DOCTORSLETMEDOWN

Well I went to my gastro for my yearly check up.
I asked him if I could get the liver / spleen scan with isotopes some sort of nuclear injection that they can see the blood flow through the liver that my wife got from her gastro.
He said there was no reason to get it.
My wife's gastro said it was better than just a liver sonogram.
I asked him if I could get the fibrospect test that gives a liver score of 1,2,3 or 4.
It is suppose to be helpful in getting a good picture of your livers condition.
It's done with a simple blood test & although it's not a biopsy it gives you a pretty good idea of your livers condition.
Again he said biopsy or nothing.
My insurance company said they would pay for these tests if he asked for them & got them pre certified.
He would not even order the test if I paid for it all.
I asked about the arthritis test & told him my wife had it & it came back positive & the cryoglobulinemia test He said why do you want to know ? what difference is it going to make ? what would it change & what would you do about it?
I told him it had been 2 years since my pcr & I knew that viral load supposedly does not mean much unless you are treating but I still wanted to know if it was about the same or if it was higher.
Again he said there is no need it's a waste of money.
He said either treat or don't treat but there was no need for the tests I ask for.
So when do you want to start treatment he says? It's $28,000.00 & there is a 50/50 chance he says.
I say I am geno 1A how many have you treated & how many are SVR & for how long ? he did not answer.
Then he jumps to when are we going to do your colonoscopy ?
I asked about a new test for that that is done with a scan & he says insurance won't pay for it.
Then after arguing my points as to why I wanted what I wanted he agreed to the PCR / viral load, arthitis & cryoglobulinemia & of course all the usual lab work.
I asked about the ammonia test & again was told you don't need it.
He said by my last years lab work he figures I would be a level 1 or 2.
Then says even with a biopsy sometimes it's hard to figure out the level you are at ?
I tell him again that's why I want the fibropspect test & the liver spleen scan to have a better idea.
He wants me to believe that just my basic lab work is enough.
Last he says so when do you want to come back ? 3 months, 6 months, one year or not at all ?
So there you have it.
I am not saying he is right or wrong I just want your input.