What are we paying for? Take 3

Since about a week after my return from Oz in January I've had issues with digestion. Sometimes intermittent, sometimes consistent--but most always inferring with my sleep. I contacted our health insurance (BUPA--a company out of the UK) and was pre-approved for a "full health screening." This included a LONG list of things, most of which I did. I walked into Intermed hospital on a Friday afternoon to see if I could schedule a few things for the next day so that I wouldn't have to miss work. Shockingly I was scheduled for most everything on my list and was sent home with the prep for a colonoscopy (my first). 

On Saturday I had a gastroscopy AND a colonoscopy with sedation. I had labs taken--both urine and blood. I returned a week later for the well woman exam and to have a chest Xray. I'd already visited in January and had an ECG done (Normal!). All my tests came back normal. My scopes showed no ulcers or polyps, though the doctor did note some "mild erosions" in my stomach and diagnosed me with gastritis and prescribed three weeks of a medication twice a day. I'm wrapping that up today. 

All in all, I had the following procedures done: blood and urine tests to check liver and kidney functions; pap smear; chest X-ray; gastroscopy & colonoscopy w/sedation; and met with at least 3 different specialist doctors. I met with these doctors the day of my initial appointment, or the following week when test results were available. I did not have to schedule an appointment--rather I walked in on Saturday at 10 am and asked to see a doctor about my results and within 30 minutes I was sitting at his desk. I walked across the foyer and purchased my meds at the pharmacy located inside the hospital before departing. I had my chest X-ray as well as all test results in hard copy and in my possession. I was pleased with the doctors care and attention to my questions. 

I paid in tugrik for what totaled about $280. There were a couple items on the full health screening which I did not do (lung function test, and my last mammogram was less than a year ago) and I added the gastroscopy--it was not on the approved list but I felt it was important to do. I submitted my claim to BUPA and was reimbursed the $400 maximum benefit for a full health screening with that "service" checked off my benefits for this year. Now when does Insurance every seem to go in one's FAVOR? And without a fight of some sort? 

All that said, everything showed normal and I am still battling the same issue. I have deduced that it is either dietary or environmental toxin (OR BOTH) in nature. Tomorrow I will begin an 11 day detox to get my digestive system back to a healthy baseline and then I will begin to re-introduce foods to see if I can find the culprit(s). Unfortunately there is no way to escape most of my environmental toxins that surround me--from the air to the water. It is spring break and my spring cleaning begins tomorrow--April 1--for both my body and my home. I'm excited to see the transformation! 

I do also want to pause and thank my amazing sister, Fawn, for sharing her expertise and training in health & wellness to help me troubleshoot the issue at hand and for giving me the information and support to do what comes next. You can find her online via Facebook at Walking Naked Truth or on her Blog of the same name. She resides and works out of Boise, ID, so if you are in the area I hope you'll check out all of the incredible work she is doing around health and wellness in regards to ALL aspects of ourselves--Health, emotional, interpersonal, and so forth. Thanks, Sis!