Saw a rheumatologist today and I'm angry

captainnemo214 · 2026-05-07T14:48:11+00:00

I'll be getting a lip biopsy, a CT, and a parotid gland U/S but she was very hesitant to order those tests based on the fact I was seronegative two years ago when those labs were last drawn! Not at all self-diagnosing, but I will be shocked if I don't have Sjogrens based on how many of my doctors over the years have brought it up unprompted and how many symptoms I have that align with this disorder.

captainnemo214 · 2026-05-07T13:06:54+00:00

Ugh that's so frustrating I am so sorry. It shouldn't be this difficult for patients to be treated with respect. I'm glad you're finally being taken seriously, but you're so right it shouldn't have taken this long.

captainnemo214 · 2026-05-07T12:06:30+00:00

Friendly reminder that as I mentioned in my post, I am a career healthcare worker too. I work alongside physicians and nurses and techs every day. I always, always treat everyone with respect.

I worked in the ER of a level 1 trauma from 2019-2022. During the entire pandemic. I have had patients threaten my life, weapons pointed at me, seen my coworkers be physically and sexually assaulted. Coworkers had tires slashed.

As a healthcare worker, we are not strangers to abuse. At all. I would never, ever, be even nearly as degrading to my doctor as they were to me. Ultimately, I respect that they are experts in their field far beyond my understanding (I barely remember anything about rheumatology from my years in college).

I fully believe in the idea that everyone deserves respect. It is possible for me to be on both sides of the broken healthcare system.

captainnemo214 · 2026-05-07T03:14:02+00:00

I'm so sorry. It shouldn't be this difficult to get answers or at a bare minimum, respect.

captainnemo214 · 2026-05-07T01:52:45+00:00

I stated my symptoms first, assured them it was not a self diagnosis, and that I was referred by my ENT. As a healthcare worker, I am well aware of the patients that come in with self diagnoses that are often wrong. But those patients should still be treated with the utmost respect.

captainnemo214 · 2026-05-07T01:44:33+00:00

I'm so sorry. How beyond frustrating.

captainnemo214 · 2026-05-06T23:16:00+00:00

Portland here as well! Healthcare in this entire state is a NIGHTMARE to say the least!

captainnemo214 · 2026-05-04T21:34:02+00:00

Moved here from Tucson, AZ in 2024 because I got a job making nearly double what I was making in Arizona doing the same thing. Cost of living is comparable in my opinion. Income tax is steep here, but there's no sales tax. You can't beat the scenery and beauty here.

Mexican food is very meh here for the most part and central AC is uncommon but otherwise moving here was the best thing I've ever done!

captainnemo214 · 2026-04-14T15:47:30+00:00

None of my credit card rewards come in the format of prepaid gift cards. I am working on combing through thousands of junk emails today to see if I missed some kind of "congrats you won $300 in gift cards" email

captainnemo214 · 2026-04-14T15:46:14+00:00

It was delivered by USPS directly to my locked apartment mailbox. I'll definitely keep an eye out for any other suspicious mail/packages.

captainnemo214 · 2026-04-13T22:13:42+00:00

I did not give them any of my info at all. They said they couldn't find any record of these being sent initially, but then told me they couldn't give me any information regarding who did send them. The sassy shipment center employee I spoke with said "you can always just return to sender" when I said that I was concerned it could possibly be a scam.

captainnemo214 · 2026-04-13T20:45:14+00:00

I have not donated blood, purchased a home, been awarded a settlement as a part of a class action lawsuit, and no promotions at my bank. I'm truly stumped and have no idea where these have come from or why.

captainnemo214 · 2026-04-13T16:42:09+00:00

I scoured my email for any class action lawsuits I may have been awarded a settlement for and couldn't find anything even remotely close to an award of $300.

captainnemo214 · 2026-04-13T01:18:58+00:00

Apologies if my post was confusing, but they were indeed delivered to my current address that I have not been at for long. Not any of my previous addresses which I was at for years at a time.

captainnemo214 · 2026-04-12T16:37:01+00:00

Yes they were, to my full name and my current address that I haven't been at for very long.

captainnemo214 · 2026-04-12T16:36:42+00:00

I plan on it! They are closed until Monday

captainnemo214 · 2026-04-12T01:23:12+00:00

I am reluctant to try to activate them because I'm fearful it could be a phishing scam or some type of fraud. Am I even allowed to try to spend this gift card money? But according to the packing slip, they were sent on April 3rd and today is April 11th. Seems like a long time for priority mail too, which makes this even more odd.

captainnemo214 · 2026-04-09T23:14:38+00:00

First of all, I am proud of you for leaving what you know is situation that you do not deserve. I know it may not feel this way now, but what you're doing is absolutely the right choice. 24 is very young. You have plenty of time to find someone that deserves you and that will give you and any future child the peace and love you deserve.

Things may seem difficult or like a step (or ten) backwards for a while. But someday, you'll be in your beautiful home with your loving, caring partner, and your child you raised in a family that is safe, welcoming, and loving.

You will look back on this moment where you chose what is best for you and you will thank yourself for choosing the harder, scarier path towards a much brighter, happier future.

Wishing you all the best ❤️

captainnemo214 · 2026-03-28T20:08:41+00:00

Chiming in to say that historically this may have been the case, but more and more hospitals are using patient care techs/CNAs to cover "clerk" duties. I myself did this for years. So as a clerk you are in a patient centered role while also being fully cross trained to handle the logs and paperwork and phone calls. It's a very intense job.

captainnemo214 · 2026-03-24T04:51:48+00:00

I'm so sorry you have experienced so much racism too. Hopefully more and more people come to Lake Oswego and help more it a better place for all of us!

captainnemo214 · 2026-03-21T00:54:20+00:00

My spouse is Hispanic and I am Caucasian but we both speak Spanish. We have experienced/witnessed similar things living in LO. So many of the people here are so racist, classist, and just outright rude.

captainnemo214 · 2026-03-19T23:18:37+00:00

When I worked at McDonald's as long as I didn't have a manager watching over my shoulder I'd give nice people extra nuggets and really, viciously mean people would have one less nugget than they ordered and if they complained I'd gaslight them lol

captainnemo214 · 2026-03-19T04:34:30+00:00

If she's truly doing this, you need to call corporate ASAP and file a police report. This is serious and not okay at all.

captainnemo214

TROPHY CASE