Posts by swiftbear86

jadeheron28 said:I have a question about sick leave statements and the privacy issues that come with them. How much info can actually be read from those slips? Specifically, I’m heading in for a gynecological surgery soon. What exactly will be written on the paperwork? I know my OB-GYN has to sign off on them, but will they just check a box for "illness," or will it clearly state that I had an operation?
thanks for trying.

From what I remember, your primary care doctor handles the sick leave paperwork. The statement usually lists a diagnosis code—just a string of numbers—and then Medicare uses that code to make sure you haven't exceeded the maximum number of allowed sick days for that specific condition.
Since you mentioned your OB-GYN is the one issuing them, you might want to double-check that with a regular doctor just to be safe (things tend to change, right?)

Benjamin Booth2 said:I’ve spent most of my life living abroad, so even though I'm an American citizen with residency here, I've never actually had a Medicare card.
Now that I've enrolled in college here in the States, I'm wondering how I go about getting my Medicare coverage set up. Also, do you think they'll give me any grief because I haven't had it before?

Your best bet is to read through the actual law to see what qualifies you for coverage, or just give Medicare a call and ask them directly.

You might have better luck asking in this thread

Look, I told you before—you really should be using solid paraffin wax. I included the link so you can grab some easily online.

I’m thinking the main difference between liquid and solid paraffin comes down to the number of carbon atoms in the chain, which is why they have such different properties—like their melting points and how they hold heat.
As for why physical therapists specifically go for the solid stuff... honestly, I'm not entirely sure.

You basically use solid paraffin wax that you heat up to about 140°F.
Just keep your hands submerged for about 10 to 15 minutes, or honestly, just as long as the warmth feels good to you.
In a professional physical therapy clinic, they keep the temperature perfectly steady, but when you're doing this at home, the wax will eventually cool down and harden, so you'll have to adjust how often you run the treatment accordingly.

Solid paraffin wax
http://www.amazon.com/index.php?route=p...roduct_id=1299

ironmoose6 said:I have my doubts that a plan at that price point actually includes Tier 2 coverage.

You don't even have to second-guess me—I'm right there with you on this one. $25 I’ve been on the B-list for two years now. My initial contract was set for three, so I’m just counting down the months. I'm really hoping I can renew everything under the same terms once next year rolls around.

The CDC always seems to have these random little perks popping up out of nowhere. Just recently, there was this deal where you’d pay the standard rate, and even though your ID card would technically say you don't have coverage for the supplemental tier, they were throwing in a full year of that extra coverage for the exact same price. I heard about it directly from someone who actually deals with this stuff, so I know it's the real deal. 😉

I have to admit, I’m a little lost on that whole story about the Mayo Clinic. What does any of that have to do with the Tier 2 drug list?
It’s not quite right to say that Aetna covers both the A and B lists of medications.
Both A and B are already covered under the basic insurance plan.
If you opt for an Aetna plan, it’ll cover your copays for prescriptions, doctor visits, lab tests, and those trips to the pharmacy. Plus, if you pick a policy that includes it, you're also covered for the extra costs associated with medications on the supplemental list.
If you opt out of the Tier B coverage, just keep in mind that your supplemental plan will only step in to cover your prescription copays. That’s pretty much it.$3.25It’s also about all those extra out-of-pocket costs—things like lab fees, hospital copays, doctor visits, and those daily charges for staying in a hospital bed.

Setting up the testing equipment, buying the chemicals, dealing with gear depreciation, paying the staff... Honestly, a dialysis center isn't exactly cheap to run. I'm not quite sure what you mean when you say it's low-cost, or what exactly your definition of "cheap" is here.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/nephrology/overview/ovc-20096312

Lisa Young83 said:It’s not missing. You might have missed some of the finer details in my deep dive regarding how KBC Konzum handles medical services. Look, let's talk about the medications:

🥳

You're right, my bad. It was getting late and I definitely lost my focus—plus, my blood pressure was starting to spike!😁

Just make sure you bring an ID where the first and last names match what’s on your insurance card. And when they call your name at the service desk, have your driver's license ready to go. Your Social Security number and basic record info stay exactly the same, even if you change your last name.

[BFermina Daza [/B] You’re just one pharmacy counter away from being fully operational.😁

Joseph Anderson13 said:Do I need a referral for a regular checkup at the dentist through my insurance?

Thanks

Think of your dentist as primary care, just like your family doctor or a general practitioner.
You don't need a referral to see them. You can just give them a call to book an appointment, or if it's an emergency, you can usually just show up. Of course, you first need to find a dentist who’s accepting new patients if you aren't already on their roster.

The only exception is if you're heading to a specialist—like going to a major dental clinic or a university hospital—in which case you'll likely need a referral from your regular dentist.

Drop a line here if you're looking for some advice

http://www.officialgovernmenthelp.gov/most-common-questions

Honestly, I think your best bet is to send a formal written inquiry straight to the headquarters of the Social Security Administration over in D.C. Just make sure you send it via certified mail with a return receipt. It’s like sending a registered package through FedEx—you want that paper trail so you know they actually got it.

You can go anywhere, really. Just bring your health certificate along and pay the fee for the exam. Or, if it’s easier, you can just pick up a certificate right there at the clinic. Honestly, your best bet is to give them a quick call first and ask about the vaccination booklet.

Scared of the competition??

You should really go talk to a doctor about this. Any issues with your lower spine can actually mess with the nerve signals and change how you feel in your legs.

Jacob Stewart2 said:You could've done better than that.

Centravit is pretty much useless.
Everything from the dosages to the actual forms used is off. They use calcium hydrogen phosphate at 160mg—you’d get more elemental calcium just by eating a handful of Swiss chard.
And using ascorbic acid for vitamin C? Total waste.
I won't go too deep into the weeds here... but hey, at least it might give you some placebo effect, making you feel like you're actually doing something about your health.

You get what you pay for.

Centravit and Centrum have basically the same dosages.

Centravit INGREDIENTS

One tablet contains 162 mg calcium, 125 mg phosphorus, 100 mg magnesium, 60 mg vitamin C, 40 mg potassium, 36.3 mg chloride, 18 mg vitamin B3, 10 mg vitamin E, 6 mg vitamin B5, 5 mg zinc, 4 mg iron, 2 mg vitamin B6, 1.6 mg vitamin B2, 1.4 mg vitamin B1, 1 mg copper, 1 mg manganese, 800 µg vitamin A (with 20% beta carotene), 200 µg folic acid, 150 µg biotin, 100 µg iodine, 30 µg vitamin K1, 25 µg chromium, 25 µg molybdenum, 25 µg selenium, 5 µg vitamin D3, and 1 µg vitamin B12.

The focus is heavily on vitamins, while the minerals are kept at minimal levels.
By law, they can't exceed certain limits for a combined dietary supplement.

Centrum
INGREDIENTS

VITAMINS

vitamin A (retinol acetate) 25% as beta carotene
(provitamin A) 800 µg
200 µg 100%
*
vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate) 1.4 mg 100%
vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 1.6 mg 100%
vitamin B6 (pyridoxine HCl) 2 mg 100%
vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) 1 µg 100%
vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 60 mg 100%
vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) 5 µg/200 IU 100%
vitamin E (DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate) 10 mg/15 IU 100%
vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) 30 µg *
vitamin H (biotin) 150 µg 100%
folic acid 200 µg 100%
niacin 18 mg 100%
pantothenic acid 6 mg 100%

MINERALS (and trace elements)

calcium 162 mg 20%
chloride 36.3 mg *
magnesium 100 mg 33%
phosphorus 125 mg 16%
iron 4 mg 40%
potassium 40 mg *
chromium 25 µg *
iodine 100 µg 66%
copper 1 mg *
manganese 1 mg *
molybdenum 25 µg *
selenium 25 µg *
zinc 5 mg 66%

Solgar VM 75 has high vitamin doses, but once again, the minerals are minimal.

http://www.solgar.com/vm-75

So, in his case, combining Culturelle + Centravit isn't going to do much of anything.

The truth is, you don't need to run to the doctor for every little cold.
Try the methods described in the article I linked.
Or try some Strefen throat lozenges for the pain.

Unless, of course, you've got a high fever, severe throat pain, or can't swallow.

melloworca6 said:Where did you hear that?

The general advice is to take probiotics both during and after a course of antibiotics. Personally, I always take them while I’m on the meds; otherwise, my stomach and gut get totally wrecked, and it takes me about three weeks to feel normal again. If I stick with the probiotics alongside the antibiotics, I either have zero issues or they just pass in a couple of days.

Maybe Austin Hill6 was just being a little vague with how she put it.

http://www.healthline.com/nutrition/probiotics-and-antibiotics

You can definitely take them at the same time (on the same days), just try to space out the antibiotic and the probiotic by a few hours.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sore-throat/symptoms-causes/syc-20351027

Once you get that referral from your doctor, you should book your appointment right away. As soon as you get that confirmation with your scheduled date, the specific date printed on the paperwork doesn't really matter anymore.
If you don't actually schedule the visit within 30 days of getting the referral, though, you'll probably need to ask for a new one.
Basically, if they give you an appointment slot—even if it's six months out—you're all set. Your referral stays valid.

wiredfalcon13 said:Hey there! So, I have a quick question. Does anyone know where in the city I can go to get my thyroid levels, sex hormones, and DHEA-S tested? Apparently, DHEA-S is an adrenal hormone. Since everything is listed on one single lab order, I’m assuming I should probably just get it all done at one facility. Any suggestions would be awesome, thanks! 🙂

Check out Mount Sinai or maybe a major hospital system—they usually handle centralized ordering for stuff like this perfectly.

http://www.mountsinai.org/index.php?op...=117&Itemid=85

Antacids work by neutralizing the hydrochloric acid (HCl) that’s already sitting in your stomach.
That’s why you’ll mostly see them made from weak acid salts, like carbonates.
These carbonates usually come in different forms, such as sodium, magnesium, or aluminum salts.
Basically, when a weak salt meets a strong acid, it displaces the weaker acid—like H2CO3—leaving behind something like MgCl2. It sounds like a lot of heavy chemistry, but it’s really the key to understanding how antacids actually function.
On the other hand, PPIs work differently by blocking the production of stomach acid at the source.

Gaviscon works similarly using a mix of sodium salts.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements...irnije&id=7742

The alginate in those formulas acts like a protective coating for your lining, while the rest of the ingredients go about weakening the HCl.

If you need to avoid sodium for health reasons, look for something like Tums, which uses calcium and magnesium carbonates instead.