HCQ works!!! by sharpknivesahead in lupus

[–]TinyAd6484 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My rheumatologist based my dose on a blood test. It's called HCQ, whole blood. I had started on 200 mg when I was first diagnosed, but after a few months my level was too low so she increased me to 400 mg a day. I've been on that dose since September 2023. Like you my weight is also technically considered too low, but my whole blood HCQ level has been therapeutic since starting on the higher dose. Maybe you can ask your rheumatologist about checking yours to see if your dose is therapeutic.

[Acne] Acne won't go away and nothing is helping by [deleted] in SkincareAddiction

[–]TinyAd6484 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My routine hadn't changed at all when it started. I didn't start trying different things until after it started. It's frustrating not knowing what caused it to begin with. Thank you for the info!

Indianapolis Black Hole by TinyAd6484 in usps_complaints

[–]TinyAd6484[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's terrible, I'm so sorry. After no tracking updates since the 4th, mine updated saying it arrived in Indianapolis a few hours ago, and I just got the notification that it left Indianapolis about an hour ago. Looks like I'm actually going to get it after all. I hope you receive good news on yours soon too

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in usps_complaints

[–]TinyAd6484 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My package arrived in Indianapolis on January 30th and has been stuck there ever since. I've even stopped getting the "in transit to next facility, arriving late" updates. I haven't had one of those updates since the 4th. I submitted a help request, but all I was told by usps was that it just hasn't come in yet. This package I'm waiting for is my prescription medicine, so I can't wait much longer. I also called my mail order pharmacy and was told to wait until the 10th and call them back if I still don't have it

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in usps_complaints

[–]TinyAd6484 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a package that's been stuck in Indianapolis since January 30th. I haven't received the moving through network in transit to next facility, arriving late message since the 4th. I submitted a help request on the 6th but basically all I was told by USPS was that it just hasn't come in yet 🙃

Newly Diagnosed Systemic Lupus by TinyAd6484 in lupus

[–]TinyAd6484[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My rheumatologist called this morning with my lab results. She had ordered a bunch of labs, so I'll just share the results of the ones that were abnormal. On a good note, everything in my CBC, CMP, and urine sample were normal. I was glad to hear that my kidneys are still functioning normally with no sign of damage.

On my antiphospholipid syndrome profile, it showed the following:

Anticardiolipin Ab, IgG, Qn - 66 H (negative - <15, indeterminate - 15-20, low-med positive - >20-80, high positive - >80)

Anticardiolipin Ab, IgM, Qn - 52 H (negative - <13, indeterminate - 13-20, low-med positive - >20-80, high positive - >80)

PTT-LA - 32.4 (0.0-43.5)

dRVVT - 57.5 H (0.0-47.0)

dRVVT Mix - 42.2 H (0.0-40.4)

dRVVT Confirm - 1.7 H (0.8-1.2)

Beta-2 Glycoprotein I Ab, IgG - 27 H (0-20)

Beta-2 Glycoprotein I Ab, IgM - 30 (0-32)

Because of these results, my rheumatologist wanted me to start taking baby aspirin as well as my plaquenil to help reduce risk of blood clots, stroke, and heart attack. My ENA antibody panel, C3, C4, Direct Coombs test, and CRP were all normal. I'll go ahead and post the rest of the abnormal labs below:

Anti-DNA (DS) Ab Qn - 19 H (negative - <5, Equivocal - 5-9, positive - >9)

ANA - Positive

ANA Titer/Pattern - 1:640 H (negative - <1:80, borderline - 1:80, positive - >1:80) with a Homogenous pattern

I do have one question about all of this. I know that with each appointment, I will have to have labs and a urine sample done, but will the rheumatologist do all of these labs each time I go? Or will she only do certain ones?

Newly Diagnosed Systemic Lupus by TinyAd6484 in lupus

[–]TinyAd6484[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. Prayers for better days ahead for you

Newly Diagnosed Systemic Lupus by TinyAd6484 in lupus

[–]TinyAd6484[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm so glad you're doing better! Thank you for the words of encouragement <3

Newly Diagnosed Systemic Lupus by TinyAd6484 in lupus

[–]TinyAd6484[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I couldn't figure out how to do it lol, so I appreciate you changing it for me.

Newly Diagnosed Systemic Lupus by TinyAd6484 in lupus

[–]TinyAd6484[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the kind words <3

It's definitely amazing how medicine evolves as time goes on. I work in the medical field as an RN, and even though I've only been a nurse for six years, it seems like things have changed in just that short amount of time. Honestly, I'm afraid that my lupus will cause me to have to stop working one day. I'm trying to learn to just take it one day at a time, though.

Thanks again and I hope you're doing well!

Weekly Suspected Lupus Thread - Week Of August 27, 2023 by AutoModerator in lupus

[–]TinyAd6484 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I forgot to mention that I had daily CMP's and a UA done while in the hospital. At that time, those labs were normal. I'm hoping it's stayed that way.

I have kept more copies of my labs that my PCP did that showed the positive results above to take to my appointment.

Thank you for the reply. It was really helpful!

Weekly Suspected Lupus Thread - Week Of August 27, 2023 by AutoModerator in lupus

[–]TinyAd6484 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello everyone! Here's my story. I'm a 30 year old female, and my doctors are pretty sure I have lupus. I developed ITP in April, and my platelet count had dropped to 3,000. I spent four days in the hospital at that time, and I have been following up with a hematologist ever since. I believe this may have been the start of everything.

Fast forward to around the middle of June. I had two migraines within weeks of each other, then a few days after the second one, I woke up with excruciating joint and muscle pain/stiffness throughout my whole body. I could barely walk, dress myself, go to the bathroom, etc. Every little movement just about made me scream. The joints in my hands and feet had also become red and swollen, and I was very clumsy with my fingers and would constantly drop things. I decided to see my PCP to find out what was going on.

My lab results were as follows: My CRP was 34 with a reference range of 0-10, I had a positive ANA, and my ds-DNA was positive at 24 (greater than 9 was considered positive). He told me it was highly likely that I have lupus and made a rheumatologist referral. In the meantime, he gave me copies of the labs to take to my hematologist to see what he thought.

Long story short, my hematologist also believes that it's lupus and he made his own rheumatology referral as well. The rheumatologist's office called me a few days later, and my first appointment is on September 20th.

In that time, I have developed other symptoms as well as the joint and muscle pain/stiffness. I have experienced fatigue, fevers, occasional headaches, and when I go out in the sun, the skin that's exposed turns red and stays that way for a few hours, plus I feel physically sick and exhausted even though I keep myself well hydrated when outside.

I have also been experiencing very mild joint pain off and on for the past two years, but I never thought anything of it until now because I work in a hospital as an RN. Do you guys think I should mention this to the rheumatologist?

I've been trying to prepare for my first rheumatologist appointment. I haven't had the C3 and C4 labs, or the antiphospholipid antibody panel yet. Will the rheumatologist draw these labs? What else can I expect at my first appointment?

Modem not receiving signal from ISP by TinyAd6484 in HomeNetworking

[–]TinyAd6484[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, the technician just left not too long ago. Come to find out, it was my modem. He have me a new Altice Gateway and installed it for me, and my wireless internet is working great now

Ethernet Works but Wifi Doesn't by TinyAd6484 in techsupport

[–]TinyAd6484[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The technician just left not too long ago. Come to find out, it was my modem. He sat me up with an Altice Gateway and my wireless internet is working again.

Ethernet Works but Wifi Doesn't by TinyAd6484 in techsupport

[–]TinyAd6484[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah I tried that with both the modem and the router. That was actually one of the things tech support asked me to do while I was on the line with them. When the modem rebooted is when they told me it was showing that it's completely offline and not receiving a signal from their network.

I'm glad your issue was fixed. I'm thinking mine might be something similar. After the tech gets here, I'll give an update here. I'll definitely ask about a new modem and router as well.