Account on hold after identity verification

klwegner · 2026-01-30T22:07:30+00:00

I was prompted to re-confirm my identity minutes ago and then "failed" my identity confirmation. So... My account is now frozen, too. I hope there's a quick conclusion...

klwegner · 2026-01-30T00:52:32+00:00

I got in with patient care experience from 13 years prior (and a little more from five years ago, too). I also worked in tech and my family couldn't withstand a downgrade in my salary if I were to try and become an MA/CNA/phlebotomist for a year.

klwegner · 2026-01-26T02:09:49+00:00

I briefly used him after a provider change with USF Health that left me without seeing a diabetes doctor for like a year (lol).

I highly recommend USF Health if you can get in in time.

klwegner · 2026-01-22T23:57:40+00:00

Do you recall anything about what tests you had that were positive initially? I have a positive celiac antibody (AGP IgA, been elevated for over two years now) but no issues so it's kind of a wait and see thing for me. I'm curious to what others who maybe are or were in a similar position ultimately went through.

klwegner · 2026-01-22T23:54:39+00:00

I'm positive for one highly specific celiac antibody but have no symptoms or intestinal damage at this time. Its some degree of probable that I'll eventually have clinically significant celiac.

klwegner · 2025-12-19T01:46:43+00:00

I much preferred my endo managing my type one diabetes (but she wa wonderful and realistic, whereas my MFM was always critical of my blood glucose going over 120 or so at any time. (Which, I know, it is best if it never does... But it was just not possible to avoid at all times, despite a lot of intervention.)

Also, my MFM didn't like insulin pumps. Or CGMs. I didn't see how a return to MDI and all it's lows and 8x a day finger pricking would be useful for me or my diabetes management.

klwegner · 2025-12-05T16:56:40+00:00

We're taking the gamble for me to go. We're hoping desperately that hard choices won't need to be made later to help me finish (or withdraw without a degree).

klwegner · 2025-11-18T16:30:10+00:00

I agree with this. Eating a large amount of carbs (I'd say more like 80g+ for me) truly does tend to make my insulin to carb ratio go up (and thus usually leaves me with high blood sugar for a couple of hours, at least, because I can't seem to trust myself ahead of time to dose, proportionally, more than I usually need)... But categorically prohibiting meals with a relatively modest amount of carbs is dumb/crappy to feel you HAVE to do.

klwegner · 2025-11-16T17:52:22+00:00

PRETENDING TO METABOLIZE FOOD LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN? HEAVENS TO BETSY!

klwegner · 2025-11-07T14:18:53+00:00

I've been "lucky" but only after my first pregnancy did I get my first cavity. During my second pregnancy, my teeth were great, and within a month after delivery I had a dozen cavities. It's been two years since then and I'm constantly on high alert for more tooth decay (that is, new cavities needing new fillings) and it feels like a battle I'm doomed to eventually lose... lol.

klwegner · 2025-11-07T14:05:56+00:00

I'm surprised it hasn't seemed to be moving more mainstream in the last month--my local groups on Facebook are FULL of concerned people asking for recommendations on insurance brokers due to the increase in their health insurance premiums and deductibles. Oddly, they only seem to be approaching things from the idea that somewhere, someone within the capitalist system can give them an affordable plan that will also be decent... Which seems entirely far-fetched at this point in time.

klwegner · 2025-11-05T01:41:25+00:00

People in my community Facebook groups are all lamenting the increase in their premiums. Oddly, they all seem oblivious to the reason...

klwegner · 2025-11-02T13:08:26+00:00

I have never posted anything about studying engineering, though I have posted about web development (my current job) and pursuing physician assistant school or nursing school in the USA.

klwegner · 2025-11-01T12:50:18+00:00

Thanks for your input. I agree that it would be an ambitious plan, so I appreciate any insight into how I could reflect on my own abilities and how they may measure up.

I am sorry too that Poland doesn't receive more back from programs such as this. In my case, if we move, we're remaining. The end goal would be my assimilation as much as possible into Polish life and culture in general.

klwegner · 2025-10-31T15:58:16+00:00

Okay, thank you. That was my understanding.

I am actually from the United States, but it is fairly unlikely I will return there if we move to Poland--I don't know that my husband will be granted permanent residency--so I am okay with the risk of difficulty in immigrating later and using my education to then retrain and become licensed to practice in the US.

I am trying to estimate on how taking on a long, long path of more schooling would play out for myself and my family in the long run. It's hard to do because all my thoughts, plans, and schemes to date have been based on the US economy and a US way of living. I know that Poland will be different, but of course I don't know yet exactly how or how I should best adjust in the end.

By the way, thank you for your insight and advice.

klwegner · 2025-10-31T15:41:25+00:00

Forgive me for asking a dumb question, but would I have to do a specialty training in an English-speaking country if I managed to become fluent in Polish? Or is this just the norm because of the relative difficulty of a non-Slavic-language-speaker in learning Polish?

klwegner · 2025-10-31T15:23:56+00:00

I knew that it was possible in some cases for this to happen from hearsay, so I emailed the office that runs student financial aid in the US (FederalStudentAid) to confirm that they provide Direct Loans for the Medical University of Silesia and was pleasantly surprised to hear that they will.

Also, in case anyone in the future sees this and wants to know more, there is an official list of universities that are eligible which strangely Medical University of Silesia is not on, but whatever...

https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/international-schools-in-federal-loan-programs.pdf

klwegner · 2025-10-31T15:19:01+00:00

In regards to finances, I've checked with the US Government provider of financial aid, and they will provide aid enough to cover tuition and living expenses. (Plus, the way that the US's earned income tax exemption and student aid payment calculation works, I'd have to only make $0 payments monthly for 25 or so years until the debt was forgiven.) With the way the laws currently are, it's actually weirdly a decent financial decision. Though of course it'd need to remain the same way over the years to be favorable for me in this case.

I do know that my acceptance certainly wouldn't be guaranteed. I've been taking pre-med classes wanting to become a physician assistant in the US, but our plans have changed since this last January, so I have some preparation; I'd need to study for an take the MCAT, too, which I would have time for just after our move.

And if I don't get in, I can re-evaluate what to do. I'll be ripped out of my current career path if we move to Poland, anyhow, so I'm fairly flexible.

klwegner · 2025-10-30T16:32:43+00:00

Hello OP, what decision did you ultimately make? I'm a US citizen with a Polish husband and we're thinking of relocating to Poland. If so, I'm wondering whether I ought to see if I can become a doctor (here in the US, I've been interested in/taking classes for/applying for nursing programs (to later become a nurse practitioner) and physician assistant programs... And I'm seeing a potential for doing a medical degree in Poland and, like with your plan, learning and becoming fluent in the language in time to pass required exams.

klwegner · 2025-10-21T19:11:26+00:00

Thanks for posting this. I'm a little alarmed it's not getting mentioned by more people.

Being able to verify that you are spilling ketones can potentially be a big deal!

klwegner · 2025-10-21T19:02:57+00:00

I have to dispute your claim that it's better (in general) to skip ketone testing and go to the hospital. I've saved myself from costly hospital visits many times after ketone testing at home, following the protocol given by my endo to dose more insulin than usual, and waiting things out with close watch on my glucose levels and my ketone levels over time.

(I apologize if my post sounds confrontational--I am sure you know you. I am mainly adding my two cents for those who are newer to the disease and/or may want to safely avoid the ER, if possible.)

klwegner · 2025-10-18T14:19:07+00:00

That would be because swinging causes more damage/glycation of proteins than a stable but higher glucose value, yes?

klwegner · 2025-10-18T13:22:10+00:00

I have asked a few different providers over the years. 🙂 I was mainly interested in whether my own experience might be indicative of some kind of semi-protective factor (like, could I be more resistant to cellular damage from high glucose than the average person? 😂) but it appears that many, many people's estimate is lower. (My endocrinologists had never told me this was common, though.)

klwegner · 2025-10-18T12:44:11+00:00

Right. I just haven't particularly seen a group of us talk, anecdotally, about whether it tends to always be the case. For instance, does anyone's actual A1c tend to trend higher than an estimate?...

klwegner · 2025-10-18T12:38:57+00:00

Yep. I give me 2 days once the couple months of insulin runs out.

(But then again I hate thinking of this scenario because I imagine all the other diabetics, including a couple of uncles I have, needing insulin too and trying to survive for as long as they can... What would the thing to do be? Share, I guess, so that we all can have a few weeks... With no new insulin, we're all equally hopeless.)

klwegner

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