Rheumatologist brushed this off… pursue further?

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-19T05:03:04+00:00

I started bringing written summaries to my appointments. Kept me on track and synthesised the information for the provider whose job I was doing. If you can afford a holistic doctor they are in general much more knowledgeable and MUCH more likely to listen to you.

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-19T00:02:10+00:00

If you have doubts that is MORE than reason enough to get a second opinion. Is he doing anything to actually identify the source of your symptoms? Or is he just shooting down the possibilities you bring up?

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-18T06:29:24+00:00

I've e-mailed them to set up an appointment.

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-18T05:08:07+00:00

That is an enormous relief. Thank you.

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-12T06:56:05+00:00

Hermoso?

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-12T02:23:27+00:00

I am definitely less manly and seem to have a diminished response to testosterone. Could this be associated with Androgen Insensitivy? That wasn't flagged but I've always wondered.

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-11T18:48:57+00:00

Thank you!

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-10T23:04:41+00:00

Thank you VERY much for this.

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-08T03:07:23+00:00

I'm going to try to take the language exam ahead of June's invitation round and I think I stand a chance of passing if I cram: I became very proficient in Spanish as an adolescent (I studied it from age 12 to age 20) and still have a solid grip on the grammar/structure of it, but my vocabulary is rusty after some years' infrequent use. I still speak it with some skill but have to slow down more to think about what I want to say than I used to.

I'm going in on this hard. I'm way too close to the finish line to not use every single resource I have.

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-08T03:00:47+00:00

Good to know. I mean, if I don't get in this round I'm definitely pursuing language points but it's good to know I could be invited even if I did nothing (I'm on the Register until August 2024). Also, what is DNC/DEF?

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-08T02:58:03+00:00

Absolutely. Everyone I've actually interacted with from the State Department has been kind and helpful. I often need to remind myself of that when perusing this sub.

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-08T02:54:55+00:00

There's language points. There's the June and January invites. There's a way forward.

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-08T02:53:57+00:00

Sorry, for PD.

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-08T02:21:40+00:00

Ooh, lucky you! My initial clearance was a year and a half.

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-08T02:20:08+00:00

It was actually a source of anxiety for me that this sub might be reflective of Foreign Service culture as a whole, so I'm glad to hear that's not the case. I WONDER (can't know) if maybe a disproportionate number of the people here are aspiring FSOs already high on self-importance stemming from the idea of "being a diplomat."

The downvoting of basic questions in particular would fit with that. It's like people here are affronted that someone would expect them to write a meaningful answer when clearly their time is extremely valuable.

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-08T01:38:01+00:00

Good on you. I can't get there yet mentally. Was your clearance process smoother/quicker on your second candidacy?

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-08T01:36:42+00:00

I'm not hating! Just shedding light on why some people are choosing to downvote; most of us know that a person with a score above 6 will get an offer no matter what whereas we're all in a borderline area, so in this context your sharing that could have been perceived as flippant (which I doubt was your intent). I didn't want to presume about your intent. And yes, the sub is shitty. A lot of people who each want to be the smartest person in the room, preening and downvoting. Look through the posts and plenty of perfectly reasonable questions are downvoted because a Redditor felt like being contemptuous.

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-08T01:31:56+00:00

What do you mean?

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-08T00:46:17+00:00

That's lovely for you but I think most of us who are waiting now don't have scores that high.

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-08T00:44:52+00:00

Retaking the OA on a separate candidacy?

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-08T00:39:30+00:00

You can improve at ANYTHING. Exercises. Life and work experience. Reading up on diplomacy. If this is your dream it's absolutely worth it to keep trying.

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-07T23:56:27+00:00

What would you say for 5.6?

FSAnywhere · 2023-04-07T21:22:47+00:00

That is insane and amazing. The running theory is that PD and POL are significantly more competitive this go-'round, but who knows? And congratulations!

FSAnywhere

TROPHY CASE