no insurance?

Thepandawanda · 10-21-2007, 09:53 AM

i was wondering if anyone out is in the same boat as i am. i have no insurance, and i am having a hard time trying to deal with my PCOS. i have been dieting and exercising, but i know its not enough. i've been to the free clinic, but clearly they do not know what they are talking about. and i am getting fustrated.

help! any advice!!!!

p.s i was on metformin and it didnt work. i guess that means i am IR? . should i go on birthcontrol?

Betwixt · 10-21-2007, 10:00 AM

Well, a big thing would be not just to diet, but to go on a low GI diet. That should help cover a lot of areas. The other thing to do, is try some BCP, imo. That's what my gyn r. started before sending me to my GP dr. I'd also try some vitamins and exercise into the mix.

I'm terrified of being without insurance, so I feel ya. Is there any way you can afford private health insurance? Or find a doctor who will let you pay on a sliding scale?

Navi · 10-21-2007, 10:04 AM

Metformin is used to treat IR. So if you were on it and it didn't work, there may be other underlying issues.

BCPs are a wonderful tool but if you choose to use them, read up on everything, and it can take a while to find the right one.

Try the alternative treatments forum for other ideas!

bec415 · 10-21-2007, 11:35 AM

Is there any way you can get insurance? I know how frustrating it is, I'm paying mine out of pocket every month because my job won't pay it or even contribute. But you really need to see a good endo. No one here can guess what type of treatment you need, it depends on your hormone imbalance, what your symptoms are etc.

Jeannemrm · 10-21-2007, 01:42 PM

I'm in the same boat..I'm still trying to get a proper diagnosis, though I'm pretty sure I fall into the PCOS boat. Also went to a public clinic....and they definitely don't know what they are doing.....told me my hormone tests were normal, they are not....took OGTT 3hr and told me that since it didn't exceed 140, there was no sign of IR, but the curve indicates reactive hypoglycemia which does indicate IR but they won't look at that..just the 'numbers'. Am so frustrated! I'm a jewelry designer/silversmith trying to get a business off the ground while raising two rugrats on my own, and don't have insurance. Am going to talk to a woman I know who sells health insurance and see what she can offer...but am afraid I'll have to have such a high deductible that it won't make much dif.

Jeanne

JosieFB · 10-21-2007, 04:28 PM

I'd be interested to know what you mean by Met didn't work. You didn't lose weight? You didn't get your period? Met is really a long term solution in combo with diet and exercise. It doesn't always work immediately. There are other drugs that help with insulin resistance, but if Met didn't help you, I'm not sure they would either.

The most expensive part of PCOS for the non-insured is the bloodwork and tests. If you've already had those done and have a diagnosis of PCOS, then your PCOS can be treated at an affordable cost. Your next highest cost will be doctor's visits which will run between $50 - $150 per visit. You could discuss that with the doctor and find out how much they charge and how often the doctor wants to do follow-up bloodwork. Walmart, Target and some other pharmacies offer Met for $5 for a 30 days supplies. Spiro (to treat hair problems) is an old inexpensive drug. I'd say your most expensive drug would be BCP if you choose to take them. Most health insurance will not pay for infertility treatments, so you wouldn't be gaining anything to have insurance there.

Once you know those things, you can self-insure. Put money into a savings account regularly as if you were paying insurance premiums and you'll have what you need to pay the doctor and labs.