Posts by swiftbear86

Maria Fisher46 said:swiftbear86, I ran into the exact same headache back when I was using IE. Have you checked your "Cookies" settings? It might be worth trying to enable them just to see if checking "remember me" actually works when you log in.

Once I flipped the switch on "Cookies" and hit "remember me" during login, the constant logging out issues just vanished. 🙂

Thanks for the tip..
Could you walk me through how to actually do that, though? I honestly have no clue where to find those settings.😍

Olivia Robinson7 said:My referral actually expired because the date was off.

So now I'm wondering—what do you guys think? Should I try to pull the same move? I'm based in Chicago and my doctor is all the way out in Karlovac, so it's honestly not worth the trip just to have him turn me away because the paperwork needs a correction. 😢

!

Every time a date gets corrected, the clinic has to stamp it with a new official seal.

There are a few ways this could go down. One possibility is they just reject it outright and tell you to go get a brand-new referral.
The second is they accept you, but then you end up having to hunt down a new referral anyway.
Third, they might not even notice. If you get lucky and Medicare doesn't catch it either, you're in the clear.
But the fourth option? The hospital eventually sends you a massive bill because Medicare refused to cover it due to the invalid referral.

jadetrucker43 said:So, which browser are you running? I’ve got a hunch the answer is US...

And just like that, I win the bet. It's definitely US.

Your posts are way too long and honestly kind of a slog to get through!😁

Here’s the simplest way to wrap your head around metabolic syndrome:

jadetrucker43 said:You don't even need Word. Just type it right here on the forum and copy it before you hit "Post Reply." If it goes through, awesome. If not, just log back in and paste it.

Or, like I mentioned before, just check the "remember me" box when you sign in...

Copy/paste worked for me!
The "remember me" thing isn't working—it just logs me right back out.

Thanks!

I’ve been dealing with this since I was 8 years old.
Dysmenorrhea, PCOS, Hashimoto’s, secondary infertility... and they kept telling me everything was fine until I hit 18. They said it was totally normal, that things would just settle down after having kids, or that I’d feel better once I hit menopause.

In reality, you shouldn't have to just suffer through debilitating period cramps. It’s not something that should be forcing you to miss work, skip class, or bail on your daily responsibilities when there are actual options available.
One approach is hormonal therapy, and another is using antispasmodics—things like Buscopan or prescription-strength Spasmex. If you aren't looking for a prescription, you can try something like No-Spa paired with a fast-acting over-the-counter pain reliever, like Ibuprofen (for instance, Advil or Motrin).

Bottom line: find a way to make those symptoms manageable. Just make sure to chat with your doctor or a pharmacist first to figure out what works best for you.

Thanks!
I was thinking about maybe drafting my reply in Word first and then just doing a copy/paste. That’s really the only thing that crossed my mind...
Also, why does it keep logging me out automatically after a little while, even if I'm right in the middle of replying to a thread?....

I’ve been running into a bit of a headache with the timeout limits when I'm trying to reply to a thread..
Short replies? No biggie, those are easy..
But whenever I start working on something more substantial—something that actually requires some thought—the system just kicks me out. Either the session times out or it forces me to log back in, and poof, my entire draft vanishes into thin air...
Honestly, once that happens, all motivation to keep typing just evaporates..
I see other people on here posting what look like full-blown novels..
Is there any way for me to write longer posts without getting booted? Can I tweak something in the settings, or maybe write it elsewhere and just upload it as an attachment?

I'd really appreciate any tips you guys have..
Maybe I missed the answer somewhere, but I haven't been able to track it down yet..

I honestly think moving is plenty of reason enough. Just find a doctor in your new city, and once you're there, you can just sign a statement explaining that you switched doctors because of the move.

Olivia Robinson7 said:Does the term "gastroscopy" always include the biopsy and the Bacteria test?
My doctor mentioned that they can check for Bacteria through a stool sample now. So, I’ll have to take that to my local clinic and pay extra for it... I already got a red referral for the gastroscopy that doesn't specify anything else, so I'm hoping they charge me less if they don't do the biopsy and the Bacteria test. (If all of that is just part of the standard gastroscopy, there's no point in doing the stool test and paying more separately)

Is Vuk Vrhovac private, or can you go there using a Medicare referral?

Thanks so much for the info! 🙂 🙂

Gastroscopy at the Vineyard

The doctor performing the gastroscopy is the one who decides if any additional tests are necessary.
Honestly, I think if you're already going through the hassle of a gastroscopy, it's better to just get everything done at once. The procedure itself isn't exactly fun, so why deal with scheduling follow-ups later?
As far as I know, the Bacteria test requires an out-of-pocket payment $6.75 if you don't have supplemental insurance.

All the tests I mentioned were covered by Medicare, though I did have to pay a co-pay since I don't have supplemental coverage.

Endocrinologist at Vuk Vrhovac

At Vuk Vrhovac, you need to see your own primary doctor first. They'll write you an internal referral, and then you can get those tests done there.

I haven't done anything there privately (meaning paying full retail price).
A few years back, I used to buy my own injections, but I believe even those are covered by Medicare now for certain procedures.

I’m sure the doctors have their reasons for making that call.
There might be a specific contraindication involved, so it’s worth checking out the details here:

Maybe you can touch base with the doctor tomorrow to get some more clarity on everything.
Just keep in mind that, legally speaking, they aren't required to share updates with just anyone.
Usually, they only loop in immediate family...

Douglas Ortiz5 said:Hey everyone, quick question... Can I get blood work done at any local clinic here in Chicago if I have a referral from my regular doctor who isn't based in the city?

If you have a standard out-of-network referral—meaning it's not just an internal one for a specific hospital system—I'm pretty sure you can.
Just head to a lab near where you're staying in Chicago.
Feel free to jump in and correct me if I've got that wrong.
The best bet is to double-check directly with your own doctor to be certain.

Olivia Robinson7 said:Hey!
Does anyone know how much these tests cost if you don't have supplemental insurance?

A gastroscopy,
thyroid panels,
hormone levels (I read somewhere they only charge for ONE hormone $17 ?!? 😕),
and a stool test for Bacteria?

Any info at all would really help me out 🙂 🙂

Thanks in advance!

Last year, I had a gastroscopy done at the Vineyard—I paid about $60 for the procedure, the biopsy, and the Bacteria test.

Then about a month ago over at Vuk Vrhovac, $67 for the following items:
the exam, TSH, FT3, FT4, thyroid antibodies, selenium, CRP, CBC, urine, glucose, HbA1c, lipid panel, AST, ALP, ALT, GGT, LDH, CK, creatinine, uric acid, potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, chloride, iron, UIBC, and ferritin.
And for 20 physical therapy sessions, it was $167.
I don't bother with supplemental insurance because I don't think I need it; looking at the math, my annual co-pays end up being way cheaper without it.

Melissa Martinez5 said:I sent an email to book an appointment with an endocrinologist over at Vineyard.
I emailed them a scan of my referral, and they’ve got me scheduled for two months from now.
The thing is, this referral is technically only valid for a month. Do I need to worry about getting it extended, or am I good to go?

You'll just need to ask your doctor to update the date or issue a fresh referral once it actually comes time for your appointment.

When you're collecting a sample for microbiology testing, the golden rule is to minimize any chance of contamination. It’s best to use your first urine of the morning. Before you start, just give yourself a quick wash with warm water. When you go, let the initial stream pass, then catch what we call the "midstream" directly into the tube or specimen cup. Honestly, it doesn't matter if you had to stop and start again; the main thing is simply making sure you don't catch that very first bit. That initial spray can pick up bacteria from the urethra or skin, which can mess with your results.

If your referral specifically lists the Mayo Clinic, but you’re actually looking to get tested in NYC, you’re going to need to ask for a new referral first. Allergy clinics can be tucked away inside pulmonary departments, or you might find them over at dermatology—for instance, if you head to The Hill in NYC, they have them in dermatology too. Honestly, your best bet is to just give the hospital where you want the testing a quick call. Ask them straight up if they strictly follow the formal waiting list or if they take walk-ins for same-day appointments.

For a medical practice to even open its doors, it needs to be fully cleared by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Then, if a doctor wants to run their own private practice without a group behind them, they have to hold a specific license issued by the medical board.
On top of that, to actually write prescriptions or issue referrals that get covered, they need a formal contract in place with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
It really just depends on which specific permit you're looking for, so your best bet is to send a formal written inquiry to the right agency.

Betty Gray84 said:I could really use some advice here.
Back in late November, I emailed over my referral and everything to set up an EMG at the Mayo Clinic. They scheduled me for the end of March.
Since the original referral is more than a month old now, am I going to need a brand-new one, or does the date not really matter once you're on the schedule?

Your best bet is to just head back to your primary doctor and have them update the date on the current referral. Make sure they give it a fresh signature and stamp too.
Usually, those referrals are only valid for 30 days from the time they're issued.

Once you wrap up school, the first thing you need to do is register with the unemployment office. They’ll officially list you as unemployed, and once you have their paperwork in hand, you can take it over to Medicare to get your health insurance sorted out. There’s usually a specific legal window of time you have to get this done, too. Honestly, you’d probably get a much clearer answer if you just pulled up the PDF regarding legal and social rights—take a look at that and maybe give them a call to confirm.

lonefalcon41 said:Are you talking about an electronic prescription? You can't just keep picking those up. Usually, the only way to keep buying the same medication repeatedly is if you have that white paper slip (meaning you're paying out of pocket) because then there isn't a digital track limiting you.

Just to clear things up,you can't just buy any medication an unlimited number of times.

If she had an e-prescription and it was only written for a single box without any refills, that's the end of the line.
But if she has a private prescription, she can buy it as many times as the doctor authorized via refills. Even then, it's limited by how long that private script is valid—which is usually a maximum of 180 days.