Best of luck to you!
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
It depends greatly on the LLMD and office staff as to what will be accomplished. Every doc has their own style.
I would say to be familiar with your insurance policy and have some idea of how much money you are willing to spend out of pocket at this visit for tests and/or supplements. Especially if you feel rushed it is easy to get talked into doing some additional tests which could run into hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Be upfront with the doc -- if you are interested in aggressive treatment such as IV's say so. Try to get some idea of the doc's overall long range plan if possible.
Very important to find out how to contact the doc in an emergency and also the required minimum frequency of visits -- some will do phone consults in between in person appointments and others will not.
If the doc wants to repeat any tests -- ask why and then make your own decision. Or you could ask for tests to be spread out over several months to help financially.
Be sure to ask if meds can be called in for you to your pharmacy if needed in between appointments. We had to change LLMD's once because all med changes required an in person office appointment (did not even think to ask that prior to an emergency situation) and we just could not afford the additional travel costs when hubby had what we and his PCP thought was an allergic reaction to a med.
Find out if the doc has a nurse practitioner and how often you will actually see the doc. Some have you see the nurse practitioner for some appointments and the doc for other appointments. In some practices you would see both at every appointment only if you are a difficult case.
Be sure you understand what will happen regarding test results. We always ask that we receive a copy prior to our next appointment so we can prepare for the appointment. Some docs may not be willing to do this or might require a written request.
What we have found easiest to do is to call the lab (especially if it is an out-of-network lab) and ask if the test is complete. Then we call the docs office and say that the lab is ready and ask them to fax us a copy.
Going forward be sure to keep a daily med list and note any major changes in symptoms. Also keep a current list of supplements.
Be sure to discuss standing bloodwork orders. It is much simpler to get standing orders rather than have to request orders at every appointment. Hubby has a CBC with differential and CMP and UA as standing orders. Used to do that every 2 weeks but lately has switched to monthly. We use the local hospital blood lab and hubby picks up copies of his own bloodwork and has them fax copies to the LLMD and PCP.
Good luck.
Bea Seibert
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
My experience in going in with a boatload of previous medical files, test results is that it takes a LONG time for a doc to read it all.
And if they don't, there may be duplicate testing ordering.
So, I would organize those files you are taking, put tabs (sticky notes) on the important ones, so you can quickly pull them out if the doc starts ordering duplicate testing. Show that it has been done already. But if it is old, there might be a reason to repeat.
The doc office will probably want copies of those files. Make sure you don't give away your originals. Either copy them for the doc, or make sure the office copies them and returns the originals to you.
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
How did it go?
Posted by NYStateDad (Member # 30160) on :
It was... weird. Almost over prepared, and the doc deferred to my wife's pharma-phobia and was very casual about treatment options - like you can do this, or you can do that, or don't take this if you don't want. My position is much more agressive with my son's LD, so it was REAL hard to quietly listen.
She had a lot of blood tests as well, and the cost is very high. If we did it all, diagnosis alone was $1500 or more. I had to sign off on AMEX for $700 on the spot, plus the $900 for the visit.
And they wanted 14 tubes of blood - not gonna happen - so we had the rest taken yesterday locally and I think (hope) that insurance covers it. I started to freak out a bit at the costs, especially if treatment was gonna be like 'take what you want, or don't'... I could tell her that for FREE.
One test she will not do is a PCR multiplex, where you take Azithromycin, Amoxocillin and Flagyl - 7 days - then test urin and saliva by PCR for essentially dead bacteria. She is terrified of new meds, so passed on this test.
So we will see what the other sophisticated tests come back with and go from there.
Posted by phyl6648 (Member # 28522) on :
Wish you the best. I know I was a basket case when I had my first visit. Not the doctor but the trip.
It has been over two weeks and I am still waiting for test from Igenex.. Will be another 7 to 10 days.