Want to cut down on health insurance? Learn to evaluate and say, "NO," when
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
September 11, 2009 7:00am CST
necessary.
For instance: Years ago, I had pneumonia for the second time (first time, cured myself). Had insurance so I went to a Dr. I drove to the Dr., slept on his couch. Was called in, he listened to my lungs and told me it was pneumonia. Ok, fine. Then he told me to go to the hospital and get x-rays. I told him, "WHY?"
"TO confirm my diagnosis."
"You just diagnosed me. I want to go home and go to bed. Staying upright is a challenge and you want me to go sit for hours and wait for an x-ray?"
"We could just go with my listening to your lungs."
"Yes, we could and no, I'm not going to the hospital for x-rays to tell me what you already told me."
So I slept on his couch some more, got the strength to go back home.
Next time: Every month, my Dr. wanted me to do a full battery of tests, CBC and so on. Every month, one urine test was a problem and no blood tests were a problem. On the meds I'm on, liver function and potassium are all I'm supposed to have problems with and they're fine. Every battery of tests has a co-pay of $80 for me and running up over $300 per battery of tests with my insurance is nuts. So either they test what I need or to heck with it. My liver function could be a problem, but potassium shouldn't be a problem because I eat lots of potassium-loaded foods in a day, not just bananas and oranges, but sweet potatoes, and other things from a potassium chart and I read labels and find high potasium drinks and so on. So no, I won't do tests that aren't necessary. The urine test is the only one that keeps coming out wrong, but that can be explained, it's fresh blood and not the stuff from insufficient kidney function.
So have you said, "No," when Drs. have told you to do something that was ridiculous?
3 people like this
4 responses
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
11 Sep 09
Hi, edge!
O have turned down a number of tests I didn't think necessary, especially when doctors told me they were to be done to verify a diagnosis that made perfect sense as it was. I thought they were trying to cover their butts in case I sued for a misdiagnosis.
3 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
11 Sep 09
Good for you! If enough of us do it, then maybe things will change.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157907)
• United States
12 Sep 09
Mostly when it comes to taking medication. I should have this last time as well. The prescription NSAID he gave me did not work as well as OTC stuff, and he wanted me not to take one because of the sodium, but the Rx one ran my blood pressure sky high, I learned when I went to give blood.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
12 Sep 09
It's hard to find meds, esp. pain and allergy that don't send blood pressure through the roof. Plus most Drs. won't prescribe Respirate which is NOT medication, but an at home biofeedback device to teach you how to breath and relax so that blood vessels and lungs relax and you blood pressure goes down. It's online if you search for it and they now have a feature that lets you see what Pharmacy near you sells it. We only have one Pharmacy that sells it in the area. But getting a Dr. to prescribe it so my insurance will pay for it is hard. Some places that people work let you put money into a plan so you can pay for stuff not covered by your health insurance and some of those will pay for it. Our Pharmacy has it for $290, so it isn't cheap, but how much do prescriptions for High Blood Pressure cost over the years?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157907)
• United States
12 Sep 09
Most pain meds I have taken have a very minimal effect on my BP. Even when in pain, before starting the one my Doc. prescribed, my blood pressure was very good.That is probably why he figured this med would be okay. Well a week later or so, I go to the blood mobile, and it is high enough that I would need medication if it was that way all the time. It is not usually a problem at all. I understand about relaxation and deep breathing for the blood pressure, and I usually do it. I really know that I would be healthier if I just lost a few (or a lot) of pounds.
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@writersedge (22563)
• United States
13 Sep 09
So that was just a fluke.
MY HBP goes nuts when I'm in pain. So I have to get out of pain and I hate pain meds. I liked ALEVE, but my BP Dr. said no naprosin sodium. Aspirin causes me problems, salycitic acid because it's an acid. Tylenol is useless for pain.
Same with me. I need to loose weight. It might help my blood pressure, but even when I weighed the right amount, high salt stuff like ham raised it. Lots of times if people were told to loose weight and did, they health would improve and we could have less medical expenses. I want to try again, but I don't have much $ for my food. My husband tried my low salt stuff and his blood pressure went too low. I wish he would buy low and add salt, but he buys high salt and I can't afford to buy the food right now. Although I did get a temporary reprieve from no $ for food.
Take care and hope you're healthier.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
19 Sep 09
What tends to frustrate me when going to a Doctor is the Tests and such they do usually insist doing and then if you think you know better, or refuse you are non-compliant and they quit wanting to see you. I have a lot of issues due to being Diabetic with doctors I've seen over time and find myself very proactive. Have also had issues with High BP and such as well, and Doctors get frustrated if I try to switch things up that seem to work better for me. Just because things like my BP are higher when I am in their office than at home they seem to want to give me meds and such that cause my BP to crash as well. Why can they learn to not listen to us patients more often so in turn that could help Save some of the many expensive Health Care costs for more Insurance Companies as well?
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@writersedge (22563)
• United States
19 Sep 09
Do you bring your log of home blood pressure tests in? Do you tell them you have "white coat syndrome"? It's higher in the Doctor's office than at home. A friend of mine was told she had atypical cells and precancer, then they took her blood pressure. Naturally it was high. So they sent her home with blood pressure meds, naturally, when she calmed down, the pills knocked her out.
My Doctors want to know if it's higher, lower, or the same as in the office. Keep a log, photocopy it, and bring it in. Don't let them say or do anything to upset you before they take it. If they do upset you, do what I do, "Sure Doc, take my pressure now when I'm upset, like that's going to represent anything?"
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
19 Sep 09
If none of the above helps, they you need new Drs., but the problem may be that your insurance won't allow for different Drs. If that happens, call the insurance company and complain. Tell them they could save $ if they didn't have hyperactive pill pushers on the list.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
12 Sep 09
Good for you! You saved yourself and the healthcare system lots of $
1 person likes this
