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As a public patient, until 15 weeks i'm in GP care.... can i request a scan for no real reason? I just don't feel right and i can't seem to shake the feeling. It may be because i've been so ill but i can't wait 4 more weeks until the 12 week scan, i just want them to have a look and see whats going on. Would this be a valid reason for a referrral?
Ourlux- I am a public patient aswell, my Dr has giving me a scan form but she had to put on it that we need to know how far along I am even though we know cause the gov wont pay for a scan if you just want a scan to put your mind at ease! So you could go down that track or pay for it yourself..maybe talk to your GP.
You might have to pay for the scan if they do a early one. You could always say you have had some bleeding and they should do one to check things are ok.
I don't want to lie about bleeding... but i guess i feel stupid rocking up to the dr saying something doesn't feel right. And i have read somewhere that sometimes you can not feel attached to your pregnancy when something is wrong. Do you know what i mean?
I think its completely legitimate to request a scan - you might find a female doctor more sympathetic. Or you could try going to your local emergency room? You might hafta wait a while, but make sure you stick to your guns about not feeling right - if you've not been well then something might have happened and its better to find out sooner rather than later, because if nothing else, you stressing is gonna hurt the baby!
Good luck hunni!
Just tell them the truth then that you have not been feeling right and feel that something maybe wrong.
I know i had a hard time getting a scan when i was pregnant with Alex and that was after having 2 miscarriages. Some doctors just don't like sending you for scans for no real reason.
The other thing you can say is that you are not sure on your dates and want a dating scan.
Just tell the doc how you feel and you might get lucky. I was sent for a scan after just having a couple of brown spots and it was bulk billed.
What area are you in?? If you're near Perth I'd recommend KEMH, as I've heard great reports about them from friends.
Keep us updated!!! :hug:
I'm booked in to the KEMH birth centre but your first appointment is not until 15 weeks... and i have no direct dealings with the hospital... plus i am too ill to drive that far. I'll have to see my local gp and see what he says.
My Dr said they can give you a referal for a early scan if you just wanna have one but you have to pay for it the Gov wont BUT if your unsure of how far you are, have bleeding, really bad cramps etc its paid by gov!:
Some doctors just don't like sending you for scans for no real reason.
I had 3 "needless" scans with my DD - she was my fourth pregnancy after three losses and I was a nervous wreck. I agree with not lying about bleeding - I always worry I'm tempting fate to do things like that! Like the others have suggested, just explain to your GP that you're really worried and want a scan to put your mind at ease (I don't think you'll be able to get away with not paying for it). Your mental/emotional health is just as important as your physical health.
Having had that "feeling" myself with a pregnancy that turned out not to be right I'm always inclined to encourage women to trust themselves and do whatever they have to to put their mind at ease.
The not knowing is so much worse than actually knowing what you're dealing with kwim? I certainly wouldn't be above a white lie about some bleeding if that's what it took - early bleeding is super common and often no cause is found so there's no way they're going to accuse you of lying even if they scan you and see no obvious cause of any bleeding ;)
I hope you can put your mind at ease, hang in there.
I got a referral for an early scan with pg when I told me Dr. I was really stressed about the viability after my friend had a m/c. If you explain your feelings to your Dr. and say that you are feeling anxious and unure then hopefully they will send you for a scan.
I asked my GP for an early scan at 7 weeks. I just had to pay that's all but it wasn't that expensive. I had a previous micarriage 6 years ago though but was just generally concerned. She had a strong heartbeat of 150bpm too when I saw the little jelly bean on the screen! That made me feel much better leading up to the 12 week mark. Good luck in getting an early one ;)
Thats the thing though, i'm not worried or anxious.... i just feel like something isn't right... and i'm at peace with that, i just want to know. I dunno maybe the hormones are making me nuts.
Fair enough I think, nothing wrong with wanting to know, perfectly natural! As far as I am concerned, there is no issues with requesting an early one, you may just need to pay yourself.
I've been for a couple of scans already, and I'm charged $180 each time, of which only $50 is ever refunded from Medicare (i've had a referral each time). Am I being overcharged? I get the feeling some of the rest of you have been able to have scans with no out of pocket expense?
hi ourlux,
i wanted an early scan, just to see how things are...
my gp said it wasn't nessesary, but i went back and insisted i wanted a refferal.
the excuse i used: i said that as my nuchal scan is booked for 11.5 weeks and its the week before xmas, i wanted a dating scan to confirm my dates. as the nuchal can only be done 11-13wks, i didn't want a situation where i turn up the week b4 xmas, only to be told i was13+ weeks (in which case it'd be too late for a NT scan), or 10 weeks (in which case i'd miss my NT scan because of xmas and NYE!). my gp thinks i'm a lil obsessive on the details, lol but she reffered me.
I had the dating scan last week and found out i was ahead of my dates, but my NT scan can still go ahead as i'll be 12+weeks. :)
maybe you can try the same reason? you just want to be sure of the exact dates ;) ;)
the girls are right though - you will have to pay - it cost me $195!!
Jx
I just don't get the Medicare system at all!
I had a dating scan for which tehy charged me $60.00 which was hugely reasonable I thought, then when I went to Medicare I got $51.00 back...so I was only out of posket $9.00 and for that I got copies of the scans and a dvd...!
Yet others pay a lot of money and seem to be out of pocket...
Ourlux, I think you should do what you feel is right. I don't think the dr will have any problems referring you for a scan if you explain your feelings...
Best of luck
Rachelle
If you have private health insurance - particularly Medibank Private - you may have accrued 'points' based on how long you've been with them. I have 250 points, which means I can use them on some out of pocket health costs, like a scan. Won't pay for ALL of them, but it'll help!
I had a few scans in the first trimester to check various things. Dont feel bad about it because at the end of the day your the one that will bay the $150+ to have it done. I had a 'bad feeling' that something was wrong, had a scan and it was all perfect. Good luck!
Lets us know how you go Ourlux.
sorry to barge in on the thread, but why such a huge cost for the scan? I have had my 8wk scan done at a private ob/fertility specialist and im only charged $45 for it (complete with disc and print out pics) when i reach 19wks and want the 4D one he only charges $95 for this with disc and copies. Hmm seems a huge difference.
I had fortnighly scans at $160 a scan all throu my preg this was all required as I had surgery at 12 weeks to close my cervix. PHI wont pay for scans unless you have been admitted to hospital and the scan was done then, the only thing that may give you alittle grace is that medicare threshold is obtainable. AS for the pricing I dunno depends on each clinic and what they charge over the scheduled fee abit like a specialist.
I'm moving to Melbourne, Australia in February(i will be 5 months) and i would like to know some details about the Medical system there....
Is there a private health sysyem as well as a Gov one?
Do u get a choice in a vaginal birth or C-section?
How many U/S do u get?
Any help would be very much appreciated.. Thanks..
sorry i was trying to get this question on to a new thread....
Our scans with our FS are around $70-$80.
The only other place to get a scan around where I live is at the private imaging place and it is around the $180 mark as well. They don't do videos anymore, and as far as I know, you get one photo.
For me to get a 3d scan done, I would have to drive about 6 hours to get one!
Nic
I also had to pay about $160 for an early dating scan - and I didn't even want it! My GP referred me for it because she didn't believe me when I said I knew my EDD. I think if you want a scan, you should be able to pretty much demand one. If your GP is reluctant to refer you, just say you would like a referral and be very firm. Remember you are paying the GP for their services - you are the customer as well as the patient. You may need to pay for it but the peace of mind is worth it if you are feeling something is not right.
Hopeful83 & Stars - The huge difference in price that we all seem to be paying is because the different clinics are allowed to charge more or less whatever they like - it's not medicare that fluctuates - the medicare rebate is consistent - it is just that the different practices are free to set their own prices. The medicare rebate is $51.
OK- i had the same issues myself.... After having 4 early MC nit sure if it was me just feeling uneasy or just being parranoid but i have had 4 US already. I just went to a different docs and ask for an US referal.
I noticed you almost 9 weeks- Just say that your LM was on this date but you'd like to have the dates confirmed and then you should get a referal no problems. I've also gone back to the different doc for my 12 week scan and had 2 scans done a week appart. I wouldnt reccomend saying you have some bleeding if you dont cos they may suggest an internal US... I also have my 18 week US on the 19th and i want to find out what i am having.... a friend had hers and bubs leggs were closed so i've made 2 booking for that scan aswell just by seeing the different GP....
I'm a big believer in Mothers intuition......if you feel something isnt right then get it checked.... I convinced a friend to get check as she was feeling like something was wrong at 21 weeks...... After having it checked found out that her bubs has cycts on his lungs and now they have caught it early he has a great chance of survival....Not that i want to worry you...I'm sure there isnt anything wrong but as i say to people wouldnt you rather know that everything is ok rather then not get checked and heaven forbid something go wrong.......
Good luck and wich you a H & H Preg