Posts by Maria Perez46

It feels like every big club is just playing a giant game of musical chairs with talent lately. Does anyone else think these massive transfer sagas are becoming more about leverage than actually improving the squad?

silentwolf232 said:I used King Bakery for my dessert table. If you want, I can DM you some photos. We had their cake too, and everyone loved both. I even used them again for the baby's cake later on. They're great, honestly.

Please do send those photos. I'm also curious about the approximate pricing if you remember. 👍 I was actually planning to stop by there sometime this week!

I need some advice before I lose my mind 😵
The wedding is on June 27th—we have almost everything sorted, but I am struggling with a massive decision regarding the desserts.
It’s being held in Savannah, and my mother-in-law is handling all the cookies for the tables since she does this professionally 😉
Now... since the cake selection here in Kansas City isn't great, I’ve been planning to order the wedding cake from Washington, D.C.
However... given how everything has come together—the dress, the suit, and the whole fairy-tale vibe at our outdoor venue—I've suddenly become obsessed with the idea of having a dessert station 🤦😵Just something off to the side. I think it would fit the theme perfectly without feeling overdone... maybe some lanterns, little candles, colorful candies, muffins, and mini mousse cups (okay, maybe I'm overthinking it 🤦).
Does anyone know a bakery in Washington, D.C. that does high-quality catering and beautiful displays?
Mack was my top choice, but they charge per piece, so it might be too much for my budget.
Amelia? Slatka priča?

On my wedding tasting days (well, my fiancé tasted them because I'm on a diet 🎉), I tried treats from King Bakery in Napa. They seemed like a solid option since they aren't too far from Kansas City, but I haven't actually seen their stuff at a wedding before. 🍿

The problem is, I am incredibly picky about sweets. I don't want to make a mistake, even though the dessert station is just an extra touch. I'm not even sure how much I should order since we already have the cookies...
A bride gone wild. 🤔🤔

I need to settle this quickly and would truly appreciate your expertise.
🐔

Thomas Scott5 said:Thanks for the link. Personally, though, that look seems a bit too heavy for me.

Thanks to everyone who sent me links and numbers via DM. 🙂

Yeah, the makeup is pretty intense. Personally, I've never been a fan of that style, so I pushed for a more natural look... and it turned out great. Honestly, I was serving as a maid of honor, so I didn't get to pick the artist myself, but I know they get a lot of praise around the Savannah/Castel area. 🤷 Anyway, no problem at all. Good luck with your search. 🙂

Thomas Scott5 said:I am digging through everything I can find, but I’m getting nowhere:
1. Does anyone have phone numbers or website links for these makeup artists: Lucy Smith, Antonia Guice, or Nancy Gamulin? I managed to track down all the other girls you guys recommended online.

2. Has anyone seen photos or links to work done by that florist, "Cvitak," from that small town in California? Or even just some feedback on them?

3. Any hair stylist recommendations for the San Francisco Bay Area? I haven't been able to find anything mentioned online. Ideally, I need someone willing to travel to my place to do the hair. Even if they don't do house calls, please just give me some names or contact info so I can Google them—I'm honestly about to lose my mind. 🙂 I've never had such a hard time with hair, but now I desperately need someone who can nail a wedding hairstyle. 🙂
:stresnaentu:

Thomas Scott5😉, unfortunately, I don't have contact info for those specific ladies. However, I know a makeup artist named Gloria works around the Savannah/Castel area (https://www.facebook.com/glorija.spl...ation=timeline). She did my makeup for a wedding once and I was genuinely happy with the results. I'm not sure if she's already been mentioned in this thread... 😉

Is it a bad move to have all the desserts made by Amelia and then just coordinate with them to handle our own transport down to Savannah?
I can't seem to find a single bakery in Savannah that fits what I'm looking for, so I'm weighing this option...
It's a small wedding, though—maybe 50 people tops.
If anyone has any recommendations for the Savannah area, please let me know. 🙂

I’m looking for some help interpreting my hepatitis panel results.
Since my liver enzymes were slightly elevated—nothing major, just a minor uptick—I went to a private lab to get checked out.

Here are the results: HBsAg neg
Anti-HBs pos 18 IU/L
Anti-HAV neg
Anti-HCV neg

Just for context, I received the Hepatitis B vaccine back in high school.

Thanks in advance...

I'm looking for recommendations for a solid dentist in Washington, D.C., who accepts Medicare. 🙂 Ideally somewhere near the downtown area.

😁 Thanks!

Thank God, I don't smoke—well, I haven't for quite some time now—and I am not on oral contraceptives. I appreciate the response. 😁

So,

After months of bouncing between specialists and endless lab tests, I finally got a diagnosis at an immunology clinic at Mayo Clinic today: Antiphospholipid Syndrome.

I don't (technically) have Lupus, so my prescribed treatment is just 100mg of Aspirin daily for the next three months before my follow-up...

The muscle pain in my legs is intense, and standing up has become a real struggle.

It all started when I had circulation issues in my right eye. 😢 😢

If anyone here deals with this same syndrome, I would truly appreciate some advice...

My doctor insists everything should stabilize with medication and regular check-ups, but knowing there are clots forming throughout my body is terrifying.

I know there are much worse things out there and I need to stay positive, but at 25, I guess I haven't lived through enough to feel prepared... 🙂

I assume some people here might be managing both APS and Lupus simultaneously.

Any guidance or support would mean the world to me.

Mainly, I'm wondering about diet—is there anything specific I should avoid?

And pregnancy? My doctor mentioned it's possible while on anticoagulants.

Thanks in advance for any insight. 😍

wiredcanyon2 said:Hmm, I honestly don't know. It’s definitely possible; there are plenty of patients, but not enough doctors since the government is cutting costs :/ so it could happen easily. I can send you a recommendation via PM, then you can follow up with your own doctor...

Sure, thanks!

wiredcanyon2 said:Given everything you've mentioned, the best move is to see an internal medicine specialist—specifically an immunologist or rheumatologist. If you're in New York City, for instance, the clinical immunology department at Mayo Clinic is excellent.

I don't live in New York City, though I do reside here. That was my thought too, as soon as my GP handed me the referral.

The only thing I've heard is that waiting lists for an immunologist can stretch on for months. I'm honestly not sure how accurate that is right now...

wiredcanyon2 said:Well, rheumatoid arthritis is just one possibility. It’s important to note that not everyone with RA will test positive for R-factor. Also, having a family history of rheumatoid arthritis simply means a close relative has a higher chance of developing some kind of autoimmune disorder, not necessarily RA specifically. Certain anticonvulsants can impact ANA levels, but I'm not sure about sedatives—I assume you mean Normabel or Xanax. I haven't heard of those causing such an effect, but definitely don't withhold that information from your doctor. Even if you took them on your own, they need to know so the results can be interpreted correctly. Sometimes antibodies show up positive even when the person isn't actually ill, so... it’s not necessarily dire. Just wait. The most important thing is how you feel. Are you experiencing any specific symptoms or signs right now?

I guess... I had terrible headaches until recently, but they're fading now. These last few days have been okay. The only thing is, I feel pretty exhausted and my muscles ache.

But I wouldn't say I'm feeling absolutely awful right now, other than mentally. I'm a massive hypochondriac, so this has practically broken me...

I’ve been taking Helix... and quite a bit of Advil for the migraines.

I know autoimmune diseases are a huge pain in the ass with no cure, just ways to manage them, so... yeah.

Looking back, I often used to wake up with pains in my hands. I thought it was just because I sleep on them, but now I’m thinking maybe it wasn't. And I get tingling in my hands and feet too. I always assumed it was just poor circulation and inactivity, especially since my neck is a bit messed up. ☕

I remember about two years ago, I had a fever over 98.6 for more than two months, and the doctor told me it wasn't "anything serious."

Thinking back now, maybe all of that together was actually a sign... I don't know.

The worst part is waiting until Monday to see my doctor to find out what happens next. 🤷 I think I might lose my mind by then!

wiredcanyon2 said:Your dsDNA antibodies and ANA (antinuclear antibodies) levels are both elevated. It's difficult to pinpoint exactly what this means without knowing your full medical history, your specific symptoms, or if there's a family history of similar issues. Generally speaking, this could point toward an autoimmune disorder, though lab results alone aren't enough for a diagnosis—you'd need a clinical exam and further testing. Keep in mind that ANA and dsDNA can be non-specific markers found in various conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, but they can also pop up due to certain infections or even medications like oral contraceptives...

Yes, I read that too, and now I'm honestly terrified. I know how serious autoimmune diseases can be.

There is a history of rheumatoid arthritis in my family, though my rheumatoid factor came back normal.

I don't take birth control, but it's true that right before the blood draw, I took quite a few painkillers and some anxiety medication... I wonder if that could have had any impact.

Moderators, my apologies if I’m reopening this thread; I just couldn't seem to find it again. 🤷

To get straight to the point, I'm feeling "a little" anxious because my recent immunology results just came back, and they aren't exactly reassuring.

It all started with intense stress—I recently started a new job that hasn't been a great fit—and some blurred vision in my right eye back in February. I had some ophthalmology tests done which didn't show anything unusual, and things seemed to settle down for a while.

About a month ago, the symptoms returned, accompanied by severe headaches. This coincided with more stress at work and a death in the family, so I kept sweeping it under the rug, hoping it would pass on its own.

But, as it turns out... I recently saw a neurologist who, given the severity of the headaches, ordered several tests, including an EEG, an MRI (to rule out the worst-case scenarios), and immunology panels.

The EEG and MRI were perfectly fine (🙂🙂, but the immunology results show the following:

ENZYMES: CK 47 (reference value) U/L 50-153
CRP 0.4 (reference value) mg/L <5
RF <20.0 (reference value) IU/ml 0-30

ds DNA 22.70 (reference value) U/ml <20
ENA NEGATIVE
anti SS-A/Ro 0.80 (reference value) U/ml 0-15
anti Jo-1 0.20 (reference value) U/ml 1-15
ANA - ELISA 140.90 (reference value) U/ml 0-55

Now, I realize none of us are doctors here (mostly 🙂), but I'm wondering if anyone has dealt with something similar or what these numbers actually mean. Just looking for some layman's perspective, as my digging through the internet hasn't left me any smarter. I am particularly concerned about the elevated ANA - ELISA; those antinuclear antibodies are more than triple the normal limit. 🤷🤷😕

I fully intend to follow up with my doctor, but I think I'll be eating myself alive with worry until Monday. If anyone has any advice, thoughts, or even just a comment... I'd appreciate it.

Thank you!

But does writing actually help with testosterone levels?

There might already be a thread about this, but I couldn't find one (my apologies to the mods in advance). If possible, could you merge this with the previous topic? Please don't delete it... 😢

Anyway...

I'm 25. My periods have always been regular until now. I've struggled with my weight my entire life—fluctuating quite a bit. About three years ago, I lost nearly 45 pounds. Unfortunately, I've gained about 22 pounds back over the last three years... not all at once, but gradually.

In the past, my period only missed once, and even then, I was just terrified it wouldn't come back...

I took Yasmin for about a year, but stopped fairly quickly. I felt it wasn't agreeing with me. Since I'm in a long-distance relationship, I didn't feel the need to stay on birth control if it wasn't strictly necessary.

But about four months ago, things started getting irregular. It was two weeks late in the second month, and by the third, I went to see my OB-GYN. She did a Pap smear and an ultrasound, and everything looked normal.

She sent me for hormone testing, and I got the results back about a week ago. Most of my hormones look fine, including my thyroid levels. However, my testosterone is at 4.3, when the normal range goes up to 2.7.

My doctor thinks this is due to my weight fluctuations. She suggested I go on a diet and try to lose those 22 pounds again. I actually wanted to do this anyway, so I've started dieting and exercising.

She considered prescribing Dian, but suggested I focus on weight loss first and then come back in three months to retest. She also gave me a referral for an endocrinologist, since I've dealt with weight issues my whole life. I had some tests done when I was 18, but nothing serious was found. I did have some thyroid issues once, but that was successfully managed.

Now, I'm feeling confused. I plan to make an appointment with the endocrinologist, but I'm worried about the wait times. Seeing someone privately isn't an issue for me...

Since I'm not particularly happy with my current doctor or her approach—and I can't switch right now—I'd value your perspective...

Is it possible I have PCOS? I don't have any other typical symptoms of high testosterone, like excess hair growth or sweating, just the weight issues. Which is supposedly the result of the elevation.

My last period arrived early, though I did experience some spotting during ovulation.

Do you think this could be something serious? 😕

Sorry for the long post. I tend to worry about my health too much, and this situation is unsettling... 🤷

It’s true there are plenty of trolls on this forum who basically 🙂.

I have zero complaints. Whenever I’ve reported something, action was taken, and I’ve even taken warnings and bans myself for things I (knowingly) messed up.

I really dislike how every single thread gets swarmed by chatters like you wouldn't believe. It makes it impossible to follow the actual conversation, and sometimes the sarcastic comments just cross a line. I’m not targeting anyone specific here. Personally, I don't mind a bit of constructive sarcasm. But there has to be a limit. I noticed the new mods are cleaning up thread starters, which I appreciate (not directed at anyone in this discussion).

Summary: I agree with Sandra James88. I hope we see more intelligent, higher-quality topics on LJES soon. My time here has been very brief, though (to be perfectly honest), and I didn't write a single thing today because the trolling was just out of control...