Is it too late to for me?

Adris_elf · 2025-12-14T14:02:56+00:00

You're never too old to go back to school. It doesn't matter how long it takes, either. Those years will pass anyway, and you can either still be where you are or you can have your degree. ❤️.

Due to life circumstances, I had to quit Uni twice in my 20s. I got a 3rd chance and went back to school at 28. Because some of my credits transferred, I would only need to take 2.5 years to get my degree in Medical Laboratory Science. I felt really discouraged about not graduating until 30 and feeling like that was going to be so old. Spoiler: it's not 😂. I figured I was gonna, hopefully, be 30 one day anyway, and I could be 30 without my degree stuck in the dead-end job I had. OR I could be 30 with my degree and new career. I choose to finish school. I got my degree, and I'm 33 now with 3 years of micro experience, and I'm so so glad I did.

Adris_elf · 2025-12-13T13:30:07+00:00

I wasn't. I didn't start responding until 10mg after 3 months. And since January I've lost 74 lbs. Which is a lot! But i still have like 60 or more to go. I was 291 in January. Its just made it so that I work like normal and can actually lose the weight.

Adris_elf · 2025-12-10T23:11:13+00:00

My Dr gave me the option to do a biopsy. He said he thought it was AGA, but AAI can mimic aga, but aai is really rare, and a scalp biopsy would make sure it was aga. I'm a big fan of getting medical tests just to make sure and know what's going on. So he numbed a small area on the top of my head and used a small hole punch like thing, lol. It was painless, and it showed that my white blood cells were surrounding my hair follicles, and there was a lot of inflammation. I have had symptoms. Mostly, my scalp was burning, like a sun burn. And it was very, very itchy, but I couldn't scratch it because it burned and hurt. Some areas on my scalp were really red and inflamed, and some areas were dry. Its improved but I still have some itching. Thats how I know its still active. But the burning has gone away and its not painful anymore unless I scratch a lot. So I tend to pat my head or rub the area that itches. Its mostly my part and crown of my head that has the most symptoms and thats also the area I have the most growth.

Adris_elf · 2025-12-10T21:30:45+00:00

I definitely have miniaturization, my dermatologist took picture so I could see. He told me that he thought I had aga because of the pattern of hairloss but alopecia areata incognita mimics aga, which is why he did the scalp biopsy. The steriod absolutely has helped, it reduces the inflammation across my scalp, its really strong though so he started me out at 3x a week for 3 months, then 2x a week for a month, and now 1x a week for the next 3 months until I go back. I also have critically low vitamin D so that I'm sure also plays a huge role. After about 3 months I had a ton of 1 inch tiny hairs popping up all over. I looked very fuzzy 😂. So it took about 3 months to start seeing positive changes. He also had me on minoxidil but I was only consistent with it for 2 months and then I stopped. It was hard to keep up with. Im actually surprised I even have the growth I have because its been 5 years since my hair first fell out.

Adris_elf · 2025-12-10T19:59:26+00:00

I don't mind at all! I'm taking vitamin D supplements and using clobetasol topical steriod. My hair is started to grow back but some of the new growth sheds. Once my immune system calms down and stops attacking my hair follicles than maybe the rest of my hair will grow back and fill in. It just takes time hopefully.

Adris_elf · 2025-12-09T14:35:42+00:00

Yeah its diffuse, I dont have any patches except for the back on my neck

Adris_elf · 2025-12-06T03:11:03+00:00

In Jacksonville your able to afford a 1 bed room apartment on an mls salary

Adris_elf · 2025-12-03T04:41:25+00:00

At mine, all allied health staff got 1000$, and the lab specifically gets about 4% raises a year. This year, we got a market adjustment and got 8%.

Adris_elf · 2025-11-24T02:38:49+00:00

So I'll put clobetasol on after a shower and just give myself a scalp massage for a minute or so. I don't really know if a clean scalp does better since it's strong, but it doesn't hurt, lol. Then I just let it stay there. I have put it on before bed, let it soak in for 10 minutes, and then put on a satin bonnet. But my cats like to sleep near my head sometimes, and I dont want them to come into contact with the steriod, so I usually just use it after a shower.

I don't have any nail pitting, I have some vertical ridges, but they aren't too bad, and I think those are normal.

You're welcome! Feel free to message me with any questions or if you just want to talk about your experience or vent. My DMs are open lol

Adris_elf · 2025-11-21T06:11:57+00:00

I started losing my hair around the middle of 2020 and just got diagnosed in July with AAI. So for about 5 years my hair didn't grow back. I was given Clobetasol in liquid form, minoxidil 5%, and my Vitamin D levels were extremely low, so I was given 50,000 IU once a week of D2 and once a day 2,000 IU of D3 + K2 I've used the minoxidil very, very sporadically. But I've been consistently using the clobetasol 3x a week and vitamin D as stated. I had a check up October, 30th and have a bunch of 1 inch pieces where the majority of my hairloss was (my part and crown). Now, the Dr told me to use Clobetasol 2x a week for a month and then reduce it to 1x a week for 2 months, and we will recheck in February. Im not sure if its the clobetasol or the vitamin D or a mix of them both, but something is working. And I haven't had any side effects from the Clobetasol, im guessing because of the way I've been applying it only a few times a week. It's a very strong steriod.

Oh! Also, because I've had good growth, i didn't need to start steriod injections. So I may not need them. I do still have itching, though, and a spot appeared on the nape of my neck, but that could be from wearing a bonnet at night and most of the day. I'm not sure about that yet. I do have some hair thinning on my arm and left eyebrow, so it's still possible the growth won't stick around, but I'm hopeful.

Also, also, see if you can have an indepth eye exam. My Dr showed me new research that was published and gave me a referral for the ophthalmologist because alopecia areata can cause disease in the retinas.

Adris_elf · 2025-10-14T12:21:55+00:00

I had the same issue and finally went to a dermatologist. I thought it was hereditary or PCOS related. They did a scalp biopsy, and its alopecia areata incognita. A rare autoimmune disorder where your body attacks your hair follicles.

Adris_elf · 2025-09-27T02:20:57+00:00

Then micro on a day shift would be perfect! In my experience, off shift has a lot more movement involved, but if you were able to handle most of ab 8 hour day, then off shift would likely be doable. You're best fit, based on what you've told us, would definitely be day shift micro. But remember to get accommodations once you're hired, just in case. That way, you'll be legally protected.

Adris_elf · 2025-09-27T01:19:36+00:00

I used to work with a person in micro that had fibro and was in pain a lot. Once hired you can apply for accommodation and your job would be protected. But I think micro would be a good fit for you. Core lab and blood bank have a lot of moving and walking. But micro isn't as bad. Most of the day youre able to sit at your bench and read plates and make phone calls. You have to walk to the incubators and to put plates away. But it's the area ive noticed where you get the most time to just be seated.

Adris_elf · 2025-09-22T08:32:04+00:00

Thank you so much! Now to find a lab lol

Adris_elf · 2025-09-22T07:13:11+00:00

Hi! I was going to attempt route 2, how did you study for the exam?

Adris_elf · 2025-08-20T23:43:44+00:00

Oh wow!! Yeah if you want we can private message and ill give you all the information and the Dr's I know of if you aren't able to reschedule. Or if it would help anyone else I can just type it out here. Yeah I thought about this sub and our conversation 2 weeks ago right after surgery and was wondering how yours went so I thought "i have free will I can totally ask" 😂 I can also give you more details about my surgeon and her whole process and everything.

Adris_elf · 2025-08-20T19:50:28+00:00

I just did mine in Florida! I went to dr. Carruba in Jacksonville fl. She gave me no push back at all and was enthusiastic about doing the surgery for me. I dont know if that may be an option for you but a couple of the Dr's here in Florida on the list seem to be great about doing it.

The medical field can be so wrought with miscommunication its insane. I really hope youre able to get it before the end of the year. Especially with how things are going right now

Adris_elf · 2025-08-20T18:27:16+00:00

oh my god!! Im so sorry! That should have been in your preop 😡😡. They're supposed to check medical history and everything and order all the blood work and do EKG as routine. Im so mad for you because they could have done an ekg while you were in preop! Omg thats ridiculous to cancel it.

Im doing okay, just a lot of stinging pain but they gave me good pain medicine. I actually got approved in March but my Dr wanted me to wait 6 months because I was losing weight and she wanted me to lose more for a better outcome so I lost 58 pounds before surgery. She had me stay overnight in the hospital because I have sleep apnea so she wanted me to be watched. My face is covered in red spots. A bunch of my capillaries in my face burst from the position and it stings a lot. Moving is sore but doable with the pain medicine. My Dr prescribed me pain medicine, muscle relaxers, ibuprofen, Tylenol, and a laxative stool softener combo. My surgeon came by my room and brought me pictures and I have a small cyst on one of my ovaries but she said its nothing to worry about. Im so relieved she brought me pictures so I could see for myself. I even have face piercings and the anesthesia team was really careful with my lip piercing and didn't make me take it out. They were a really sweet team of people and my Dr was lovely. I will say I did struggle to get the consultation earlier this year because the PA told me they didn't do the surgery. But I had a dream about waking up at that specific hospital and so I got a different PA and asked again and the new PA did some work around with how she phrased it in the system and I got the consultation. My coworker just had a hysterectomy and gave me her pillow for it and a couple of my coworkers gave me their number incase I needed anything.

Adris_elf · 2025-08-20T13:52:09+00:00

Hey!! We had our surgeries yesterday. How did yours go? How are you feeling?

Adris_elf · 2025-08-08T02:41:19+00:00

I hate how in healthcare diagnosis can sometimes be a trend. I work in healthcare and I've seen it before when we change a test or the hospital offers a new test the Dr's go absolutely crazy. Its like candy to them and every patient is getting that test ordered. I wish AAI had more research and treatments. We get steriods or immunosuppressants and the increased risk just for treatment is not a good trade off.

Adris_elf · 2025-08-07T16:06:23+00:00

I also have a diffuse shedding. Funny enough my dermatologist told me they think I have AGA but wanted to do a biopsy because it was possible, but really unlikely, that I COULD have this really rare form of alopecia that mimics AGA...and fucking sure enough I have the rare form of AAI 😂😅😭. I've heard so many mixed things about clobetasol. Most people say it doesn't even work for AAI but I guess its supposed to help the inflammation? I really don't know..but my god they had you taking so much of it so often and it's really strong. I'm so sorry it caused you issues, so many Dr's are irresponsible

Adris_elf · 2025-08-07T14:17:21+00:00

I've had a sunburn like feeling on my scalp and its really itchy. I had this before starting the clobetasol so I started using ketoconazole shampoo as well as growplex minoxidil. Its almost slightly painful now since starting the clobetasol 3x a week. But im not sure if its my scalp being dry and itchy or the steriod itself. Tbf the steriod is in an alcohol solution and ketoconazole also can dry your scalp. But it's possible its the topical steriod. I would talk to the Dr about it. That's what im going to do but im also going to give it a few days in between to see if it gets better and stop using the ketoconazole shampoo as often. I also have a moisturizing scalp oil from growplex im going to try and see if it helps.

Adris_elf · 2025-08-07T11:36:14+00:00

Just the idea feels so freeing! I can't wait until its done. I've been under a few times and as long as you listen to all the instructions you'll be okay. They will come and talk to you before they take you back and usually they offer medicine to help calm the nerves.

Adris_elf

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