[MCS]

Went to see the Cardio doc today. He walked in saw me for 5 minutes tops, said I needed a stress test. Pay the lady at the front desk $132 on your way out.

Not just your ordinary stress test but a nuclear stress test. Of course they do this in thier office for a wopping $2000.00. I would get 50% off if I pay the bill in full, but if I make payments It will be on the $2000, what a racket.

The regular stress test cost $180. I am not sure if this guy is preying on me or what. The wife is adament about me getting the nuclear test done. Sure wish she would have stayed home this time around, would have been eaiser to make a decesion.

Not Sure what to do now.

[Granny Shanny]

You wanna have her read Andypoo's post from last week?

non invasive heart tests

[foxl]

Sometimes newest (and needing to be paid OFF???) is not most efficacious.

I am starting a prescription for doxycycline, in a few minutes, for instance!

[MCS]

I read that post

I don't think I could pass either stress test right now. Wanted the doc to start me on some meds to see how I would do before we got into all of the testing.

The B-12 and Testosterone have made quite a difference. Not back to normal by any means but a progressively better me.

[fgummett]

Not meaning to make light of a serious situation but maybe this is the "stress" portion of the test...

I hope you get it figured out MCS... I get the impression you don't trust this specialist anyway -- I wouldn't after a 5 minute assessment -- so if it were me and even f I did need the $2K test, I'd be seeking a second opinion... assuming that is an option.

[georgepds]

Originally Posted by MCS

Went to see the Cardio doc today. He walked in saw me for 5 minutes tops, said I needed a stress test. ...

Not just your ordinary stress test but a nuclear stress test. Of course they do this in thier office for a wopping $2000.00. I would get 50% off if I pay the bill in full, but if I make payments It will be on the $2000, what a racket.

Not Sure what to do now.

You might want to look up the description on wikipedia ( stress test) . They note that teh nuclear test is more spectific in identifying problems

Cardiac stress test - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The American Heart Association journal, Circulation, describes:

Treadmill test: sensitivity of 67%, specificity of 70% (of advanced lumen narrowing)
Nuclear test: sensitivity of 81%, specificity of 85-95% (of advanced lumen narrowing)

However, these numbers reference detection of advanced artery luminal narrowing as assessed by stress methods compared with angiography as the "gold standard". Because this is not the predominant basis of most heart attacks, actual clinical cardiology experience demonstrates that the actual sensitivity and specificity values for detecting likelihood of future heart attack, as opposed to lumen narrowing, are much lower than stated above.

Whatever the actual numbers, the value of stress tests has increasingly been recognized as limited."

[MCS]

Yea, I had to take some Kava to get past this part of the stress test. It is funny, I usually never loose my sense of humor.


georgepds, thanks for the heads up. Wife really pushing me to do this, I can understand why. My point is, so if they find a blockage, there going to treat me the same as if they didn't find blockage. Meds. Can't afford this, let alone heart surgery. What I was hoping for was, lets try the Meds first, if I do not improve, lets find out then whats going on. Makes sense to me.

I wrote everything down before I went to this Doc, I had to direct him to the page for every question he asked, he didn't even bother to read it. Now if I had a pat. that went thru the trouble of writing everything down, the least I could do for my pay, would be to read it.

Originally Posted by fgummett

Not meaning to make light of a serious situation but maybe this is the "stress" portion of the test...

I hope you get it figured out MCS... I get the impression you don't trust this specialist anyway -- I wouldn't after a 5 minute assessment -- so if it were me and even f I did need the $2K test, I'd be seeking a second opinion... assuming that is an option.

[Subby]

$2K for a stress test? All I can say is wow. It would have to be proved extremely special and of unique use, for me to cough that up.

[georgepds]

Originally Posted by MCS

georgepds, thanks for the heads up. ... My point is, so if they find a blockage, there going to treat me the same as if they didn't find blockage.

I don't really think they are going to treat you the same regardless of outcome.

One result, if the tests come back bad, is to recommend an angiogram. The cardiologist would then determine if a stent was needed ( while he's in there poking about your heart with that long tube threaded through your thigh)

[Vicki NC]

Originally Posted by fgummett

-- so if it were me and even f I did need the $2K test, I'd be seeking a second opinion... assuming that is an option.

I have to agree, MCS. With something this serious, a 2nd opinion is certainly warranted--but you should probably get it pretty quick. Shouldn't be difficult, if you call and explain the situation to another cardiologist.

As for the cost, I am uninsured, as well--long story. But the point is, you are going to have medical bills of some sort. It's better to be living and pay them $25 a month, than be dead and not have any bills. And if you wind up disabled, as I have, there will be other options open to you ... medicare, medicaid, etc....

Just my 2 cents worth here, of course.

[MCS]

I am curious though, would like to find out for sure, as with everyone that has a problem.

Funny thing, When I told the doc about not having insurance, he said they could work something out. Thier cost for the supplies is $200 for the radioactive thallium, he told me. When I got up front and asked the women behind the desk she is the one who said it would be $1000 if I pay when I am done. So maybe there is hope of them coming down off the cost a bit more.

[MCS]

Appreciate the visual on that one.

Originally Posted by georgepds

The cardiologist would then determine if a stent was needed ( while he's in there poking about your heart with that long tube threaded through your thigh)

[MCS]

Made it a whole mile walking last night with min discomfort. The Testosterone and B-12 are really making a difference. Wife likes the difference as well, but for other reasons than me being able to walk.

Heart not skipping so bad now, but BP still wants to go up when I walk. So best find out why. She says that my BP going up shouldn't cause any chest pains, not so sure about that.

BG is becoming a little more predictable now with the addition of the other supps, and the fact I am finally getting rid of the last of this flu thingy.

FBG 95
breakfast, eggs, potatoes, smoked sausage, toast
1hr PP: 127
2hr PP: 105

Tried to explain to my wife, why I needed to eat potatoes for breakfast, you all should have been there for that.

[NCBill]

Originally Posted by MCS

I ran out of the ALA, Alpha-Lipoic-Acid, went to Wal-Mart started back on it and low and behold numbers started to come back down. So I guess this supplement was having more of an effect then I had imagined.

I experienced exactly the same thing. My BG was up 30%, and quickly came back down.

--bill

[NewdestinyX]

Originally Posted by NCBill

I experienced exactly the same thing. My BG was up 30%, and quickly came back down.

--bill

Bill -- how do you get your monthly A1c's? Do you go to the doc monthly.. or do you get one of those self taken A1c tests from the drug store?

Thanks!