Re: Lab Cost - a new direction

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/16/2002 7:10:31 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

vze47vfr@... writes:

> I've known a number of people who have

> developed diabetes. They all eventually got use to giving themselves shots

> and drawing blood for sugar tests (micro-pipette). I'll put my beats on GD

> sufferers being tougher. Anyone who goes through Graves is a lot tougher

> than they think - sooner of later!

>

Hi Devin!

I am enjoying your posts! Welcome to the group! In reference to your

comments above, I DO totally agree with you that anyone who goes through

Grave's (families of Grave's patients too!) is (are) a lot tougher than they

might have originally thought, but I'll argue your point that diabetes

sufferers be less " tough! " It's a different disease and a different ball

game, but not without as many challenges as Grave's.

I can tell you, after pricking my fingers usually 10 times each day (and

sometimes more!) and dealing with all the other " goodies " and surprises

diabetes throws at a person in a life long journey with it, I can tell you I,

for one, am VERY tough! I've made it close to nineteen years! How I

sometimes have no idea, but most of the time I know EXACTLY why: it's

because I'm tough!

Thank goodness for that too ... I don't know where Joe would be without my

toughness! Together we form an extremely strong couple! LOL

The bottom line is: A person does what he/she has to do. Period. And yes,

Jody, you would be able to do it with ease ... getting " used to it " ... just

like Devin says! Trust me on this one!

Ann

[Guest guest]

Hmm, be my own phlebotomist? (sp?) I don't think so...

Terry

>

> Reply-To: graves_support

> Date: Tue, 16 Jul 2002 19:54:12 -0400

> To: <graves_support >

> Subject: Lab Cost - a new direction

>

>

> I saw a comic that showed someone looking over documents with the quote " Our

> new health care policy seems to preclude pre-existing people. " :-)

>

> Anyone with a lifelong, but treatable, disease pretty much fits in this joke -

> it's just not funny then :-(

>

> Much (most ?) of the cost of care breaks down to lab costs. I've become

> convinced from much listening and research that frequent and intelligent

> monitoring for the right stuff is the key to treating Graves: pre-RIA,

> post-RIA, medicine, herb, surgery, or other. The actual action taken seems to

> matter less than connecting the action to the effects on YOUR body - as

> determined by frequent testing. In fact, the lack of testing seems to play a

> (the?) major role in the lack of understanding for those treatments that fail

> and for less-than-optimum results.

>

> So, why are the labs so dang expensive, and why does a doctor (prescription),

> nurse (draw blood), several companies, and then another doctor or nurse (relay

> returned results) have to be involved for a straight foreword monitoring

> (that's needs to happen many, many times)? If individuals, or a trusted

> friend/spouse, can inject insulin (prescription easily renewed by phone) to

> treat diabetes, why can't the reverse work: draw your own blood, ship it off,

> pay a small (pre-known) fee, get the results quickly via email? It might not

> be eveyone's wish, but it seems like it should be an available option. Anyone

> want to start up a business? You've heard my business plan: under your

> control at your home, max 3 day service (normally less), cheap, results direct

> to your home PC....

>

> Devin

> Re: Lab Cost - insurance

>

>

>> ,

>>

>> The insurance co. I had told me anything affected by my ovaries would not

> be

>> covered. I had that non ending period while I was covered, so I am sure if

> I

>> were to try again, this 'black mark' will still show up. Now with Graves'

> in

>> addition, I really do not see the point in paying $400 a month for

> nothing.

>>

>> What in my body is NOT affected by my ovaries or my thyroid?

>>

>> -Pam L -

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> -------------------------------------

>> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

>> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

>> ----------------------------------------

>> DISCLAIMER

>>

>> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement

> of

>> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> ------------

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

Hi Devin,

>>>draw your own blood,<<<

*I* for one would never do it ;-) I can't stand needles and lab techs have

a rough time with my veins anymore. So they can continue to draw mine.

But you make a good point, all the 'middlemen' so to speak that are

involved.

When I have my labs drawn here, a few are done in our lab, the ones that

have to be sent out, are sent to Quest in Pittsburgh, PA who does nothing

with them but send them on to Quest in San Capistrano, CA who then

forwards the results back to PA, who then forwards results back to my lab in

NY. It is big time waste! Excellent point!

Jody

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[Guest guest]

Great, I live in the Pittsburgh, PA area, and all my blood still gets routed

all over the US. I bet I don't get any quicker service than you (or cheaper

for that matter). We are both major supporters of the multiple mailings,

and bureaucracy.

Never Jody? Don't be too sure. I've known a number of people who have

developed diabetes. They all eventually got use to giving themselves shots

and drawing blood for sugar tests (micro-pipette). I'll put my beats on GD

sufferers being tougher. Anyone who goes through Graves is a lot tougher

than they think - sooner of later!

Does anybody know who much blood they really need to do the various thyroid

tests? My last blood letting was four tubes, each which would do 10,000

slides or a hundred blood typing or sugar measurements. Do they really need

so much? They do a ton of sophisticated blood tests on newborns with a

single drop of blood on a piece of paper (i.e. dried).

Devin

Re: Lab Cost - a new direction

> Hi Devin,

> >>>draw your own blood,<<<

>

> *I* for one would never do it ;-) I can't stand needles and lab techs

have

> a rough time with my veins anymore. So they can continue to draw mine.

>

> But you make a good point, all the 'middlemen' so to speak that are

> involved.

>

> When I have my labs drawn here, a few are done in our lab, the ones that

> have to be sent out, are sent to Quest in Pittsburgh, PA who does nothing

> with them but send them on to Quest in San Capistrano, CA who then

> forwards the results back to PA, who then forwards results back to my lab

in

> NY. It is big time waste! Excellent point!

> Jody

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Join the world's largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

> http://www.hotmail.com

>

>

>

> -------------------------------------

> The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

> Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> ----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

> Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the endorsement

of

> the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ann and Devin,

>>>And yes, Jody, you would be able to do it with ease ... getting " used to

>>>it " ... just like Devin says! Trust me on this one! <<<

Maybe taking blood from a finger stick, that I could learn to do, but to

draw blood from my veins...not a snowballs chance in Hade's. NEVER!

Because of a medical condition in 1986, I hemoraged, all my veins began

collapsing and I have 1 good vein for *my* lab girl to draw from with a

standard needle. Anyone else has to use my other arm and a butterfly to get

my blood. If it came down to me drawing 7-10 tubes of blood on myself...I

guess I just wouldn't be getting labs drawn anymore because I would NOT do

it, of that I am positive.

And yes, the normal number of tubes is 7 usually, but in April it was 10

tubes, I counted everytime they changed the damn things <I hate that part

the worst>...granted 4 of them were very small tubes, but they all count in

the changing as far as I'm concerned.

Jody

_________________________________________________________________

Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

http://www.hotmail.com

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann,

I completely agree that you guys with diabetes are far tougher than those of us

with Graves' (tougher than me at least). I was just happy to get through my

last labs without passing out or throwing up. I can't stand the sight of blood,

I get squeemish just thinking about it! So, I think you're very tough to deal

with your disease and take care of Joe, all while keeping a cheery attitude and

helping out us newbies. You're tough as nails, girl!

-Tori

In a message dated Tue, 16 Jul 2002 9:29:04 PM Eastern Standard Time, LlBuddha

writes:

> In reference to your

> comments above, I DO totally agree with you that anyone who goes through

> Grave's (families of Grave's patients too!) is (are) a lot tougher than they

> might have originally thought, but I'll argue your point that diabetes

> sufferers be less " tough! " It's a different disease and a different ball

> game, but not without as many challenges as Grave's.

>

> I can tell you, after pricking my fingers usually 10 times each day (and

> sometimes more!) and dealing with all the other " goodies " and surprises

> diabetes throws at a person in a life long journey with it, I can tell you I,

> for one, am VERY tough! I've made it close to nineteen years! How I

> sometimes have no idea, but most of the time I know EXACTLY why: it's

> because I'm tough!

>

> Thank goodness for that too ... I don't know where Joe would be without my

> toughness! Together we form an extremely strong couple! LOL

>

> The bottom line is: A person does what he/she has to do. Period. And yes,

> Jody, you would be able to do it with ease ... getting

> " used to it " ... just

> like Devin says! Trust me on this one!

[Guest guest]

Devin -

I think they usually take extra, and it depends on what tests they're doing.

When I get just my TT4, FT4, and TSH they take one tube. But this time

around, my vein stopped bleeding as they were collecting, so they only got

about 1/4 to 1/3 of a tube, but they said that was enough! Lucky me!

Re: Lab Cost - a new direction

>

>

> > Hi Devin,

> > >>>draw your own blood,<<<

> >

> > *I* for one would never do it ;-) I can't stand needles and lab techs

> have

> > a rough time with my veins anymore. So they can continue to draw mine.

> >

> > But you make a good point, all the 'middlemen' so to speak that are

> > involved.

> >

> > When I have my labs drawn here, a few are done in our lab, the ones that

> > have to be sent out, are sent to Quest in Pittsburgh, PA who does

nothing

> > with them but send them on to Quest in San Capistrano, CA who then

> > forwards the results back to PA, who then forwards results back to my

lab

> in

> > NY. It is big time waste! Excellent point!

> > Jody

> >

> >

> >

> > _________________________________________________________________

> > Join the world's largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.

> > http://www.hotmail.com

> >

> >

> >

> > -------------------------------------

> > The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> > Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

> > ----------------------------------------

> > DISCLAIMER

> >

> > Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list do not have the

endorsement

> of

> > the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> ------------

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

LOL Ann -

I still have to look away when hubby gives himself his injections. Makes my

insides all wobbly - ick!

He complains about the finger poking being worse! I've done that several

times and I don't even feel it. I told him if I get diabetes, he'll have to

do my injections and I'll do his finger poking :-)

Re: Lab Cost - a new direction

> In a message dated 7/16/2002 7:10:31 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

> vze47vfr@... writes:

>

>

> > I've known a number of people who have

> > developed diabetes. They all eventually got use to giving themselves

shots

> > and drawing blood for sugar tests (micro-pipette). I'll put my beats on

GD

> > sufferers being tougher. Anyone who goes through Graves is a lot

tougher

> > than they think - sooner of later!

> >

>

> Hi Devin!

>

> I am enjoying your posts! Welcome to the group! In reference to your

> comments above, I DO totally agree with you that anyone who goes through

> Grave's (families of Grave's patients too!) is (are) a lot tougher than

they

> might have originally thought, but I'll argue your point that diabetes

> sufferers be less " tough! " It's a different disease and a different ball

> game, but not without as many challenges as Grave's.

>

> I can tell you, after pricking my fingers usually 10 times each day (and

> sometimes more!) and dealing with all the other " goodies " and surprises

> diabetes throws at a person in a life long journey with it, I can tell you

I,

> for one, am VERY tough! I've made it close to nineteen years! How I

> sometimes have no idea, but most of the time I know EXACTLY why: it's

> because I'm tough!

>

> Thank goodness for that too ... I don't know where Joe would be without my

> toughness! Together we form an extremely strong couple! LOL

>

> The bottom line is: A person does what he/she has to do. Period. And

yes,

> Jody, you would be able to do it with ease ... getting " used to it " ...

just

> like Devin says! Trust me on this one!

>

> Ann

>

>

>