " in front of your name (even if You are a Ph.d in xyz)

you are

treated completely differently and more respectfully than if you've

never

been through a Phd. program. Go figure!<<

All forms of snobbery are spiritually limiting. For the snob and the

rest of us that suffer from the effects of snobbery.

September 8, 2001

, and all exposed to large amounts of x-rays...

Several months ago A (JULIA, I MISS YOU!) shared with us and it is in

the archives, when having an X-ray go home and take a bath with 1/2 cup of

baking soda and 1/2 cup of Epsom's salts, the water will turn milky as it

pulls the toxins from your body, do this every day until the water no longer

gets milky and it will have removed much of the toxin, if not all from your

body do to the X-ray.

Having been exposed to 100 X-rays, an uptake and I131 all within an 8 week

period I was terrified... shared this, I did it and my water no longer

is milky. It took almost 9 weeks before the water stayed clear, I don't know

how long it takes for most people. I have since then turned down any test

that requires radiation but should I need x-rays or whatever, I will

immediately come home for a soak!

Besides it is very relaxing!

Jody

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September 8, 2001

Thanks . You make a good point, and I have thought about the cumulative

radiation issue. I've maybe had 4 X-rays in my life (not including dental) and

the radioactive iodine uptake scan. All in all, probably not a lot. And with all

my other risk factors, I think I'd probably be better off knowing where exactly

I stand in terms of the bone loss. But I think it is something to think about.

Re: Well, I TRIED to get a bone density scan