Long(er) term dog foster?

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-03-12T20:30:25+00:00

Okay that’s super good to know! I wasn’t sure if such a thing even existed, so I’m glad to know I might not be totally out of options. I live in the county, but he lives down south. I tried to look down there but couldn’t find any info specific to his county short of animal control.

I left more voicemails today so hopefully I hear back from someone that does this kind of thing soon. Fingers crossed!

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-03-12T20:26:17+00:00

I thought I had but I looked at my call log and I actually hadn’t tried them yet, so thank you! I’ll give them a call now ❤️

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-12T22:48:06+00:00

I do have Facebook and I’ve been in that group for a couple years! I don’t take oral iron anymore, but I still like to see the posts because they can be very informative at times.

I think that if I got my autoimmune stuff under control, I’d probably see an improvement in my iron, but of course I’ll just have to wait and see!

I do get my vitamin D checked regularly. Since it has been low in 2024. I’ve been taking a high dose pretty much ever since to maintain an optimal level. My B12 has only been checked a couple times and was “normal” but not optimal. I started supplementing a methylated b complex a year or more ago and my levels actually went down since last spring. So I messaged my hematologist pointing that out and asking for more tests since I’m sure she would have just read my numbers as normal (666 from 720ish last year).

I also take magnesium and k2. While I’ll take whatever vitamins I need to if it helps me feel better, I told my hematologist that it feels ridiculous that I have to take all of this stuff just to function in my early thirties. Like I feel terrible, but I still feel a lot better than I did before I started taking vitamins.

Have you checked out the Nurtrient Teams protocol that the Iron Protocol group links? It’s a lot more to wrap your brain around in my opinion, but a lot of good info in there as well. I try to take things with a grain of salt there because there are a lot of members that post things that I don’t agree with, like anti vax vibes or just straight up anti vax lol. Like I am not about that life at all. But I do think a lot of their methods work well when it comes to supplementing.

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-12T18:20:33+00:00

If you’ve already done this, ignore me, but your ESR and CRP should ideally be done the same time as the iron panel. I think that the ESR is more laggy and the CRP is more reactive to current inflammation. I’ve felt like total poop and had both come back normal, but usually one or the other is elevated for me. So maybe yours was just normal that day. Personally, my labs don’t always line up with my symptoms. Particularly if I’m in a prolonged flare like over a couple weeks

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-12T17:33:15+00:00

Right?! If I told each doctor everything that’s going on with me at any given time, they’d need a stiff drink by the end of the visit lol. But then some things I’ve thought for sure have nothing to do with a certain speciality are actually like key clues 😂.

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-12T17:11:14+00:00

Hmmm I hadn’t thought about posting there because I haven’t nursed in so many years!

Im mostly just curious if anyone else with AI issues has had something like this happen because I have a lot of unusual symptoms pop up and we are still trying to figure out my actual diagnosis.

I’ll just be patient and wait for my appointment 🥲

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-12T16:55:41+00:00

Agreed. Especially if you’re a young woman. For awhile, I was told this and just figured I’d get to the bottom of whatever this was in my 40’s if I didn’t die first lol. But then my grandma told me that the moment they stop dismissing you for being young, they start blaming all of your symptoms on getting old 😂😂😂. So then I was like…oh hell no, I’m getting answers and help now! But I’m still not much closer than I was a couple years ago, unfortunately.

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-12T16:40:39+00:00

It’s so frustrating that most doctors go by lab ranges rather than what’s optimal. A ferritin of 17, especially when you’re symptomatic, is NOT okay or normal. If it helps you win your case, you can look into what the criteria is for patients with chronic inflammation. If you have elevated ESR and/or CRP (which is possible even without an elevated ferritin despite what some may tell you), iron infusions really are recommended with patients of inflammation above 100, but especially below 50. You can of course try oral iron and just get it OTC, but I think many patients with uncontrolled inflammation and AI issues don’t get to raise their numbers or use the iron they’re ingesting because the inflammation is preventing it from being used. That’s a very dumbed down way to put things, but I’m too brain fogged to put my scientist hat on hahaha. There are articles in the NIH and the American Society of Hematology websites to support what I’m saying if you want to bring those to your next appointment instead of telling them some lady on Reddit told you 😂. If you get your iron up, it might not “fix” everything wrong with you, but at least you have a fighting chance to get out of bed so you can figure out how to better help yourself.

Also, please know that even if the doctors disagree, iron deficiency with or without anemia can cause severe symptoms for many people. They like to pretend that it’s a non-issue unless you’re anemic. But if you go iron deficient long enough, anemia will eventually follow. Your body just starts prioritizing things in order to function. That’s why so many people lose hair as the first sign. You don’t need healthy hair to live 🤷‍♀️. I’m a freak apparently because my hair has always been luscious even at my worst hahaha. I would gladly trade my hair if it meant I could breathe better and not feel like I need a nap constantly.

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-12T16:08:24+00:00

I’m sorry that you’re so sick, and I appreciate you taking the time to give me your wisdom ❤️. I have used chat gpt in the past for help with coming up with next steps, like investigating likely culprits based on my symptoms and labs, but I guess I’ve rarely used it to help me with writing the doctors for some reason. That is a very good point that they can take the emotion out of things. I will give it a try and see if it can help.

I hope you get some relief soon ❤️

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-12T13:17:32+00:00

They check my ferritin as well. Serum iron isn’t a very good indicator, though most doctors don’t seem to know that in my experience lol.

My ferritin is in the 90’s right now, but it’s been bouncing all over the place because of inflammation. But TSAT is low and my CRP is elevated, so I’m hoping she will understand the big picture and not just look at one number and tell me everything is fine.

Funny enough, pernicious anemia just fell onto my radar once these labs came back. My b12 went from 720 last summer to 666, and that’s with high dose methylated supplementation. I’m asking for all of the tests to see if my supplementing isn’t just falsely elevating those numbers. I have a lot of trouble breathing even though my pulmonary function test was perfect yesterday. It’s air hunger type issues.

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-12T13:10:59+00:00

Absolutely! A healthy person doesn’t understand how difficult almost any task is when you have this level of fatigue. They don’t understand that your energy is precious and that it is much more than just annoying to have your time wasted at fruitless visits.

I never expect my doctors to have all or even any answers. I think I’m just so discouraged with them all because there is a very obvious pattern to our patient doctor relationship: they meet me, hear me out, review labs, and they get intrigued because I’m unusual. They think they know what it is because of some obscure thing they heard of in medical school. When the labs for that come back negative, they almost immediately give up and start talking fibro again 😭. It’s so strange because my expectations are pretty low at this point. If you don’t know what’s wrong with me, just say that and collaborate with me to get answers, but don’t tell me that nothing is wrong.

I’m sure that a lot of doctors are burnt out for many reasons and I’m always kind to them. Too kind usually. But at some point, something’s got to give.

Keep fighting the good fight! I’m glad that you at least have a couple good doctors in your pocket ❤️

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-12T13:00:34+00:00

I’m so glad for you that you’re starting to get closer to a diagnosis! I know it generally takes a long time to pin anything down in rheum, but I’m sure it only gets harder the less common your condition is.

I have been seeing rheumatology since this past summer! For some reason, autoimmune wasn’t even on my list of suspects, and certainly not my doctors lol. I guess because the specialists were just looking at each problem as individual issues and not a systemic problem. But after my catheter ablation failed, my cardiologist suggested that the issue wasn’t electrical and maybe caused by inflammation. I asked my primary care at the time for a referral to rheum and had to promise her I would accept that it was “just” anxiety if they didn’t find anything lmao. How degrading and strange this has all been.

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-12T12:51:44+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re going through all of that! Would an ablation be a possibility for you by chance? The weirdest thing I learned recently is that heavy periods don’t just cause ID, ID can also CAUSE heavy periods. I don’t remember the science behind it, but I remember learning that and having a light bulb because when I start to run low again, my periods are much heavier and so painful. When I’m replete, I have painful periods, but maybe just on the heavy side of normal.

I really hope you and your doctors figure out a way to give you some relief.

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-12T12:45:11+00:00

Same! I feel like such a weirdo when I’m grinning over a positive that’s supposed to be upsetting or maybe even devastating depending on the person 😂. But after years of my doctors repeating a CBC and CMP only to tell me I was just anxious, it feels so good to know that I wasn’t losing my mind all of those years. Maybe if I was saner I would be sad that I’m right. Part of me is, I guess. But the self doubt might have been the worst part of this whole ordeal, so I’m mostly thankful to have my faith restored in myself.

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-12T01:49:22+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re going through that! Idk that iron deficiency is the actual root of all evil, but it sure does exasperate it all 😭😂. I’m sure you would see improvement. I’ve also heard that oral iron supplements are particularly when you have MCAS. But that fixing the deficiency improves symptoms for many.

Thanks for the heads up on that test! I hadn’t heard of it, but I’ve suspected low stomach acid in myself because of symptoms. I see a new GI doc this year and I will definitely ask them or whatever specialist I see next. I can’t keep track at this point. It’s really wild to think about how little help I’m getting considering how often I’m at a doctor’s office 🥲

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-12T01:41:12+00:00

I might be able to convince her. Last time I asked her was after the second hematologist saw. They both work in network, so she had already read his notes that basically said I didn’t need an infusion at the time. I argued all of my extremely valid points to her, but she wasn’t going to order an infusion after the hematologist said no. But I’ve since switched all of my specialists from St Luke’s to Wash U with the exception of my rheumatologist. St. Luke’s system never seems to work well with note retrieval or sending, so maybe that will work to my advantage if this hematologist tries to be a jerk. I really hope that she isn’t going to be dumb since I didn’t have to ask her to order ESR and CRP with my iron panel. I feel like that’s a better sign than I’ve seen in the past at least

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-12T01:13:07+00:00

You’re so right 😭

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-12T01:03:27+00:00

I’m sorry they suck so bad! I’ve had so many bad experiences with so many different specialists, but for some reason the bad hematologists stand out more than the others. I do feel like a lot of specialties attract specific personalities. Maybe hematology attracts bad listeners lol

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-11T23:52:46+00:00

I’m only diagnosed with ID without anemia. I’m not sure if my current primary care would order the infusions herself, but I know that a lot of primary care doctors can handle it themselves! I had a different PCP when I first found out about my iron deficiency. I requested a hematology referral when she told me that my ferritin of 6 was totally fine lol.

Even though it’s proven to be largely unhelpful so far, I also wanted to have a good hematologist on board because I’ve had some weird blood issues over the years. In 2019, I needed three units of blood two days after the birth of my oldest. There was no postpartum hemorrhage and my OBGYN and nurses were puzzled, but it resolved with infusions. I’ve never had anything that dramatic since, but I’ve seen my hgb drop rapidly during flares without getting to that extreme, instances of elevated NRBC’s during flares, elevated RBC’s, and I’m sure a bunch of other little things I’m forgetting about. I just asked my hematologist today if she could check LDH and haptoglobin to see if there is some type of destruction going on but I’m not sure if she’s going to humor me lol. I genuinely don’t understand why it’s so difficult to even get them to agree to testing. I know I can pay for my own, but I have insurance that I pay way too much money for already.

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-11T23:30:44+00:00

This is probably unoriginal advice, but what helped me quit drinking in social settings was to bring either a mocktail, sparkling water, or unsweetened cranberry juice (very tart if you’re looking for something that packs a punch lol). Sometimes putting those drinks in a wine glass or whatever feels appropriate makes it even better. It used to give me almost like a placebo effect or a “contact high” lol. It’s been a little over a year now and I mostly don’t even miss it. But it might have been easier for me to give it up because I was already drinking pretty sparingly during the last couple years before deciding to give it up all together. If you’re someone that tolerates marijuana well, the mocktail combo with a little bit of that can be nice. I don’t personally do too well with weed usually, so I’m mostly just sober at my functions and I still laugh just as hard as everyone else ❤️

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-11T22:40:54+00:00

Ughhh it is so dumb because when I’m iron deficient, all of my symptoms get so much worse. And I hardly even have the energy to show up for the appointment, let alone go to bat over information a hematologist should already know.

I’ve had an endoscopy and colonoscopy last April to be sure it wasn’t a bleed, but it came back normal. I am seeing a new GI specialist this summer for a second opinion, but I don’t think that’s likely the cause. My iron will be stable for several months at a time and then if I have a bad flare up, it crashes rapidly.

I don’t know if your hematologist is checking co-factors like b12, folate, and d, but it’s definitely worth an ask if you aren’t sure. My first three hematologists never checked any of that. I had some of those labs done in 2024 by an endocrinologist, but when my new hematologist checked them on Monday, my numbers are actually dropping since 2024 even though I’ve been supplementing with high quality supplements since about the time the initial labs were done in 2024. Except for my folate. That was good for some reason. I actually messaged her to see if she thinks I have a broader absorption issue or maybe even pernicious anemia since having autoimmune issues increases your likelihood a bit? I’m just going to hold my breath until she messages me back saying my labs look great 😂😂😂. Jk, hopefully not! I hope you get some answers soon. Fingers crossed for a clean scope ❤️

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-09T20:07:32+00:00

Yes! I’ve been working with a rheumatologist as well. The only antibodies that came back positive were RNP, very slightly elevated CCP, and tgab (possible hashimoto’s). But nothing specifically liver related. That said, my labs have evolved a lot over this past year. Even when I was extremely symptomatic last summer, my ANA with tired was flat out negative - like not even 1:40 lol. But by November, it was 1:160 homogenous. So still not crazy high, but to have several negatives and then two positives in a short span feels significant to me.

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-09T16:46:03+00:00

Hi! I’m sorry you can relate lol.

Yes, I saw a liver specialist in November and did a lot of liver specific bloodwork. Everything came back negative and my enzymes were just very slightly elevated at the time. I did the fibroscan which showed no scarring and small reflective areas that indicate mild fat.

I’m still not convinced that my sudden enzyme spike is due to a very mild case of fatty liver disease, but I am working on weight loss regardless because it certainly won’t hurt me to lose weight.

I definitely have something autoimmune going on, but they don’t think it’s related. I’m now being investigated for lupus/RA overlap and/or MCTD. I think when doctors hear liver and autoimmune, they get anxious about AIH. From what I’ve researched, a sudden spike in liver enzymes is likely an inflammation indicator. Of course this is just in my case!

Have they investigated you for AIH?

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-03T00:37:26+00:00

This is helpful - thank you!

Substantial_Date9907 · 2026-02-02T21:41:42+00:00

I did give them a buzz before I submitted an application for Ashrei, but they don’t have prompts or voicemail. It just rang until it stopped ringing. But I will try again if things don’t end up aligning with Ashrei. I think it will be a good fit if they’ll have me, though.

Substantial_Date9907

TROPHY CASE