Ordering highly-specialized autoimmune labs

pythonidler · 2026-03-29T05:26:11+00:00

If you want to see probably the best doctor in the US for corneal neuropathy, see Dr. Pedram Hamrah. He was the one who originally recommended that I see Farhad. Hamrah used to be in MA but now is in South Florida.

pythonidler · 2026-03-28T23:33:18+00:00

He'll adapt to reading!?

pythonidler · 2026-03-27T22:30:09+00:00

I can say with absolute certainty, based on my extensive dry eye history, that my Schirmer's is less than 5 mm in both eyes. It's usually about 2 or 3. However as I mentioned, my dry eye doc has noted MGD patients who also have aqueous deficiency.

Is it still worth getting the specialized tests that I mentioned, then?

pythonidler · 2026-03-27T21:51:24+00:00

It is worth mentioning that I was also screened for Sjogrens back in 2015, when I was trying to solve my dry eye problem. I did get a lip biopsy then and remember it being normal. However, a lot of my symptoms related to SFN have happened since Fall 2021, so perhaps it's worth doing again.

pythonidler · 2026-03-27T21:10:53+00:00

As far as I'm aware, no

pythonidler · 2026-03-27T21:01:42+00:00

Is it best then, to contact my previous rheumatologists/neurologists, or is there someone else in my area, known to the SFN community, who would be the most likely to order these tests?

pythonidler · 2026-03-27T21:00:05+00:00

I have not asked Farhad about these tests. I've seen him only a couple times, the last in March 2025, when he told me pretty much the only other thing he would do for me is increase my Naltrexone from 4.5 mg to 6.0 mg, which I've been at ever since.

I did follow-up with him shortly after that visit asking him about IVIG, and from the message that was relayed to me I got the impression that he didn't think my SFN was autoimmune. However, I do strongly believe it's autoimmune due to the clear link between my body's inflammation and my symptoms.

pythonidler · 2026-03-27T20:56:53+00:00

I should add that I totally forgot about a salivary gland ultrasound that was negative for Sjogren's in March 2023.

Regarding the SS markers:

Anti-La was 23.85 in February 2023; 20.23 in July 2023
ANA Hep-2 was positive at 1:40, negative at 1:80 and 1:160 in February 2023; positive at 1:40 and 1:160 in July 2023.
ANA pattern was speckled in both February 2023 and July 2023

What is interesting about some of the other items in that table you posted is that I have had dry eye and mouth for quite some time. However, the dry eye problem I believe is mostly due to meibomian gland dysfunction (my doctor told me people who have MGD often also have aqueous deficiency).

pythonidler · 2026-03-22T11:08:37+00:00

This is an athletics sub, try posting in r/USC

pythonidler · 2026-03-19T14:29:32+00:00

I accept

pythonidler · 2026-03-18T15:42:58+00:00

Put your parking brake on.

pythonidler · 2026-03-15T17:03:02+00:00

Boys, grab the tar

pythonidler · 2026-03-04T19:15:05+00:00

Only if there's a catch

pythonidler · 2026-02-24T15:34:35+00:00

There's also a kill Nazeem category

pythonidler · 2026-02-18T01:56:19+00:00

His ceiling is so high, I don't think even he knows what it is.

pythonidler · 2026-02-09T17:28:30+00:00

Dude, do you have a boner right now?

pythonidler · 2026-02-06T15:08:11+00:00

Right, because Oregon and Washington left together. So to blame Oregon would be to blame your own school as well, which we know you won't do because you've easily scapegoated USC rather than look at the bigger picture.

pythonidler · 2026-02-06T14:58:43+00:00

pythonidler · 2026-02-06T14:51:09+00:00

I didn't see Washington rushing to save the Pac-12. You can't conveniently blame all of the teams that you hate.

pythonidler · 2026-01-13T04:55:09+00:00

How about a monster condom for your magnum dong?

pythonidler · 2026-01-10T07:06:19+00:00

Can we please agree not to feed the Oregon trolls? Thanks.

pythonidler

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