Reged: 08/06/04
Posts: 4381
Loc: Within stray mortar fire of DC
When I went in, they accepted insurance for the bloodwork, but you're right, aside from the lab, the fibro center won't bill insurance for you. You can bill them, though, and the people in my clinic who have insurance say theirs pays for up to 80% of treatments.
Their model is that fibro patients test in the "normal" range. The thing is, sometimes these normal scales go from like 7 to 500. So for a test like that, the ideal range would be closer to 253. But what if you test at 499? That's still "normal" based on the range (so a regular doctor would just sign off on it), but in a fibro patient they want you more in the "ideal" range instead of the "normal" range.
The closer I get to "ideal," the better I'm feeling.
They have supplements (i know, more pills ) they want you to take, and they have IV treatments, which have been a lifesaver for me. Insurance will cover most of the cost of the IV treatments, but you do have to pay out of pocket first.
I should mention, each clinic offers free seminars on fibro. I am told that if you go to a seminar (1 hour, I think) they will give you a coupon for a % off either your meds or your first visit. It might be worth going to hear the doctor talk to take advantage of the offer.
The upside is the care. It is what keeps me coming back. They really know what they're talking about and they're INTERESTED in you. When I get my IV treatments, I talk with the other patients at the clinic, and it is almost exactly like the boards. Everybody's story has the same undercurrent.
If I could go with you to your first appointment, I'd be there to hold your hand. Mel is putting hers on her credit card, and I'm tapping my mother for cash to go.I'm just considering it an investment, because without it I wasn't getting any better.
At least I know I'm not crazy for having all these seemingly unrelated, awful symptoms. And all the normal test results.
Posts
Good step!
) they want you to take, and they have IV treatments, which have been a lifesaver for me. Insurance will cover most of the cost of the IV treatments, but you do have to pay out of pocket first. 
