Info Desk [Paperwork, ordering, wait times, procedures, booklets, prescriptions...]

I’m getting my medications on schedule and everything, and it looks like health coverage kicks in within 30 days of signing off with Social Security, but you know how it goes with anxiety and all that anticipation. Plus, my employer is just dragging their feet, delaying everything and providing what I need late and at the worst possible times.

Hey. Does anyone happen to know what the damage is for hormone extraction if you don't have supplemental insurance? I can't seem to pin down an actual price—every single thing I've dug up online is ancient history... Also, do I just pay right there on the spot, or will they mail a bill to my house?

Hey everyone, quick question if you've got a quick answer. I've gotta head to the hospital tomorrow to get my tonsils ripped out. My appointment was set for Jan 9th, but I'm guessing they won't actually do the surgery tomorrow—probably more like the day after. Does anyone know what time I actually need to show up at the ENT department in Rijeka tomorrow? Like, do I have to be there right at 8 AM sharp, or can I just roll in during the afternoon? I tried calling them just now, but nobody's picking up—they've probably already clocked out for the day. If anyone knows the deal, please let me know, thanks!

Does anyone happen to know where in NYC I can go for an ophthalmology exam before the six-month mark?

Hey everyone, quick question—is the system still working where you can book veteran check-ups through the coordinator for veterans and their immediate families? I’m asking because I sent off an email with my referral, specifically requesting an appointment at Dubrava Hospital, but I haven't heard a single word back. It's strange because I used to be able to get everything scheduled without any issues before. Does anyone know if this process is still active or if something changed?

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I’ll post this here, though if it’s in the wrong section, I hope the mods can move it...
I had some issues with a sparrow—it took a little while to get everything sorted out—and now I've got some visible scarring left behind. I was wondering if anyone knows of a specific cream that could help camouflage them or actually heal the skin up?

Hi there,

I need to schedule an initial consultation with a urologist.
Does anyone know what the wait times are looking like in NYC? Looking at these waiting lists, it seems like it could be at least two months—though I might be reading them wrong.

Maybe this isn't even the right thread for this, but I have no clue where else to put it.

How much weight can I actually give a nurse telling me over the phone that a pathology biopsy came back clean? Like, do they actually tell patients the truth when things look bad, or is it all just "everything's fine" until the doctor calls?

Hey everyone—does anyone know where I can get stool tests done in NYC? I need microbiology, parasitology, and an ABG. The Social Security Administration website isn't loading for me, and Google keeps pointing me toward Stamper, but I don't think they cover everything there either. It says "AB" but is missing the "G"—does anyone actually know what that "G" stands for or if it even matters? Honestly, I’m struggling to make sense of this referral and the search results. 😢

Also, how do I go about searching for a fecal calprotectin test?

What steps can I take to obtain a medication that several specialists have prescribed, but my primary care physician refuses to write a prescription for? Does a GP actually have the authority to deny a treatment recommended by a specialist?

I am managing a chronic condition, and my specialists have included this specific preparation as part of my regular therapy because it has a direct therapeutic effect on my illness.

My primary doctor had been prescribing this without any issues until recently, but suddenly, he’s refusing. I get the impression he’s actually annoyed with me; since I have a chronic condition, I didn't bother with the medication when my symptoms were dormant, so now I feel like I'm being blamed for the recent flare-up (though, frankly, this condition tends to resurface regardless of medication—that’s why it’s classified as chronic). That is just my intuition based on his tone and behavior, though I could be misreading the situation. He is now claiming the medication isn't indicated for my condition, even though that was never an issue when he used to approve it. We are dealing with the same category of illness, just not the exact same diagnosis.

To reiterate, multiple specialists consistently prescribe this exact preparation to me. I have even sought out specialists to find alternatives, but none of them work for me.

So, what should I do? Switching doctors is an option, but for someone managing a chronic illness, proximity is vital—and most other providers aren't conveniently located nearby.

Steven King78 said:What can I do to get a specific medication that several specialists have prescribed, but my primary care physician refuses to write the prescription for? Does a GP actually have the right to decline a medication recommended by a specialist? ...

Hi there,

If you were sent to see those specialists via a formal referral—essentially a consultation request—your family doctor technically maintains the authority to decide whether or not to follow those specialist recommendations. Additionally, they are required to prescribe the most cost-effective option available on the approved list.
My advice would be to reach out to the medical review board at your local Social Security Administration office in your county; you can check with them to see if that specific drug is covered and under what exact conditions it’s authorized for your condition.
Another resource where you might find information regarding prescribing restrictions is https://mediately.co/hr/drugs - this is a drug database.
Hope this helps.

Steven King78 said:Now the doctor is claiming this isn't meant for my condition—even though they knew perfectly well it worked before! I mean, it’s technically the same category of illness, sure, but it’s not the *exact* same thing.

I'm telling you, multiple specialists have prescribed this exact same med to me before. I even went out and hunted down some alternatives myself, but honestly? None of them work for me.

So what, just sit down with the specialist and ask them to tweak my diagnosis so the prescription fits?

Man, I actually considered doing that once myself.

Hi there, I'm not entirely certain if this is the right thread for this sort of thing, but I wasn't quite sure where else to turn.

If I was issued a travel authorization at the start of this month, but my actual medical appointment isn't scheduled until the beginning of May, will that authorization still be valid by then?

Someone mentioned to me that these authorizations might expire just thirty days after they're issued, though I can't say for sure, so I figured I'd ask here.😁

Any insight you could provide would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

There shouldn't be any issues regarding the travel reimbursement 😉

Hello, does anyone know the specific hours for blood draws at the West Side City Clinic on Zvonigradski? Their website lists hours from 7 AM to 8 PM, but I find it highly unlikely that they perform blood work throughout that entire window.

Hey everyone! I don't really hang out on this forum all that much, so I’m probably not the best at navigating things—my apologies if this isn't quite the right spot for this kind of thing.

So, I just got an order for some medical biochemistry testing, and I was wondering if anyone could point me toward the best place in NYC to get that done? I guess I'm mostly looking for a facility that actually has a solid stock of all those specific reagents on hand.

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Anyone know how long it usually takes for blood work to show up on the patient portal?
I can see my old labs and prescriptions just fine, but I had blood drawn this past Friday and nothing is showing up yet. Not sure if there’s a glitch somewhere or if it just takes a few days to pop up online.

I feel like half my test results are missing from the portal; sometimes they're just late, and other times they don't show up at all.

So, this popped up on my screen today.