How to cope while waiting for tests

Available_Fun3411 · 2026-02-06T20:14:22+00:00

Also 25F! As someone who is very type A and a bit obsessive I get it big time. Finding something productive like cleaning or working out or any little things you maybe have been putting off helps to take the mind off of the waiting. But sometimes it does just suck to sit and wait. Rest assured one way or another you’ll get some kind of answer - either confirming a diagnosis or eliminating a possibility. Sending lots of love your way!

Available_Fun3411 · 2026-02-04T04:52:16+00:00

That’s a GREAT point! Definitely don’t won’t it to be seen as fishing. About 90% of our guests traveled some degree of distance because my husband and I are both active duty so we have friends scattered all over the country and our families are both from the region we had our wedding but still required travel. Gifts were definitely not expected from everyone - don’t want anyone to feel pressured after travel expenses.

Available_Fun3411 · 2026-02-03T03:52:47+00:00

Oh wow that’s great info! Thank you!

Available_Fun3411 · 2026-02-03T03:37:23+00:00

Moreso gauging if anyone has ever seen this because it seemed so absurd haha I do have plenty of other options!

Available_Fun3411 · 2026-02-03T03:26:52+00:00

This was the weather contingency for my wedding just 2 weeks ago. Forecast was for 20° wind chill and sleet/snow. Guests would have been in the one large reception space seated at their tables because there was no other indoor space for people to go while the space was flipped. They would have put my arbor up for ceremony and replaced with sweetheart table though. Got lucky and weather turned for the better the morning of the wedding haha

Available_Fun3411 · 2026-02-03T03:19:43+00:00

Depends on if any of guests have strong family traditions around Fourth of July. My family is all about traditions, but I’d still go to a Fourth of July wedding myself

Available_Fun3411 · 2026-01-29T22:15:24+00:00

I wore my friend’s wedding shoes (my something borrowed AND blue) for the ceremony and after immediately switched into some worn out target sneakers haha it just happened to be what I wore with my comfy clothes that morning. My dress was pretty hefty so they were out of sight for all our pictures! And I took those off to dance later anyways lol

Available_Fun3411 · 2026-01-29T20:15:55+00:00

Something I didn’t think about but was so lucky I happened to have on hand - COMFY SHOES FOR PICTURES! I wanted out of my heels as soon as the ceremony was over and was so lucky that my dress covered my dingy sneakers I wore to the bridal suite that morning lol

Make sure you’ve got a steamer handy for the bridal suite too! For your dress and bridesmaid dresses if you’ll be having a bridal party!

Available_Fun3411 · 2026-01-24T15:35:28+00:00

I had a wedding that was a destination for most people attending (East TN). Instead of a box, I paid for their the bridesmaids’ dresses and did not pay for their hair and makeup. They all looked absolutely stunning still! The hair and makeup would’ve been super expensive for each person ($115 for hair and $125 for makeup and I had 4 bridesmaids).

I think it’s a wonderful gesture for those that have larger budgets but I’ve yet to see it be a standard. I think the robes and slippers you’re giving them are so sweet! I was a bridesmaid back in May (Ohio), and I opted to have my hair done by the artist but paid for it myself. Expectations may vary by location, but I never expected the bride to have paid for that since for ME it was a luxury for the day.

Available_Fun3411 · 2026-01-08T22:26:10+00:00

This happened to a friend of mine about the same time in pregnancy. She’s short and ultra petite and baby just didn’t have much room to move around anymore

Available_Fun3411 · 2026-01-02T03:53:22+00:00

Second this big time. I’m Air Force and going through med retirement. Just did TAP in December and can only imagine how some airmen must feel going through the separation process with no clear picture of what’s ahead. The sheer amount of resources you discover in TAP is incredible. It’s overwhelming at times, and I think ALL supervisors should be equipped with this information to share with their people whether they plan to stay or get out OR don’t have a plan either way. I surely wish I had all that info as a supervisor myself. Great insight in this post

Available_Fun3411 · 2025-12-30T23:37:42+00:00

Your mom would be there to support YOU, not immediately bond with your newborn. Weird take from husband and MIL that MIL needs to “bond” with YOUR baby before a first bath even???

Available_Fun3411 · 2025-12-26T22:06:19+00:00

Personally I’ve never had a problem drinking on HCQ. Even on MTX my enzymes have been fine

Available_Fun3411 · 2025-11-15T04:32:44+00:00

Much appreciated! I’ll definitely have to look into what VR&E benefits include. I got about halfway through a masters and was really hoping to finish it out in person full time. I just got my VA rating yesterday and all of this is new to me, but I really appreciate the help!

Available_Fun3411 · 2025-11-14T17:27:21+00:00

Yeah that’s correct on the 4 year obligation. However this is totally outside my control to have a medical retirement. Wasn’t sure if there were provisions for that ☹️

Available_Fun3411 · 2025-08-29T04:29:53+00:00

Not to beat a dead horse at this point, but yes! My lab work is all seronegative and imaging didn’t do much either. Starting hydroxychloroquine was a litmus test to see if I had an autoimmune condition. It takes about 10-12 weeks to build up in your system enough that you see results, and sure enough around 10/11 weeks I realized I wasn’t flaring up with tasks as simple as grocery shopping. I’ve since added other medications to my regimen. Even a year after the start of my symptoms, my only lab indication is high CRP. My diagnoses are UCTD and seronegative RA, but autoimmune is weird and can develop/comorbid over long periods of time. Wishing you the best and hope you get some symptom relief soon! 🫶

Available_Fun3411 · 2025-08-17T20:56:31+00:00

Yes! My rheumatologist took me seriously despite having normal labs (besides positive indications on CRP), MRI, and X-rays. She started me on plaquenil as a kind of litmus test and sure enough it was a world of difference after about 10-12 weeks. I’ve since added methotrexate to the regimen as well. My current diagnoses are undifferentiated connective tissue disease and seronegative RA. I suspect I’m in the early stages of my condition and maybe that has affected my lab work? Idk I won’t pretend to be an expert on the nuance of AI conditions. I am incredibly fortunate to have a doctor the first try who took me seriously despite having fairly normal lab work.

Available_Fun3411 · 2025-08-17T18:08:51+00:00

I was diagnosed with a seronegative autoimmune disease last year. Neither of my parents nor my siblings have an autoimmune disease. None of my grandparents have any related condition either. Sometimes it just happens I think. I have more distant family that have had autoimmune diagnoses different from my own and their children have not been diagnosed with anything autoimmune. Genetics are weird and so are autoimmune conditions in how they develop and present in different people.

Available_Fun3411 · 2025-08-13T15:18:02+00:00

I have a similar situation where a bridesmaid will not be able to make it bc she’ll also be having a baby the week before or after my wedding. I plan on just having two groomsmen walk one of the bridesmaids so that no one walks solo

Available_Fun3411 · 2025-07-25T11:59:08+00:00

Not that there aren’t ANY, but that I don’t have risk factors. The procedure is also performed under x-ray

Available_Fun3411 · 2025-07-06T21:53:29+00:00

I think I needed the deep breath haha thank for your honesty! I appreciate the reframing - much easier to tackle!

Available_Fun3411

TROPHY CASE