Posts by wiredcanyon2

Maria Perez46 said:I mean... I was dealing with these brutal headaches until recently, but they’re finally starting to taper off. Lately, I've been okay, except for feeling pretty wiped out and having these aching muscles.

But if we're talking about feeling absolutely terrible? Yeah, I am. Well, mostly mentally, because I'm a massive hypochondriac at heart, but this whole situation has basically broken me.

I've been taking Helix.... and a ton of Advil to deal with the migraines.

Look, I get it—autoimmune stuff is a massive pain in the ass with no actual cure, just ways to manage it, so... yeah.

Looking back on things now, I used to wake up with these pains in my hands all the time. I figured I was just sleeping on them funny, but now I'm thinking maybe that wasn't it. And I get those tingles in my hands and feet too. I always chalked that up to being sedentary and poor circulation, especially since my neck is a bit messed up. ☕

I remember about two years ago, I had a low-grade fever—over 98.6—for more than two months straight, and the doctor just brushed it off like it was "nothing serious."

Now that I'm reflecting on it, maybe all of that together actually *was* a sign... Who knows.

The worst part is having to wait until Monday to see my doctor to find out what the next move is. 🤷 I think I'm going to lose my mind by then!

Given everything you're describing, the best move is to get checked out by an internal medicine specialist—specifically an immunologist or rheumatologist. If you're in New York City, there's a solid clinical immunology department over at the Mayo Clinic.

Maria Perez46 said:Yeah, I read that too, and now I'm honestly freaking out because I know how heavy autoimmune stuff can be.

I have rheumatoid arthritis in my family, though my rheumatoid factor came back normal.

I'm not on birth control, but to be fair, right before my blood work, I had taken quite a few painkillers, some anxiety meds, and things like that, so I don't know if that could have messed with the results.

Look, having rheumatoid arthritis in the family is just one predisposition. You have to realize that not everyone with RA will test positive for the R-factor. Also, having a family history of RA just means a close relative has a higher chance of developing *some* kind of autoimmune disorder, not necessarily RA specifically. Some anticonvulsants can definitely mess with ANA levels, but I'm not sure about those anti-anxiety meds—I'm guessing you mean something like Xanax—I haven't heard of them causing this specific effect, but for heaven's sake, don't hide that from your doctor. Even if you just took them on your own, tell them so they can interpret the findings correctly. Sometimes people even test positive for these antibodies without actually being sick, so... it’s not automatically a disaster. Just wait and see. The main thing is how you feel. Are you actually dealing with any symptoms or weird signs right now?

Maria Perez46 said:Mods, sorry if I’m reopening this thread, just couldn't find the old one. 🤷

Anyway, I’m "a little" freaking out because my immunology markers just came back and, honestly, they don't look great.

It all kicked off with a massive amount of stress (new job that I just can't get into the groove of) and some blurry vision in my right eye back in February. I went for eye exams, which turned up nothing, and things settled down for a bit.

Then about a month ago, everything flared up again, along with killer headaches. It hit right when work got crazy and we had a death in the family, so I just swept it all under the rug thinking it would pass on its own.

But, apparently not... I saw a neurologist recently, and because the headaches were so bad, they ordered a bunch of tests—EEG, an MRI (to rule out the scary stuff), and some immunology panels.

The EEG and MRI were totally fine (🙂🙂, but the immunology results show this:

ENZYMES: CK 47 (ref value) U/L 50-153
CRP 0.4 (ref value) mg/L RF ml 0-30

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

Look, I know none of us here are doctors (mostly 🙂), but I’m wondering if anyone has dealt with something similar or what these numbers actually mean? Just looking for a layman's perspective, because I tried digging online and it didn't help much. I'm especially worried about the high ANA - ELISA; those antinuclear antibodies are triple what they should be. 🤷 🤷 😕

Obviously, I’m going to see my doctor, but I think I’m going to eat myself alive waiting until Monday. If anyone has any advice, thoughts, or even just a "hang in there," I'm all ears.

Thanks!

Your dsDNA antibodies are slightly elevated and your ANA (antinuclear antibodies) are high too. It's impossible to say exactly what's going on without knowing your full medical history, your specific symptoms, or if there's anything similar running in your family. Broadly speaking, this could point toward an autoimmune disorder, but you can't diagnose those based on lab work alone—you need a clinical exam and further testing. Just keep in mind that ANA and dsDNA aren't super specific markers; they can pop up in various autoimmune conditions (like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis), but they can also show up due to certain infections or even just being on oral contraceptives...

Thomas Roberts9 said:To looks quite a bit like ringworm to me. I actually dealt with a similar spot on my lower leg once after coming into contact with a cat that had it. You don't necessarily need to have a pet at home to catch it; it could have just been a neighborhood cat or dog brushing against you, or perhaps you were petting someone else's pet and ended up with a little scratch. It really isn't anything to lose sleep over. My suggestion would be to check in with a doctor so they can prescribe an antifungal cream—if memory serves, something like Lamisil—and then you just apply it once or twice a day, continuing for a few days even after the symptoms seem to have cleared up.

Of course, I'm just basing this on how the photo looks, so I can't say for certain that's what it is. Either way, please do see a doctor so they can get you some proper medication. There's no need to panic.☕

Yeah, I'm with you there. Ringworm is a solid possibility. The culprit is usually the Microsporum canis fungus that cats carry around, though most fungal skin infections tend to have that classic red ring with a lighter center. But hey, clinical presentations aren't always textbook, so who knows...

Rachel Martinez2 said:For five years now, I’ve been dealing with this weird sensation where if I try to sleep on my left side or lie on my left chest, I get this heavy "nausea" feeling in my chest along with some really labored breathing. If I stay in that position too long, my heart actually starts aching. Obviously, I stick to sleeping on my right side, but if I happen to roll over in my sleep—especially onto the left—I wake up feeling totally numb with this dull rib pain and a sharp, stabbing sensation in my heart that just fluctuates in intensity.

I’ve seen plenty of doctors and nobody seems to have a clue; I’ve done X-rays, EKGs, even nerve conduction tests, but I’m still stuck without any real answers.
It is honestly so incredibly frustrating. Look, I can handle physical pain, but it's the breathing part that kills me—it feels like I’m waking up with sleep apnea, even though I don't actually have it, unless I'm in those specific positions. My gut feeling is that there's something messed up with my ribs, maybe causing some kind of referred pain to my heart. On top of that, my shoulder blade has been clicking and popping for five years straight, which is a massive headache, especially after I go swimming or play tennis. If I lie flat on the floor, the pain and breathing issues come back, though they're at least half as intense—maybe it's a bone issue?

Hey. Look, you probably shouldn't stress about your heart. The pain you're describing definitely isn't coming from your cardiac system, and your heart doesn't just start aching because you rolled onto a certain side while sleeping. Like you mentioned, your pain sounds musculoskeletal—basically a locomotor issue. When there's actual heart pain, it doesn't care how you're positioned; it happens regardless of whether you're lying down or moving. Real heart issues, like angina, happen during exertion, or an actual heart attack comes on suddenly and stays intense no matter how you move. Pain that shifts, changes, or vanishes based on how you move your ribcage or breathe is a dead giveaway that it's coming from your bone and muscle structures—think ribs, spine!!!, or maybe some kind of nerve compression... Have you actually seen a physiatrist or an orthopedist to check for any spinal or ribcage deformities?

The breathing trouble is almost certainly secondary to the pain on that side. It's like when your knee joint hurts; you naturally limit your range of motion to protect it.

velvetcrane1 said:Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some insight or maybe someone with actual medical expertise who can help me make sense of this.

I’m 26. Before this whole vascular mess happened, I was a professional dancer. Back in January 2009, I ended up in the hospital at Los Angeles Lakers Medical Center because a Doppler scan showed an occlusion in my left popliteal artery. It started with this intense pain in my calf, my big toe swelled up, and my entire leg—from the knee down—went totally pale.

Here’s the quick rundown of my history:

Partial thrombosis of the left popliteal artery, treated with selective intra-arterial thrombolysis using alteplase, with suspected cystic degeneration of the popliteal artery adventitia.
Thrombophilia (homozygous for FDA, PAI polymorphism on both alleles - 1).
Homocysteine levels were within the normal range—so no substitution therapy was needed. Activated protein C resistance tests came back normal too.

Six months after being discharged, I was on Marivarin, then they did a follow-up Doppler.
"The popliteal and ATP show continuous flow with satisfactory velocity and preserved spectra. The distal part of the ADP shows slightly weaker flow, but the artery has visible flow and a preserved spectrum; this could be due to spasmodic changes. The distal portion of the fibular artery looks similar but shows normal Doppler spectra. Given that the arterial occlusion had a secondary etiology (prolonged excessive traction stress on the arterial wall, assuming underlying cystic adventitial degeneration) and since more than six months have passed since the vascular incident—combined with the practically normal Doppler findings for the popliteal-crural level of the left leg—I suggest discontinuing anticoagulant therapy."

That was back in the summer of 2009. Everything was fine after that—the pain just vanished. Once I felt better, I started training again, though just recreationally.
Then, out of nowhere, the pain came roaring back recently. I got another Doppler done, and the indices were super low—dorsalis pedis at 0.44 and posterior tibial at 0.59.

I had an MRA done right after, but I’m still waiting on those results.

So, here’s my question. What can actually be done here? If we're talking about a clot again, why would it just show up like this? Or is it the cyst?

Honestly, my biggest worry is staying active post-op. Are there any solutions that would let me get back to full training after surgery? Or am I stuck babying this knee forever because of that specific artery...?

Thanks in advance.

Why would a clot form again? Does anyone else have a family history of thrombosis? Maybe it happened again because of some genetic predisposition. Did your doctors ever explain that "Thrombophilia - MTHFR homozygote" thing to you? Peace.

Look, there’s no way to give you a straight answer until a doctor actually gets their eyes on it and runs some tests—maybe a swab or whatever else they deem necessary. Honestly, given where this is located, a fungal infection is a super easy call. But psoriasis comes in all sorts of different flavors and doesn't even have to cover your whole body; sometimes it shows up in a differential diagnosis alongside dermatophytosis (you know, those fungal skin issues), meaning it can look identical to a basic skin infection. Contact dermatitis could also be doing the trick... It’s a massive list of possibilities, so your best bet is just to go see a dermatologist.

Jesse Wilson17 said:I'm posting a photo of something on my skin. It looks a bit like a scab, but it isn't really raised—it just feels rough when you run your finger over it.
Also, whenever I try applying any kind of cream, the area turns twice as red and looks much more "bloody," even though nothing is actually bleeding or anything. Does anyone know what this could be?

I don't have any cats, dogs, or pets. This spot hasn't changed at all for about two weeks now.



Uploaded with Imgur

Where exactly is this located? Honestly, it could easily be some kind of fungal infection. You really need to go see a dermatologist because it’s tough to tell what you're dealing with in person, let alone through a damn photo. Could be psoriasis too; there's plenty of stuff out there that presents like this.

Charles Cox5 said:Thanks for getting back to me on this.
For those few minutes, my leg was completely numb—just totally dead. At first, we were all worried it might be a stroke, but the CT scan ruled that out. Then we thought it could be a heart issue, but everything came back fine there, too. So, looking at the facts, is it actually possible that this is coming from an issue with my spine?

Look, sure, it’s possible. Why wouldn't it be? You could also be looking at psychological triggers, like Patrick Young2 mentioned earlier. Sometimes you just don't find a smoking gun, and you have to see the whole diagnostic process through to the end. Honestly, the most important thing is ruling out the scary stuff—like tumors or whatever—even if the actual cause remains a mystery. As long as it doesn't happen again, you're okay. It could have been a TIA (transient ischemic attack); it's basically a mini-stroke, similar to a full one but milder, and it often won't show up on a CT scan. Has the spine been imaged yet using an X-ray or an MRI? An EMG is a solid test because it can pinpoint whether the issue is in the muscle itself or the nerves. Based on what's being said here, it sounds like something is up with the spinal nerve roots. A neurologist definitely needs to dig into that and finish the investigation. It might be directly related, or it might just be an incidental finding.

ruggedtiger76 said:About six months ago during a volleyball game, I went for a hard spike and ever since, my right arm has been killing me from the elbow all the way up to the shoulder. For the first week, I couldn't even move the damn thing, let alone lift anything. I figured it would just go away on its own. Fast forward six months later... I played some basketball today, and once I cooled down, the exact same pain came rushing back.
Any idea how to kill this pain? Should I just head to a doctor?

Thanks.

You gotta find the actual source of the pain if you want it to stop. Personally, I'd say get an insurance referral and see a physical therapist. You might have actually torn a tendon or something, which happens more often than people think.

Charles Cox5 said:Wouldn't it make sense to run a whole battery of tests—looking at both cardiac and neurological issues—to figure out what actually triggered that "attack"? I mean, losing all control over your left leg for about five minutes like that is serious, and we really need to uncover the underlying cause.

What exactly are we talking about when you say "loss of control"? Are we talking a complete inability to move it, or more like involuntary twitching/spasms? Honestly, looking at those results, it sounds a lot like radiculopathy at those specific segments. Basically, it's nerve root damage in the spine, which can be caused by all sorts of things, like a herniated disc. An EMG will pick up on the radiculopathy itself, but it won't tell you *why* it's happening. You'll probably need to push your doctor toward some imaging, like an X-ray or an MRI, to get a clear look at your spine.

mellowseal6 said:Alright, look...
My little niece has this thing on her ring finger bone. She's five and a half. It’s basically a tiny bump you can feel on the palm side of her hand, right where the finger meets the palm—near the knuckle. It’s super small, you can't even really see it with the naked eye. Any idea what this could be? 😕 Help me out here, please 🙏

P.S. It hurts her a bit if you press on it, and it's her right hand.

Look, don't go playing doctor on internet forums when it comes to kids. Just take her to a pediatrician. It could be anything from a simple cyst to a tumor, or it could be nothing at all.

Charles Cox5 said:Can someone help me make sense of these EMG results:

The findings indicate chronic neural root lesions at S1 bilaterally, more pronounced on the right; also noted are bilateral L5, bilateral C8, Th 1 (more pronounced on the left), and bilateral C5-C7.

Look, it's pretty much impossible to interpret a finding like this without knowing why you even bothered getting the test done in the first place. What kind of symptoms are we talking about? If you lay out what’s actually going on with you, maybe I can help make sense of it.

graniteviper112 said:I take Dulcolax as a laxative in the evening, and by morning, things are moving along. The issue is that on those specific days, every time I eat, I end up needing another trip to the bathroom. Does this frequent movement actually interfere with my birth control, or is it irrelevant whether I take my pill between these episodes?

There’s zero interaction between Yasmin and Dulcolax. You can double-check this yourself at: http://reference.medscape.com/drug-interactionchecker or over at http://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.php
Oral contraceptives usually only deal with interactions from drugs that seriously mess with liver enzymes—stuff that changes how the body processes meds. We're talking certain antibiotics, antipsychotics, antifungals, that kind of thing...

bluewalker33 said:We've got an 11-year-old cat, and I'm wondering if it's actually dangerous if her fur builds up inside us. Does all that hair just pass through the digestive tract?

If someone actually ended up with a massive buildup of hair inside them, is there even a medical way to flush that out these days?

Thanks

Who exactly is accumulating hair inside their body? Did someone swallow a stray cat hair? Like one or two? A handful? It’s going to pass through your system naturally. Cats are carriers for parasites like Toxoplasma gondii and bacteria such as Bartonella henselae, which causes "cat scratch fever." They can also pass on certain skin fungi. But honestly, those issues pop up way less often than you'd think given how much time people spend around cats, mostly because our immune systems handle it. If you have a kid, just watch out for scratches—one big thing to remember: kittens are actually "riskier" when it comes to transmission than adult cats! 😁

graniteviper112 said:I have a question, and I’m asking for some help... I deal with irregular digestion and I'm just starting on birth control pills. Does anyone know if taking laxatives can actually interfere with how effective the contraception is, and if so, when would be the best time to take my pill? thanks

Which laxative though? There are tons of different kinds out there with totally different ways they work—it’s not all the same thing. And which birth control pill are we talking about?

Dennis Brooks19 said:Hey there,
I might be slightly off-topic here, but I wanted to share what happened to me and see if anyone knows how this works... I ended up in the ER over in Oakland after taking a nasty spill off my bike. When I asked if they had any ice I could put on the swelling, they actually laughed at me and asked if I watched too many American TV shows. After that, I just stopped asking questions...
It was a whole cycle: X-ray, repositioning, immobilization, more imaging, then a consultation with the orthopedic surgeon, then they tried to send me home, then scheduled me for surgery in three days, and... well, they eventually decided to just operate right then because my collarbone was at risk of puncturing through the skin... so they took me into surgery that same night.
The surgeon installed a plate and nine screws, and I woke up in the trauma ward. They looked after me all night and through the first day—swapping out IV bags, giving me whatever meds were needed, checking if I needed pain relief. I was supposed to stay for 5 to 7 days. But on the second day, during rounds, the head of the clinic just brushed past my diagnosis, mentioned something about a clavicle... and said they should discharge me (pay attention to that "they")... and just like that, they let me go the second day after the rounds.
The staff was fine; they did their jobs. I’m not expecting people to bow down to me, but I have to complain that from the moment I was admitted, I ceased being a person and became just a diagnosis. I was treated as a medical case rather than a patient; everyone talked *about* my diagnosis instead of talking *to* me. Nobody except the anesthesiologist actually spoke to me, introduced themselves, or even asked my name. No one bothered to ask what happened, what they were going to do, or how long I'd be staying. Aside from some brief talk at admission and a technician asking my name and what happened when I was on the ward, that was it. Even during the discharge exam, the surgeon just rattled off healing statistics for my specific case and told me what I needed to do—rest and some light arm exercises (which ones? who knows?)—before scheduling a follow-up, making sure to emphasize that he did a great job.
I don't have supplemental insurance, so I paid 20% of the cost myself— $4.25 and even though my stay was short and I didn't interact with many people, I walked away feeling like I ought to be grateful to the doctors, nurses, and techs, and maybe bring a little token of appreciation or a tip. Since I'm new to this, does anyone know what the standard "gratuity" is for a clavicle repair—plate and screws? Because according to some of the support staff, everyone is pretty much looking for one...

Sorry, I'm not sure I follow. What kind of "rates"?? You want to "reward" the staff extra? You literally just said they treated you like a "diagnosis" instead of a human being, and now you're asking about rates to tip them? :/ Surgeons are slammed, especially with trauma cases where you never know when the next one is hitting. These people don't have the luxury of sitting down to explain every single detail to every patient. They did their jobs—and sounds like they did them well—so you don't owe them anything. Don't make a fool out of yourself!! Just go to your follow-ups like they told you. If you're feeling genuinely thankful to someone, buy a box of chocolates or something, but DO NOT give cash!! I mean, if you have money to burn, go for it, but let's not have people complaining about doctors taking "gifts" just because patients feel the need to bribe them. I'm telling you this not as an angry patient, but as someone who's going to be a doctor soon.

Maria Ward said:Hey there,

I had a major coagulation panel done. Everything looks fine, except for this stuff:
eosinophilic granulocytes: 0.10 (ref range: up to 0.7)
fibrin monomers-ethanol test: 3+ (ref range: negative)
fibrinolysis-euglobulin test: 100 (ref range: 150 to 210)

I ran these tests because I wanted to keep taking birth control pills. My OB-GYN told me to just keep going with them.

But these deviations have me worried. What could this be?

Thanks!

Did your doctor actually look at the results? Because if she saw them and still told you to stay on the pill, then honestly, don't sweat it. These "deviations" are just numbers spat out by some machine; they don't mean anything on their own. If you did the exact same tests tomorrow, you might get totally different numbers. Those last two parameters are just checking one specific part of the blood clotting system, and those values can swing wildly due to all sorts of things—like inflammation, certain meds, pregnancy, injuries, or even just being on birth control. As for that first item, eosinophilic granulocytes, the ratio is barely off and doesn't point to anything significant.

Gregory Wright39 said:I’ve been biking around Washington, D.C. for the last three days, and I keep getting this stinging sensation on my hands and face while I'm riding. It doesn't even matter if I'm on the bike or just chilling—it happens regardless. Even when it's not particularly hot or cold out, it feels like moisture is just condensing right on my skin.

I asked everyone I know if they feel the same way, and honestly, they all just laughed at me.?!?

Just hopped off my bike about 15 minutes ago and my hands are already feeling hot.

Look, tell me when you actually start walking or biking—basically any physical activity that gets you even slightly sweaty—how long does it take for those skin sensations to kick in? Is it immediate, or does it happen once you've been sweating for a few minutes? And does this stuff show up when you're just sitting still, like watching TV?

Kate Newman2 said:I had my hormone levels checked on day 3 of my cycle since I've been trying to get pregnant for a while now. Here are the results:

LH 8.0
FSH 28.8
PROGESTERONE 0.4
PROLACTIN 223
TESTOSTERONE 0.28
ESTRADIOL 35.4
CORTISOL 155

Thyroid hormones

TSH 1.56
T3 1.6
T4 320

Can someone make sense of this? Could any of this be why I'm struggling to conceive?

It would actually be helpful if you included the standard reference ranges, because only people in the field can guess what these numbers mean without them.