Then expect much more pain than you are used to in the GP scheduling.
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@docslotnick my primary care doc is 50 pct cheaper cost wise, and unfortunately for me is my medical gate keeper.
My head spins reading this thread as a Canadian. Ugh. I really can’t imagine dealing with all this type of stuff on top of diabetes.
I’ve had this exact same thing happen to me. Endocrinologist prescribed a beta blocker, allergist said I couldn’t take it. I ended up taking it while I absolutely needed it to stay out of hospital and then stopping as soon as I could, and not taking one on the day I had an allergy shot at the advice of my allergist. I actually sort of forgot about the whole situation until I read your comment… Last year my cardiologist prescribed a (different) beta blocker, and now I’m wondering if it’s maybe the reason I’ve had pretty severe allergic reactions with no known cause. I’ll see if the allergist I’m seeing next week brings it up, and if not, I’ll ask her about it. I hate when conditions and medications conflict like this.
I do have a GP who I see regularly. He’s good for refilling all prescriptions (he actually said he prefers to refill them because then he has an up-to-date list of everything I’m taking), does general health checkup stuff, and he’s the one who reviews all the reports from the specialists and keeps that all coordinated. But both my cardiologist and endocrinologist have also often asked if I have any other prescriptions I want refilled after they refill the ones they’ve prescribed.
I like having a doctor who has a broad overview of my (complicated) health situation as well as specialists who have really in-depth expertise. But, then again, I’m not paying hundreds of dollars for each appointment. 
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@Jen to compound any decisions regarding care or prescriptions, we in the US have to manage copays, coinsurance, and max out of pocket limits/year and lifetime to determine as close as possible our costs. I think the insurance companies think that if they make the system confusing enough that we as consumers won’t be able to actually figure out our share of the cost. 1 other element of the cost share to consider are all the exclusions which vary from plan to plan.
Sound fun? The best is when you meet all the financial requirements early in the calendar year, and the insurance company then has to pay 100% of cost going forward. Seems like a little bit of justice.
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Doncha know? Canadians are “flooding to America” to get all their medical procedures done! ::rolls eyes in sarcasm::
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@Jen FYI, depending on what US based medical plan you have, this may be a plan exclusion and not covered. LOL
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I’ve said it before, but my PCP has written my prescriptions for all my 15 years of diabetes. I could always see an endo if I want, but it has been 10 years since my last endo visit… Haven’t wanted to see one that bad, I guess…
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After finishing grad school, I started my job before Obamacare went into effect - I was so worried that my diabetes would not be covered by my employer’s insurance. Fortunately they actually want people to survive (it’s a pediatric hospital, after all), so I was covered. But this pre-existing condition BS is very upsetting…
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I remember those days. Employer sponsored health plans were one of the few safe places for pre-existing conditions. They looked at the relative health of the group. Much better than buying a plan solo.
Depends on which type of state you lived in really. Most of the states had some state sponsored insurance you could buy. In Oregon I was able to purchase much better insurance from my state because I had been rejected for commercial coverage. It was slightly more expensive than my work plan, but covered everything 100% including all prescriptions with no copay, it was really great insurance. This was discontinued when Obamacare went into effect.
@Chris California had that as well, but it was more of a major medical /catastrophe plan unless you were on Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal covered significantly more for less money but was much harder to qualify for as an adult. I still remember in the late 90s as a late 30s non-smoking male being quoted +2500/month for what would be a Bronze level package today. There would also be 6 month pre-existing exclusions for anything that would cost them that they could identify prior to the policy commencement. I personally am grateful as heck for Obamacare. I would still be uninsured without it.
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Yes, Oregon’s was better than that, I covered my whole family for less than $2500 a month, but that was everything, there was no more out of pocket.
I do too! I wondered about your beta blockers on a different thread but was dealing with life and never managed to reply. I just didn’t take them. (Planned to see if they helped headaches and anxiety.)
Totally!
But don’t forget to add, once you’ve mastered the copay and deductible and out of pocket and out of network stuff - it might just be different next year! So don’t plan on remembering the stuff and reusing it! Because the numbers will all be different.
Mid-rant-y phone call with hospital on Wednesday about incorrect medical bills I realized “oooops I have a deductible this year!” I never had one before (we just pay an arm and a leg upfront.) The bill was still wacky. And if you go to the ER the hospital and doctor and radiologist all bill separately!
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Boy howdy! Truer words were never spoken. Add to that formulary changes, prior authorizations, and potential PBM changes and where do you start?
Still, I’m down to play the game and “win” every year if possible.
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The time I tried stopping on my own I ended up in emergency. So I’ll see what my allergist thinks and talk to my catdiologist and go from there.
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They help with both IMHO. Extremely helpful in fact on both.
Unfortunately they also made me spacey so I went back to an ace inhibitor.
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Oh yes, I don’t suggest not taking them especially for a heart condition. I never started them, so I was told to just not start them. I didn’t prefer the alternative option given (a heavy duty anti-seizure medicine).
Yes! Talk to your allergist! That’s wise. 
Fascinating!
I’m sorry they made you spacey. I’m generally spacey so I shouldn’t look forward to more of the same - it might be too much. 
Did you find the ace inhibitor to be of help with either headaches or anxiety? I believe the ace inhibitors are supposed to have some prophylactic kidney effects as well?
Prescriptions in most states are ONLY good for 1yr from date written, BY LAW!
NPH or ‘N’ as it is called now, & regular, aka ‘R’ are over the counter, NO Rx needed, and about $25/vial at Wal-Mart, While not the greatest, D- management is possible w/o starving in the rain.
VETERANS; I know most type-1s are not. I was Dx in 1979, (horsepitalized a few days in DKA) in my early 30s. Things got so EXPENSIVE for me, I made a deal with a VA Dr. If she would Rx my insulins, I would manage my Diabetes. The VA co-pay was about $8/month pre medication.
I ended up service connected for my Multiple Sclerosis, such that I ended up getting ALL my Dr visits and medications FREE!
For me, the VA has been a very mixed bag of good, bad and yes UGLY.
I do not get all my medical care thru the VA. I have Medicare & BCBS Medi-gap.
I have a multitude of medical issues. (with 3 major co-morbidities, autoimmune trifecta?) Type-1b diabetes, RRMS*, Addison’s*, Vitiligo*, Psoriasis*, RHD*, Afib & more; (*= autoimmune)
I am also a cancer ('82, 10% chance of surviving 12 months) )survivor against the odds.
PS another option I have used is a WALK-IN clinic. (even for diabetes Rx needs)
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I have high-ish sort of blood pressure and I get terrible migraines. I can control my anxiety without medication.
I tried the beta blockers for blood pressure and migraines. They worked for both + I had less social anxiety which is an awesome side effect.
The ace inhibitors help the blood pressure, and I have been told the “protect your kidneys”. They do nothing for migraines or anxiety.
For migraines I just use triptans (I get an aura with migraines so that is when I take them) - They take the edge off and stop me from throwing up but I still an non-functional with pain with headaches. The good news is I usually only get 4-6 a year so it is not a huge deal but it is a pain in the butt.
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