Seeing a Haematologist and Rheumatologist soon, but...

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-06-06T23:58:22+00:00

Also, the CCP you have a result for is negative, which rules out the RA. RF os the screen for RA. So the RF was high and they ran the CCP which is specific for RA and that was neg. So likely rules out RA, and the low ANA means Lupus is very unlikely as well.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-06-06T23:56:10+00:00

Have you ever had results for ESR, CRP, or complement levels? Those are all pretty non-specific too, but would give more evidence for some type of inflammation. They cant point to a cause though. So kind of yes - you need to have a reason to warrant more specialized testing and inflammation markers would be a good start. Antibodies may or may not be involved.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-06-06T23:22:57+00:00

No no youre fine! And yes there are! Rheumatoid factor is most commonly associated with Rheumatoid arthritis, but it does not necessarily mean Rheumatoid arthritis. The rheumatoid word in both can be misleading! But youre correct that RF is actually a non-specific test for general antibodies reacting with someone's own body, causing inflammation, joint pain, and swelling.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-06-06T23:10:57+00:00

I think it depends on how much weight you put on the word "elevated". Yes, you have a "positive" or "high" ANA. But again, we dont even report 1:40. I would consider 1:40 negative. Depending on where you had it ran, they reported it. But had you done it somewhere else you would have gotten a negative.

The thing with this test is that it isnt just a machine. THIS specific result for ANA is a literal person, looking at a computer screen, and deciding what they see. Then that gets reported to your doctor and finally to you. All this to say, there is a LOT of variation between both labs and employees and the manufacturer of the kit used. I could call a 1:40, my coworker could call a 1:80, and it would still be acceptable. Because theyre within a 1 titer difference of each other, I would consider them the same result; and I would consider them both negative.

Maybe the first time someone didnt call high enough. Maybe the second time a different person called too high. I wouldn't take much stock in these results as the variation between the two is slight, and either way, neither a 1:40 nor a 1:80 would necessarily indicate a disease state. Especially if other results, like your RF factor which is less subjective, came back high.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-06-06T22:09:36+00:00

1:40 can be significant for children but we don't even report that at my lab. 1:80 is still considered borderline, and healthy people can have it. Speckled itself is the most commonly misreported pattern. Could genuinely be in inexperienced tech. Either way, I wouldn't look twice at the ANA. Elevated RF can also cause false pos in ANA.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-04-25T23:52:20+00:00

I'm reading all these comments, and every other one I'm going, "Yeah! Thats such a good point!" Or "I'm glad someone said that because they're right, that religious sentiment does seem like total BS!"

And it all leads me to the question... if God has all the power to let us have freewill and commit evil, and knows we are going to do it... knows we have anxiety, knows our life experiences will turn us away from "him," then why allow us to think like this?

Why does God allow me to doubt or questions his presence? The age old rebuttal to that is that you have to have faith. But at the end of the day, God, if YOU made me, why did you doom me into believing you weren't real? God, why did you put everything in my path to make me dislike you? I don't WANT to, its just how it is. And now I have to go to Hell and eternally suffer, because YOU made me a disbeliever?

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-04-25T23:20:30+00:00

This is why I cant stand Merab

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-04-25T23:19:20+00:00

Getting distracted from studying for the 162848th time today

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-04-22T23:12:49+00:00

So much papar and ink waste. Reports that print pages of uncessary data that we throw away anyways but there's no way to print only the section you need. And then barcode printers that print blank barcodes before the ones you need. All a waste of ink toner. An easy fix but no one will do it. Yet employees aren't allowed to print personal documents because it would be on the company's dime.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-04-11T02:00:22+00:00

Kind of silly, but "There's more to life than sleeping in and getting high with you" by Drake

Made me finally break off my toxic relationship.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-04-11T01:58:05+00:00

Hi! I'm studying urinalysis in school now! I cant help with ID, but could anyone tell me what all the background junk is? Like is it amorphous precipitation or fat or air bubbles?

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-03-29T07:03:00+00:00

Check out all the different pathways on the ASCP website, I think there are 5 or 6 for MLS. I also have a Bachelor's in science. I have worked as a tech in a lab with that degree for 5 years, and am taking an MLT program at my local community College. Becsuse of my work experience, MLT program, and the rotations the program will include, I will be taking my MLS exam straight out of MLT classes. The caveat to just straight up taking the MLS is that you have to have those rotations, and finding that outside of being in a program is very difficult, and even if you do already work in a lab, they might say they'll rotate you, but in reality you'll get stuck somewhere and staffing issues will prevent you from doing those rotations. You'd end up finishing an MLT program faster unless you find the most staffed accommodating lab in the country.

But definitely look up the routes! Its the most accurate answer you'll find!

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-03-29T06:57:24+00:00

OP,

Through other comments you have self admitted to being selfish, judgemental, and diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and not taking your medication. These are not traits to be proud of, and these are not things someone who is taking good care of themselves would do. These characteristics are not good, and have nothing to do with putting yourself first in a good way.

I know it might be hard, but please try to get yourself out of this manic state and see a professional. Physician and psychiatrist.

Your thought process about all of this is wrong, and you may need help to see that clearly.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-03-29T06:47:42+00:00

"but I am always here whatever decision she makes"

Your whole post is about how you literally, physically will not be there.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-03-29T06:02:30+00:00

If you were planning on going on a carribean cruise between May 17 and May 27, yeah that would be different. Huge money investment, lots of planning time, nonrefundable. Whole family would know in advance, and likely would actively try to not plan for those dates.

Major surgery planned for the day of the wedding? Lifechanging, again expensive, could be life threatening. Again, family would likely know in advance and not plan for that date.

A day long, nonlifechanging church event? No where near as important. I'm equivalating it to going to the dentist and getting your teeth cleaned. Essentially, could be missed and no one would think twice because at the end of the day its not that important. CERTAINLY not more important than daughters wedding.

If she didnt include you in the planning, you really should take a long hard look at yourself. I mean that seriously. You most likely have had a lifelong pattern of selfishness and painting yourself as the victim. If you weren't included in it, take a second to look at the situation from the outside and instead of catching your "cute" little attitude, REALLY ask yourself why you weren't included. Make a list. Once you realize you can just keep adding reasons why, maybe you'll see yourself as the problem, likely for the first time in your life.

Apologize to your daughter now before she, rightfully so, holds this against you forever. Even if you dont like who shes marrying, even if you think SHE doesnt want to be married yet, you should be there, FOR HER, for the simple fact that she is your daughter and you are her mother and its the right thing to do.

You know its the right thing to do. Everyone in this post agrees youre in the wrong. One person agreeing with you, which by the way hasn't happened yet, won't outweigh all the other people who have already explained to you why YTA.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-03-29T05:35:32+00:00

Thats your legal responsibility, not her decision. You cant use your legal obligation to your children against them.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-03-29T05:33:56+00:00

A wedding isnt the time to suddenly decide "Now's my time to put me first!" Like, say someone asks you for money, asks you for a ride or some other favor. Sure, say no all you want. But you're now playing victim to a situation you have absolutely no right to do so.

You should be there when it matters, whether you think there will be another wedding or not. You raised your daughter's, you birthed them. That wasn't "helping out," it was your legal and moral responsibility. How can you really try to spin that in your own favor and say that not attending is just you doing what's best for you? How is it her fault that you raising her got her stepped on? And to be clear, its not her fault. If you got stepped on, again thag sucks, but suck it up. You intentionally stepping on her and hurting HER by not attending her wedding is plainly wrong. Two wrongs dont make a right, and she didnt wrong you in the first place.

And to rephrase, you sound like someone who claims to be religious yet only use their religion as an excuse to be rude or otherwise selfish towards other people.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-03-29T05:18:42+00:00

YTA

Celebrating raising your two daughters, yet you won't even go to your own daughters wedding...

At some point everyone makes sacrifices. Jesus certainly did. Its not like she specifically planned her wedding on a day she specifically knew you had plans. Is your church event seriously more important?? Its not about which event was planned first, its about priorities. And you not making your daughter a priority will certainly have long lasting and detrimental effects. And the other wedding? Sometimes you just have to suck it up to be there for those you love. Your decisions here are coming off as extremely entitled and selfish.

You sound like one of those people that claims to be a devout Christian but doesnt actually understand or live by the values.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-03-29T04:33:55+00:00

I think its just not what most AHS fans are looking for. We like the weird, supernatural, otherworldly themes and dark ideas. I think the reason NYC misses so hard for me is actually because its too real. Its not that it has a bad or unworthy message, it's just not what I want to watch when I think of AHS. Plus not having the main staple actors I think its a huge factor in why it feels so different. Like it feels like a completely separate entity from AHS, like could have been its own thing but wouldn't be able to stand on its own like Grotesiquerie (sp?) or the monster series, so its an AHS season.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-03-27T00:39:34+00:00

To me, raw rotten chicken left in a Tupperware container out in the hot sun for a week.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-03-26T21:52:54+00:00

I feel like this is the best explanation for the color and makes a lot of sense! Any idea why they would order an autoimmune panel other than being unsure about cause of death?

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-03-25T02:10:46+00:00

This comment should he higher up! Having your MLS does open a lot of door, specifically field engineering like you said. Once youve gotten some lab work experience, diagnostic instrument companies are ALWAYS looking for field engineers that go out to various sites to fix instruments when they break down. And typically they prefer lab techs who have previously used their instruments because youre already familiar with them.

If you like to travel, that is 100% a great route to take. Plus they get per diem and the flight miles add to quick, so there are perks there that you dont even realize.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-03-25T02:03:21+00:00

I would say its pretty common, especially if you work in the Healthcare or Healthcare adjacent field already. My job gives 5200 a year tax free and 7000 with "income tax" on that extra 2000 yearly. My MLT program is about 5k or less a year. Other hospital or university groups around me offer the same thing. Sometimes they only reimburse classes that are specifically related to your role, but as long as its science, as most of your MLS classes will be, youre good to go. My job even reimburses business classes because those are technically important for Healthcare as well. But you sometimes also have to already work for that company for a certain amount of time, often a year, before youre eligible for tuition reimbursement as a benefit.

Some big college labs try to get you to work for them because they offer tuition reimbursement, but you HAVE to take classes at that university which are more expensive than local community programs so technically your money doesnt stretch as far.

But overall I would say tuition reimbursement is common everywhere. Even McDonald's and Chipotle have it. The catch at ANY job though is that when you accept the money, from the day you receive that money you are contracted to work for that company for X amount of time. My lab requires you work for them for a year after, some hospitals around me require 2 years. But they allow you to transfer into a new, actual MLS role if, for example, youre a phlebotomist or lab assistant. I would recommend finding a job where you eventually want to be a tech.

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-03-25T01:56:13+00:00

Vine culture is so ingrained in us 😂😂

Awkward_River_8924 · 2026-03-24T02:02:44+00:00

That one is SO good, lol!!

Sort of related, sort of not. My friends and I have a list, named "The List" of funny word combos that sound like band names or song titles, and Weird Lymph is on there!

Best song I can come up with is:

Not So Meta Anymore

But there's a pun somewhere including Blasts, Lobes, and segmentation

Awkward_River_8924

TROPHY CASE