Syncope
 

I had a tilt table test yesterday to check if my neuropathy is effecting my autonomic nerve system. I have been getting light headed when I stand up. It seemed like a rather benign test as you just stand there. I got really hot and sweaty and then passed out. That was not fun. The cardiologist who did the test said he didn't think it was a PN problem because my heart rate went up, I just wasn't getting enough blood to my brain. Of course this light headiness didn't start until after the PN had set in. I drink a fair amount of fluid already. Most is caffeinated so I need to reduce that but I'm not convinced that PN has nothing to do with it. I see the neurologist who ordered the test again in a couple weeks so I'll see what she has to say about that.

And then there is insurance - evidently a tilt table test with a Dx of Polyneuropathy is not medically necessary, so they won't pay for it. It is only medically necessary if the Dx is Syncope. I believe that syncope, caused by PN, is what we were testing for. I'll see if I can get the doc to change the Dx for the test and resubmit and maybe they will pay for it.

They need to change that diagnosis to syncope, which very simply means fainting....geez. They should pay it. I have autonomic neuropathy, or dysautonomia or whatever, and it is due to the PN.

But this is an insurance company and they have hoops one must jump through or no coverage...sigh

Learning to play their game can be quite frustrating.
I absolutely HATE to be made to jump thru hoops!
Eventually you can come out ahead .... if you are patient.
(no pun intended)

Eventually none of us will be able to jump thru their hoops. Their reason to exist is profit, not altruism.

And if you need a liver transplant, they know very well that there's a limit to how patient you can be.

I asked the neuro who ordered the tilt table test to have it re-submitted with a different Dx. Originally she used Polyneuropathy. She changed it to Autonomic neuropathy and insurance paid. It was a $1,600 dollar test that now I owe $112 on so that is good.

Yeah--
 

--annoying and wacky how changing the name/coding of the diagnosis can make such a big difference to insurance, isn't it?

Especially as autonomic neuropathy is just a subset of polyneuropathy . . .

yep really annoying