Looking for a specialist...

Olivia Hughes74 said:What kind of stuff do you guys actually get done at the dermatologist? Like, is he the guy you go to if you want to get a mole removed?

You’d probably just see your primary care doctor first to get a referral over to the Mayo Clinic. Then you'd set up an appointment there.

A colleague of mine had surgery for colon cancer about six months ago, and after the operation at the Holy Spirit hospital, he was sent off for radiation and chemo over at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Honestly, that’s when the real nightmare began for them! First, they promised they’d call him in for his radiation sessions, but then they didn't say a word for months, and then—get this—the machine broke down three separate times in just two months! To top it all off, Medicare actually denied coverage for his Xeloda medication, which he handles incredibly well, even though he has to deal with much more difficult IV therapy instead. On top of all that chaos, he hasn't been sent for a single blood test, any tumor markers, an ultrasound, an X-ray, a CT scan, or anything of the sort! So, they are basically sitting there in total limbo, having absolutely no idea if the tumor is coming back. When they finally asked if his doctor could write up a recommendation for the hospital board to get his medication covered, they were shocked to find out he doesn't even have a primary doctor assigned to him; apparently, that specialist was only overseeing the radiation portion. They’ve ended up paying out of pocket for every single bit of information through private doctors, starting with the surgeon who kept nudging him to come in privately and pay, and now they're seeing a private oncologist over on Kačićev who gives tons of advice regarding tests and follow-ups, but none of those tests actually get performed!
So, here is my big question. Is this kind of runaround totally normal, and what on earth is a person supposed to do? They don't have a ton of extra cash to just throw at everything.
I suggested to her that maybe they should look into transferring to a different hospital system entirely, but I'm honestly stumped on where to go. Does anyone know how they might be able to secure that medication, and what the actual process looks like? Who can they reach out to, and is there a specific hospital in New York City that actually runs things more efficiently?

Hey! My esthetician actually recommended him to me too. I just had an appointment a few days ago... It's way too early to give a full review, though. He prescribed some capsules, a custom solution they had to mix up for me at the pharmacy, and a new derm cleansing lotion. I've only been using everything for a couple of days, so I’ll have to wait a bit to see if there are any real results. 🙂 What I can tell you for sure is that he’s a really nice, personable doctor. 🙂

Can anyone recommend a decent dentist in Miami? Ideally someone who accepts Medicare

I just need someone patient—not arrogant, not a scammer, and actually competent... So far, my luck has been pretty nonexistent😢 😢

thanks everyone

So, my mom needs cataract surgery. It’s not an emergency just yet, but knowing how long the waiting lists can get at our local hospitals, her cataract might be fully ripe by the time she actually gets called in.

Does anyone have any advice on which hospital or clinic in Chicago I should look into? Or maybe a specific doctor you’d recommend?

Also, does anyone know if they perform that newer method—you know, phacoemulsification extraction with lens implantation—at the public hospitals, or is that something you can only get at private clinics?

Thanks so much in advance for any help! 🙂

Dr. Zahi Khouri is my gynecologist, and honestly, I can’t say enough good things about him!
He’s incredibly knowledgeable, super kind, and always has a smile on his face when you see him.

I have a quick question that’s a bit off-topic. I was wondering which blood draw lab I can use if my doctor isn't actually in the neighborhood where I live now? I recently moved, but I’ve stuck with my old physician, so I'm curious—can I just head over to a Community Health Center in my new area to get my labs done? To be more specific, does it matter where you live or where your doctor is located, or can you pretty much walk into any lab?

Betty Edwards said:The first mention of Dr. Basta!
What has your experience been like with her??
I started seeing her about a year ago. I'm trying to clear up some acne scarring—just waiting for her to refer me for laser treatment.

Is it possible to get laser treatment covered by Medicare so it doesn't cost anything out of pocket?😕

Does anyone happen to know the office hours for Dr. Vojinović (the dermatologist) over at Student Health Services?
Do I actually need to book an appointment ahead of time to see her, or can I just show up with my referral on any given day? Also, what’s her vibe like—is she good?

Thanks in advance for any intel you can share.

Best!

I recently had to switch dentists because I'm moving, and honestly, I think I’ll be hunting for a new one again very soon.
The resident working at my mom's practice can barely hold an instrument, let alone actually diagnose or fix anything—all while charging $150-$$117... for a simple white filling. 🙄 😠
So, does anyone have a recommendation for a decent dentist covered by Medicare in the Chicago area? I need someone who actually knows what they're doing without those ridiculous prices (my previous dentist used to charge me maybe $20)! 😕

So, I went to the public dentist through Medicare at the local Community Health Center this year, and even then, I had to pay out of pocket for white fillings $33. Honestly, I have no clue where you could possibly find decent fillings for less than $33. And those cheap white fillings for $33? They’re honestly terrible. They just don't last, and I actually had to go back and get some replaced with crowns already. I really think it's much better to track down a private dentist who accepts Medicare rather than sticking with the public options at a Community Health Center. My previous dentist at the center was using such ancient equipment... I mean, while they were drilling, water actually leaked all over me and soaked my pants. It was so bad they eventually started putting rags on my clothes just to deal with it. It’s probably no surprise that they ended up cracking one of my teeth during the procedure, given how outdated the gear was. So, yeah, I’m done going there. Now I see a private dentist, and I've already had two crowns done there. I checked their website, and their price list says a white filling is $67. Personally, I’d much rather pay $200 or maybe $100 if I knew it would actually hold up, instead of paying $33 only to have to redo it all within the same year.

Look, I get that quality isn't cheap, but if that's the case, I’d much rather just go to a private specialist who actually knows what they're doing!
I mean, the idea of being someone's guinea pig—where at best nothing happens, but at worst my tooth gets ruined, all while I'm footing a massive bill—is just insane to me. 😲
And what is even the point of having Medicare coverage then? A small co-pay makes sense, and sure, things are obviously pricier here in Chicago than they were with my old dentist, but this feels like straight-up robbery. 😠
Surely there's someone out there with actual positive experiences finding a dentist in NYC who takes insurance but still provides decent work without charging an arm and a leg? 😕 (PM)

I recently had to transfer my dental records because I’m moving, and honestly, it was a huge mistake.
The files ended up with some resident at my mom's clinic who can barely hold a dental tool properly, let alone actually perform a procedure. They’re charging $150-$$117 for a simple white filling, and don't even get me started on the quality—if you can even call it that. 😲
My previous dentist used to charge me closer to $25 for stuff like this. 🙏

Anyway, if anyone knows a decent dentist in Chicago who takes Medicare and won't rip me off with these outrageous prices, please send me a DM. 😠
Thanks.

Chloe Fisher5 said:I had to move my dental records recently because of a move, and it was a complete disaster.
The files ended up with a resident at my mom's clinic who can barely hold a basic tool, let alone actually perform a procedure. They’re charging $150-$117 for a simple white filling, and don't even get me started on the "quality" of the work or their actual expertise. 😲
My previous dentist used to charge me around $25 for stuff like this. 🙏

Anyway, please DM me if you know a decent dentist in Chicago who takes Medicare and won't rip me off with these outrageous prices. 😠
Thanks.

You paid $6.75 for white fillings? Please, show me where on earth they found someone charging that!

Rebecca Baker52 said:Honestly, I don't think a decent dentist even exists in Chicago. If they did, people would actually be talking about them.

I go to Dubravko čuvati over on Jurišićev, and let me tell you—the guy has totally gone downhill. There’s more of a crowd at his office than ever before, so now he’s just become super high-strung and "fast," and I mean fast in the worst way possible. I actually had to practically beg him for a simple scaling and cleaning—as if I'm supposed to waste anyone's precious time with something like that?! It's such bullshit. He takes Medicare but also does private patients, but honestly, I’m liking him less and less every time I go. And look, dental implants can sometimes be partially covered by Medicare (just like glasses or other medical aids, depending on how much of your benefits you have left), but with him? NO WAY IN HELL is that happening.

And it gets worse...

My latest disaster? A tooth revision, treatment, and filling all crammed into one week. Even the nurse looked horrified—like, seriously, you’re going to close up a cavity in just one week?!?!
Anyway, he filled the tooth, and when I told him, "Hey, it hurts," he basically looked at me like I was crazy and said it couldn't possibly hurt... Well, guess what? Over the weekend, the tooth swelled up so bad my whole face puffed up, and now I feel like my ear and throat are going to get infected too... I even ran a FEVER!!!!

I think saying there isn't a single good dentist in NYC is a bit of an exaggeration. From my own experience, I know they exist 🙂 though I'll admit they are few and far between. A lot of times, the people practicing are folks who don't even really want to be doing this—maybe they just inherited the practice from their parents or something—so that definitely messes with the quality of care. Another issue is that dentists taking Medicare rarely have the time to actually focus on proper treatment because they usually only have about thirty minutes per patient (I think to stay in the network with the fund, you need something like 2,000 patients on your roster, which is insane to try and manage—don't quote me on the exact number). Of course, there are great dentists who take Medicare, but you're probably going to have a better experience with a private practitioner (even if it costs a hell of a lot more). Look, I won't ramble on forever, but my wife is a dentist, and she's excellent; even though she would never dream of badmouthing her colleagues, she once told me how shocked she was when someone would show up at her door after already seeing some other dentist. I definitely agree that most dentists in NYC aren't up to par, but you can still find gems. The biggest misconception is thinking that being "good" is just about having a degree... I don't buy that at all, and I think that's why the quality varies so much. Very few of them actually put in the work to invest in themselves and their skills outside of school.

Look, I wasn't trying to run some kind of ad here, alright? My whole point was just to say that you actually can find dentists who give a damn about the patient's well-being instead of just looking at the bottom line. You know the type—dentists who just rip teeth out and shove implants in their place? That really gets under my skin because so many people doing that aren't even oral surgeons, and let me tell you, that oral surgery specialization isn't just some random title you pick up for fun! I really hope none of you end up in a situation like mine, where I lost a tooth in my mid-twenties because of one bad dentist, and I know plenty of guys who lost them even later than that. Honestly, I turned out okay mostly because I got lucky enough to meet my wife, who—among other things—taught me what "real" dental hygiene actually looks like. I still remember the first time she saw me brushing; she basically called me a total amateur and had to clean my teeth for me like I was some toddler... and she had to do it a few more times after that too. Seriously, I had no idea a person's mouth could bleed that much... I'll never forget it. Just take care of your teeth and hunt down a decent dentist... I know it’s a grind, even when you get a recommendation, but you have to stick to your guns. Most of us assume our dentist did a great job just because we walk out the door without pain, right? Like, "hey, it doesn't hurt, so it must be fixed." Unfortunately, that's not always how it works. Like I said, I learned that the hard way myself; it took two years before I realized how bad that dentist actually was, once the tooth right next to the one he worked on started acting up—he'd actually drilled into a perfectly healthy tooth underneath and it was dying from the inside out. Talk about a wake-up call.

Edward Sanchez72 said:So you got white fillings at $6.75? Give me a break, I'd love to see where anyone actually finds those!!!!

Yeah, I did 🙂
And I honestly don't get why it costs so much in NYC, especially considering the questionable quality of the work.

Chloe Fisher5 said:Yeah, I am 🙂
And I don't see why it costs so much in NYC, especially considering the (lack of) quality of the work?

either you're such close friends that she was doing you a MASSIVE favor...
or... you're lying....
But seriously, no one can justify charging for white fillings $6.75 when you have zero clue what the actual cost of those materials is. Or maybe she just shoved something white in your tooth and sold it to you as a "white filling" because, like most laypeople, you don't even know what composite is. There is no way you were actually paying for $6.75 modern composite fillings that require advanced adhesive technology.
And you think you're some kind of expert qualified to judge someone else's work?
Since everything is so cheap back home for you, maybe it's better to just buy a bus ticket back there and get two or three teeth fixed for pennies instead of whining about how expensive things are here.

copperviper102 said:My point wasn't to run an ad; I was just trying to say you can actually find dentists who care about the patient's well-being instead of just chasing a paycheck—you know, those people who just rip teeth out and shove implants in. That really bothers me because so many people do it without being actual oral surgeons. Oral surgery isn't some random specialty you pick up for fun!.

Are you serious? You think implantology is its own separate surgical specialty? What if I told you that you're totally wrong and you're just making assumptions? 🙂
...In the US, there is NO such thing as a "specialization" in dental implantology...it’s mostly handled by surgeons, periodontists, and prosthodontists after they take specific courses. There isn't a standalone board certification for it. So maybe don't start lecturing everyone when you clearly don't know what you're talking about.

Edward Sanchez72 said:Oh, really? So implantology is some specific sub-specialty of oral surgery now? What if I told you that you’re just making stuff up as you go along? 🙂
...in America, there isn't even a formal "implantology" specialization...the people actually doing the work are mostly surgeons, periodontists, and prosthodontists...but they do it after taking extra courses. There is no such official specialty. So maybe don't come at people like you know everything when you clearly don't.

Alright, wise guy... so I'm "uninformed"... but it just seems like common sense to me that if you're cutting into flesh and bone, a surgeon should be the one doing it... but hey, you're right, I honestly have no clue if implantology officially falls under oral surgery or not...
🙂....