I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the psychology of momentum, specifically in high-stakes competitive environments. We see it all the time in almost every major league—teams or individuals who look absolutely untouchable for three-quarters of a journey, only to completely fall apart right when the finish line is in sight. It’s one thing to be dominant when the pressure is low or when you're just getting into the rhythm of things, but it’s a completely different beast when the stakes peak and the margin for error shrinks to zero.
To me, there is a massive distinction between a "good" performer and a "clutch" performer. You can have the stats, you can have the flashy highlights, and you can even have a stellar seasonal average that puts you near the top of the standings. But if you lack that mental fortitude to handle the final minutes of a high-intensity confrontation, does that success actually hold any weight? I’ve watched so many talented groups crumble because they let the pressure of a closing window get into their heads. They start overthinking, the fundamentals slip, and suddenly a massive lead or a position of strength evaporates in a matter of moments.
I remember watching a local tournament a few years back—nothing professional, just a high-level amateur circuit—where one team was absolutely bullying everyone else. They were playing with such swagger that it felt inevitable they'd take the trophy. But in the final stretch, they just... lost it. They started forcing plays that weren't there, they stopped communicating, and they looked genuinely rattled. It wasn't a lack of skill; it was a total breakdown in composure. They ended up losing to a team that had been struggling all day but knew how to keep their cool when the lights got brightest.
It makes me wonder about the "identity" of a winner. Is a winner defined by their overall consistency, or is it defined by their ability to win the moments that actually matter? If you have a great record but you're prone to these late-game collapses, are you actually a contender, or are you just a team that's good at building leads? There's a certain kind of fragility that comes with being highly ranked; you start feeling like you have something to lose rather than something to gain, and that shift in mindset can be fatal.
I also think we often overlook the "mental fatigue" aspect. It’s not just about physical exhaustion; it’s the cognitive load of maintaining a high level of execution while the pressure intensifies. When you're ahead, you're playing to protect, which is a much more defensive and often more anxious headspace than playing to attack. That transition is where so many elite competitors stumble. They switch from "flow state" to "survival mode," and once you're in survival mode, you stop playing well.
Is it a matter of coaching, or is it just something inherent to a person's temperament? You can drill fundamentals until everyone is a machine, but you can't really "drill" someone into having ice in their veins. Some people are just built for the pressure, and others are built for the grind.
I’m curious to hear what you all think about this. When you're looking at a competitor—whether it's a pro athlete, a business leader, or even a gamer—do you value the high-average consistency more, or do you only respect those who can deliver when the clock is winding down? Does a great overall record actually protect you from the stigma of a late-game meltdown?
based on what you’ve shared, I have to side with your doctor here—you really need to see a rheumatologist. Given the cluster of your test results and your medical history, we can't rule out a systemic rheumatic disease. It’s a possibility that needs addressing. At the very least, I’d suggest getting a capillaroscopy done, and probably some other follow-up tests too. This doesn't guarantee a diagnosis of rheumatic disease, but with findings like yours, having a rheumatologist monitor the situation is non-negotiable.
Hey there,
I just left my neurologist's office. He gave me a referral for blood work and told me to switch from Marc Maron to Eliquis. I've got an ultrasound scheduled for my neck vessels at the end of July. 🤷🏼♀ Then, in August, I’m heading down to Miami to see an immunologist/rheumatologist.
Thanks for all the help so far. I'll check back in with you later.
mistyjackal842 said:You have to swallow your pride. Accept that they view themselves as Gods now—some kind of elite upper class. It’s just obvious. Honestly, I struggle with it because I come from a family of doctors and professors who were always incredibly humble and decent people.
Best regards, I don't think they actually see themselves as Gods. It's more likely that I'm just a complicated case they can't crack, despite all their fancy tech. It's frustrating. Since 2019, all I get is blood work, ultrasounds, and MRIs. If they actually knew what to do, they could run these tests every single month, but if they're stuck, they should just tell me. They should tell me to move on and find someone else who can actually help. Someone out there can solve this. Right now, they've just put me on anticoagulants—not to protect me, but to cover their own backs.
The image of my lab results won't upload. It would be much easier if I could just email them to you directly. So, I’ll do my best to type everything out manually.
Respectfully, I finally have a moment to actually respond. When I went into the lab for bloodwork, there’s always this initial consultation with the doctor before they even touch you with a needle. Apparently, the doctor took it personally because my neurologist specifically wrote "Pradaxa" on my referral. So, instead of just doing the job, I had to sit through a twenty-minute lecture about how I can't take anything except Warfarin, otherwise, I'm a dead woman walking. He insisted Pradaxa is strictly for leg vein thrombosis. I just sat there exchanging looks with my daughter, and at one point, I seriously considered just getting up and walking out. My daughter was absolutely floored by his attitude, while I just felt like some sort of lab rat—actually, more like a science experiment gone wrong!
The results finally came back. My Cardiolipin - IgG antibodies, which were elevated in the last two tests, are back to normal now. Because of that, they’re tossing out the Antiphospholipid Syndrome diagnosis entirely.
Everything else is within range; everything I mentioned above is either low or high. The Lupus test is still negative. The report suggests they could stop the Warfarin, but they recommend switching to Pradaxa or Eliquis. However, they claim they need to discuss it further because it qualifies as "Off-Label Use," as if the drugs aren't thoroughly researched or they don't have full authorization.
They’re recommending I see a rheumatologist again (the same one who already told me I didn't need one), claiming that based on these results, chronic rheumatism or some kind of autoimmune disease is still on the table.
Basically, they're bouncing me around like a ping-pong ball. From the hematologist to the rheumatologist, and back again.
There won't be any more updates until next year when I have to go back for this massive blood panel.
Over the past year, I’ve started writing this post a few times, only to delete it because I honestly didn't know what to say. Regarding my tests—nothing concrete has been done, and I haven't even bothered seeing a neurologist for follow-ups. Since I got my own INR blood monitoring kit, I stopped visiting my primary care doctor altogether. I just handle the measurements myself at home. A few days ago, I finally decided to see a neurologist. He gave me a lab order and gave me a bit of a lecture for skipping my blood work all last year (as if anything would have changed by doing it sooner). When I mentioned the constant pressure in my head, he noted on the referral that he recommends switching from Warfarin to Pradaxa, but apparently, the hospital neurologist makes the final call once the labs come back.
I’ve also set an appointment with my family doctor for blood work, mostly because I had blood in my stool three separate times over the last six months. Plus, there's this constant itching. The second we got back from our beach vacation, everyone in the house started itching like crazy. We went to an urgent care clinic, and they diagnosed it as just "itching." We’ve been slathering ourselves in Permetina, and I’ve been spending a fortune on various anti-itch creams at the pharmacy. Everyone else cleared up, but for me, the itching just keeps coming. Honestly, I’m starting to think it isn't just skin irritation, because I’m constantly applying cream and nothing works—I’ll go broke buying these stuff. That's why I'm getting the blood work done; I need to see if this itching is actually a reaction to my medication. By pure chance, we met a doctor who looked over my results and told me straight up that they make no sense. He said he doesn't understand why I'm still on Warfarin and bluntly stated that the hospital I’m using isn't going to do anything for me. He told me to move on and suggested a specialist clinic in Heidelberg, claiming they have the doctors capable of handling a case as complicated as mine. He said my own doctor should have referred me out already, seeing as nothing is moving forward here. I am so physically and mentally drained right now that I can't even put into words how I feel. And that’s not even counting the pain. (I won't even mention the head pressure, since I've only felt it five out of the last thirty days). I'll be doing the blood work next month. I'll post the results here once they're ready. In a few days, I’m going to schedule an appointment in Heidelberg and hope the doctors there can actually untangle this mess. If I could just get off the Warfarin, I honestly feel like I’d be a different person. Anyway, sorry for the rambling.
Listen, I had my appointments lined up in Washington, D.C. for November 29th and 30th. I was honestly looking forward to them so much, but then everything went sideways. I had to cancel because my daughter tested positive for COVID just three days before our trip. The whole family had to go into quarantine. Now? Now it’ll be months before I can get back on the schedule with my specialists here. To be honest, I’m losing the will to even bother with doctors locally. It’s just endless blood work. Part of me feels like just quitting the Warfarin altogether and letting nature take its course. I have this gut feeling these pills are doing more harm than good.
I'll check back in with you all once I finally get those exams done in Washington, D.C.
Regarding those results you sent over—I have to point out that seeing both MPO and PR3 antibodies at the same time isn't exactly standard practice, even in your case. When you see a combo like that, you always have to rule out an infection or certain medications that could be triggering it. Honestly? I’m pretty skeptical about this being ANCA vasculitis, though I can’t completely dismiss it. As for the antiphospholipid syndrome, I’m sticking to my guns from before: just having positive antibodies isn't enough to clinch that diagnosis.
I see they ran coagulation tests too—checking factors VII and X, plus protein C and S levels. Those came back low, which makes sense if you're on Warfarin, given what your INR shows. Since everyone knows Warfarin works by blocking factors II, VII, IX, and X, it’s no shocker that those levels are down while you're taking it. I don't really get why they bothered testing them. It would make sense if they’d checked factors VII and IX or proteins C and S *before* you started Warfarin—you know, to actually figure out if there was a clotting risk or potential for an embolism. Everything in your file seems obsessed with clots and embolisms, yet you aren't mentioning them, and they aren't listed in your diagnoses. It’s confusing, to say the least.
Furthermore, they did some genetic testing, but not for antiphospholipid syndrome like I suspected; they were looking for thrombophilia. They found you're a heterozygote for PAI-1, meaning a 4G/5G genotype. Now, the real danger zone for clots is the 4G/4G genotype; since you're 4G/5G, your risk is significantly lower than those folks.
Then there's the ACE gene polymorphism (I/D in intron 16). People with the D/D homozygous genotype tend to deal with higher blood pressure and thicker vessel walls. Here’s where it gets weird: the report says "I/D homozygote," which is a total contradiction. You're either I/I or D/D for a homozygote; I/D is a heterozygote. So, either there's a typo here or the report is incomplete.
They also checked the Factor XI polymorphism. Being a C/C homozygote is linked to a higher risk of venous thromboembolism. But your results show you're a heterozygote, so that specific risk shouldn't apply to you.
Bottom line? Like I said before, this whole situation is incredibly messy. There's a mountain of data, but without seeing the full medical history and complete files, we're just spinning our wheels. We still don't have a straight answer on what's actually going on.
Hello again. I'm reaching out because I feel like I've hit a brick wall. My labs have been repeated and haven't changed much; only the B-complex seems to have made any difference. Back in July, during a talk with the neurologist at the hospital, they explained that regarding the dissections and my blood work, Warfarin was the best way to go. We're still dealing with suspicions about the same illnesses, and I'm supposed to redo the blood work at the start of the year.
On Tuesday, my vision got blurry and then the headache hit. I took a pill, slept it off, and felt fine. Then Wednesday rolls around and the exact same thing happens, so I headed to the hospital. The neurologist basically brushed me off because they claim they already know my history! The CT scan was clear, the color Doppler was fine, and the MRI of my head and neck showed nothing new—no new dissections. My blood pressure was incredibly low, though. And my INR spiked. My iron is low, so I'm on treatment for that. That blurry vision and those headaches? They were already hitting me while I was still stuck in the hospital. I was basically tethered to a monitor 24/7 tracking my blood pressure, oxygen, and probably my heart rate too!
So, I told the neurologist—since I’ve been wandering around without a clear diagnosis for two years now—that maybe we should get a second opinion at a different clinic. Honestly? They took it personally. They got all huffy, claiming they weren't the same team from two years ago and that *they* are the experts now, and if necessary, they'd be the ones to call another clinic for advice. Yeah, right. Talk about ego. Now, looking at my discharge papers: Migraine headache Carotid and vertebral dissections (2019) High-risk coagulation on Warfarin Anemia Antiphospholipid Syndrome Possible Tachycardia Vasculitis
No vasculitis! And then they have the nerve to recommend the same rheumatologist I've already seen—the one who already told me I wasn't "their type" of patient.
I’ve been home since Friday. Honestly, I feel like I'm going to start bleeding from my ears and my nose!
I am definitely heading to Washington, D.C. this month for a private consultation. Because this whole situation is becoming a complete joke.
I truly want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to respond.
Before this blood work was even drawn—as I mentioned earlier—I had actually stopped taking antibiotics because of a gynecological infection! Right now, this is all I have to go on: just these specific details and these lab results. I’m scheduled to have my blood drawn again at the beginning of July (the exact tests I sent over to you). The results take about three weeks to come back. As soon as they hit my inbox, I'll be right back here to update you. Honestly, I don't know. I listen, I follow orders, I do what I'm told... but I can't shake this feeling that even with the best intentions, doctors aren't actually heading in the right direction when it comes to my case. Or maybe I'm just a total outlier.
Your answers have been incredibly comforting! I am open to every single piece of advice regarding next steps or further testing. Also, could you suggest where in the U.S. I might find a specialist who can process my specific situation? Better yet, if there's any way I could get evaluated near where you practice.
Every single time you post, you drop some bombshell that flips the entire narrative on its head. Your situation is incredibly messy. It’s obvious you've bounced between countless specialists, racked up a mountain of test results, and buried yourself in medical records. Honestly? You aren't going to get any real, concrete advice here about what's actually happening. This isn't the place for that.
I’m not entirely sure I follow your point. You keep bringing up this rheumatologist, but looking back through your posts, I still can't tell if they actually sat down and had a real conversation with you, or even gave you a thorough physical exam. It feels like all we ever hear about is paperwork and lab results being shuffled between specialists while they just keep scheduling more blood work.
You can't just slap a diagnosis like antiphospholipid syndrome or vasculitis on someone based solely on bloodwork and some paperwork. It’s not that simple. You need a deep dive—a thorough, exhaustive clinical exam and an incredibly detailed medical history that tracks everything from infancy onward. Beyond the blood tests, you're looking at a massive battery of diagnostic tools: imaging, specialized scans, and quite often, a biopsy to get the full picture.
It’s strange, really. You're claiming everything is fine from a rheumatology standpoint and that all the tests have been sent off, yet you're simultaneously telling me your own neurologist—the one actually managing your care—is noting potential diagnoses for both antiphospholipid syndrome and vasculitis. That is a massive contradiction. One side says you're clear, while your specialist is actively flagging these conditions. It just doesn't add up.
So if everything looks fine from a Rheumatology standpoint, why on earth is the neurologist adding more diagnoses to the list instead of clearing them out?
Look, like I’ve already said—based strictly on what you've shared so far—I don't see enough evidence here for Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Just having positive antibodies isn't enough to clinch that diagnosis. And I'll say it again: you can't diagnose a rheumatic disease based solely on blood work and paperwork. As for vasculitis? I wouldn't bet the house on it. Even with positive ANCA antibodies, large vessel dissection is incredibly rare in those cases; those types of vasculitis typically target the small vessels first, though I suppose there are outlier cases where carotid dissection has been documented in patients with ANCA vasculitis.
And we still haven't cleared up this whole Lupus thing that keeps popping up every five minutes. People keep bringing it up based on RF and anti-CCP results, which is just wrong. If you actually want to talk diagnostics, the heavy hitter here is ANA—not RF and certainly not anti-CCP. Let's get the facts straight.
Thanks again for the response.
Look, I know it. I’m fully aware that nobody here can hand me an official diagnosis. Honestly? I’ve just been confusing all of you, and frankly, the doctors are doing a pretty good job of confusing me, too.
I finally had my appointment with the rheumatologist. She sat there staring at those diagnoses listed right in front of her, just shaking her head—clearly not liking what she saw. Honestly? She told me straight up that my bloodwork doesn't match up with my symptoms. My spine is constantly killing me, but all she did was check my joint mobility and pull some blood. She claimed she’d wait on the labs to decide the next steps and then call me in. Well, they didn't call. After waiting forever, I had to be the one to ring them up. Turns out, from the rheumatology side, everything looks "fine." They sent the results over to my primary care doctor and told me I didn't even need a follow-up. So yeah, the GP has seen those diagnoses I mentioned before. Look, I know perfectly well that the neurologist's findings have nothing to do with these specific diagnoses, but what am I supposed to do? I have to follow their lead.
My apologies if I caused any confusion; I might have been a bit disorganized with my timeline from the start. I'm typing this on my phone, which isn't ideal, but I’d really like to send over my blood work results for you all to see. Look, my take? They’re probably sitting on their hands waiting for a retest—you know, more bloodwork to back up these supposed diagnoses—before they actually do anything useful. Personally, I’m planning to get a full workup done right here in the States, because honestly, believe me, I am completely in the dark at this point. It’s been over a year and a half now. A year and a half without a single concrete diagnosis.
INR (quick) 3.46 INR (hepatoquick) 3.52 Quick 20- 70-130 % Hepatoquick 13- 70-130 % APTT 51.2 25.1-36.0 Factor VII 12- - 65-160 Factor X 7- - 65-150 Protein C 39- - 73-150 Protein S 19- - 60-130 Protein S free (immunological) 18 - - 60-130
Based on what you’ve shared so far—and look, I’m speaking without seeing your full medical file here—you don't actually meet the criteria for Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Having positive antiphospholipid antibodies just once isn't enough for a diagnosis.
Those elevated RF and CCP levels don't necessarily point toward Lupus either, though they can show up there too. Honestly, looking at everything else you mentioned, I’m starting to worry that the doctors treating you might not be particularly well-versed in rheumatology.
Even more concerning is that second diagnosis: the suspected Vasculitis, especially given the positive ANCA finding.
What puzzles me—though again, I don't have the whole picture—is how you were discharged from the hospital with a suspicion of that diagnosis without even seeing a rheumatologist. If there's any doubt about ANCA Vasculitis, we're talking about serious stuff. You need an exhaustive workup to confirm or rule it out. If it's confirmed, you're looking at "heavy-duty" treatment, to put it bluntly. In that scenario, Martefarin, B vitamins, Iron, and Vitamin D aren't going to cut it.
Bottom line: you absolutely need to see a rheumatologist immediately for further testing. It strikes me as bizarre that your care was being handled by a neurologist consulting with a hematologist, only for you to walk out with two potential rheumatological diagnoses hanging over your head!
Thanks for getting back to me. I was actually discharged from the hospital a year and a half ago. Back then, my RF and CCP were high, and the doctors kept leaning toward Lupus. The whole team evaluated me, but I left the hospital without a definitive diagnosis—just the carotid and vertebral artery dissection, a prescription for Warfarin, and instructions to follow up with a rheumatologist. These other diagnoses were added later based on subsequent blood work. Because of all the chaos with COVID and the shortage of specialists, I didn't actually see a rheumatologist until March of this year. She ran some tests and had those diagnoses right in front of her. They said they'd call us for an appointment, but when we didn't hear anything, we called them. They told us that regarding the rheumatology side of things, I didn't even need to come in because everything looked fine, and they'd sent my results to my primary care doctor. Now I'm doing more blood work at the Coagulation Clinic, but reading some of the responses here, I'm starting to realize that nothing is really changing. If you want, I can send you the lab results from the hospital and the ones used to assign these diagnoses. And if you have any other advice, please, tell me. I can clearly see that I'm just spinning my wheels here.
brightgull95 said:Hold off until that "Suspected" label disappears from the rest of the diagnosis. In the US—and almost certainly in the UK or Canada too—it doesn't become a confirmed diagnosis until that qualifier is gone. Until then, it’s often just an educated guess. And look, I don't live in the States either.
As for the specific antibodies and Vasculitis, someone else here will probably give you a better breakdown. From my own limited perspective, it isn't unusual for things to show up like this at your age.
Either they explained it poorly, or you misunderstood them when you mentioned a genetic mutation. But since we're dealing with a "Suspected" diagnosis, there's still a chance you weren't born with any of this stuff.
They ran all those tests because they need to justify billing your insurance provider. That goes for the coronary angiogram, too; they can justify it by looking for SCAD (spontaneous coronary artery dissection). That's a real possibility for women in your age group.
brightgull95 said:Regarding next steps, your best bet is to ask the people who actually treated you. Call the clinic or the hospital where everything was handled. They are your primary resource—like I said before, they actually saw you. Follow their lead. Just do what they tell you to do.
Of course I'm going to follow the instructions of the doctors managing me through these confusing, nonsensical diagnoses. And obviously, I'll be turning back to them for answers, because I have to! I'm just asking questions. This is a forum, right? 😊
brightgull95 said:Hold off until that "Suspected" tag disappears from the diagnosis. In the US—and almost certainly in the UK or Canada too—it doesn't become an official, confirmed diagnosis until that qualifier is gone. Until then, it’s often just a hunch. And look, I’m not living in America either.
As for the actual antibodies and Vasculitis, another user will probably give you a better breakdown. From my own limited perspective, it isn't unusual for this stuff to show up at your age.
Either they explained it poorly, or you misread them when you mentioned a genetic mutation. But since we're looking at a "Suspected" diagnosis, there's still a chance you weren't actually born with any of this.
They ran all those tests because, frankly, they want to bill your insurance. Even the coronary angiogram can be justified by searching for SCAD (spontaneous coronary artery dissection). That is a very real possibility for women in your age group.
Thanks for getting back to me. I didn't misunderstand; the doctor explicitly told me today it was a genetic mutation. There it is. They never mentioned anything about it being "suspected"—I had no idea what that abbreviation meant. They just gave me the diagnoses. Lifelong therapy, end of story. So, what kind of follow-up testing should I expect to actually confirm this?
And look, I guess that’s why we pay into health insurance in the first place—to actually use the services. I wasn't trying to say they should bill the insurance; I meant having a full workup done at the hospital. Honestly, I'm just hoping for a thorough exam and a real conversation with our doctors. All I know is that I don't know anything, but I'm hoping this medication gets everything running normally. Also, since you mentioned being abroad... my neurologist doesn't really make his own calls. He just follows orders sent over from the specialists at the clinic—neurologists and hematologists—and he sticks to their notes. It feels weird to me, but whatever...
Based on what you've shared, there aren't enough indicators here for Antiphospholipid Syndrome. You haven't mentioned having a thrombosis (dissection doesn't count toward the APS criteria) or any history of pathological pregnancy. Furthermore, while there might be some genetic predisposition involved with Antiphospholipid Syndrome, there isn't a specific "classic" gene mutation that causes the disease. So, it seems odd to me that you were told this was due to a genetic mutation in your case. It sounds more likely that we're looking at thrombophilia, which is definitely not the same thing as Antiphospholipid Syndrome.
Something doesn't add up here.
Which Vasculitis are we talking about?
Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply. I'm actually out of town right now, not in the US. After being discharged from the hospital following my carotid and vertebral artery dissection, I was put on Warfarin. Following a color Doppler checkup, my neurologist requested that I go to a Coagulation Clinic for blood work. I don't understand these lab results at all—nothing makes sense to me. The diagnoses are: 1. Suspected secondary Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) with positive Anti-cardiolipin and anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies (IgG) at 2. Suspected systemic vascular disease (e.g., Vasculitis) with elevated RF and elevated ANCA 3. Hyperhomocysteinemia 4. Dissections of the carotid and vertebral arteries
The doctors explained it to me in layman's terms, basically saying I wasn't born with this. I have no complaints about their care; they truly did a thorough job, checking me from head to toe. MRI, color Doppler, lumbar puncture—they even performed an endoscopy and an abdominal MRI. They were likely trying to see if there were any other dissections. Everything went fine. My RF and CCP levels are high, and they kept leaning toward Lupus. They couldn't figure out why these dissections happened since I'm still young (35 years old). Today, my neurologist told me that I'll be on this medication for life. I have to repeat the tests at the Coagulation Clinic at the beginning of July.
Oh, and because of diagnosis number 3, they also have me taking B-complex and folate, on top of my Iron supplements and Vitamin D.
Hey everyone. It’s frustratingly hard to find real-world experiences regarding Antiphospholipid Syndrome. After undergoing a carotid and vertebral artery dissection, my doctors ordered blood work, which led to diagnoses of Antiphospholipid Syndrome, Vasculitis, and Hyperhomocysteinemia. I’ve been on Warfarin for a year and a half now. My doctor says it’s a genetic mutation. Here’s the kicker: I’ve had four perfectly healthy pregnancies and births before all this. Why now? And when did this even start? I have no clue! When I look online, everything is focused on people discovering this during pregnancy. Does anyone have any advice? Is anticoagulant therapy really a lifelong sentence? Is there actually any hope that my blood chemistry can return to normal? Thanks for any insight you can offer.
Hey, I was dealing with this intense pressure in my neck, head, and ears. On top of that, the headaches were brutal. Doctors initially suspected migraines, but it turned out to be carotid and vertebral artery dissection. I’m only 34, and even the specialists can't give me a straight answer on why this happened. You absolutely need to get an MRI. I actually just started a thread about this specific diagnosis, but—crickets! Not a single response. It’s probably because it's such a rare condition, but let me tell you, it's anything but harmless.
My 10-year-old girl has been dealing with a hemorrhoid for about a year now. It isn't constantly visible; it only shows up when she's using the bathroom. We already saw a pediatric surgeon, and his diagnosis was a hemorrhoid, with the recommendation to focus more on her diet. Now I'm wondering—can something like this actually stick around for that long without bursting? She isn't in any pain, just some occasional itching. Does anyone have recommendations for what I could use to apply to the area?
Look, I’ve got a problem. I just received a Motion for Execution because my checking account went into the red. I read through the paperwork today, and honestly, I’m floored. The notary fees and legal costs from the law firm are basically half the size of the actual debt itself. Does anyone know if there's any point in calling the law firm to beg for a payment plan, or should I just wait until they freeze my account? And does this whole pile of fees keep growing while the debt sits there unpaid? Please, if anyone knows, help me out!!
melloworca6 said:Usually, biologics get approved for kids and teenagers first, or maybe for patients who just aren't seeing any results from other treatments once the disease really starts flaring up. At least, that’s how I heard it worked. 🙂
Yeah, probably... if only there were actually someone out there with some real experience using Actemra... just to give us a little shred of hope. 😕