Posts by mistyranger51

mistyranger51 said:Peter Davis6, please reach out

Hey, Peter Davis6—still nothing? Please hit me up!👍

Chloe Wood96 said:Echinacea is great for boosting immunity.
But wait—did I read you on the "systemic lupus erythematosus" thread? If you're dealing with that or any other autoimmune issue, you definitely shouldn't be boosting your immune system.
Oh, I just saw you mentioned RA. In that case, maybe try some black currant leaf tincture? It's more about immunomodulation and fighting inflammation.

Where can I even find that tincture—and what's the damage like? Also, how do you actually take it? Thanks so much!

My immune system has been totally trashed this past year—feels like I'm catching every little bug going around. Anyone got any actual, tried-and-true tips for boosting it up from personal experience? Thanks in advance

mistyranger51 said:There’s a big difference between systemic and circumscribed scleroderma! Which one are you dealing with? I’ve had the circumscribed version on just one leg for 28 years now—I'm 35 total. Back when it was flaring up, I was getting massive doses of corticosteroids and penicillin via injection. Then, after three months—thank God—it finally stopped. My leg is thinner and about 1.5 cm shorter now, but that's it. No other issues, except my immune system is a bit weak, so rheumatoid arthritis caught up with me last year. All in all, I live a pretty normal life with it. This thing is super rare... at least I don't know anyone else who has it. I was watching a movie on CBS a month ago about a woman (this mostly hits women, anyway) who had systemic scleroderma, and I cried through the whole thing. Now I realize how lucky I am to have "only" the localized kind. Reach out and let me know what you're going through!👍👍👍

Peter Davis6, please reach out

Drew Nguyen47 said:Hey everyone,

I was wondering if anyone here knows a bit more about blood work than I do—since I'm a total newbie—😁 could you help me make sense of my results? Basically, my creatinine is a little low (it's at 59 instead of the usual 63-107 umol/L) and my ALP is also low (41 instead of the 54-119 U/L range). I'm 30 😍. From what I've read online, both these numbers might mean my body is a bit run down—maybe a vitamin deficiency or something? Does anyone know why this happens or how I can fix it? 🤷 Thanks in advance 🙏

I tell myself this every single day, but honestly, it doesn't really matter that they're low—it would be a much bigger deal if they were high. All I know is that creatinine tracks kidney function, and mine dips sometimes too, but my nephrologist never even mentions it. Don't stress too much, right? As long as the numbers aren't up, you should be fine.

brightdriver8 said:aha..
it's definitely cheaper.
I mean, back in the day, Medicare would cover those costs if I went to Austria,
so there's no way they'd want to pay for these $30 tests here locally...$0.00,
especially for people using their referrals... we're talking like 10 or 15 grand, it's not like 🙂

Thanks! Fingers crossed they just accept the referral!

brightdriver8 said:30 $0.00?!?!?!

I mean, I paid like $1,400 back when I was in Austria
and I heard things were even cheaper over in Budapest...
Where did this number even come from?

No clue what the actual price is—my aunt just told me that's what she paid, so take it with a grain of salt!

Peter Davis6 said:Anyone here dealt with this condition before?
Basically, the collagen in the deeper layers of the skin just starts breaking down. It triggers this constant stinging, aching, and itching, but since the issue isn't on the surface, you can throw all the creams in the world at it and nothing works.
All in all, it’s the kind of thing that won't kill you—unless it starts hitting your internal organs—but it'll absolutely wreck your quality of life.
Any thoughts?

There’s a big difference between systemic and circumscribed scleroderma! Which one are you dealing with? I’ve had the circumscribed version on just one leg for 28 years now—I'm 35 total. Back when it was flaring up, I was getting massive doses of corticosteroids and penicillin via injection. Then, after three months—thank God—it finally stopped. My leg is thinner and about 1.5 cm shorter now, but that's it. No other issues, except my immune system is a bit weak, so rheumatoid arthritis caught up with me last year. All in all, I live a pretty normal life with it. This thing is super rare... at least I don't know anyone else who has it. I was watching a movie on CBS a month ago about a woman (this mostly hits women, anyway) who had systemic scleroderma, and I cried through the whole thing. Now I realize how lucky I am to have "only" the localized kind. Reach out and let me know what you're going through!👍👍👍

Maria Chase55 said:I mean, they cover some stuff and they don't—it's a toss-up. I know my grandma went for a CT scan using her Medicare referral, so if that's what you need, then yeah...

That's actually a specialized CT scan specifically for cancer patients, and since it costs $10, it’s definitely better if you can get it covered by a referral from your doctor.

Anonymous said:So, what exactly is this HLA test? My immunologist-rheumatologist sent me for it, but honestly—no matter who I ask—nobody seems to know what it is. I don't even get my lab appointment until March. Can someone please break this down for me? Based on everything else I've had tested so far... it’s looking pretty likely that I have RA.

mistyranger51, hey, jump over to the "Rheumatoid Arthritis" thread so we can swap stories. I've been dealing with it myself since last year.

Maria Chase55 said:aha... my bad, I didn't realize.. I usually go to Quest Diagnostics for other stuff and never have to wait long—so I just assumed it was the same everywhere there...

And they take insurance referrals, right?

Is there seriously nobody here actually dealing with RA? Must be nice—you guys all sound perfectly healthy. 👍👍👍👍👍

Does anyone happen to know what the wait time is looking like for a PET/CT over at Beverly Hills? I'm looking for that specific scan—the one that's really crucial for folks dealing with cancer.

I’ve been dealing with rheumatoid arthritis for about six months now—started back last year. It all kicked off with joint pain that just wouldn't stay put... one day it was my knee, then my shoulder, then my elbow, you know? But the worst part has definitely been my hands and feet. I've been on Methotrexate since July, and honestly, I'm handling it pretty well so far—aside from having to be on birth control.
Is anyone else out there fighting RA? I’d love to hear what meds you're taking, how you're managing the pain, or if you find any relief at spas or retreats... just looking to swap some stories and see if I'm alone in this.
Anyway, hit me up if you're going through something similar! 👍