[sljordan07]

#1058809

Hello.. I am a 40 yr young female and was diagnosed by a ophthalmologist in December of having Graves ophthalmopathy and he did say i would not need surgery . I found a Endocrinologist that was available for an appt and went.. This is where I get upset..I went for the appt. filled out the paperwork and you know it is extensive with all the medical history..

Well i get in and sit down with the dr who is carrying her laptop and here is number 1) she asks the same questions that i just answered on the paperwork.. 2) she says have you seen an ophthalmologist..? that was on the pw also…so i answer and she asks what kind of plan does he have you on for your eyes? Huh? my answer is none i just saw him and he told me i needed to see you.. not feeling very confident with this dr as of now… so she orders labs.. and says do you know your heart rate is a little high…about 109 i say as far as i can remember it has always been that way and she says ok …she says well lets get those labs and see what is going on… and this appt is done.

3 days later i get a voice mail from here asst. asking if i am taking the meds and if i am taking them 3 x a day ..i am thinking what? she did not say anything about meds yet..i call back and tell the asst that i was not told about any meds and she says they are to lower my heart rate,,i am like ok but i was not told about them she says well the dr wants you to take these so i am like ok…

That was it till i went in for the test results … this is another reason i am Leary with this dr… she doesn’t tell me the actual numbers just that they confirm i have Graves…? I wanted to know my numbers but was not sure what to do… and then she says that i need to have the RAIU done and i am like ok i know what that is i looked it up .. but the backstory here is i just took a job so i could have really crappy insurance just so i could see the dr… and i explain that my coverage for a year is only $1250.00 not much and i need to know what the cost is … well its 650.000 but my copay is 195.00 not all of what i needed to know …i need to know if there is a network discount and what will be charged to my insurance so i know how much of my 1250.00 it is going to take… they could not tell me, so i have not had the scan done as of yet because this ins. is taking forever to process the claims so i can see what is being billed against the 1250.00.. and i was sick and went to care now since i don;t have a regular doctor that was billed for 160.00 but do not yet know if there is a discount . but it did finally show that the first visit was paid for 206.00 after the network discount and the second visit for test results.. and a flu shot was 171.00 for what a flu shot and you have graves…

I am sorry but i don’t know what to do … she is costing me all of the coverage just in office visits and i may not have much left after i go do the RAIU scan…Let alone go see another eye specialist..for treatment of the eyes.

It is bad enough with the diagnosis let alone not trusting this dr… please help ..should i find a gp after going to the scan or stick with this dr… for results and treatment .

another point was that the ophthalmologist office sent me to another dr but after they took payment in the office knowing that the dr had dilated my eyes and did not say anything and then billed me thru the mail for that 30.00 i was a little worried about going to someone they recommended..but i do know from another patient in the office that day that he was cheaper if you pay cash than this dr is.. i am so confused … i just want to look and feel normal … i am sorry this is so long and all over the place ..

[Kimberly]

#1170120

Hello and welcome – I’m sorry to hear you have had such a frustrating experience at the doctor’s office! If the doctor wanted you on a particular medication, someone certainly should have made sure you left the office with a prescription and specific dosing instructions!

(Note on links: if you click directly on the following links, you will need to use your browser’s “back” button to return to the boards after viewing. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window).

If you do end up being diagnosed with Graves’, you will want to establish a long-term relationship with a doctor that you trust. A couple of good referral sites are at http://www.aace.com and http://www.thyroid.org. On the AACE site, be sure and select the specialty “thyroid dysfunction.” We have also just launched a physician registry of doctors who have told us they have particular expertise in Graves’. To access the registry, go to the home page at http://www.gdatf.org and click on “physician registry” in the box on the top right-hand side of the screen. Because we are just getting started, we might not yet have a lot of listings in your part of the country.

On the insurance issues, you might visit the Patient Advocate Foundation at http://www.patientadvocate.org/. This is a non-profit group that specialized in helping patients navigate confusing insurance issues.

In the meantime, don’t be afraid to be the “sqeaky wheel” with both the doctor’s office and the insurance company. Those who are regulars on this board can attest that we often have to be VERY assertive to get the care that we need – and deserve.

Please keep us posted on how you are doing!

[npatterson]

#1170121

Please do all the things that Kimberly suggested. You need a doctor who specializes in Thyroid/Graves’ Disease (Yes, there are such doctors). I know that medical offices have had to become very computerized (they are REQUIRED to do so), but if your doctor won’t even take the time to read your paperwork, or search on the laptop to read where the information has been imputted (is that a word?) by the admin prior to seeing you, you will have pretty much wasted your 7.3 minute-appointment.
Call the offices you plan to try, ask to speak to the office manager, and ask how many Graves’ patients this physician sees. You will get answers from just a few, to the practice is 60-70% Graves’. If you live in a small town, specialists may be hard to come by. IF you absolutely cannot find someone, let us know, and we can contact some of our medical advisors–who know doctors who are not necessarily in the societies, but are busy seeing patients and doing excellent work. Then, if you will talk to a Supervisor at your insurance company, you can request a “referral by exception”, or an “exceptional referral”. You will need all your substantiating information before you call, becazuse chances are they they will not know a lot about Graves’, and therefore not understand why you need this exception. You will end up educating them.
There are smart, experienced people all over this board. They will help you!
Take care, Nancy

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