The hospitals and providers and just as responsible

for this health care mess we have.

I am just beginning to get a slew of bills and explanations of benefits for my thyroid tests, and comparing what has been paid to what I have to pay.

My test are Free T4, TSH, Free and Total T3.

When I needed tests between doctor visits, I was going to a nearby hospital that is 15 minutes away. I did this because it is 60 miles one way to my doctor. I thought I would save the gas and not kill an entire day by doing the labs closer to home.

The hospital is charging me a little over $800.00 for these tests. My insurance pays all but $46.22. They have paid without complaining.

When the SAME FRICKING TESTS are done at my doctor's office, by the lab at the hospital next door, the labs cost $180.00 and the doctor visit costs $195.00. I pay a little over $5.00 out of pocket.

Now that I have had the radioactive iodine treatment, I won't need as many tests. But I am going to make the longer drive. This is outrageous.

while the lab charged you for a single thyroid panel.

I'll also bet you that your insurance company didn't fall for that shit.

Maybe not as often, but after Radioactive Iodine treatment, many people become hYPOthyroid and then you get a whole 'nother set of issues. Good luck to you! Thyroid disease in any form is a health care nightmare in today's health care system.

But, as far as cost, I agree with the first poster.. bundled, unbundled... those costs are still staggering.

It is awful.

Every time they change my meds, the symptoms come back. I hope we can find the right meds at the right dosage soon. I have days when I can do nothing.

I went through so many ups and downs with doctors. I ended up having to get a doctor who would ignore my TSH and medicate me by the Free T3 and Free T4. Before that, every time I went to the doctor, they would increase or decrease and I was constantly on a roller coaster.

I also had to switch from a T4 only product (Levoxyl, Synthroid, levothyroxine) and start taking a T4/T3 combo. That has been the best for me.

My PA tells me I don't need anything else. So consider yourself lucky that you've got a doctor who will order the full panel. And maybe raise hell with the hospital, or write an LTTE exposing this practice. My rep, DeFazio, wants all of these charges to be more transparent so that the public can monitor when charges are out of line. That might be a good idea.