🙂 Haha, you guys actually cheered me up. I was starting to think I was the only one feeling this way 😳 ...just kidding, obviously 😬 Anyway, I don't know—I feel like it’s mostly down to an individual's character and how they were raised—you know, their mindset and psyche—so that’s why I leaned toward psychology. If you look at it from a psychological perspective, whether someone decides to attack another person for no reason really comes down to the individual... I mean, I agree that a huge number of factors have driven social tolerance down to zero, and people have become terrible in that regard due to all sorts of internal struggles, but we all have our problems, and it doesn't mean we all lash out...
To give a specific example, my last walk with my dog really brought this home for me
I was walking and just thinking about my own issues (that brutal exam 😳 😬 ) and my dog—who is honestly so sweet she wouldn't hurt a fly and has never snapped at anyone or anything—was just strolling along. She stopped ahead of me to wait, but then some guy bypassed me and ended up right in front of her. He just turned around and started yelling at me for no reason at all, telling me to leash her, saying this and that—I was just in shock. No one had done anything to him, and I even told him she wasn't going to hurt him and suggested he just walk around if he was worried so I could keep moving, but he just kept screaming... completely irrational But there are jerks like that everywhere, I'm used to it... it just hit me hard because in that same situation, I would have just walked around the dog and kept going (especially since the road is wide enough for a semi-truck, and my dog was just on the edge, so he really just had to stop behind her—it was like he was looking for a fight 😕 )... I don't know... I'm feeling pretty down about it. I'm not worried about myself, per se, but what if someone like that just hits my dog out of nowhere tomorrow? (And they've actually tried that before!) Or what if they attack a child and leave them in shock? I don't know... I'm just scared of how intolerant society has become 👎
Where did that old-school tolerance go? It feels like people have become incredibly intolerant lately, ready to snap at anyone for no reason. My personal philosophy has always been pretty simple: "let you live, and let me live." I try to be understanding and patient with everyone; I’m naturally respectful and don't go looking for trouble with people without a good reason (that's just how I was raised)... But lately, I feel like I'm being attacked over the smallest things—totally benign, everyday stuff like walking my dog, grabbing groceries at Target, or just riding the bus or driving my car. It comes out of nowhere. What is happening? Where is this sudden intolerance coming from, and why are people so quick to lash out at others for nothing? Honestly, it’s getting pretty depressing. Given how I view the world, I struggle to wrap my head around it—why are people acting this way, and why does it seem to be getting worse?
coppernomad7 said:well... I went through that too. I just had a follow-up appointment with my OBGYN today to discuss my prolactin levels, and she sent me back for a third nuclear scan. She still didn't mention anything about needing it to be on a specific day of my cycle.
Anyway, I know this isn't really the topic, and I don't want to start a whole new thread (though maybe I should), but I wanted to mention something. Since I've been on Diane for three months now, I was hoping she’d switch me back to Yasmin because it feels a bit easier on me... but she told me that recently, two girls from a town near San Francisco had serious health issues caused specifically by Yasmin—one even ended up with an embolism. So, she suggested I just stick with Diane if it's working for me. Just a heads-up for anyone taking Yasmin (and I know there are some here since I just found out about it on this forum). I don't know if it was a bad batch or some kind of manufacturing error, but whatever happened, it's pretty scary to hear.
I guess I'm not sure. Your doctor probably knows best, though. It seems like she isn't checking your FSH & LH levels, which makes sense if you're already on birth control—you wouldn't have natural levels to measure, or at least they'd be totally skewed. And honestly, all these different pills have such varying hormone concentrations... I suspect they all carry some risk of blood clots. It probably just depends on how your body reacts, especially your blood chemistry. That's why doctors usually advise against pills if you have circulatory issues or things like varicose veins. Maybe those women were in that category and just decided to take them on their own... I don't know.
PS: Ladies, I'm just talking here—if I get anything wrong, please don't hold it against me. I'm just sharing what I know based on my professional background and general medical knowledge. It might be right, or it might be off, but we do use stimulation to help with ovulation. 😉 😬 🤣 Besides, I love badgering my doctor just as much as you do; it can drive a person crazy. I'll just keep sharing whatever I know. 🙂
coppernomad7 said:It’s a bit all over the place. I don't think it's quite that simple, but you really do need to know where you are in your cycle. (And obviously, your doctor needs to know which phase you were in when they checked your hormones.) Basically, when you get your results, if you see your levels on the left and the standard ranges on the right, those ranges are usually broken down by specific cycle phases. So, I guess you just look for the value that matches your current phase to find your baseline.
At least, that’s how my lab reports looked, and neither of my doctors actually told me specifically when I should go in.
I suppose you can test any time if it isn't an emergency; it's pretty easy enough to adjust the math. But some hormones are only at their baseline for about three to five days, so it might be easier to catch if they're elevated during that window. Honestly, nobody wants to deal with the headache of recalculating everything, and some tests are just more reliable that way. Every hormone fluctuates throughout the cycle—they aren't constant. They rise and fall naturally. It just depends on what you're trying to catch and when. Your OB-GYN probably knows best what they want to see. I had to go during that three-to-five-day window myself. I think it was for FSH, LH, and androgens, though I'm not entirely sure.
darkpuma5 said:The results came in on January 3rd. 🙂 Just as I was finally recovering from New Year's Day. 🙂 I have about ten different things they're testing besides prolactin, and honestly, I can't even read them.
Just relax. It feels like every second or third girl I know deals with PCOS or some kind of hormonal issue, and they all live totally normal lives. What is there to be afraid of? It’s better to face the problem head-on so you actually know how to handle it. 😁
I know—I just need a few days before I really face the reality of it all.. Actually, this might be a good thing since I've been trying to live a healthier lifestyle and now I actually know what's going on with me. I'm not afraid of any diagnosis—I'd much rather know the truth and deal with it—but I think I still need a little time to vent before I adjust to this new normal. 😉 😬 🙂 I have about 10 to 12 hormone levels being tracked myself—I've looked into everything—mostly just variations in the specific hormones responsible for various symptoms. Some are androgenic, some are estrogen-based, and I have thyroid issues too...
I think you can basically do this any time of year. I’m certain about dentists and OB-GYNs, though I haven't checked on general practitioners—but I assume the process is pretty much the same. You just visit a new doctor, ask if they're accepting new patients, fill out some paperwork, and I guess they either transfer your records internally or you just bring them over from your previous physician. That's how the system works, 🙂
I think you can switch anytime throughout the year. I’m pretty sure it works that way for dentists and OB-GYNs, and while I haven't checked specifically for primary care, I assume the process is basically the same. You just find a new doctor, ask if they're accepting new patients, fill out some paperwork, and then either they transfer your records or you just bring them over from your previous physician. That's how the system usually works 🙂
darkpuma5 said:I finally made it to the clinic with a huge stack of hormone tests on my referral, including prolactin.
They had me sitting there for half an hour just trying to calm down and breathe deeply to manage the spikes. After waiting 15 minutes, they actually called me over just to pay my co-pay, which was $42! I think my reaction was basically, "ARE YOU SERIOUS???" AAAAA!
Then, instead of letting me move forward, they told me I had to sit and calm down for ANOTHER thirty minutes. 😢 Maybe I did come across as a bit agitated.🤣
Just a heads-up for anyone who doesn't have insurance coverage—bring plenty of cash with you.😉
Seriously? I'm a student, so my co-pay is just $11... I didn't end up paying anything at all... The same thing happened to me; they made me wait, and I was stuck there for almost an hour. 😬 My OB-GYN said it’s because of the prolactin levels. You have to stay relaxed so things can stabilize. 🙄 And they're giving you the results in a month too? I'm already getting nervous. Especially after finding out I have PCOS—I feel like I'm doomed. 😲
Lisa Barrett22 said:I’m feeling that same kind of tension too... I can't quite put my finger on it. It's been there all day. I wouldn't say I'm sad or anything, but there's this tightness in my chest. Man, I feel like an old lady constantly running back to the doctor.🤣
I hear you... I'm only a few years older than you, so I guess our whole generation—well, they say a generation is about a five-year span—is basically just hitting up doctors left and right. It's rough, honestly. We're starting to feel like those elderly retirees. I haven't been going for years, but since I'm still finishing up law school, I know I'll eventually move and get married and have to switch doctors, records, and paperwork entirely. So, I figured I'd just go get a full checkup now just to be safe... and look at that. It’s exactly that—this internal feeling where things just don't feel settled. Just some restlessness or tension, something strange. It isn't sadness or anything specific, just a weird sensation. Maybe that's why.
Lisa Barrett22 said:My sex hormones are all over the place right now, and I honestly have no clue about my thyroid. It looks like I'll be finding out pretty soon, though. I feel like I'm losing my mind.😠
I've always had low blood pressure, but it’s been acting really weird these last few years... I'm not sure what's going on, but I definitely need to get to my doctor ASAP!
Oh man... you should probably get that thyroid checked out. Other hormones can definitely throw things out of whack, especially if insulin levels are wonky—they seem to be linked somehow... I actually went to see my doctor mainly because of my thyroid (I found out one of the lobes was slightly enlarged), and they ended up finding this other issue... but I won't know exactly what's happening until the hormone results come back. I get those strange feelings sometimes, too. It's not like my heart is racing or anything, I just feel inexplicably nervous, like there's this constant internal tension. Maybe it's just timing, I guess. I deal with low blood pressure too.😬
Maybe this might be connected to what we were discussing over in that other thread... I was doing some digging and found some info suggesting there could be a link to the kidneys, especially since she’s dealing with those specific symptoms you mentioned. It mostly seems to come down to some hormonal imbalances... Could it be blood pressure?
Thanks everyone—I went through this today, so if anyone needs a heads-up to avoid getting lost like I did: At St. Jude, they produce very few hormones, and at Petrov, maybe a bit more, but I don't think they handle thyroid stuff—over at Rebro, they do EVERYTHING... so, to make sure you don't get sent to the wrong specialist right away, I’d suggest asking to be referred specifically to Rebro. Honestly, some doctors don't seem to know who handles what (trust me on this!), so it's probably better to double-check yourselves... For progesterone, you need to have your blood drawn on day 22 of your cycle, while other specialized hormones are done around days 3-5. Hospital labs usually start running around 7:30 AM, so if you want to wrap things up early, you might want to head in a little sooner. You'll need to be fasting, and they told me I’d likely have to sit in the waiting room for about half an hour... The testing at Rebro happens in the green building. Use the second entrance (the one near the ambulance bay) and go straight toward the green building—if I remember correctly, it says polyclinic on it and has stairs on both sides leading inside. Once you're in, go through the doors on the left and down to the basement. That's where the reception for blood work and the labs are located. Just hand over your referral and insurance card at the counter and wait... Endocrinology results can take about a month to come back. They send one copy to your house and give you one copy there. I had my thyroid checked too, but I didn't need to go to the internal medicine lab (I guess they just send those directly). If you only need thyroid tests, you might have to go to a different building. Anyway, I figured I'd share since I spent half an hour wandering around aimlessly today, and the staff at the info desk were being a bit vague (they just said "the green building around the corner," but at Rebro, there seems to be a green building around every corner)😬 Also, if you have insurance coverage or a waiver for co-pays, these tests shouldn't cost you anything...🙂
Mark Long2 said:I’m honestly shocked by how much nepotism it takes just to land the specialty you actually want.
Look, if there isn't funding, there aren't specialties. If there aren't specialties, we don't get specialists. That means fewer clinics, less equipment, fewer surgeries performed every month, and fewer technicians. Wait times go up, and getting quality care becomes a real struggle.
Meanwhile, we just keep pouring money into the military and throwing ourselves at NATO.
Exactly. The healthcare system is basically in a coma right now, and it's becoming harder to ignore. Things will only get worse unless something is done—though I doubt we'll see any real, meaningful action anytime soon.
It seems like medicine is becoming one of the least desirable paths. The dean of the medical school recently expressed serious concerns because interest in the field is plummeting, and fewer and fewer young people are choosing this career path... There was even a recent article in the papers about how being a doctor is one of the most thankless jobs in the US right now. 😬
I honestly can't make out his handwriting at all, but from what I can gather, there are about five or six follicles and some intestinal stuff mentioned... It’s just a routine hormone checkup (for now). Everything looks normal, which is actually what scares me—what if they miss something? I might just be a closet hypochondriac, I guess. 🤣 Maybe I'll just give him a nudge tomorrow and see what happens. I think I can settle everything regarding the rib in one go (he didn't mention anything about needing to wait 22 days, so maybe I don't even have to worry about that)... anyway, I'll deal with him tomorrow.😠