Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Finding Money For Endoscopy Test

oaktownboy

Recommended Posts

oaktownboy Newbie
oaktownboy
Posted

my insurance will not cover the test and i need to know if there is any state or federal money available for tests like this one

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mmaccartney Explorer
mmaccartney
Posted
my insurance will not cover the test and i need to know if there is any state or federal money available for tests like this one

Why won't they cover it??? If a doctor that is part of their "plan" deems it as medically necesarry, aren't they required to cover it?? (Mine did, but I still had to cough up 20% of the cost as I have an 80/20 plan....)

tiredofdoctors Enthusiast
tiredofdoctors
Posted

Call, complain and B**** like heck. Then write a letter stating that, should there be a significant problem that worsens because they won't cover the necessary testing your doctor requested, you will hold them responsible and will report it to all the news statios and your newpaper. That should do it. Trust me.

floridanative Community Regular
floridanative
Posted

tiredofdoctors is right. Raise total cain until someone gets a grip and lets you have the test. I have come to find out that there is not much worse in our culture than insurance companies. They are the driving force behind all the bad medicine we are all experiencing - from everything to sinus infections to Celiac disease being misdiagnosed.

For my biopsy I was told I had a $250 co-pay but then I switched docs to have the test. New doc says I only have a reg. specialist co-pay. Both my insurance company and the hospital where I had the test say I don't have to pay anything upon arrival, and I only have the $35 co-pay to the doc. This did not seem right so I called my insurance company again and they said since I'm now having the test in the hospital, I had no co-pay. So now three months later I get a bill for $250 co-pay. Oh and of course I have already paid the doc $35 and I had to have the test at 1 pm when I felt like jerking my iv out to drink it and was starving. All this to save $250.....which of course I didn't save and apparently, this way I'm paying $285 when you include the doc's co-pay. How people who own insurance companies sleep at night - I'll never know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :angry:

cultureslayer Rookie
cultureslayer
Posted

IF it's just to confirm the diagnosis, I've skipped it. I work in a medical field and I don't trust doctors. They give me enough crap when I'm awake, no way they are putting me under for anything less than major surgery.

tiredofdoctors Enthusiast
tiredofdoctors
Posted

As far as being put to sleep, they didn't give me enough "juice" -- I was awake for the endoscopy and the colonscopy -- including polyp removal. I kept moaning to try to tell them that I could feel it -- they saw me watching it on the television screen :huh:

When it was over, I quoted exactly what the doctor said. The one nurse looked at the other and said, "She wasn't out NEARLY as much as we thought she was." DUH . . . . Didn't the sounds I made each time he cut give them a hint????? <_<

cultureslayer Rookie
cultureslayer
Posted

Yeah, I am one of those people that require an exceptional amount of anesthesia (my body processes it quickly obviously). I could definitely see that happening to me.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


tiredofdoctors Enthusiast
tiredofdoctors
Posted

That was the THIRD time it has happened to me. One time, it was when I was medically paralyzed, and I couldn't move anything to tell them that I was AWAKE! Yuck. I really didn't like that too much.

cultureslayer Rookie
cultureslayer
Posted

Ugh. I always tell them (even when I'm going in for a filling) that I'm hard to anesthetize and will take more than they think I should. It's also hard to get Drs to take me seriously when I complain of any pain because I don't take motrin. It takes about 1.5 to 2x the max suggested dose to do anything worth taking a pill for, and at that point I start to feel strange. Otherwise it just takes the edge off of light soreness.

CMCM Rising Star
CMCM
Posted
my insurance will not cover the test and i need to know if there is any state or federal money available for tests like this one

Is there a particular reason for an endoscopy, other than wanting "to know for sure"??? Why not just handle it yourself by going thru Enterolab....get the full panel gluten sensitivity test for $369 and you'll find out if you have antibody reactions going on, malabsorption, casein sensitivity, and a gene test is thrown in as well. Together with the knowledge you get from this easy to do test, you can then follow the diet for awhile to see how you do. Ultimately, the treatment for this is the diet and the doctors, after spending a ton of your money on all this often-vague and inaccurate testing, will just tell you to go on a gluten free diet and that's that. They're rarely any help in that part of things. For myself, I saw no reason whatsoever to support an inept and clueless medical system with lots of my hard earned $$$.....far more than the $369 I spent at Enterolab, that's for sure. I learned what I wanted to know very easily and cheaply. If you read this board thoroughly, you will find a LOT of people who went the traditional clueless doctor route and spent a LOT of money, time and continued suffering, only to eventually in desperation go to Enterolab to get their answers. By the way, you can bet $$ that your doctor will know nothing about Enterolab. Doctors aren't very cutting edge in most cases. If they haven't personally had experience with a condition, then in their minds it might not exist. Go to www.enterolab.com and do some reading....lots of information there about their testing and ideas about celiac disease.

oaktownboy Newbie
oaktownboy
Posted
  • Author

i have been on the gluten free diet for a couple months now and i keep getting worse and worse. my intestinal problems continue..i have no hope left..that's why i need the test..

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. ShariW
      - ShariW commented on Scott Adams's article in Frequently Asked Questions About Celiac Disease
      4

      What are Celiac Disease Symptoms?

      In addition to gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, I had gastroesophageal reflux that was becoming intolerable despite treatment with PPIs and antacids. When I went gluten-free, the GERD lessened tremendously (as did the other symptoms).
    2. klmgarland
      - klmgarland replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      2

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      Thank you so very much Scott. Just having someone understand my situation is so very helpful. If I have one more family member ask me how my little itchy skin thing is going and can't you just take a pill and it will go away and just a little bit of gluten can't hurt you!!!! I think I will scream!!
    3. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to klmgarland's topic in Dermatitis Herpetiformis
      2

      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      It is difficult to do the detective work of tracking down hidden sources of cross-contamination. The scenarios you described—the kiss, the dish towel, the toaster, the grandbaby's fingers—are all classic ways those with dermatitis herpetiformis might get glutened, and it's a brutal learning curve that the medical world rarely prepares you for. It is difficult to ...
    4. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Jmartes71's topic in Coping with Celiac Disease
      1

      My only proof

      It's very frustrating to be dismissed by medical professionals, especially when you are the one living with the reality of your condition every day. Having to be your own advocate and "fight" for a doctor who will listen is an exhausting burden that no one should have to carry. While that 1998 brochure is a crucial piece of your personal history, it's infuriating...
    5. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Colleen H's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      Methylprednisone treatment for inflammation?

      Methylprednisolone is sometimes prescribed for significant inflammation of the stomach and intestines, particularly for conditions like Crohn's disease, certain types of severe colitis, or autoimmune-related gastrointestinal inflammation. As a corticosteroid, it works by powerfully and quickly suppressing the immune system's inflammatory response. For many...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,908
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    ebrown
    Newest Member
    ebrown
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • klmgarland
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By klmgarland · Posted

      Thank you so very much Scott.  Just having someone understand my situation is so very helpful.  If I have one more family member ask me how my little itchy skin thing is going and can't you just take a pill and it will go away and just a little bit of gluten can't hurt you!!!! I think I will scream!!
    • Scott Adams
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It is difficult to do the detective work of tracking down hidden sources of cross-contamination. The scenarios you described—the kiss, the dish towel, the toaster, the grandbaby's fingers—are all classic ways those with dermatitis herpetiformis might get glutened, and it's a brutal learning curve that the medical world rarely prepares you for. It is difficult to have to deal with such hyper-vigilance. The fact that you have made your entire home environment, from makeup to cleaners, gluten-free is a big achievement, but it's clear the external world and shared spaces remain a minefield. Considering Dapsone is a logical and often necessary step for many with DH to break the cycle of itching and allow the skin to heal while you continue your detective work; it is a powerful tool to give you back your quality of life and sleep. You are not failing; you are fighting an incredibly steep battle. For a more specific direction, connecting with a dedicated celiac support group (online or locally) can be invaluable, as members exchange the most current, real-world tips for avoiding cross-contamination that you simply won't find in a pamphlet. You have already done the hardest part by getting a correct diagnosis. Now, the community can help you navigate the rest. If you have DH you will likely also want to avoid iodine, which is common in seafoods and dairy products, as it can exacerbate symptoms in some people. This article may also be helpful as it offers various ways to relieve the itch:  
    • Scott Adams
      My only proof

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It's very frustrating to be dismissed by medical professionals, especially when you are the one living with the reality of your condition every day. Having to be your own advocate and "fight" for a doctor who will listen is an exhausting burden that no one should have to carry. While that 1998 brochure is a crucial piece of your personal history, it's infuriating that the medical system often requires more contemporary, formal documentation to take a condition seriously. It's a common and deeply unfair situation for those who were diagnosed decades ago, before current record-keeping and testing were standard. You are not alone in this struggle.
    • Scott Adams
      Methylprednisone treatment for inflammation?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Methylprednisolone is sometimes prescribed for significant inflammation of the stomach and intestines, particularly for conditions like Crohn's disease, certain types of severe colitis, or autoimmune-related gastrointestinal inflammation. As a corticosteroid, it works by powerfully and quickly suppressing the immune system's inflammatory response. For many people, it can be very effective at reducing inflammation and providing rapid relief from symptoms like pain, diarrhea, and bleeding, often serving as a short-term "rescue" treatment to bring a severe flare under control. However, experiences can vary, and its effectiveness depends heavily on the specific cause of the inflammation. It's also important to be aware that while it can work well, it comes with potential side effects, especially with longer-term use, so it's typically used for the shortest duration possible under close medical supervision. It's always best to discuss the potential benefits and risks specific to your situation with your gastroenterologist.
    • Scott Adams
      I think I am gluten intolerant

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Based on what you've described, it is absolutely possible you are dealing with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS).  Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If your symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet it would likely signal NCGS.   Your situation is a classic presentation: a negative celiac panel but a clear, recurring pattern of symptoms triggered by gluten. The symptoms you listed—particularly the extreme fatigue, bloating, neurological-psychiatric symptoms like depression and anxiety, and even the skin manifestations like facial flushing—are all well-documented in research on NCGS. It's important to know that you are not alone in experiencing this specific combination of physical and emotional reactions. The only way to know for sure is to commit to a strict, 100% gluten-free diet under the guidance of a doctor or dietitian for a period of several weeks to see if your symptoms significantly improve. It is also crucial to rule out other potential causes, so discussing these symptoms with a gastroenterologist is a very important next step.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.