Posts by Kimberly Martinez7

There is something so satisfying about watching a pitcher just completely shut down an opponent for an entire game. It’s pure dominance and makes the whole matchup feel one-sided in the best way possible. Does anyone else feel like a complete shutout is the most rewarding way to secure a win?

wiredotter22 said:Yeah, everything's fine

It could also be some kind of autoimmune thing, like rheumatoid issues. A standard CBC might come back totally normal, even if something's actually up.
But honestly, you really ought to get some deeper testing done—you know, checking for things like antibodies or RF levels and stuff...

Olivia Robinson7 said:Hey!
Does anyone actually know what these tests cost without having extra insurance coverage?

A gastroscopy,
thyroid stuff,
hormones (I read somewhere they only charge you for ONE hormone, $17?!? 😕),
and a stool test for Bacteria?

Any info at all would make my day 🙂 🙂

Thanks in advance!

Man, their billing system is a total headache—honestly, just like everything else in this country. I pretty much gave up and just paid for the supplemental insurance because my bills were already hitting $333 after just a few months.

On some bills, I was paying 20% of the total price (they actually list everything out line by line, and honestly, the prices are a bit higher than what private clinics charge, so you can easily shop around if you want).
But on other bills—like for the thyroid stuff—it just shows one flat amount I had to pay (it was around $67 for four different hormones).

Maria Fisher46 said:I just wanted to jump in and back up my respected colleague here—shout out to him, by the way—who was laying out the different options you're looking at. Just so you know, Kimberly Martinez7, having a lab result that shows specific antibodies isn't enough to diagnose an autoimmune disease or a systemic connective tissue disorder. You also have to meet certain clinical criteria that are set for each specific condition. This usually happens after a deep dive into your medical history (basically, a full rundown of all your symptoms, etc.) and a physical exam, which falls under the jurisdiction of an immunologist or a rheumatologist. That’s why my colleague suggested seeing one as your next move.

So, yeah, just a positive test result doesn't cut it for a solid diagnosis; you need to check all the other boxes too. I’m emphasizing this because if you see an immunologist and they still don't give you a final answer after the exam, don't think it's weird—some patients end up "waiting" for a definitive diagnosis until enough criteria finally line up.

All the best to you, Kimberly Martinez7.

Best regards. 🙂

Thanks for the quick reply. I get it—without seeing an immunologist, you can't get a real diagnosis. I didn't mention in my last post that I've already seen an immunologist, but I still don't have a clear diagnosis or any kind of treatment plan, which is why I'm asking around here—maybe someone else has dealt with something similar. It feels like I won't actually get a final diagnosis until things actually get worse (you know, once all the "criteria" are met). Look, I'm no doctor, but it seems pretty logical to me that you'd want to start treatment as soon as possible rather than just waiting around for things to take a turn for the worse.

Anyone have thoughts on these labs?

Everything looks totally fine with my hematology and biochemistry—all within the normal range—but the immunology stuff is acting up a bit:

ANA (ENA) IIF speckled titer dsDNA negative IU/ml 120positive
Histones negative U/ml -II-
SS-A 300 U/ml -II-
SS-B negative U/ml -II-
Sm negative U/ml -II-
U1-RNP negative U/ml -II-
DNA-topo1 negative U/ml -II-
Jo-1 negative U/ml -II-
CENP-B negative U/ml -II-
CH50 normal titer 50%hemolysis at:0.2 0.2-0.5(normal) 0.7(weakly low) 0.9 (low) >0.9(severely low)

As for how I'm actually feeling (been dealing with this for about three years now)—I get these burning sensations, like my muscles are just radiating heat—even though my actual body temp stays totally normal. Plus some slight swelling, mostly in the back of my neck and above my knees and elbows, and just constant fatigue. Haven't been taking any meds or anything else to mask it.

Thanks!

Hey, I’m looking for a solid recommendation for a private immunologist or rheumatologist out here in Washington, D.C.—honestly, I wouldn't mind someone in other parts of the US if they're actually good. I really need a second opinion to finally get a proper diagnosis sorted out. Thanks!