quiethound45 said:You can actually test at any point during your cycle if it isn't an emergency. It’s pretty easy to adjust the math afterward. But honestly, some hormones sit in a baseline state for about 3 to 5 days, which makes them way easier to spot if they're running high compared to other times. I just don't feel like dealing with the headache of recalculating everything, and frankly, certain tests are just more reliable that way. Every hormone has its own rhythm throughout the cycle—nothing stays still or constant. They naturally spike, dip, and then settle back down. It really just depends on which phase you want to catch them in when you go for testing. (Your OB-GYN usually knows exactly what they're looking for) I had to go in on day 3 or 5 myself. I think it was because of FSH, LH, and androgens, though I can't say for sure.
Exactly. For FSH and LH, you absolutely have to get those checked around day 3 to 5 of your cycle.
As for progesterone, you either test on days 3–5 or around days 20–21.
Everything else? Any day works fine.
I made sure to ask my doctor to walk me through everything. I did my homework by reading through this entire forum before my appointment, so I showed up with a massive list of questions ready to go. 😁
Douglas King7 said:When can I actually switch doctors?
Does it have to be at the end of the year or the start of the next one? Does anyone know the EXACT timing?
Or can I just do it whenever? I did some digging on Google and saw you can change anytime, but those results were from 2004, so who knows if they're still right.
You can do it any time of year! I switched all of mine just a few months ago and honestly, nobody even blinked. 😁
On the Rib, the doctor is supposed to write down their whole opinion on paper, but I haven't actually sat down with a doctor yet, so I’m feeling pretty lost. All I have is this piece of paper with some jargon on it that makes zero sense to me.
What happens if my field of vision is narrowed?
They ran these tests to see if there were any lingering effects from my car accident, but honestly, I don't have high eye pressure or any other major issues with my eyes normally.
quiethound45 said:Seriously? Since I'm a student, I got that 11% copay rate... I haven't even paid my bill yet... I also got stuck waiting—sat there for almost an hour! 😬 The OBGYN said it’s because of my prolactin levels. He told me I need to just relax so things can stabilize. 🙄 And did they give you your results in a month too? Honestly, I'm starting to freak out. Once he mentioned PCOS, I was basically done. 😲
My tests are scheduled for January 3rd. 🙂 Just when I finally feel like I've recovered from New Year's Day. 🙂 There are about ten different things they're testing besides prolactin, and honestly, I can't even make sense of the printouts.
Hey, try to relax. It feels like every second or third girl I know has either PCOS or some kind of hormone issue, and they all live totally normal lives. What's there to be afraid of? It's better to know what you're up against so you can actually fight back. 😁
If you're looking to get a visual field test done at Goldman Sachs, don't just show up and expect to be seen right away—you can't wait around all day at Rib. You really have to book it in advance; it took three months for them to get me on the schedule. Before that, though, you absolutely have to go in for a two-picture test, which they can usually squeeze you in for without an appointment.
The screening was quick, and I actually got called in exactly when they said I would. 🙂
Everything went smoothly, except for one thing: I have zero clue how to read my own results! 😁
Lisa Barrett22 said:So, I was just walking through downtown the other day, minding my own business and checking out some shop windows, when suddenly my heart just starts racing. It felt like something terrible was about to happen or like something totally unexpected was right around the corner. But I knew nothing was actually wrong... I got pretty spooked. 😲
It’s happened before, too, but usually in specific situations where there’s an actual reason—like seeing someone I haven't seen in ages, which makes my heart go crazy.
Has anyone else dealt with this? Honestly, I'm starting to get worried about my health (and maybe my mental health, too).
If you rule out psychological stuff—you know, things like anxiety or panic attacks—then sudden heart palpitations can actually be caused by thyroid issues. That’s often one of the first signs. It’s nothing to freak out over, though; most things are treatable if you catch them.
But if it really is just stress or anxiety, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe someone here knows a bit more than I do. 🙂
Walter Smith8 said:It’s possible you’ve got H. pylori. It’s a huge culprit behind gastritis and ulcers.
Doctors usually check for it via blood work, a breath test, or an endoscopy. I’ve heard people say the breath test is actually the most reliable way to go right now.
Treatment is typically a triple therapy—two different antibiotics plus something to protect your stomach lining. It lasted about eight weeks for me.
Once that's over, everything was smooth sailing. Fingers crossed for 😉
I don't have H. pylori; it's just these random stomach pains and nobody knows where they're coming from yet. 😢
I went in for a visual field test at Goldman Sachs. The doctor reviewed everything, wrote up their opinion, and then the nurse handed me all the paperwork on my way out...
And now, honestly? I have no clue what I'm supposed to do with this. The report says my visual field is constricted. Who am I even supposed to show this to? My primary care doctor? An ophthalmologist? Is this news good or bad?
If anyone knows the drill, please let me know. I really don't feel like driving all the way back to the clinic over at Mayo Clinic. 😢 Thanks!
So, I finally dragged myself over to the clinic with a massive stack of bloodwork orders—hormone tests, prolactin, the whole nine yards.
They actually made me sit there for half an hour just "calming down" and doing deep breathing exercises before they'd even touch me. After waiting for about 15 minutes, they called me up just to pay my co-pay, which ended up being $42! My reaction was basically just, "ARE YOU SERIOUSLY KIDDING ME???" AAAAA!
And then, instead of getting my tests done after that little detour, they told me I had to go back and "relax" for ANOTHER thirty minutes. 😢 I guess I might have come off a little agitated.🤣
Just a heads-up for anyone who doesn't have insurance covering everything: bring a thick wallet. You're gonna need it.😉
Casey Bishop26 said:Can someone please explain the actual difference between these two tests? Like, what kind of stomach issues or changes does one pick up that the other misses? Lately, my stomach has been acting up—weird pains, heartburn, constant burping😠—so I’m looking into getting checked out privately. I’d really love to skip the endoscopy if I can help it. 🙂 I haven't even bothered going to my primary doctor because even if she gave me a referral, I'd be stuck on a waiting list for months. If I have to wait six weeks just for basic blood work, I can only imagine how long the wait is for an X-ray or an ultrasound...
Ugh, tell me about it. I'm wondering the exact same thing, mostly because an endoscopy is totally off the table for me. It's not that I'm being difficult🙂, it's just a physical impossibility. I took a really hard hit to my jaw when I was a kid, and now doctors don't want to take any risks with that kind of procedure. My stomach still hurts occasionally, though. It's actually getting better since I cut back on coffee and started eating regular meals, but there's definitely something going on.😁
They did suggest I consider an X-ray instead. Does anyone here know anything about that? Help a girl out! 🙂
Hannah Watson85 said:Ugh, they’re killing me :/ .. for about a week now.. it feels like I'm covered in bruises. They just ache, and they're tender to the touch, and I have no clue why :/ .. the left side seems a bit worse than the right.
Nobody hit me, I didn't bump into anything, and I'm not even expecting my period.. they just hurt :/ .. at first, I thought maybe it was because I sleep on my stomach, but I've always slept that way, so it would be weird if they suddenly felt all bruised up and crushed..
Any ideas?
Are you doing okay with your progesterone levels? When those dip, the cramps can get way more intense during the second half of your cycle.
Also, if you're on birth control, it's actually pretty common for things to hurt more—doctors usually warn people about that when they prescribe them.
I’ve been a total milk lover since I was a little kid. Just absolutely adored it.
Then, out of nowhere—right around my 19th birthday—everything just flipped. Suddenly, I’m dealing with nausea, stomach cramps, the whole works. It actually took me a while to figure out what was actually going on with my body.
But yeah, for me, it hit right as I was leaving my teenage years behind. 🙂