sherbert

My doctor banged on and on and about me having cholesterol tests and I totally refused. She shut up in the end. She tried to force me to have the flu shot too. Nope, not interested. Neurologist tried to make me do sleep deprivation tests for my migraines. I don't think so sonny jim. Anyway, you can simply say no to anything because you are the one going to be paying the bloody large bill.

Have the same problem wit the vet. I couldn't get heartworm medication for the beast without them doing a blood test to check whether he already had caught it or not. I asked why they had to stab my poor puppy and drain him. The vet said 'because the OLD medication we used used to be dangerous for the dogs if he was already infected. With the new medication it's not a problem". So, I said, it actually doesn't matter if he is already infected, just give me the pills and away we go. The vet nodded dolefully and said 'I still need to do a blood test.'. I bet you bloody do because you can charge me 170 bucks for it. Then they tried to take my dog away to do the blood test because it's less stressful for the dog. Oh no, I said, you do that right in front of me please. I suspect they simply don't do the blood test and pocket the money.

Anyway I digress. Just be armed and ready to question and trust your instincts and say no if you think they are suggesting pointless stuff.

petitefrancaise

I am totally in agreement with making informed decisions with your doctor's help. They have spent 12+ years training and believe it or not, they actually do know more than most of us about their subject. I also believe that they are led down a particular path of being prescribers to heal too.

The flu jab though, well that's a no-brainer. I'd rather spend the $20 and increase my chances of not getting flu and also contribute to the 80% level so that some poor old person doesn't die of it.

Vets. Don't ever get your prescriptions filled there unless you have absolutely no choice. Ask for the prescription and go to walmart. 20% of the price for antibiotics there compared to the vets.

Pulaski

I agree, with some limitations - for example, statins have become very fashionable, and are very cheap, but potentially some horrible liver and periferal nervous system side effects*, and when there is a very poor correlation between blood cholesterol and heart disease, I have almost no interest in taking a statin purely as a preventative.

* A neighbour who has no medical training, nor is a graduate (he is a millwright technician) worked out for himself, with no encouragement from me (he only told me afterwards), that the statin he had been taking was causing periferal nerve damage. He declined an alternative statin, as he had worked out for himself, they all have potentially dangerous side effects.

petitefrancaise

They have been pretty widely discredited as a preventive measure. The BMJ recently published pretty damning evidence showing that increase in life expectancy was 4 DAYS! IIRC when using statins. I doubt any doctor will be prescribing now unless a very, very clear reason is shown.

Peter Attia writes at length about cholesterol. He's a real doctor! And over on medscape there is a cardiac specialist who keeps everyone up to date.

If you are concerned about having a "cardiac event"n then Peter Attia's latest article on artherosclerosis is very interesting indeed, as are the comments after it. look for eating academy.

Pulaski

I saw reports of that study* and I would hope you are right, but it took more than twenty years after my university studies for the advice on cholesterol and statins to catch up with what my very knowledgeable lecturers were teaching when I was at university. I spent much of the intervening time wondering why public health officials and many/most GPs were unaware of the information I had been lectured on.

I fear that the many years in between, has created a huge cohort of doctors who are "pro statin" and that it will take another 30-40 years for them to retire out of the system. Last year my GP floated the idea of me going on a statin, despite my blood cholesterol being within the normal range.

* Several years ago I read of an analysis that estimated that for every sixty people prescribed a statin, only one! would benefit from it, meaning a reduced risk of heart disease and/or blocked arteries. I think I read more recently that that might be an overestimate and that it might be no more than one person in 100.

sir_eccles

Flu shot should be free.

Will the Affordable Care Act cover my flu shot? | HHS.gov

sherbert

Sure, but they also make significant amounts of money on referrals and prescriptions so I go in to every meeting armed and ready to have a debate about why something is necessary.


I couldn't get the original prescription WITHOUT the blood test and yes, I go to Costco for the meds (I was buying it online from Canada but that route does not seem to be possible anymore).

Pulaski

Goodrx.com gives you the comparative prices in your area for the drugs you have been prescribed.

sherbert

This was for the dog.

petitefrancaise

yes, goodrx works on all medications if they come from a pharmacy.

mrken30

My health provider uses castlight to give rx and doctor costs

scrubbedexpat099

My County avoided the problem, no Surgery, no Doctor, we do have a part time Nurse Practitioner.

Downton Gabby

Regarding heartworm testing, have you been giving Heartgard or the equivalent consistently every month since the last heartworm test? If not, it is important to have the test, because even if giving the medication if the dog is infected won't harm him/her, not getting treatment for heartworm disease will lead to the dog's death.

And where in the world do the vets charge $170 for a heartworm test?

sherbert

The dog hadn't had a heartworm tablet for over a year (very bad of me) and the test was clear and he's been getting his pills every month since then. That's the price in the bay area and that wasn't even the most expensive quote I got.

scrubbedexpat099

Costco?