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Six Proverbs to Help You Get a Discount from your Doctor
1 The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Speak up – you’ll never get a discount if you don’t ask. Explain your financial situation and ask if the doctor is willing to take a little less, or allow monthly payments. Then stick to your word and comply with the agreement.
2 A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Every time a doctor has to bill a patient it costs time and money. Ask for a billing discount if you pay in full at the time of your visit. It may only be $5 to $10, but that’s enough for a meal.
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If you looked at this picture, what would you say?
Probably, oh, that must be the ‘purple pill.’
Although this isn’t the ‘purple pill’ we’ve all seen on commercials, it does look similar to
Nexium, a great drug when used properly. Nexium and the other PPIs (
proton pump inhibitors –
Prilosec, omeprazole,
Prevacid, Aciphex, Dexilant, Protonix) dramatically decrease the amount of stomach acid the body produces, thereby allowing
stomach ulcers and esophageal irritations to heal. Since three of these have gone generic, and two are available over-the-counter, the cost barrier to their use has greatly diminished.
Since they work so well for heartburn and other symptoms of stomach acid disease, why not use them all the time? There’s no harm, is there?
Continue reading →
Posted in Acid reflux disease, Acid-lowering drugs, Aciphex - rabeprazole, Duodenal ulcers, GERD, GERD, GERD meds, H2-blockers, New generics, Nexium - esomeprazole, PPIs, Prevacid - lansoprazole, Prilosec - omeprazole, Protonix - pantoprazole, Purple pill, Stomach problems, Stomach ulcers, Ulcer
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Tagged acid reflux, Acid-lowering drugs, Cancer, Conditions and Diseases, Digestive Disorders, Esomeprazole, Esophagus, GERD, Health, Heartburn, Omeprazole, Peptic ulcer, Proton-pump inhibitor
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Paying for medication can be depressing, especially payng for brand-name antidepressants.
But those of you waiting for generic Effexor XR are in luck – finally! Recently the product has become available in generic form. (The immediate-release venlafaxine has been available in generic for some time now.)
Current retail pricing for generic Effexor XR is only $10 less ($140 for 30 capsules of 150 mg. versus $150 for name brand), but this will change. For patients with high co-pays on non-generic medications, this should lower your cost immediately. For self-pay patients, expect the cost to decrease further with time.
When Effexor first came out, it was available only as immediate-release venlafaxine, which is still available (also generic) and costs less than the extended-release form for an equivalent dose. Continue reading →
A large number of patients with ankle sprains are repeat customers.
Usually these injuries occur on the outer aspect of the ankle as the foot rolls inward. Although this sometimes occurs just walking, more commonly it happens during more vigorous exercise.
Ankle sprains are divided into first, second, and third degree injuries. The picture below likely represents a second degree sprain, where the tendon is partially torn, causing bleeding. The blood often sinks toward the foot, causing a bruised appearance along the lateral heel.
My own son has sprained his ankle half a dozen times, usually playing basketball. Sometimes he takes my advice to wear his ankle brace while playing. He has never injured his ankle when he chose to wear the support. Teens and young adults don’t realize that a serious ankle sprain can plague them for years, sometimes decades. Continue reading →
If you think you’ve been bitten by a spider, but didn’t see the spider bite you, the bug-bite lesion you’ve attributed to a spider is more likely a MRSA infection.
MRSA is methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, a germ that commonly infects the skin and occasionally infects the heart, lungs, blood, and bones.
If you’re young and healthy and have a good immune system, you may decide to give an alleged spider bite a day or two to go away. Draw a circle around the border of the lesion with a ballpoint pen, so you’ll know for sure if it’s enlarging. If it is, see your doctor.
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Posted in Antibiotics, Penicillin, amoxicillin, cephalexin, ciprofloxacin, doxycyline, trimethoprim-sulfa
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Tagged Bacterial, Infection, Infectious disease, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Skin infection, Spider bite, Staphylococcal
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Just what is an Empowered Patient?
Being a patient is scary. You want to trust your doctor, and yet . . .
- you’ve heard of patients getting the wrong medicine.
- you know of someone who died unexpectedly.
- you don’t understand your diagnosis but are afraid to ask questions.
Above all else, an empowered patient is one not afraid to speak up and advocate for himself. In her recently released book, The Empowered Patient, Elizabeth Cohen, Senior Medical Correspondent at CNN, explains how anyone can become one. Continue reading →
Say you have a bad back. Yesterday I gave you $4,000. Enjoy!
Today I’ll focus on saving money on medications that are used for back pain. There are other modalities which we’ll discuss another time (e.g. exercise, weight loss).
Classes of medications that are commonly used to treat back pain include: anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxers, pain medications, and topical treatments.
Of the anti-inflammatory drugs, there’s the non-steroidal group (NSAIDs) and the steroidal group. The NSAIDs work well, and can be used chronically or as needed.
The most common side-effect is stomach irritation. Continue reading →
Posted in Acid-lowering drugs, Advil - see ibuprofen, Also see NSAIDs, Also see muscle relaxers, Arthritis, Aspirin, Back pain, Celecoxib - Celebrex, Dexamethasone, Diclofenac, Flector patch, Ibuprofen, Indomethacin - Indocin, Kenalog, Medrol dose pak, Meloxicam, Methylprednisolone, Motrin - see ibuprofen, Muscle relaxers, NSAIDs, Pain relievers, Patient assistance programs, Piroxicam, Prednisone, Steroids - corticosteroids, Together Rx Access, Voltaren gel, acetaminophen, tramadol
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Tagged back pain, Celecoxib, Cleveland Clinic, Diclofenac, Health, Michael Roizen, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, NSAID, Pharmacy, Wal-Mart
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Say you have a bad back. And say I give you $4,000.
What do you want to do?
Your back really bothers you. You’ve missed a week of work. Most days you take a few ibuprofen. Sometimes the pain goes down your leg.
Your doctor suggests an MRI.
Do you take that $4,000 to the hospital, get the MRI, and learn how badly your back has deteriorated? Continue reading →
Posted in Back pain, MRI, Medical testing, See medical testing, X-rays, X-rays
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Tagged American Academy of Family Physicians, cost, Medical testing, MRI, Physician, x-ray
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Heartburn. Also known as acid reflux, GERD, acid indigestion. By now all the talk of healthcare reform has probably given you a case of it.
Are you one of the estimated 10% of Americans who suffer from acid reflux disease? There wouldn’t be so many commercials on the “Purple Pill” if there weren’t millions of you out there.
Heartburn is the most common symptom of acid reflux disease. However, it is not the only symptom. Some people experience chest pain, or abdominal pain. Others complain of cough or sour taste in their mouths. A few have wheezing, hoarseness, nausea, or regurgitation.
How can a person save money on heartburn?
Continue reading →
Posted in Acid reflux disease, Acid-lowering drugs, Aciphex - rabeprazole, Axid, Duodenal ulcers, GERD, GERD, GERD meds, H2-blockers, Heartburn (GERD), Nexium - esomeprazole, PPIs, Pepcid, Prevacid - lansoprazole, Prilosec - omeprazole, Protonix - pantoprazole, Purple pill, See acid-lowering meds, Stomach problems, Stomach ulcers, Tagamet - cimetidine, Zantac
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Tagged Conditions and Diseases, Digestive Disorders, Esomeprazole, Esophagus, Gastroesophageal reflux disease, Heartburn, Omeprazole
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Skin cancer screening – is it for everyone?
Listen live with Dr. Koelker and Gary Pozsik on Health, Wealth, and Happiness at www.wgcv.net
1:30 to 1:45 pm EST
Thursday, October 7, 2010
It’s that time of year again – time for the annual flu shot.
Don’t think you’re a candidate? Think again.
As of 2010, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommends that everyone aged six months and older receive a flu shot. Although last year’s H1N1 influenza pandemic seems to have calmed down, many young adults remain susceptible. Those aged 19 to 49 who contract this strain of influenza are at greater risk of complications than with most flu viruses, even among healthy individuals. Continue reading →
Posted in Immunization, Influenza, Influenza (flu), Influenza infection, Vaccines
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Tagged Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Conditions and Diseases, Flu season, Health, Infectious Diseases, Influenza, Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, Influenza vaccine
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