*This post was written in 2013 with everything recreated from my forum posts, Facebook updates and written notes I had from doctor’s visits.

See the previous posts in this series – first symptoms, Doctor #1 and Doctor #2

Are you beginning to see a pattern here with how many doctors I’m visiting? 🙂 Fortunately, this one was the one who finally gave me my diagnosis but it would still be weeks before I got to that point.

Checking Out The New Doctor

After my last doctor’s visit with doctor #2, I started researching this new integrative medicine doctor. I wasn’t entirely sure what that even meant but was all for anyone who could figure out what was going on. She was actually board certified in internal medicine but her interests were in integrative medicine.

I called my insurance company to inquire about possible coverage of this doctor. I was told she’s not covered and I would have to pay out of pocket. However, I could use my out of network benefits, submit the claim and they would cover 50%. Any labs or tests, as long as it was through an approved lab, would be covered as normal. So I was thinking that wasn’t so bad – I mean how much could a doctor’s appointment cost?!

LOL! Famous last words….

I called the office to make an appointment. They couldn’t give me an exact cost as it depended on the amount of time spent with me. But it could be anywhere from $135 to $400. I struggled with that decision but finally decided my health was well worth $200 (50% of the possible maximum of $400) and scheduled the appointment.

At the same time, I found out about another doctor who treats “weird thyroid” patients who was covered but I couldn’t get a new patient appointment with him until January 2013. I scheduled it as my back-up (and was utterly amazed I was going to have to wait four months – this MD was internal medicine, so not even a specialist!).

My First Appointment with an Integrative Doctor

So I show up in this new age office in the second week of October completely not knowing what to expect. I was nervous, to say the least, and not completely sure I bought into this “integrative medicine” practice.

It smelled of weird herbs when I walked in and the waiting room was relatively empty of other patients. I signed in and was quickly called over for some sort of scan they do on your hand to find out how your body absorbs minerals. I immediately questioned my judgement (again) but figured I was too far in now, so I may as well just go with it. The scan showed I was low (I seriously doubt it ever shows otherwise) and then I was called back to an exam room.

I had my printed list of symptoms and history, blood tests results, radiologist report from the ultrasound and a huge packet of research I had printed off. I figured if I was paying this much, we were going over EVERYTHING.

I started having issues with UTIs back in 2000 and later with kidney stones in 2002. Because of that, I was on a LOT of Cipro and Levaquin. This was “very interesting” to this new doctor and she thought it could be part of my issue with something called fluoroquinolone toxicity. Yeah, try to say that three times fast! If I’m being honest, at this point, I was thinking am I really paying hundreds of dollars to see this quack – what am I doing? But I sat there listening. Knowing what I know now, I feel bad now for ever even thinking these thoughts.

Ultimately, she did agree that I was most likely hypothyroid and she also suspected adrenal fatigue. She was also concerned about how my body was processing and absorbing different vitamins and minerals (from food and supplements) so she wanted to run some additional tests for that. She couldn’t be certain yet about what was going on but she really thought that the hypothyroidism and possible adrenal fatigue were reactions of something else going on, not the primary condition(s).

She was writing out orders for blood tests when she looked up at me and said, “You said all of this started quite suddenly, correct?” I responded yes and she looked back down at the list of blood tests. Then she shook her head and said “No, I’m going to wait on that. If these tests all come back normal, I may test you for Lyme Disease.”

That was the first time anyone had mentioned that. And even in my research online, I hadn’t come across it. I’m not an outdoors person AT ALL so I thought she was crazy (again!). There was no way I was going to have Lyme Disease. It was going to be my thyroid and that was that.

I went back to have my labs drawn and she brought me several supplements that she just happened to sell that she said I needed to try. One big thing (which I do believe…now) is that she said I needed a new multivitamin. I was taking Centrum at the time and she said it’s notorious for not being absorbed. I did buy two of the supplements and declined the rest.

When I went to check out, I nearly died. My bill was $993. This included the visit, the blood tests she ordered (not covered), the saliva test I was to do at home and the two supplements. I reluctantly pulled out my credit card – there wasn’t much else to do at that point – it’s not like I could ask for my blood back! And braced myself for having to recount the story to my husband.

He was not pleased initially but came around to the same conclusion I did ultimately which was if it allowed me to get better, it was worth it. I was further surprised when I turned in the claim to my insurance company and they covered 50% all right – 50% of their allowable charges. Of the $993, I received a check for $72. Gee, thanks.

But that was nothing compared to what I was facing, unbeknownst to me at the time. I had no idea how cheap I would end up thinking $993 was later down the road. And I ended up becoming incredibly thankful for the insurance company who I thought was screwing me over with this bill.

Find out about my results from appointment #3 here.