Deciding to have medical tests - or not

[pinkytoe]

DH has several markers for heart issues and the cardiologist says he should have a stress echocardiogram. We are waiting now for the predetermination from his insurance company. I've been researching about the cost and even with insurance, it can run quite a lot of money out-of-pocket - hundreds to thousands and that amount varies greatly from city to city. Apparently, one is now charged a facility fee and then there's the actual test fee and then the reading of the test so lots of expenses accrue. And many on the web who say that charges showed up that were not explained up front even when they asked for them prior. Really torn on how to proceed because I know that one test very often leads to another and so on. I am beginning to think he would be would do just as well by losing weight, exercising and eating a heart disease reversal diet (vegan) first. We are both just so distrustful of the medical machine. Any advice?

[bae]

He should lose weight, exercise, and join the fire department. I get several free cardio stress tests a year just as part of our routine medical certification. And I get several 12-lead EKGs a month, or more.

Seriously though - do the lifestyle work, *and* the test. Get clarity on the costs worked out upfront, unless of course you want additional stress from that.

[CathyA]

Pinkytoe, what sorts of "markers" does he have? Any pain? Any family history of heart problems? Any other medical conditions?
Stress echoes are a great tool to see the shape of the heart and the thickness of the myocardium, how the valves are functioning, etc.
But if he has no symptoms and no family history, I would say for him to just get healthy.........nutritious food, good exercise, etc.
Oh....and what is his age?

[pinkytoe]

Just turned 60. He has the usual stuff - elevated bp and cholesterol, overweight, sedentary - all things he could correct with diet and exercise. The reason for going to the doc in the first place was some longstanding left arm pain that wouldn't go away - he swears it is from some heavy lifting at work.

[domestic goddess]

Making those lifestyle changes won't hurt him, anyway, and would be a good thing to do, anyway.

[CathyA]

I agree.....get the costs upfront. They might be lower than you think.
Is he on any BP medication? I had an stress echo when I had high blood pressure (going through menopause seemed to do that to me). I didn't want to be on any med. The stress echo showed that I was beginning to develop a thickened septum in response to the high BP.
It was a HUGE motivating factor for me.......to know that my higher BP was hurting my heart. So maybe the test would be an impetus for him to get healthier? (if there's anything funky that shows up). Oh.....I just read about the left arm pain.
Yeah.....I think it would be good for him to have this test. And don't have it at a small town hospital. Have it at a bigger, reputable place.
And I've discovered that lots of medical places will work out a payment plan with you. They usually let you pay it over 6 months, with no interest.

[Tammy]

I tend to follow the most conservative choice of the options given by my doctor when they have recommendations for me. They are the professionals. If I don't trust them, why did I go see them in the first place?

I also do the prevention and healthy things simultaneously. It's both/and, not either/or.

[JaneV2.0]

I tend to follow the most conservative choice of the options given by my doctor when they have recommendations for me. They are the professionals. If I don't trust them, why did I go see them in the first place?

I also do the prevention and healthy things simultaneously. It's both/and, not either/or.

(Bolding mine) Because you're forced to by an insurer or employer?

[Simplemind]

In my husbands case, I wish somebody had been looking under the hood for problems. Would have saved heartbreak and disability.

[CathyA]

It really does depend A LOT on the physician. I've had ones that had absolutely no faith (or ability) in their own clinical judgements and sent me off to have every test in the book.
Now I have one who is exceptional at his clinical assessment skills and gives me great guidance. Pinkytoe, I hope you feel that way about your DH's doc. I'm finding that really good docs are getting rare these days.
I know money is an issue for you, but a stress echo would tell a lot about your DH's heart, and it's a fairly easy test with no radiation.