My LINX journal

Hi shrtcak81,

Are you having your studies and hopefully the Linx at USC Keck, like gerd_hater?
Who would be doing the surgery? (if you don't mind me asking)

Best wishes,

Gastricman

P.S. Be sure that your Nasal Septum is equal or the insertion of the Manometry and Ph probe could be very painful. If your Septum is deviated, have it inserted on the wider side if at all possible.

Hi PF and GH,

Yes, JPT's thread is quite helpful and comprehensive - certainly a great resource!

Here is the link for those who wish to read it - takes a bit of time, but worth it.

Perhaps it should be required reading, LOL.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=2405176

Thanks,

Gastricman

Post Edited (Gastricman) : 2/7/2013 6:43:20 AM (GMT-7)

and BEACHGIRL ... I know she has had some troubles with LINX and lots of troubles with the insurance part :(

Hi shrtcak81,

I hope you had the chance to read my previous post in this thread about the insertion issues.

I tend to disagree about doing this on PPI's or other gastric meds, as the Ph/Impedence ideally should be measured "raw." I hope that it does not have to be done again, off the meds, to get true readings.

However, someone here brought up an interesting question...

If you are off PPI's/Meds for 2 weeks prior to the 24hr Ph/Impendence, is the test measuring a true level
of acid reflux, or is it measuring Gastric Rebound from going off the PPI?

I have a great source that I can check with on this and will post my answer, as soon as possible.

Hang tight.

Gastricman

I had the bravo test on ppi. My GI was so happy to show me that the ppi is working and and that I'm crazy. My test showed only two episodes of reflux, even though I was in pain both days.

So what is the problem then, if that is not acid reflux, why we are still in pain despite the ppi?

that was I was thinking also, but I tried many antidepressants and I felt worse on them
who know, I tried to decrease my ppi and I felt worse, so its definitely reflux, zantac doesn't do anything for me
my throat burns when I take that instead of half of my ppi

I wonder how long you have to be diagnosed with gerd/lpr to be able to get the LINX procedure, do you know? and if you have Barretts or an imflamed esophagus can you have the procedure? I see where a new doctor in Chicago is now doing the LINX....less than two hours from me! Dr. Paul Taiganides is 5 hours....I would make the 5 if I knew I would be all better and didn't have to worry about gerd/lpr any longer! Is Dr. Paul Taiganides a GI doctor, surgeon or both?

I really do believe the pH Bravo test needs to be done without PPI's. I think if you guys had them done on PPI and it shows you didn't have issues, okay great so CURRENTLY it appears medicine is working. PPI's are not meant to be taken over 3 years or something like that. They are SHORT TERM. The fact it shows they are "working" and you guys are still having symptoms should set off an alarm to the doctors that something isn't right and they obviously aren't working that well! I swear it seems so many doctors are drug pushers :(

gigglesalc25 - Dr. Taiganides did do the endoscopy and was there for the pH Bravo test. Another woman (very nice lady - I actually wrote a letter because of how great she was) did the manometry. I've had GREAT success so far with LINX. I'm sure part of it has to do with the surgeon implanting it.

He is a surgeon but specializes in Heartburn/GERD. He has extensive knowledge on how everything works and then some. He has been more knowledgeable than my two GI doctors here in Cincinnati. I'd highly recommend Dr. Taig. I keep saying I love him just because of how nice and personable he is and LINX has changed my life. He started doing LINX in the trials and back in December had performed over 40 of them... I know on Jan 15 I was the 2nd LINX of the day. So mathematically he's been doing a lot of them and is the best in the country. How many LINX total have been implanted in the states? Around 500 I think? So he's done a great amount!

THE BILL & INSURANCE COVERAGE
I just checked www.myuhc.com to see if there were any updates and FINALLY there were! It looks like United Healthcare covered everything according to my plan. Here's the break down:

Total Amount Billed: $24,940.93
Plan Discounts: $5,821.74
UHC Plan Paid: $17,072.28
Total amount you owe to the providers: $2,046.91

I think I can deal with that! Add that onto all my 9 tests from before the surgery and I'm at about $3,000 out of pocket. It still STINGS since I don't exactly have $3,000 to just pay things off but $3,000 to not have heartburn again? DEAL!!!

Under "Type of Service" for the surgery it just says "OP MISC. SERVICES" So I assume that's the LINX part? The other part of the bill just says "Type of Service" "SURGERY".

Needless to say I'm about $400 shy of meeting my deductible for the year...

(I'm also going to edit my first post in here and add this to the end)

Oh I had thought they were qualified and then had surgery and after that it wasn't paid? Let me go read that thread

Hi NDL and others,

FWIW... I have UHC PPO.

The surgeon/hospital must clearly state in a formal letter to your insurance carrier exactly what CPT and ICD medical codes are going to be submitted for all your surgical and hospital services. It is important to get a formal copy of UHC's (or other carriers) response by snail mail for your medical and financial records.

The above should be submitted by the hospital's medical biller in charge of your Surgeon.

This way, you *know* what will and will not be covered.

Never assume with any insurance carrier that all costs will be covered from the original consultation to follow-up, less your in-network or out-of-network deductible.

I know from personal experience and have not *yet* been burnt.

Best,

Gastricman

Hi NDL,

I believe that it is because UHC still considers this, to my chagrin, to be an experimental procedure.
Here are the Linx codes given to me by Dr. Lipham's admin-biller at USC-KECK a couple of months ago...

ICD DX - 530.81
CPT - 43289 - Unlisted Laparoscopic Esophageal Procedure.

Which do you have?

Gastricman

NDL,

You have to make sure. That code could cover a thousand different things, I would think.
I do know that the Nissen Fundoplication is totally covered with a unique code.

Get all of this in writing with the exact surgery explicitly stated.
BTW, why do you have a $3000 out-of-pocket cost?

Gastricman