could you clarify why these specific tests were ordered?
Thanks for getting back to me.
Since I'm planning to start birth control pills, my doctor had me run some thrombophilia screenings along with a full hematology panel—especially since I fall into a higher risk category due to a history of early-onset strokes in my family. As it turns out, I am an MTHFR (C677T) and PAI-1 4G/5G heterozygote. Other than a slightly elevated IgM, everything else looks normal—both in terms of the lab results and how I'm actually feeling.
What does it actually mean when IgM anticardiolipin antibodies come back borderline positive? My results were 12 on the first test and 11 on the follow-up—the report notes anything over 10 is considered weakly positive. I have an appointment scheduled with an immunologist in October, but since all my other tests have been perfectly normal, this was really just a random finding.
Magnesium actually helps me quite a bit—I mean, I still find myself reaching for a painkiller now and then, but my migraines are fairly intense. In any case, it’s definitely worth a shot.
rapidorca6 said:Hey, can someone help me out here?
So, I ended a long-term relationship about two months ago, and I’m down to my last few pills. Now I’m stuck wondering if I should just keep going or quit. I was only taking them for birth control because I was in a serious thing, you know? If I stop now, is that actually bad for my body? Maybe I'll start back up again next year, and then it's just this whole cycle... but honestly, I might not even have a new boyfriend anytime soon, and I really don't feel like being on them for no reason.🤷
Taking breaks isn't always great for your system—especially if you skip a few months only to start right back up again. Your body essentially has to go through the adjustment period all over again, which can be a bit much. Ultimately, it comes down to how you look at it. If you think you won't need them for, say, another year, then stopping now might make more sense. But there's the flip side—what if you take a break and then suddenly find yourself needing them again in just a month? In that scenario, it probably would have been better to stay consistent.
I wonder if we ever truly stop seeking validation from people who don't even know our middle names—or perhaps, more accurately, those who only see the polished version of us we present to the world. It’s a curious thing, isn't it? We spend so much energy curating this digital persona—this carefully constructed facade—only to feel a strange sense of emptiness when the "likes" start to dwindle. Are we performing for an audience, or are we merely trying to convince ourselves that we exist? It feels like a quiet, constant cycle—almost meditative in its futility. kaže: Does anyone here feel like these pills have actually impacted their hair quality? I’m curious—has anyone noticed a change, for better or worse? I'm not sure if this is just a coincidence—though I can't help but wonder—but ever since I started taking these pills, my hair has been thinning quite a bit. On top of that, I’ve always had naturally curly hair, but lately, over the last few months, the curls seem to be fading away, leaving it much straighter than usual. 🤷
I’m not entirely sure what the underlying cause might be—so I was wondering, has anyone else experienced this while on medication?
Sure, pills can definitely affect your hair—but honestly, you should be looking to minimize hair loss rather than worrying about anything else. As for whether they change your curl pattern? I couldn't tell you—I'm just not sure. 🤷
melloworca6 said:I think your primary care physician can write the referral—I can't quite recall if mine was my GP or my immunologist, since one set of tests was ordered by my general doctor while another part required a referral from the specialist.
If your primary care doctor isn't able to issue the referral, then either a hematologist or an immunologist should be able to—if you happen to have a follow-up appointment, just ask that specialist to write it right then and there. You usually pick up those orders at the same place where you get your labs done; in my city, that's the main hospital lab. I actually managed to get all my hematology and immunology testing done in a single month there—though I suppose I don't know if other hospitals are organized quite the same way.
Thanks for the reply! I’ve already seen my gynecologist (she was the one who referred me to hematology, which is why everything feels even more confusing right now), and she suggested I reach out to my primary care doctor to handle the next steps, so I'll head there next. Hopefully, the immunologist will be the one providing the necessary referrals moving forward—for all the specific tests and follow-ups he requests—but I suppose I first need to secure the initial referral to see him. And yes, at this hospital, everything is handled in one centralized location; I'm just feeling a bit lost regarding which specialist needs to provide the referral for which specific test.😵
I’ve been thinking quite a bit lately—perhaps too much, if I’m being honest—about how we approach these digital spaces. It’s easy to get swept up in the noise, isn't it? We rush from one topic to the next, looking for that immediate spark of connection or validation, yet we often miss the quieter, more meaningful exchanges happening just beneath the surface. Is there actually value in slowing down? I find myself wondering if we lose a certain level of sincerity when we prioritize speed over substance. There's a specific kind of weight to a well-considered thought—something that lingers long after you've closed the tab—that a quick, reactionary comment simply can't provide. I suppose I'm just searching for a bit more depth in a world that seems increasingly obsessed with the superficial. kaže: I actually had no idea about this—that you could get certain coverage through Medicare, provided you pay the difference if you don't have supplemental insurance? Did I wrap my head around that correctly?
My gynecologist told me that—believe it or not—they’ve started charging for basically every type of birth control pill now. Even stuff like Diane, which used to be covered if you were dealing with specific issues—can you believe they've changed the rules like that? It feels like everything is becoming an out-of-pocket expense lately.
Does anyone happen to have more information regarding those payments? — I've been looking into it, but I feel like I'm missing a few key details. I can't believe she went out of her way to dump those Claire's pieces on me—the ones that actually cost a fortune. $47And, there's always that possibility—could you actually walk away with something for free? Not that I'm surprised by the thought—because I know how those commissions work. In these pharmacies, they track exactly who "recommended" the visit; it all comes down to whose stamp is sitting right there on the prescription...
Does anyone actually know for sure?
It seems like every single tablet comes with an extra charge—regardless of whether you've opted for supplemental insurance or not. Isn't it frustrating when those "hidden" costs pop up right at the finish line? The only thing to consider—and it’s worth noting—is that Medicare will cover a portion of the costs for Logest and Lindynette. You won't be stuck footing the entire bill for them, unlike what happened with Qlaira or Yaz, for instance. So, as lady grenouille pointed out—and she’s likely right here—Logest and Lindynette are the most budget-friendly options available.
I recently visited the hematology department at the Mayo Clinic to follow up on some blood work from September. The hematologist noted on my results that I need to repeat a specific test—specifically for anticardiolipin antibodies—and then take those results to an immunologist. I didn't actually catch that note on the report until later (in the meantime, I had already gone back there to have more blood drawn), and the doctor didn't mention anything about it during our appointment either. Now I'm left wondering: who should I contact to arrange this re-test and get an Administration - Referral for the immunologist? Do I really need to head back to the hematology department just to get them to sort this out and schedule the blood draw?
Samuel Myers98 said:So I called them, just sitting here waiting on a callback. From what I could gather, you aren't supposed to take emergency contraception if you're already on the regular pill, but honestly, I don't even know what else I'm supposed to do at this point... 😢 Plus, I totally blanked on taking my pill during the first week, which means there's a massive chance things went sideways, and my ovaries have been absolutely killing me for three days now—which might be a sign that ovulation actually happened. I haven't slept a wink all night; I seriously cannot believe I forgot about forgetting the pill and everything just hit the fan like this, especially since it's the weekend and there isn't a single gynecologist in the US open to help. 😢
Ovulation shouldn't really be happening that quickly—not under normal circumstances. I remember one instance where I was on antibiotics—I think I was taking them for about two weeks—and I started them at the exact same time as my birth control pills. Because of that, most of the pills in that pack weren't actually "effective," you know? My ovulation didn't end up occurring until about 14 days later—right in the middle of my cycle, to be exact. You only forgot one pill—and honestly, you took it relatively quickly after realizing. Fourteen hours isn't exactly an eternity, so maybe try to just take a breath and settle down—you’re only making the situation worse by spiraling like this.
Samuel Myers98 said:Hey, so quick question—is it actually okay to take emergency contraception if I’m already on birth control pills, specifically Logest 5+5? I totally messed up and missed a pill, and then had unprotected sex during that third day of the week where you're supposed to be using extra protection. Can I even combine them?
I'm really not certain—honestly, I believe taking emergency contraception while you're already on the pill isn't typically recommended. My advice would be to check out Cybermed or look through their resources—though, perhaps it would be best to consult your own gynecologist first, wouldn't it?
Charles Martinez16 said:I wanted to ask you all: is it actually necessary to take a break between packs of contraceptive pills? I’ve been on Brala for about a year and a half now, and when I consulted my doctor, she told me there’s no need to pause. Honestly, that caught me a bit off guard. Since I primarily take them to manage PCOS, the idea of using them continuously for years on end makes me a little nervous.
Does anyone here have experience with this? Is continuous use generally recommended? Should I perhaps seek out a second opinion?
From what I understand—and please keep in mind I'm just sharing my own perspective here—breaks during usage aren't strictly necessary. It sounds like your gynecologist gave you sound advice; in fact, quite a few specialists would likely agree with her. You might want to read this and this. Also, take a look at this.
I’ve been taking magnesium—the effervescent tablets—during this period, and honestly, it has helped quite a bit; I almost never take it otherwise. Usually, the pain is just unbearable—I find myself relying on Advil for those few days (probably way too much, if I'm being honest)—but if I happen to miss a dose, once the cramps really kick in, it takes hours just to dull the edge and feel somewhat human again. I’ve taken a couple of Advils today, but significantly fewer than my usual amount; I actually managed to get through two full days without any painkillers at all, just sticking to the magnesium instead. I can still feel some discomfort, but compared to what I normally deal with, it’s practically nothing.
I need to schedule an appointment with an ENT—my nose has been bleeding way too often lately—but I'm not sure where to go. Which hospital in Washington, D.C. would you recommend?
If I were you, I’d probably go ahead and take a pregnancy test—assuming you haven't already—just because it’s usually the best move in these situations, right? It’s better to be safe before you start a brand-new pack. Beyond that, I don't think there's anything else you need to worry about—you should just keep taking your pills as usual.
Kenneth Brown5 said:The girl above mentioned that instead of Lindynette, they're handing out Logest through Medicare now.🤷
I am... ovdjeI was looking through the supplemental medication list earlier—and I actually found the pricing for both Logest and Lindynette—so I naturally assumed that both are covered by Medicare. However, since Logest is currently the cheaper option, it seems to be prescribed much more frequently. Honestly, I’m a bit lost now—does anyone actually make sense of how these coverage tiers work? 🤷
Kenneth Brown5 said:Well, partially, Medicare covers some of them, though if I recall correctly, it's only about $3.75. Based on that, I figured some of them are basically full price.$12
Your best bet is just asking at a local CVS or Walgreens.🤷
Maybe they started switching from Lindynets to these through insurance just this month, because my doctor told me she'd send over Lindynets once my labs were back, but then she ended up sending Logest instead.
And honestly, she wasn't even prescribing them for any specific treatment since I don't have an official diagnosis yet. I didn't really care either way, I just mentioned that I definitely wasn't interested in taking Yasmine.🙂.
So, what's the current price for Lindynette? Did they go up in price then?
Edit: I found out—Lindynette should still be $11 just like they were before. It looks like only Logest became cheaper.
I was wondering, is it actually okay to just stop taking birth control pills and then start back up again once my period kicks in? So, I basically took an unplanned 20-day break—I was over in Europe for a trip and totally forgot to pack them, and now it’s been about 20 days since my last dose... so I'm thinking about starting fresh once my first period arrives.
Honestly, that isn't exactly the smartest move—it really isn't great for your body's natural rhythm. But at this point, there isn't much else you can do, right? You just have to wait until your cycle starts and then begin taking them again—that's really all there is to it.