Aa
Cervical CTA
Does anyone know which facility would do a Cervical CTA w/extention, flexion, rotation and range of motion ?
COMMUNITY LEADER
Good for u.....I know so many charge a facility charge as well, seems like a hoax to me to just get more $$ out of us....
I could not fight the one that billed as out patient...makes me mad.
Oh ok...got a good one for you.
Years ago daughter's pediatrician said...how long has she had this heart murmur....My reply, WHAT.....you tell me you are the only doctor she has ever seen in 6 years.
Make appt. with pediatric cardiologist here at this big facility in my town ;-)
See the whole gang from student to fellow to dr.
I leave and go back and said to receptionist...I forgot to pay my copay can I please pay it because I don't want to receive a bill in the mail. Sure...no problem. Copay paid !!!
Next month, bill in mail. ARGHHHH....2 days on phone, dig up receipt, give receipt number. Oh, wait a minute there is a facility copay as well.
WHAT !!! Yes maam. If the doctor doesn't have an office in the facility then you must pay a facility copay as well as a doctor copay. Too bad for you maam you have to pay another copay.
Hmmmm....I start thinking. This is sounding very very very strange that the
professor of pediatric cardiology doesn't have his very own office in the facility. I get the bright idea to call the main number and ask for this particular doctors office and low and behold get transfered. I ask for the address and hmmm, it is at the facility. BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I call back billing and let them know that unfortunately they will have to remove that additional copay as there is a "term" for that type of billing and don't make me go there ..................
Never received another bill.
Years ago daughter's pediatrician said...how long has she had this heart murmur....My reply, WHAT.....you tell me you are the only doctor she has ever seen in 6 years.
Make appt. with pediatric cardiologist here at this big facility in my town ;-)
See the whole gang from student to fellow to dr.
I leave and go back and said to receptionist...I forgot to pay my copay can I please pay it because I don't want to receive a bill in the mail. Sure...no problem. Copay paid !!!
Next month, bill in mail. ARGHHHH....2 days on phone, dig up receipt, give receipt number. Oh, wait a minute there is a facility copay as well.
WHAT !!! Yes maam. If the doctor doesn't have an office in the facility then you must pay a facility copay as well as a doctor copay. Too bad for you maam you have to pay another copay.
Hmmmm....I start thinking. This is sounding very very very strange that the
professor of pediatric cardiology doesn't have his very own office in the facility. I get the bright idea to call the main number and ask for this particular doctors office and low and behold get transfered. I ask for the address and hmmm, it is at the facility. BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I call back billing and let them know that unfortunately they will have to remove that additional copay as there is a "term" for that type of billing and don't make me go there ..................
Never received another bill.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I had one Dr bill me as an outpatient so it cost me more, and I went to his office so it should have only been a specialist co-pay, but bcuz he billed it as an out patient it was much more....ugh.,..they will do nething....
Yes it is....my copays are 40.00 for specialists, 40.00 for radiological tests (each) and 100.00 for procedures. Almost everything is turned into a procedure anymore....just ticks me off.
COMMUNITY LEADER
That stinks......people resorting to steal from others instead of trying to earn what they need and want....ugh.....don't get me started....sigh
AS for the asthma I too was told I had restrictive lung disease yrs ago and given an inhaler....ugh....
Co-Pays is yet another topic, I do not want to go there as it is so frustrating to deal with.....as they keep changing....who can afford INS and Co-Pays?
Yes it can.
So frustrating because like I told you before, they dx me with asthma when I knew I did not have asthma. Then went for vocal cord dysfunction study which was in september and I have been really suffering since that test. So I really don't know how that scope down my nose could affect me so severely but it was horrendous with the violent gagging and nosebleed. Of course the study was inconclusive....which study isn't anyway with this stuff.
I do know that going up my steps today had such pain with breathing and dizziness.....some days I just don't know. Go to the ER....for what, they do absolutely nothing, call the Cardio he is clueless, call the asthma dr. clueless, call the PCP really I may as well just move into that mans house at this point.
Having really bad pains under rt rib cage down rt front and around rt back somewhat and a little under lt rib cage. Can't imagine what the heck this could be either. Had ANOTHER endoscopy done in July and it was showing something so was rushed a week later for endoscopic ultrasound and it showed nothing ??? I believe the endoscopic ultrasound can show your pancreas/liver/gallbladder/lungs and not sure what else.
Don't want to be scanned anymore. Bloodwork is typically perfect.
Tired and exhausted today. My body hurts.
To make matters better this weekend thieves tried taking my minivan Friday night. Needless to say they damaged it and I really don't have the energy to deal with it or the desire to handle it with the insurance company. The perfect part about this is as if I don't pay enough damn dr. copayments I was informed that the damage to my van is covered under my car insurance but anything stolen from vehicle would be an additional claim under my homeowners and of course an additional copayment.....WTH......
So frustrating because like I told you before, they dx me with asthma when I knew I did not have asthma. Then went for vocal cord dysfunction study which was in september and I have been really suffering since that test. So I really don't know how that scope down my nose could affect me so severely but it was horrendous with the violent gagging and nosebleed. Of course the study was inconclusive....which study isn't anyway with this stuff.
I do know that going up my steps today had such pain with breathing and dizziness.....some days I just don't know. Go to the ER....for what, they do absolutely nothing, call the Cardio he is clueless, call the asthma dr. clueless, call the PCP really I may as well just move into that mans house at this point.
Having really bad pains under rt rib cage down rt front and around rt back somewhat and a little under lt rib cage. Can't imagine what the heck this could be either. Had ANOTHER endoscopy done in July and it was showing something so was rushed a week later for endoscopic ultrasound and it showed nothing ??? I believe the endoscopic ultrasound can show your pancreas/liver/gallbladder/lungs and not sure what else.
Don't want to be scanned anymore. Bloodwork is typically perfect.
Tired and exhausted today. My body hurts.
To make matters better this weekend thieves tried taking my minivan Friday night. Needless to say they damaged it and I really don't have the energy to deal with it or the desire to handle it with the insurance company. The perfect part about this is as if I don't pay enough damn dr. copayments I was informed that the damage to my van is covered under my car insurance but anything stolen from vehicle would be an additional claim under my homeowners and of course an additional copayment.....WTH......
COMMUNITY LEADER
I will have to google the sick/stiff heart episode and watch.....u got me wondering if I saw it as I do watch those....lol...
This can be a crazy journey just trying to get a DX and rule out all the related and non related issues with similar symptoms....
Can of worms indeed, great way to put it....
LOL, at this just a very very very small fraction of the tests that I have endured. At one point my blood was being drawn on a weekly basis trying to find out what the heck was going on.
What was comical about the NL phone call was as he was saying to me "Stiff Heart", my mind thought....did he watch the same episode of Mystery Diagnosis (or one of those medical mystery shows) last weekend that I watched hahaha. I generally do not watch those shows but did so last weekend.
The more thought put into it I realized the show was about a woman about 40 that went to ER had ekg abnormal, dr. couldn't believe it was from someone her age as it was typical for an elderly person and repeated ekg himself as it just couldn't be possible only to see same results. Sent for echocardiogram and another medical worker said hey I know what that is....sick heart I thought, my neighbor thought broken heart...regardless it was the same episode.
Well, Stiff Heart is the same thing that the show was discussing. This was pretty darn interesting as it is not something typical that sonographers would pick up on apparently.
I can actually see where he was going with it because after all I did not fail the tilt table study, it is inconclusive (then again what test isn't that I take). I forwarded it to my PCP so he will probably really think the nut factor is there now.
Then again he opened the can of worms on Chiari so he should expect it !
What was comical about the NL phone call was as he was saying to me "Stiff Heart", my mind thought....did he watch the same episode of Mystery Diagnosis (or one of those medical mystery shows) last weekend that I watched hahaha. I generally do not watch those shows but did so last weekend.
The more thought put into it I realized the show was about a woman about 40 that went to ER had ekg abnormal, dr. couldn't believe it was from someone her age as it was typical for an elderly person and repeated ekg himself as it just couldn't be possible only to see same results. Sent for echocardiogram and another medical worker said hey I know what that is....sick heart I thought, my neighbor thought broken heart...regardless it was the same episode.
Well, Stiff Heart is the same thing that the show was discussing. This was pretty darn interesting as it is not something typical that sonographers would pick up on apparently.
I can actually see where he was going with it because after all I did not fail the tilt table study, it is inconclusive (then again what test isn't that I take). I forwarded it to my PCP so he will probably really think the nut factor is there now.
Then again he opened the can of worms on Chiari so he should expect it !
COMMUNITY LEADER
LOL....I know what u mean....I was told old age just as I was hitting 40....I had no idea 40 was old.!!!....then I was told I was peri menopause....hmmmI really do not think they really know....
Ur list of tests made me want to say and a partridge in a pear tree....lol...every Christmas I post a thread for members to add a Chiari issue/symptom or test to create a new 12 Days of Christmas...u had most of it right there....lol...
I know what u mean, families do not keep medical records in Bibles like they use to and it seems they do not pass down that info...so it is hard to know family medical history....
Seems like it is up to us to start a new way of passing on this info.
Is is funny and odd at the same time.
The NL told me we should make sure we are not barking up the wrong tree as my tonsils are only low lying......hmmm !
He said I may have what is call stiff heart. That old women get this and cardiology would be able to check that out. Well, considering that I have
been through 2 complete stress tests, 2 echo's, 99 ekg's, 1 tilt table study, 2 holter monitors and 2 (30) day event monitors, not sure what else cardiology could look for.
My grandmother was having heart issues, called 911, took her to hospital and they scheduled her for surgery in the AM but she passed away during the night (35 years ago) so not exactly sure what was wrong with her heart. Wish I had this information as it could be beneficial.
Sometimes I think menopause is the problem.....lol. Then again, last I checked menopause doesn't cause your vision to go in and out.
The NL told me we should make sure we are not barking up the wrong tree as my tonsils are only low lying......hmmm !
He said I may have what is call stiff heart. That old women get this and cardiology would be able to check that out. Well, considering that I have
been through 2 complete stress tests, 2 echo's, 99 ekg's, 1 tilt table study, 2 holter monitors and 2 (30) day event monitors, not sure what else cardiology could look for.
My grandmother was having heart issues, called 911, took her to hospital and they scheduled her for surgery in the AM but she passed away during the night (35 years ago) so not exactly sure what was wrong with her heart. Wish I had this information as it could be beneficial.
Sometimes I think menopause is the problem.....lol. Then again, last I checked menopause doesn't cause your vision to go in and out.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I know what u mean as I drink water all day long and have a neurogenic bladder so I run regardless of the meds...
My BP was always low too....and tends to still be on the low side....one Dr told me that was my "normal" but if I had symptoms to call...never mind to tell me what those might be.....lol...I also used to get a fever with HA's all the time....never understood y....weird how Chiari manipulates our body.
Well one thing we can say about Chiari, the journey is constantly changing directions....
I did ask the NL if Topamax was one of the medications that could potentially lower my blood pressure as I really can't take a chance with it going much lower. He said it shouldn't but technically it could because it is a diuretic and will make you go pee pee all the time which will lower your bp if you are not extra hydrated.
Arghhh, I need to get tested for EDS as well, I forgot about that one.
Could be adding fuel to the fire here.
The doctor ordering the testing told me Topamax is a strong medication and if i didn't like it something else could be found. I am trying to stick it out and work my way up from my .625, lol.
Well....if the 8 bottles of water a day weren't enough....arghhhh. I also drink gatorade and other stuff as well but sometimes think I can't drink anything else as my eyeballs will be floating.
I know someone else that has alot of these problems been through boat loads of testing but has never mentioned Chiari. Failed the tilt table study and took fludrocortisone which helped some then took i think Pristiq or Lyrica which was working for them as far as increasing blood pressure. My gyn had always mentioned Effexor for migraines, menopause anxiety, abdominal migraines, etc. That is one that is also supposed to increase blood pressure as well. Hmmmmmm.
Arghhh, I need to get tested for EDS as well, I forgot about that one.
Could be adding fuel to the fire here.
The doctor ordering the testing told me Topamax is a strong medication and if i didn't like it something else could be found. I am trying to stick it out and work my way up from my .625, lol.
Well....if the 8 bottles of water a day weren't enough....arghhhh. I also drink gatorade and other stuff as well but sometimes think I can't drink anything else as my eyeballs will be floating.
I know someone else that has alot of these problems been through boat loads of testing but has never mentioned Chiari. Failed the tilt table study and took fludrocortisone which helped some then took i think Pristiq or Lyrica which was working for them as far as increasing blood pressure. My gyn had always mentioned Effexor for migraines, menopause anxiety, abdominal migraines, etc. That is one that is also supposed to increase blood pressure as well. Hmmmmmm.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Yes, Dr Driscoll has several video's regarding EDS.( there are links in teh EDS group)..DIAMOX is used for those with ICP or pseudo tumor cerebri....it is a diuretic....
Sounds like this Dr is at least knowledgeable with what tests need to be done...which is great...
I have no idea how TOPAMAX will help b4 surgery as I only had it post op.....u find it beneficial, but do ask the Dr that plans all the testing what he prefers u to do, .....but if it can help not sure y u would want to stop it.
I finally got a call back from my long lost NL. CLUELESS ! He said we could try some different things without stretching it out too long.....I said HELLO it's been 3.5 years that A LONG TIME ALREADY.
On the other hand my consultant called today just like he said he would (gotta love him) he wants to do 2 injections only and if they don't work he wants another MRI w/CSF flow study and entire spine MRI
again. He mentioned spine w/flow too .... is that such a test for the thoracic and lumbar. MRI/MRA w/head turned as well. This should be interesting. I went and located an independent radiology office and asked them if they could work directly with him since the bigger places are set in their ways of testing only per the book.
At least he is not holding back. I asked him today if my extreme head pressure upon sitting down could be due to CSF fluid pressure in my head and he said well yes with the Chiari and blockage that you have....WTH....oh well, at least he is knowledgable unlike others.
I sure hope to get some resolution rather quickly. This is horrid.
The quicker I get the studies the quicker I can send those suckers to New York. I wouldn't trust my goldfish to have this surgery around here.
One thing my NL said to me was stick with the Topamax and then mentioned Diamox which I believe is something that Dr. Driscoll talks about. I read where you recommended her videos on a thread somewhere.
Very interesting stuff.
Hoping my head does not explode off in the meantime.
On the other hand my consultant called today just like he said he would (gotta love him) he wants to do 2 injections only and if they don't work he wants another MRI w/CSF flow study and entire spine MRI
again. He mentioned spine w/flow too .... is that such a test for the thoracic and lumbar. MRI/MRA w/head turned as well. This should be interesting. I went and located an independent radiology office and asked them if they could work directly with him since the bigger places are set in their ways of testing only per the book.
At least he is not holding back. I asked him today if my extreme head pressure upon sitting down could be due to CSF fluid pressure in my head and he said well yes with the Chiari and blockage that you have....WTH....oh well, at least he is knowledgable unlike others.
I sure hope to get some resolution rather quickly. This is horrid.
The quicker I get the studies the quicker I can send those suckers to New York. I wouldn't trust my goldfish to have this surgery around here.
One thing my NL said to me was stick with the Topamax and then mentioned Diamox which I believe is something that Dr. Driscoll talks about. I read where you recommended her videos on a thread somewhere.
Very interesting stuff.
Hoping my head does not explode off in the meantime.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I know, this is y a forum like this is so helpful as we can educate our self and know if the Dr is giving us the care we need...we must advocate for us and family as the Drs do not have time to take us under their wing and figure things out like on HOUSE....we want that ,but it does not exist....
Tell you something more scary. My brother was admitted in hospital thru ER and he was there for 3 days. Two days NEVER even saw a dr. The nurses were all from a hiring service. They could have cared less.
The medical community is horrible. I was just told by my allergists' nurse that now a days you have to keep pushing and pushing and keep making appts. with the same dr. for them to listen to you. WOW. That is scary.
May as well move to a third world country.
The medical community is horrible. I was just told by my allergists' nurse that now a days you have to keep pushing and pushing and keep making appts. with the same dr. for them to listen to you. WOW. That is scary.
May as well move to a third world country.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I agree with u.....I feel we all need to do things more slowly with intent and caution....too many are in a hurry and rush thru things...Haste makes waste....
I fumbled with my cell phone and called my DH and he came and helped me....ugh....good thing I called too as I needed pants that would stretch over the way my leg was wrapped up....lol...
Just seems so dangerous for them to send patients away so quickly. Hysterectomy was out patient. Crazy.
COMMUNITY LEADER
The &*%^*&$$ nurse tossed my clothes on the bed after u nudged me awake and said get dressed....my leg was wrapped up and I was woozey that I had not idea how to get dressed....ugh...
My surgeon was great, just the nurse could have been human,.
Gotta love the way outpatient surgery is.
They push you out the door without you even knowing your name.
They push you out the door without you even knowing your name.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I was in pain as I had just had surgery on my knee...so was not happy with pain and itching....I was still kinda out of it too as it was out patient surgery....
I do not believe that meds can help a Chiari HA....it may take the edge off, but not get rid of it...meds are like a band aid and u can not put a band aid on nerves....
Being upside down is not a good thing for ne of us.....
Crazy what the meds can do. I do like the one Topamax side effect....headaches, LOL.
That is funny....a cardiologist recommended taking Cetriziline at bedtime to help with dizziness which I thought was odd but did it.....couldn't handle Cetriziline at all which is generic Zyrtec. Loratadine/Claritin just is completely off for my body but Allegra (childrens) worked. I should try the generic brand of it and see what happens. I hate taking medicine.
The Topamax made the space between my upper lip and nose and the roof of mouth numb but the pharmacist said it was common (00).
That itching must have been horrible. You were probably thinking, jeez what else could happen ! Oxycodone would probably kill me. Had hysterectomy (laparoscopic) and did not take one single pain med....boy my dr. was gooooood.
The year prior the oopherectomy surgery I got the worst headache and called surgeon...he said take this exact dosage of the percocet, eat a big meal and go to sleep. AHHHHHH, that headache that you think was the worst one got 2 time worse and I went to the ER, they injected me 3 times with the last being the strongest thing they had according to the ER nurse....well it physically knocked me out but when I woke up a few hours later that damn headache was still there.
Thought the headache was from the anesthesia but when they explained to me that doing the surgery your body is inverted, that explained it....no wonder there was a migraine. I can't bend over and pick up the newspaper without getting a headache.
That is funny....a cardiologist recommended taking Cetriziline at bedtime to help with dizziness which I thought was odd but did it.....couldn't handle Cetriziline at all which is generic Zyrtec. Loratadine/Claritin just is completely off for my body but Allegra (childrens) worked. I should try the generic brand of it and see what happens. I hate taking medicine.
The Topamax made the space between my upper lip and nose and the roof of mouth numb but the pharmacist said it was common (00).
That itching must have been horrible. You were probably thinking, jeez what else could happen ! Oxycodone would probably kill me. Had hysterectomy (laparoscopic) and did not take one single pain med....boy my dr. was gooooood.
The year prior the oopherectomy surgery I got the worst headache and called surgeon...he said take this exact dosage of the percocet, eat a big meal and go to sleep. AHHHHHH, that headache that you think was the worst one got 2 time worse and I went to the ER, they injected me 3 times with the last being the strongest thing they had according to the ER nurse....well it physically knocked me out but when I woke up a few hours later that damn headache was still there.
Thought the headache was from the anesthesia but when they explained to me that doing the surgery your body is inverted, that explained it....no wonder there was a migraine. I can't bend over and pick up the newspaper without getting a headache.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I could not take allergy meds b4 my surgery as I always got severe heart palps.....
No, 12.5 was the highest...I did try 25, but it not only brought back symptoms, it also made me sick.....
I now take a generic allergy med b4 bed and it helps me sleep...no problems there now....
Agreed but mine did.....TCI actually sent a RX for me....so that helped.....u can wait to have some testing done there...and I did....but this was to help determine if I was someone they could help.
The worse I got from a med oxycodone was itching inside all over....could not scratch it away....ugh....and that was only one dose....
Honestly, I only lasted a few days on the Topamax, lol. I just couldn't handle it. Told the PCP the med was gonna kill me. Told him couldn't sleep with the med and he asked if it was being taken in the morning and I said NO the bottle says take at bedtime. So of course now it needs to be taken in the AM.
Started that Topamax again today and guess we will see what happens. Will stick it out for a couple weeks and see. Just don't see this medicine lifting my dizziness and motion sickness 24/7 feeling. Will be the trooper and try though.
I actually have to take childrens Allegra for allergies as any other allergy med zonks me out for 12 hours then groggy for another 5 hours on top of it.
Did you ever get higher than 12.5 on Topamax or that was your limit ?
Tests: Recent MRI was 9/13 w/o contrast which still boggles my brain, xrays flexion, extension, etc. 10/13, latest labs 10/13 (will need to get repeat TPO), u/s carotid arteries maybe one year ago but just had CT Angiogram 10/13. MRI thoracic 2010 MRI lumbar 2011 will need to redo these. This should be interesting getting the insurance company to approve more.
I remember when this all started a dr. gave me Paxil and after arguing about it....took it....lowest dose, broke in half and slept for 2 days NEVER AGAIN.
Started that Topamax again today and guess we will see what happens. Will stick it out for a couple weeks and see. Just don't see this medicine lifting my dizziness and motion sickness 24/7 feeling. Will be the trooper and try though.
I actually have to take childrens Allegra for allergies as any other allergy med zonks me out for 12 hours then groggy for another 5 hours on top of it.
Did you ever get higher than 12.5 on Topamax or that was your limit ?
Tests: Recent MRI was 9/13 w/o contrast which still boggles my brain, xrays flexion, extension, etc. 10/13, latest labs 10/13 (will need to get repeat TPO), u/s carotid arteries maybe one year ago but just had CT Angiogram 10/13. MRI thoracic 2010 MRI lumbar 2011 will need to redo these. This should be interesting getting the insurance company to approve more.
I remember when this all started a dr. gave me Paxil and after arguing about it....took it....lowest dose, broke in half and slept for 2 days NEVER AGAIN.
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