Guest guest Posted October 24, 2003 Report Share Posted October 24, 2003 Hi Jean, I also have no health insurance, so perhaps my years of success with Graves' can once again be useful to someone. I believe the cheapest first step for this person will be http://www.healthcheckusa.com/resultinfo.html . She needs the test bundle ( my phrase) that includes TSH , FT4 and FT3. This may seem like a lot of tests, but it is less expensive than going through a doctor and only having the TSH run. THAT could possibly only lead to more unanswered questions. Once she has the results of the lab work, which will only take a couple of days, and results are available online, she can then know if she needs to proceed . The doctor will be able to use these lab results ... in hand during the visit ! - to quickly proceed with beginning treatment. No wasted office visit guessing... then paying THAT bill for NOTHING. To the unknowing this plan will cause fears of self diagnosis leading to great pitfalls. Yes, it is a beginning of self diagnosis, but the other choices can lead to great financial hardship, and possibly no answers. This lab 'bundle' costs $87. Same tests at the doctors office will be very close to $300, plus the $70 to $150 cost of the office visit. My doctor has never had any trouble with my doing things this way because he understands the costs folks like us are up against. He would rather have all these results in hand, that try to guess blindly. In the past, I worked with FT4 only and that worked at the time, but I was already in the middle of treatment, which is a completely different situation. -Pam L- 3 1/2 years Graves', TED, and PTU. Remission since Jan. 28th. 2002 ! Key: SLOW reduction of PTU (despite an incompetent endo ! ), eight hour dosing, improved lifestyle, REAL food/ no processed pre-made food, herbs, and looking at the big picture. Triggers are: MSG/any 'flavorings', glutamates ,aspartame, pesticides,high iodine foods. _____________________________________________________ Pills alone only help the symptoms. We must help our bodies to heal. _____________________________________________________ * " What a long, strange, trip it's been " ...Jerry .... Peace* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.