Breath Testing For GI Conditions

Hello,

I just had the breath test this past Wednesday 12/15. GI called with results two hours later.

yes I have SIBO. GI wants to prescribe xifaxin, but currently on bactrim for uti.

will see GI in Jan and will evaluate need for the super expensive xifaxin at that time.

I had to have the test since insurance will not cover this drug without a SIBO diagnosis.

I had it done years ago for possible lactose intolerance, and it was easy (and helpfully ruled out the condition). These are good, clever procedures.

@New577 about xifaxin. My insurance denied it and expected me to pay almost $4000 for it.  But you said yours was covered after you did the breath test for SIBO?

I apologize for being a little confusing on this.

Florida BCBS requires prior authorization to get this drug filled.

my GI doc will appeal the denial, but felt I needed a positive SIBO test before I would win the appeal and get the authorization needed to fill.  I am in no way predicting the outcome at this point.

@New577 no worries! I'm glad you said something because it's been a month going back and forth with insurance to approve it.  Sucks when the Dr prescribes it but insurance has the last say.

FWIW, doxycycline worked well to treat my SIBO, and it’s inexpensive. The insurance company denials are frustrating as heck, but fighting them is sometimes a long process. The fight is clearly worthwhile if there’s no reasonable alternative, or if you need to be on the drug for years, but sometimes we get sucked into a fight we’d be better off without, especially if it delays care for a troubling problem.