Posts by Olivia Robinson7

Just wanted to give this a quick shot

So, here is the situation: I have an unused referral sitting right here for a dermatology appointment.
The issue is that the referral has already expired because of the specific date listed on it.

I’ve actually been scheduled for an appointment this coming Monday (to keep it brief—I honestly had no idea they would find an opening for me so quickly!), but I simply won't be able to make it to my primary doctor's office in time to get the referral extended.

I remember one time when I ran into this exact problem and just asked my doctor to help me out; she literally took out a bottle of WHITE-OUT, scribbled over the date on the referral, and told me, "There, now it doesn't have a date anymore!"

So, I am dying to know what you all think—should I try a little trick like that myself? I am currently based in Chicago, but my doctor is practicing over in Karlovac, so it really wouldn't be worth the trek just to have him turn me away because of some correction fluid. 😢

Thanks so much for any advice!

swiftbear86 said:Last year, I had a gastroscopy done at the Vineyard hospital, and I ended up paying about $60 to cover the procedure, the biopsy, and the Bacteria test.

Does the term "gastroscopy" typically include both the biopsy and the Bacteria test by default?
I ask because my doctor mentioned that they can actually detect that Bacteria through a stool sample now! So, I was planning on taking that request to my local clinic and paying for it separately... however, I was handed a red referral for the gastroscopy that doesn't specify any extra tests. I am really hoping that means they might charge me less since the biopsy and the Bacteria test aren't explicitly listed... unless, of course, those things are already bundled into the standard gastroscopy package! (If they are included, I certainly won't be handing over a stool sample or paying extra for it!)

Is Vuk Vrhovac a private facility, or is it possible to use a Medicare referral there?

Thank you ever so much for all this helpful information! 🙂 🙂

WHO ON EARTH ISSUES THE REFERRAL FOR AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST???

My primary care physician is being absolutely useless and simply has no clue how to answer this question! 🙂

lonefalcon41 said:I paid out of pocket for my gastroscopy, which ended up costing about $13 (since I don't have supplemental insurance).

Sent from my iPhone using Twitter

Would you be so kind as to tell me where and when you had your procedure done?
I ask because I actually know someone who went through this just last month, and they mentioned paying a mere $60 at most!
Thank you so much!

Eric Morales62 said:Their billing system is just incredibly convoluted, which honestly seems to be the case with pretty much everything in this country! I decided to cut my losses pretty quickly and just opted for supplemental insurance, because within just a few months, I had racked up about $333 in bills.

On certain statements, I was paying roughly 20% of the total cost—it actually breaks down every single line item so you can see exactly what everything costs, and since the prices are a bit higher than what you'd find at a private clinic, it’s actually quite easy to shop around and compare rates.
However, on other bills, like for my thyroid tests, it just lists a flat amount that I was required to pay (it ended up being around $67 for four different hormone tests).

It's a lot to take in... I remember reading in an article once that it's $17. The absolute worst part is that you simply cannot find out those specific figures in advance; no matter who you ask, nobody seems to have a clue! I personally paid $17 for throat and nasal swabs, but that was through a local community health center, and I had read somewhere that tests done there are actually cheaper than the ones performed at the major metropolitan hospital.
Goodness, I am genuinely terrified of how much a gastroscopy might end up costing me, maybe around 🙂
.
I'm mostly just doing "general" checkups right now, and if I were to get that supplemental insurance, it would be such a relief, probably around $320. I am still a student, after all... but then again, if you're telling me you paid $67 for thyroid issues... it's highly likely, if not certain, that a gastroscopy follows, and then you've got the hormones on top of that... Honestly, for just a few hundred dollars more, I could have full coverage for the entire year and just live without all this worry...
I think I follow what you're trying to say...

Thank you so much for the information! 🙂

Hello there!
Does anyone happen to know what the typical costs are for these screenings when you aren't using supplemental insurance?

I am looking into the prices for a gastroscopy,
thyroid checks,
hormone panels (I actually read somewhere that they might only charge for a single hormone $17 ?!? 😕),
and testing stool samples for Bacteria?

Any bit of information you could share would truly make my day and bring a huge smile to my face!🙂 🙂

Thank you all so much in advance!

Henry Evans3 said:I've been looking at protein prices over at Nike in Vienna, and honestly, they are absolutely laughable compared to what we pay here back home...😂, meaning they are significantly cheaper

Does anyone actually make the trip over there to stock up on protein? Is it just one specific shop in Vienna, or are there locations closer to us?

Oh, it is absolutely true—those prices are just ridiculous!
In fact, my boyfriend and I are planning a little road trip over to Canada this coming weekend specifically to pick up some protein for ourselves and a few friends. If you'd like, we could grab some for you; how much would you actually need??
I just want to make sure we know exactly how much it will cost us, because we certainly wouldn't want to deal with any unexpected customs fees. 🤷

Anyway, if you decide to just order it online for delivery, the price ends up being pretty much the same as if you bought it locally... so, who knows. We usually just rely on his friend who used to drive over to Canada to grab everything, but apparently, he was completely swamped with orders this time around...

Could someone please lend me some guidance? I’m looking to start using my protein shake, but I just noticed the expiration date is at the end of this month.
IS THERE ANY chance of side effects, or more specifically, is it actually safe to continue consuming the protein shake even if the expiration date has passed?

Thank you all so much in advance for your help!