GI Joe – part 2
No, not the movie, my GI issues.
I have an ultrasound scheduled, followed by an upper scope and a lower scope. Seems they can’t do both at the same time because then the doc doesn’t get paid for both by insurance. Seems to me the insurance company would rather minimize the costs but large insurance companies aren’t known for being smart.
Seems it could be gall bladder issues, hence the ultrasound. And the doc says it doesn’t sound like any thing life-threatening, which is good.
February 6th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Writing as the spouse of a physician for over 25 years, the attitude you want to see in your doctor is complete boredom over your exam, your test results, and your diagnosis. Only the truly horrific things excite an experienced doctor, so enjoy the relatively low level of excitement you are experiencing with your problems.
And get well soon.
February 6th, 2012 at 1:13 pm
Your insurance company has a lot of gall, making you go twice.
February 6th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
I imagine if the ultrasound shows gall-bladder, there’s no need to do the upper and lower GI scopes.
I had upper and lower done at the same time. They didn’t tell me in advance about the upper. When I came out of the anesthesia a little early, I was beginning to wonder just how far they went with the lower and why they were removing it from above.
February 6th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Dr. Stancher at UT Hospital – Knoxville turned my life around with swift, accurate diagnosis and proper medication for issues I had as far back as Desert Storm.
On another note, I was oh so grateful when then President Bill Clinton told me I was not actually sick.
February 6th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Speaking as a surgeon, I can tell you that when I do multiple procedures under the same anesthetic, each one is paid 50% or so less than the first one. The only part of the massive bill that you see that I get is the surgeon’s fee, not the facility fee and myriad other items on the list…
February 6th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
They have the camera pill that you swallow now. One of my co-workers had that the other day. You swallow the pill (the end with the blinking light first) and you wear a fanny pack all day. Much better than getting scoped.
February 6th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
I’m not big on doctors who bring up the “C” word without really any evidence to suspect it. Statistically for someone your age, it’s probably something else. No reason to get you all worried until they have a reason.
February 6th, 2012 at 2:28 pm
They didn’t bring it up. I asked about it.
February 6th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Get well soon, Unc! Hope it’s something easily fixed.
February 6th, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Get better soon. Putting a word in with your man upstairs for good news.
February 6th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
And the doc says it doesn’t sound like any thing life-threatening, which is good.
So long as the doc doesn’t mean that he’s not gonna die from it.
February 6th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Hope all goes well. I had the upper and lower done at the same time – twice. I just wish they would do the upper before the lower. That scope tastes terrible following the lower… 🙂
February 6th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
@ Jom, getting paid only 50% on the second procedure (when it comes to these two specific procedures) still makes it a fairly effective payday.
In fact, when you look at prep times, only docs not maxing their schedule would even want to split the 2 procedures to maximize revenue. And if a GI doc doing these isn’t full time busy, I would wonder why!
Every GI doc I refer to prefers to do both, (if indicated) at the same time, since it is so much more efficient timewise to do so.
February 6th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
Gooogle “CPT codes” for explanation of one of the key sources of anything really bizarre involving insurance billing (legal interference and liability being the other dominant sources). My wife just went through this exact same “two halves” issue with a CAT scan two weeks ago.
February 6th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Good to read it’s not something too serious. I wish you the very best.
February 6th, 2012 at 5:44 pm
Hope all goes well.
Oh, and stop eating fried peanuts . . . geez.
February 6th, 2012 at 6:31 pm
GWS!
February 6th, 2012 at 8:45 pm
Been there done that with the gall bladder (about 14 years ago). They were able to scope it and I was ok in 2 days and right as rain in a week. My belly looks like I got hit with buckshot though.
February 7th, 2012 at 12:26 pm
I always have had them done at the same time.
February 7th, 2012 at 5:28 pm
If it was like my gall bladder problem, the upper/lower scopes and the ultrasound will not reveal anything.
It wasn’t until I had the radioactive die injected while laying under a large machine for 15 minutes did they find anything.
BTW, I knew they found it because the hormone they injected to make the gall bladder contract gave me the worst “stomach” pain I had ever had… nearly passed out.