UPDATE ON Still waiting on test results | Arthritis Information

 

Well I am still waiting on the test results of the ct scan and the mri. I am still smelling cigarette smoke and having awful headaches in the evening. They put me on a strong anitbiotic"just in case it is an infection" but all that is doing is making the joints ache and making it hard to move at times. I just feel at times like I am going out of my little mind because nobody has figured out what is going on. I have been trying to keep busy and working on various projects to keep my mind off of it. Sometimes it works sometimes it don't. Right now the smell is so bad I fell like it is burning my throat. Oh well I guess I am just going to have to wait. I apoligise for being pissy and for not being around but between getting my business going and feeling like I am going out of my mind I haven't been good company. Everyone take care and hoepfully I will find out soon what is going on. meme Yikes- that must be horrible. So sorry it continues. When are results due? Prayers going up that it's nothing serious and easily taken care of.Meme, I sure hope you get the results soon.  One of the things you can try is aromatherapy.  Look around and see if there's an aromatherapist in your area and see about having a blending done.  It might help.   LindySo sorry for all you're going through, Meme. I hope they get to the bottom of the issue and come up with a solution very soon.


Janis it is good to see you on the board. I for one miss seeing you here. I have been sick all night and feeling real rough today, I feel like crawling back in bed but got too much to do. Smell is still here and headache is already starting. AHH WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO START THE WEEK NOT!!!!! meme, that is outrageous!  I can't believe they wouldn't at least let you make payments.  I am so sorry you are suffering with this and having to deal with bureacratic garbage on top of it.

Meme, I'm speechless - almost.  I can't believe the clinic won't work with you.  Do as Suzanne said and try and convince your insurance company and contact carecredit.  You need the testing to rule out other medical issues.  Your referring doctor may have to write a letter of medical necessity to the insurance company with your appeal.  Why did your insurance refuse to pay?  Take it easy this evening.  Lindywhat about a second opinion? Meme, don't give up.  Fight for yourself and your health.  Use the great suggestions you've gotten here and give them hell.  This is not acceptable.  appeal the insurance decsions.  More than 75% of appeals are won on the first round.  The problem is most people give up at the first denial.  They demial may be something as simple as an incorrect diagnostic codeWell I already been on the phone with the insurance company for the first round of fighting. I was accused of using my health insurance too much and I basically asked the lady what cheap drugs was she on which did not make her happy with me. I asked her if she has even bothered to look at my medical records and see what my health issues are and why I must see a rd and a dr on a regular basis. She told me that just because I have arthritis doesn't mean I need to "abuse" the system. I immediately demanded her supervisor, I talked to the supervisor and asked if they ever did any training with their people on how to be civil, I told this supervisor what their service person said to me and I am sure the converstion was recorded from the beginning, too. I told them that this could be considered harrassment by them to me, I explained to the supervisor that I have several debilitating diseases and to trivialise my situation because I am using my health insurance to take care of myself, we pay our premiums and we should have to right to use it. I am suppose to talk to another rep from the insurance sometime today and see if there is anything that can be done. I will let you know what goes on. memeI just can't imagine going through anything like this...having to fight to have proper health care??  Sure makes me thankful I live where I do.  So sorry you're having to deal with this, Meme.Meme; I was just thinking about you this morning. I was going to email you and check up on you. I'm sorry to hear things aren't any better and I'm horrified at the treatment you are receiving from the Insurance Company. Oh my! I can't believe that rep talked to you like that! It's just keeps getting better and better doesn't it? You don't feel good and then you have to fight to get the kind of help you need. It just doesn't seem fair!I've heard of and read about some pretty hateful insurance/client situations but this one comes in at the top.  No one in the industry has a right to tell you that you use the insurance too much.  Is this a self funded plan?  My next call would be to the insurance commissioner's office.  Every state has an ins. comm. and they are the watch dogs for insurance in their states.  I'd follow that up with a letter to the commissioner.   If you don't receive the health treatment due to insurance then I would also write and call my Senator's office.  They love stories like this, especially in today's health insurance climate.  I'd fight this to the bitter end.  It's inexcusable.  LindySounds about like the b!tch I had to deal with when my husband dared to go into cardiac arrest without precertifying and then to top it all off he went to an out-of-network hospital (as if he had a choice...).  The claim was initially denied.  This dumb b!tch (who was actually a nurse, by the way... she should have KNOWN better!) was the coldest nastiest person I've dealt with in many years.  Here I was, 8 months pregnant, trying to sort out my husband's medical bills from his 8-day stay in the ICU after his massive heart attack, and I get this b!tch.

Needless to say I raised a fair amount of hell, including storming the corporate office when I was 9 months pregnant and big as a house.

Everything was resolved promptly after that, and we received quite a few apologies (and even a very expensive fruit basket).

I have to agree with Lindy on this. That rep should not be doing the job with the attitude she has! At the very least, she should be reprimanded. I hope you get this all straightened out and get the tests covered. Outrageous!!!

deb

Yeah, for fruit baskets.  Sometimes you have to meet them in person.  It's much harder to keep denying when you have a face, or as in Jas's situation, a body to go with the claim.  Insurance companys don't want to see people's faces, they dislike it greatly when you show up in their corporate offices.  They like to keep everyone a number and faceless.  Lindy [QUOTE=LinB]Yeah, for fruit baskets.  Sometimes you have to meet them in person.  It's much harder to keep denying when you have a face, or as in Jas's situation, a body to go with the claim.  Insurance companys don't want to see people's faces, they dislike it greatly when you show up in their corporate offices.  They like to keep everyone a number and faceless.  Lindy[/QUOTE]

I should clarify - I stormed the corporate offices of my husband's employer.  They are self-insured, and they contract out the administration of the insurance to a major US provider.  After I showed up, big as a house (I think they were afraid the baby was going to be born right there!) and raising 10 kinds of hell, there were quite a few cages rattled over at the insurance/HR liason.
Jas, it's even more effective if they're self-insured.  Corporate hates it more than the ins. cos.  Sometimes they leave you with no alternative and that's when I say go for it.  Good for you.  Lindy LinB2008-07-01 11:20:32My dr called them and basically told them if they don't help some how with some kind of discount for the tests and help us out he is getting his lawyer involved. He are seeing if I can go to the University hospital and if they can do some of the testing for free. They are as baffled there as the drs here as to what is going on. Something is causing my problems but it is not showing up on the scans they did here. There is some kind of ENT specialist at the Universty and a nueroligist there too that would like me to come down so I guess I will be going down there for awhile. They said beacause my case is somewhat unique and it would be good practice for their drs they will help out with covering some of my testing so we will see what will happpen. I am waiting for the rest of what is going to go on if I go down there. I won't be able to go till after the beginning of the month, because they have some meetings to go to, I told them I have had this this long(the strange smell) I guess I can go a little longer. I will let you know more when I know more everyone. Thank you and xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo memeGood luck! Keep us posted!Meme, I'm thoughts are with you and I hope that the Uni. docs can figure it out.  Keep us posted on how you're doing.  I know you have PsA, do you have RA also?  Lindy

Meme, best of luck.  My worst experience was the first rheumatologist refused to test me, saying I was making everything up for drugs and needed to see a psychiatrist.  This was in the notes I picked up four more agonizing years later when I get referred to rheumatology for the second time.  My husband was in the room with him and I.  He never that to us face to face, its only in my chart notes.

meme, that sounds like fairly good news.  I hope you get some answers soon.meme - What a terrible ordeal. Thank goodness your doctor has stepped up to help you out. I truly hope you get some resolution and relief.


How are you doing today, Meme?  Any better?  Hugs and prayers to you!  Have you considered googling your strange and terrible condition? It only took one try to discover this:

http://www.ehealthforum.com/health/topic31962.html

It has 8 pages of people suffering from the same condition, as well as quite a lot of possibilities and remedies to try.
Hope it clears up soon.

One possible cause:
MN-Mike

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 10
As Promised.....the Cure For Smelling Smoke?
Posted: 08-11-06 01:56am     
As promised.....This is only my opinion but it worked for me.

For years I have done work for environmental agencies with epa rules and regs for hazardous waste and municipal waste, or sludge. I have fought to keep the spreading of sewage sludge (disguised as fertilizer) off of the farm fields, highway right-of-ways, medians, city parks and property, and out of commercial bags of fertilizer sold as "organic fertilizer" but no, if you live in america you are exposed to this in one way or another. It is mixed with potent levels of chemicals, hormones (from pee pee that contain medications), and mutated viruses, fungus, bacteria, and mold. I have seen some scary data of the effects on wildlife, pets, and yes...People.

The cause of this smoke smell? It is my opinion that this is a mutated form of fungus/mold that people can usually fight off without a problem but since it is genetically mutated, it has been able to attack and survive in some people that have been unfortunate enough to have gotten it lodged in their sinuses. It is not actually smoke but the sensation of smoke when it irritates the nerves.

I have tried every anti-biotic/anti-viral available with prednesone, irrigation, even potent doses of cipro with no cure.

Here is what I did. I bought a pack of allergy pills and a bottle of nasal spray at wal-mart. I emptied the spray bottle and mixed 1 tbls of warm water with 1 - 100 mg pill of the anti-fungal medicine fluconazole. Since the pill didn't entirely dissolve, I had to open the end of the spray bottle a little with a common sewing pin. I sprayed just a little bit in each nostril and waited to see if any negative effects occured. After a few hours or so, all seemed ok, so I sprayed 3 good sprays in each nostril and did not inhale. I took two of the generic allergy pills and went to bed. I woke up for the first time in months with a clear smell, open sinuses and no smoke smell !

I sprayed once a day for a week with a new solution and I have been 100% great since that first night.

I would recommend you all ask your Dr. To prescribe fluconazole and see how it works. Don't take the anti-fungal drug nizoral (ketaconazole), it is way too potent and could cause liver damage or failure.

I don't recommend doing what I did...I'm goofy and was a willing guinea pig looking for a cure........go to your Dr. and ask for the anti-fungal fluconazole, hopefully if taken orally it will work for you as it did for me :) .

I'll write back in a month to let you all know if it stays away but, I am pretty confident that this is the cause and cure.

Mn mike

meme... what an ordeal you've been through with this odor.... I'm glad the University will help w/ the testing... Moxy, your story and website is so interesting!  I printed it to show to my Doc.
Thanks!
Meme, thinking good thoughts and hoping you find a cure.
Meme, your doctor seems like a wonderful human being! Thank God for people like him, who are willing to go to bat for you.
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