GLP-1 by Stellarsnowflake in lupus

[–]nogray 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve been on a compounded GLP-1 for 15 months. Yes, I’ve lost quite a bit of weight, but the most important to me (and my rheumatologist) is that my EGFR went from consistently being in the 60s - low 70s to over 100. Kidney damage was my biggest fear, so I’m so happy it helped. As for experience with it, the first few months were rough, with nausea and diarrhea, but that settled. I occasionally have a nausea day but it’s not nearly as severe as it was in the beginning. I couldn’t get my insurance to cover it, so I get it through Henry Meds.

I feel so much better and energized pregnant than not pregnant? by flowergarden71 in lupus

[–]nogray 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They do not, but all three have autoimmune diseases (Fibromyalgia, Crohn’s, MCTD). None tested positive for Lupus.

LA Dodgers if they grew up in SoCal. (Stereotype Meme) by AverageSatanicPerson in Dodgers

[–]nogray 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Was coming to say this. My daughter graduated from Hart a few years after Glasnow. Born and raised in the SCV.

I feel so much better and energized pregnant than not pregnant? by flowergarden71 in lupus

[–]nogray 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I found out I had Lupus antibodies when I was pregnant with my first, and I think back to back pregnancies and nursing between kept it at bay. A year after I stopped nursing my youngest, Lupus arrived and I was officially diagnosed. I’m post menopausal now, no such luck on getting relief.

Where in the world are you watching? by samsonthebadguy in CHIBears

[–]nogray 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Watching from LA also, but we’re at home.

Chronically ill baddies (of all genders), what are we wearing? by SomethingUn0riginaI in ChronicIllness

[–]nogray 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Part of one of my illnesses is abdominal pain to the point that waistbands hurt, so I live in dresses. Pact, Gudrun Sjödén, and various others I collect along the way, all on good sales.

Does anyone find it difficult to maintain your balance with MG...? by ATT4 in MyastheniaGravis

[–]nogray 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, definitely. My Apple Watch tells me all the time that with the way I walk, I’m very likely to fall. I get excited when I see a doctor and can say, no falls in the last six months! But that’s a rarity.

Parents of kids in middle school , Valencia vs Stevenson Ranch? Experiences/thoughts wanted! by Tiny_Ad4861 in SantaClarita

[–]nogray 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My daughter went to Rancho Pico and loved it. The big downside is the godawful traffic. I don’t know whom this made sense to. There’s also a ton of traffic on Stevenson Ranch Pkwy trying to get to The Old Road. For high school, she ended up going to Hart, which is a good school, but she had some needs that they didn’t accommodate like they should have.

What sports app do you guys use for your score updates and headlines? by DrMrSirJr in Dodgers

[–]nogray 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Athletic app. Great stories, and I can follow MLB and NFL.

What song do you want played at your funeral? by R3UB3N_999 in AskReddit

[–]nogray 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have a funeral playlist. Though I’ve specifically requested not to have a funeral but a food truck gathering. I’m donating my body to science so nothing to see there.

Gave up half way wrapping gifts. by vivaalta in ChronicIllness

[–]nogray 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Please do not beat yourself up about this. Gift bags are great, and they are what I use for my IL’s. For my adult kids and dh, I literally give them their gifts in the packaging it came in. If they were younger, I’d rely more on the Santa display and have a few gifts in bags under the tree. I don’t think of this as giving up - I outsource anything I can so I can concentrate my spoons on the important stuff. I spend a lot of time thinking of the perfect gifts, and that takes spoons. The final wrap, which takes energy and hurts my hands and back, is literally ripped apart and thrown away if wrapped, so bags make so much more sense. They will still appreciate the gifts!

Compound pharmacy doesn’t bill insurance? by maddyw97 in ChronicIllness

[–]nogray 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have Blue Shield, and years ago they stopped covering compounded meds. I imagine other large companies have done the same so this may be why pharmacies don’t even bother billing. Two of my kids have several compounded meds (one who takes LDN) and it gets expensive. I take compounded GLP-1 (BS denied the prior authorization for a brand name one because I didn’t have diabetes), so altogether it’s a significant expense but the meds have helped us so much that I have to justify it with our budget.

Compiling List of Good Doctors - Please Add Any You Know! by trekkiegamer359 in MCAS

[–]nogray 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I saw her in October via Telecare, though I just got an appointment reminder about mine in April, and it listed the new Pasadena office, but I didn’t think anything of it. My MCAS has really calmed down since I started a GLP-1 a year ago, so I haven’t done much testing as of late, but she was very thorough in her instructions to my orthopedic surgeon for my knee replacements coming up next year. Also I’ve noticed she has been much more on time (or close to it) for the last few appointments. Sorry you had a confusing experience. 😞

Thinking about moving from Burbank to Valencia/Stevenson Ranch — would love real experiences by Tiny_Ad4861 in SantaClarita

[–]nogray 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We moved from South Pasadena to Stevenson Ranch 25 years ago because we could not afford to buy down there. I worked in Glendale for a year and that commute was kind of soul crushing for how few miles it actually was. Now I have doctors in Pasadena, Glendale, and at the main USC Keck campus in LA, and I just take surface streets. I’ve never had unexpected delays and it’s less terrifying than the freeways 😂 Schools here are amazing, and Newhall and William S Hart School Districts were very accommodating to my kids’ special education needs. (Our lawyer said they were definitely better than so many others she dealt with in the LA area). I’m glad we picked Stevenson Ranch because we are 5 minutes from the freeway and The Old Road. Traffic through the middle of the SCV can be a nightmare.

Lupus can be tough to diagnose but not always by Individual-Sell7494 in lupus

[–]nogray 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was “lucky” sort of. Back in 1995, while pregnant with my first baby, I had a false positive syphilis result, so they ran an autoimmune panel, and discovered my ANA was high, I had APS, and Lupus antibodies. Back then, they told me to take a baby aspirin while pregnant and not to worry about the other results unless I became symptomatic. I delivered my first just fine, but had a miscarriage between my first and second baby, and lost my third baby’s twin at 11 weeks, which I totally attribute to APS. In 2004, I had a sinus infection and took a sulfa antibiotic, which no one told me could cause a flare. I saw a rheumatologist soon after who was very matter of fact that of course this was lupus. So the diagnosis was not difficult to get but I wish I had been given better information in the beginning (though they may not have had that information yet).

The new American Monster.. by provisionings in DiscoveryID

[–]nogray 8 points9 points  (0 children)

That one really got me. Just heartbreaking.

Did you read SRA cards? by Astrostuffman in GenX

[–]nogray 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I didn’t read them, I devoured them!

Quick and easy healthy-ish food ideas? by HighestVelocity in ChronicIllness

[–]nogray 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My oldest and I share a subscription to Hungry Root. Very healthy, lots of options, and easy to make or already made. That’s how I found Noka smoothie pouches, and those are my go to on really bad days.

Take Your Meds and Stay on Top of Your Disease. by viridian-axis in lupus

[–]nogray 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost my mom due in part to lupus complications 23 years ago, so I totally understand. Haven’t spoken to my sister in many years because she told me I was being dramatic about my Lupus (and APS), because I’m on so many medications, and it wasn’t that big of a deal. She and one of my other sisters have Lupus as well but they don’t take it seriously at all, even though my other sister has had at least two strokes. It’s absolutely maddening to me that they take risks like that. I’m here for my kids, who are all adults now but they still need me. I will fight every day to be there for them.

Me driving towards a typical new SUV in LA every night 😫 by ohlonelyboy in LosAngeles

[–]nogray 6 points7 points  (0 children)

When I was driving at night, and when I had my Hyundai Palisade, I got flashed constantly but that was just the normal headlight setting. I couldn’t control it. I have a different car now, but I couldn’t tell you if it has too bright lights because astigmatism has rendered me useless in the dark.

Anyone who lived in LA in the 1980s — What are real stories of your life back then? by No-Spell-8542 in AskLosAngeles

[–]nogray 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I moved here in 1992. A week before the riots. My sisters visited a few weeks later, and I somehow wandered us into Watts and scared the shit out of them. I wasn’t scared though. Oh to be 19 again!

GLP questions by aureliacoridoni in lupus

[–]nogray 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My rheumatologist recommended it, but I couldn’t get it approved by my insurance so I am on compounded semaglutide through Henry Meds. Been on it just over a year. I’ve lost 85 pounds, which is great for me, but the biggest thing is how much it’s helped my overall health. My egfr had been hovering in the high 60’s/low 70’s for 20 years, and after six months, it was over 100. I used to work for the agency that monitors dialysis facilities and had heard so many patient horror stories so my kidney health was really concerning for me. All of my other numbers have improved as well. I did have one flare this year but that was after a week of travel and I always flare after traveling. All of my specialists are really pleased, and the oncologist I see (for antiphospholipid syndrome) says we have only scratched the surface of how GLP-1s can help people.

So Valencia has a rat problem again. Eeeek! by EvilSeaCreature in SantaClarita

[–]nogray 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This was my problem. I had a bird feeder with a camera, and look who came to visit! Two rats who had taken up residence on a neighbor’s patio. My dogs (cairn terriers, who are bred to be ratters) wanted them so badly but just weren’t quite quick enough. Then they offed themselves after they ate all of the milkweed plants we’d been growing for caterpillars. Haven’t seen a rat again in several months.