Waiting for the gastroenterologist or someone like him

[figmo]

Monday I got the results of the urine and stool tests from last week. They again found blood in my urine, and my stool sample was free of any diseases. The doctor wanted me to go in for an ultrasound and had me scheduled for Wednesday morning. Tuesday I got the confirmation call, followed by a second, more urgent call from the hospital: It seems my health insurance wouldn't cover the ultrasound. When I called the insurance office to find out why, they were closed. They run on east coast time.

I phoned the health insurance early Wednesday morning. It turns out my health insurance company, as policy, covers just about every other procedure on the planet, but not ultrasounds, so I had to pay for it out of my own pocket. I had the abdominal ultrasound a couple of hours later, followed by an acute cashectomy. I had to suck money out of my "retirement" plan to pay for it. :-(

Friday I got the results of the ultrasound. They found nothing abnormal; everything looked great. The only organs they couldn't see were my reproductive organs and my gastrointestinal tract. The nurse at the doctor's office told me the doctor wanted to come in Tuesday for a vaginal exam, which sounded strange to me. I asked to speak to the doctor.

Ten minutes later the doctor called. She said, "I understand you have an appointment with me Tuesday."

"I wasn't sure whether they scheduled it or not," I replied.

With a tone somewhere between shock and urgency, she said, "You don't need to see me; you need to see your gastroenterologist."

Yes, I have a gastroenterologist. He's on vacation till 9:00 this morning, and his answering service was unable to schedule appointments. I have been anxiously awaiting his return, as you can tell from the timing of this post.

As for how I feel, I'm getting worse. In addition to the nausea, runs, and bloating, the burning in my stomach is back.

Comments

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

oh, erk. I hope this turns out to be something simple to fix.

[bardling.livejournal.com]

Yes, what he said!

[jhitchin.livejournal.com]

Thinking good thoughts for you, Lynn.

[fierynotes.livejournal.com]

That's a pretty stupid thing for a company not to cover.

I know we just met and all, but I'm pulling for you.

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

Courage!

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

apipiyalotl sends sympathies & hope, too.

[mrgoodwraith.livejournal.com]

Urghlblurgh. How maddening! Sending more vibes and prayers that you can hold on until you can see the GE, that he quickly and correctly diagnoses the problem, and that you can be rid of it and healthy again quickly. (I'm not unethical or sadistic enough to suggest getting yourself admitted to a hospital by "accidentally" eating a mushroom, but it's very sad that our medical system functions poorly enough that those sorts of desperate measures pop into my mind...)

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Good luck on not having anything horrible!

[debmats.livejournal.com]

Keeping my fingers crossed =)

[danceswithlife]

Hey, Lynn. As you know I pay health insurance claims. The reason for the initial refusal is probably because many doctors these days are doing ultrasounds as a first resort before doing other things. That's not the case for you--so I would suggest you get an itemized bill from the hospital and radiologist who reads it, and submit them to your insurance company with a statement of medical necessity from the doctor who ordered it--that statement of medical necessity should include the test results of previous work done. Email me if I can help with this. I think you still have my email :-)

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

Interesting point about U$ (or should I say "American"?) health insurance.

I hate to say it, but it's horror stories like yours (one cashectomy after another) that makes me wonder if you'd be happier living in Canada. I'm pretty sure your response would be the same as dimakoi's, but it saddens me to see soooo many people ripped off by inordinately priced health costs. I still believe that Michael Moore's latest movie SiCKO was and is just the tip of the iceberg as far as your nation's health troubles go.

Broad hint: Canadian Medicare was *not* invented by the Canadian federal government. It was the provincial (equivalent to state) governments that started the ball rolling. Oregon is already about as far as (the province of) Saskatchewan was in the 1940s. The federal government only signed on in 1971 after all the provinces pushed them into it. The system is still run by the provinces; all the federal government does is contribute money, mediate between them, and slap down attempts to revert to the not-so-splendid past (which Alberta tries every so often).

Just a thought -- or two ...

[danceswithlife]

Well, I for one would think I would like living in Canada, however, they have restrictive immigration physical exam requirements, and you have to, like, have job skills they consider important. If the Republicans will the presidency in the fall I may get more creative about trying to emigrate.

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

Point taken. I must admit that I often do not see ourselves (Canucks) as others might see us -- especially with respect to entry requirements. My bad.

That said, it's frustrating to see just how strong the health insurance lobby is in the U.S. If I were in your shoes, I'd take time off just to pound the pavement and persuade voters (in states outside California) that voting for neo-cons is "lemming behavior" and seriously counter-productive for everybody. [It may also help keep our own Little Bush in power. We Canucks need a federal general election, darn it.]

Many more ((hugs)) to Lynn as well as to you. :-)

[dsmoen.livejournal.com]

I'll add you to my prayer list and hope you've got a good gastroent who finds the problem right quick.

Speaking as someone who's had blood in urine (but only due to infection) more than once, and who has a gastroenterologist as well.

[patoadam]

Good luck. *I* find it frustrating that you've been sick for more than half a month and they haven't figured out what's wrong yet. I can imagine how frustrated *you* must feel. I'd suggest going to the hospital except you've already done that. Maybe you should go back. Hope you've been seen and diagnosed by now.

Again, good luck.

[hillarysherwood.livejournal.com]

Hope whatever it is gets diagnosed soon, and you feel better soon.