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| | Author | Messages | |
Cactus Rob
Posts:923
 | | 12/07/2007 2:23 PM |
 Alert | <div class='NTForums_Quote'>Posted By Fritzydoodle on 12/03/2007 9:08 PM
<div class='NTForums_Quote'>Posted By Cactus Rob on 11/30/2007 2:35 PM
I was recently notified by Medicare that TSH screenings are considered medically unnecessary and are no longer covered.
For the time being, I think my Blue Cross & Blue Shield is still covering the blood screens, but probably not for long since health insurance companies usually follow Medicare's lead in things like this. It really is all about the money!!!
When that happens I'll be unable to get my prescription Levothyroxine and will just stop taking it when my current prescription expires. I pay several hundred dollars per month in Medicare and insurance premiums and there is no way I will pay for the tests. </div>
I don't have health insurance so I understand the self pay pain. I've found an affordable solution - Bashas. Just about monthly they have the mobile lab at the store. The typical test of the month panel includes the thyroid panels. Total cost for TSH,T3, T4, and a host of other things like glucose, cholesterol & triglycerides costs less than $70.
</div>
That's good to know, Fritzydoodle. I only have the test annually, so I'll probably be joining you there when I get so lifeless that I know I'll not be able to survive without the medication.
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| | alanf
Posts:1462
| | 12/07/2007 3:01 PM |
Alert | I am so bummed out. T3 - 3.0(2.0-4.8), T4 - 0.9(0.8-1.7) , and TSH 8.66(0.45-4.50)  , and get this Testosterone 179(280-800) No wonder I'm such a wus out on 347 now. Now I got to do synthroid. I'm freaking 45 and going through Man-O-Pause. What's next Man-Boobs?  | | | |
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| | alanf
Posts:1462
| | 12/07/2007 3:03 PM |
Alert | | Whoops, can I say BOOBS? Rats, I did it again!!! | | | |
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| | Fritzydoodle
Posts:959
| | 12/07/2007 10:22 PM |
Alert | <div class='NTForums_Quote'>Posted By alanf on 12/07/2007 3:01 PM
I am so bummed out. T3 - 3.0(2.0-4.8), T4 - 0.9(0.8-1.7)<img src='http://www.85239.com/desktopmodules/ntforums/images/emoticons/angry.gif' height='20' width='20' border='0' title='Angry' align='absmiddle'>, and TSH 8.66(0.45-4.50) <img src='http://www.85239.com/desktopmodules/ntforums/images/emoticons/shocked.gif' height='20' width='20' border='0' title='Shocked' align='absmiddle'>, and get this Testosterone 179(280-800) No wonder I'm such a wus out on 347 now. Now I got to do synthroid. I'm freaking 45 and going through Man-O-Pause. What's next Man-Boobs? <img src='http://www.85239.com/desktopmodules/ntforums/images/emoticons/biggrin.gif' height='20' width='20' border='0' title='Big Grin' align='absmiddle'></div>
I've been on thyroid meds since my early 20's. I saw a poster in the docs office one day and mentioned to him I had most of those symptoms...plus I had a hysterectomy at 35 - so I take synthetic estrogen too. <img src='http://www.85239.com/desktopmodules/ntforums/images/emoticons/sad.gif' height='20' width='20' border='0' title='Sad' align='absmiddle'>
Big thing for you AlanF is to get the TSH down closer to 1.0. Is this the first time you are on Synthroid? Getting your thyroid back in line will probably help with increasing the testosterone level. Your thyroid controls lots of other necessary functions. Normally they start low and increase the dosage as needed. I hope they started you about 2mcg daily - perhaps even a double dosage for 10 days as a jumpstart.
Did they do a precautionary screening and baseline PSH level? | |
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| | alanf
Posts:1462
| | 12/09/2007 7:23 AM |
Alert | Fritzy, 50mcg. Don't know what the precautionary screening or baseline PSH level are.
I gave the Dr my sysmptoms...always tired, weight gain, night sweats, mood swings, etc. And we agreed it was a good thing to check. He said it'll take a couple of months to see results. | | | |
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| | Fritzydoodle
Posts:959
| | 12/09/2007 9:50 PM |
Alert | PSH = Prostate Stimulating Hormone. The normal age for screening is 50 but with a low testosterone level and high TSH level I would have thought they'd do a baseline PSH. But then again - I'm not a doctor.
I just play doctor 
He's right - it takes several months to adjust. The first few years I was on synthroid, it seemed every blood test they did, they'd change my dosage. I've been on 20mcg for several years now. | |
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|  | MaricopaTrainer
Posts:124
| | 12/10/2007 7:06 PM |
Alert | | FYI all I saw Dr. Visser today and he was VERY helpful. As much as I liked Dr. Kerr I find him to be even better. | | | |
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| | azgirl
Posts:14
| | 12/10/2007 8:41 PM |
Alert | | Thanks for posting about Dr. Visser. Does he take insurance, and how is he better than Kerr? Just curious. Thanks again. | | | |
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| | MaricopaTrainer
Posts:124
| | 12/10/2007 9:11 PM |
Alert | I don't want it to seem like I have anything negative to say about Dr. Kerr...I don't. She was always very open to listening to me and we tried a lot of different things.
Dr. Visser spends a great deal more time with clients though. Being that he's an ND I think they are able to take more time with patients versus and MD, DO etc. I don't think MD, and DO's offices are set up to even allow them to spend that kind've time with patients. Insurance many times almost prohibits them from doing so. Yes, he takes insurance. | | | |
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| | azgirl
Posts:14
| | 12/11/2007 6:16 AM |
Alert | | Hey thanks for the tip about Dr. Visser, and the fact that he spends a lot of time with you. Plus the fact he takes insurance, I'll be checking him out. I'll miss Dr. Kerr, she's been a good doc for me. How did you find Dr. Visser? | | | |
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| | azgirl
Posts:14
| | 12/11/2007 6:20 AM |
Alert | | Do you feel he knows how to treat thyroid pretty good? Does he go by symptoms and tests your frees? Thanks for answering my questions. D | | | |
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