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jawnbcAmidst the fun of packing and moving (and working), I've also been charsing down some health issues.
For a really long time I've had gastro distress in various forms. I bloat when I consume anything but simple water, my winds smell like summer roadkill, and much of my abdomen is tender. My GP referred me to a GI specialist in late August, but I had to cancel that appointment. So really I had to wait 5 weeks for the specialist appointment.
The doctor took my history and did an exam, and pretty quickly narrowed his differential diagnosis to irritable bowel (IB) syndrome or something parasitic. However, since I've been treated for c.difficile with Flagyl™ already (and didn't have classic c.difficile symptoms anyway), he's pretty confident it's IB. He ordered some tests (blood, stool and x-ray) and sent me off with a 'script for Dicetel™.
Then it was time to get the tests done. I left the doctor's office at noon:
-the lab department took the blood samples and gave me what I needed to collect my own stool samples. Total time: 20 minutes
-the X-ray department at St Paul's hospital did 4 x-rays (1 chest, 3 abdominal). Total time: 35 minutes
So an hour after I left the specialist the tests were done or organized. Here's the out-of-pocket cost breakdown:
-specialist consultation with examination: $0.00
-blood work: $0.00
-stool work: $0.00
-x-rays: $0.00
Total out-of-pocket expenses: $0.00
Of course none of this is free; it's paid for with taxes. But I think I get exceedingly good value for my tax dollars.
For a really long time I've had gastro distress in various forms. I bloat when I consume anything but simple water, my winds smell like summer roadkill, and much of my abdomen is tender. My GP referred me to a GI specialist in late August, but I had to cancel that appointment. So really I had to wait 5 weeks for the specialist appointment.
The doctor took my history and did an exam, and pretty quickly narrowed his differential diagnosis to irritable bowel (IB) syndrome or something parasitic. However, since I've been treated for c.difficile with Flagyl™ already (and didn't have classic c.difficile symptoms anyway), he's pretty confident it's IB. He ordered some tests (blood, stool and x-ray) and sent me off with a 'script for Dicetel™.
Then it was time to get the tests done. I left the doctor's office at noon:
-the lab department took the blood samples and gave me what I needed to collect my own stool samples. Total time: 20 minutes
-the X-ray department at St Paul's hospital did 4 x-rays (1 chest, 3 abdominal). Total time: 35 minutes
So an hour after I left the specialist the tests were done or organized. Here's the out-of-pocket cost breakdown:
-specialist consultation with examination: $0.00
-blood work: $0.00
-stool work: $0.00
-x-rays: $0.00
Total out-of-pocket expenses: $0.00
Of course none of this is free; it's paid for with taxes. But I think I get exceedingly good value for my tax dollars.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-05 03:46 pm (UTC)