Posts by Jessica Chavez4

Well, since this clearly isn't the rally I was expecting, count me out.

Why five, though? That feels like such an awkward time—not quite early, not quite late. Could we do six or seven instead? (I’m already starting to whine, I know. But honestly, I'm just not feeling it right now. Maybe I'll head over on Friday. Or maybe I won't. If I do go, I'd prefer to see her on Friday since the crowds usually thin out by then, around three.

I don't have a bra or heels on me, but I can definitely toss you a soda.

I'll just bring a green clothes hanger to hang everything up, since that's all I've got.

Thanks! Just one more thing—should I go shirtless for this?

For some reason, I can't for the life of me Google what hemoglobin electrophoresis actually is or where I'm supposed to get it done. Do I have to go to the hospital for a blood draw, or is this something I can handle at a local clinic? My doctor didn't really explain anything—she just handed me the referrals and left me to figure it out while my computer is basically on its last legs.

Maria Fisher46 said:The anemia is clear—moderate to severe (it hits "severe" once hemoglobin drops below 7.0 g/dL). Are you losing blood somewhere? Heavy periods or maybe something in the GI tract?

So the hemoglobin was the main issue, thanks. It’s not bottoming out yet, but it’s heading that way—they spooked me by saying it was terrifyingly low. I already had my OBGYN appointment, which is why we have these results, but I haven't done a stool test yet. I've been referred to a hematologist and have an appointment lined up. They told me to bring my paperwork, but didn't specify if I should come fasting or if they'll just draw more blood during the initial consult.

Laura Castillo6 said:Honestly, if you're dealing with actual psychosis or feeling suicidal, they won't even give you the time of day 😁

Come on, guys, what's the big deal? Though, honestly, I can't say I'm surprised by any of this anymore.

Hi there, could someone help me make sense of these labs? Some of these numbers look pretty low to me—is this cause for concern or just a minor fluctuation?

iron 2 L
TIBC 99 H
UIBC 97 H

ERC 4.39
hemoglobin 76 L
hematocrit 0.258 L
MCV 58.7 L
MCH 17.3 L
MCHC 295 L
RDW 18.1 H
platelets 518 H
WBC 10.1 H

I tried checking this out but man, this site is completely dead. Is it just the website acting up, or is it something on my end? I was just trying to see what the wait times look like for the service I need.

Thanks. They really rattled me with that whole "emergency" thing, acting like I’m headed straight for an IV drip or something. It was a lot.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/hematology-oncology/overview/ovc-20385235

So, should I be sending this to the email address listed under Hematology at the outpatient clinic? (Sorry, I figured I shouldn't paste the actual email address here on the forum)

So, I’ve been told I need to check in with hematology because my iron levels are bottoming out. Apparently, every hospital right now is booking out until May or later, though Rebora is still taking appointments for April. My doctor couldn't get me scheduled directly through the system, so instead, I just got a phone number to call. Now that I see there's an email option, I'm wondering—does it actually work if I just scan my referral and blood work over to them? If I call, they won't have my paperwork in front of them, whereas if I email, they can see the actual numbers immediately, which might make it easier for them to decide if I even need an appointment in the first place. Just a thought. 🤷

My doctor also mentioned that if I don't land an appointment within a week or two, I should head straight to the ER. Honestly, I'd rather avoid that if possible. Does anyone know where the hematology ER unit is located, and am I even allowed to show up there while I'm still fully conscious and lucid?

So if that's the case, why even bother with protecting the underdog?

I'm looking for a patient ophthalmologist here in Chicago.

Hey, is there any way I can change my nickname from one-time user to Jessica Chavez4? I know it’s not a big deal, but it bugs me that everyone assumes I'm a guy when I'm not.

Sure thing, just reach out to rustydrifter10.

George Sullivan7 said:There isn't any logic, honestly. A GP can easily prescribe both SSRIs and benzos without sending you to a specialist at all, and Oxazepam falls right into that category. Plus, once they do refer you out, they might decide to stick strictly to the psychiatrist's orders because you're already on other meds, though I don't see why he wouldn't just give you some Paxil or Oxazepam. Usually, the GP stays out of the mental health treatment plan once the specialist takes over, but those rules are pretty "flexible" depending on the doctor.

Maybe try actually talking to him. Just tell him straight up that you need something for sleep and let him decide what to give you since you can't get to your psychiatrist. If that doesn't work, you could always head to the ER. Tell them you haven't slept in days and your doctor won't help you with anything for insomnia. That should light a fire under them. No point in suffering through this for nothing.

Sure, they can, but only for a month or two. After that, they have to send you to a specialist. They can't just keep handing out prescriptions for years without clearance from a psychiatric facility.

How do you track down an extremely patient ophthalmologist who actually understands patients who just can't handle having stuff shoved into their eyes? My last one lost her mind because she couldn't get the dye around my cornea, and she started yelling at me like I was some kind of criminal.

Honestly, Hitler had a better haircut and overall styling.

darksurfer4 said:I work a job that involves night shifts, and honestly, I absolutely loathe them!!!! By the next day, my brain is just completely fried; I simply haven't mastered the art of sleeping while the sun is actually up!! What’s even more infuriating is how often I miss out on half of the Champions League matches—I'll turn on the TV and within sixty seconds, I'm out cold...

During these graveyard shifts where there’s practically zero work to be done, I find myself scrolling through Reddit, and man, it is incredibly toxic. You'll see people posting at 3:00 or even 4:00 AM saying they need to get going because they have to head into work in the morning, and it makes me wonder: what kind of shape are they actually in when they show up to their jobs???!!!????

Thinking back to some of the more famous figures who were known night owls, I think of Hitler, Stalin, Rembrandt, and Edison. Take Hitler, for example; he achieved incredible successes during his early reign, but eventually, Hitler becomes totally irrational and drags his entire country straight into catastrophe!!!!

And don't even get me started on Stalin. He was a liberal, an artist, a poet, always ready to lend a hand to anyone—only to transform into a paranoid wreck who ended up executing or sending almost his entire government and military leadership to a gulag!!!!

Is it possible that these bouts of irrationality exhibited by Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin could actually be attributed to chronic sleep deprivation???

I always told people I’d be a dictator when I grew up. Maybe there's some truth to that.

I went through this stretch where I’d hit the hay at 10 PM and find myself wide awake by 6 AM. Honestly, it was one of the lowest points of my life. It felt like a constant cycle of exhaustion, mixed with this heavy sense of isolation. You feel totally disconnected from the world—everyone else is sleeping while you're staring at the ceiling, and just when everyone is finally coming home and settling in, you're heading out.

There’s no point in trying to change things. Nothing stays fixed forever anyway. I can make it through the daylight hours if I absolutely have to—provided the day doesn't kick off until noon or maybe two in the afternoon. But at the end of the day, I still prefer the night, even if it means losing a little sleep every now and then. There isn't really a cure for it.