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melissamomof5

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Posts posted by melissamomof5

  1. For reference, I am 39 😉

     

    My Dr recently check some other things.

    Rheumatoid factor was negative

    Dna antibody double strand DSDNA (for lupus) 159 reference range <=200

    ENA sjogren b antibody was 4 reference <20

    ENA RNP Antibody was 3 reference <20

    ANTI JO1 was 2 reference <20

    Anti scleroderma 5 reference <20

    ENA sjogren A antibody 13 reference <20

    Smith antibody 4 reference <20

    As far as blood counts are concerned...Platelet 216 reference 140-450 and WBC 4.6 reference 4.0-10.0 (I have lots more CBC results)

    I also have crazy bad cholesterol. Genetic factors. MT

    Cholesterol 247

    HDL 33

    Triglycerides <139

    LDL 186

    Coronary Heart Disease 7.5 reference <4.4

    Alipoprotein A 158 reference 0-30

     

    Haven't had D, iron, or anything else tested in a while. I do take 4,000 IU D3 with K a day. Last time she checked my ferritin was almost 3 years ago, it was 8 with a reference of 11-307. Iron was 61 reference 50-170. D was 39 reference 30-100. At that time TSH was 1.29 reference .34-5.60. FT4 was .8 reference .6-1.3. B12 was 458 reference 180-914.

    I did see a rheumatologist the first time I had positive ANA. They ran tests and determined I didn't need any further care at that time. Did say if I ever needed to come back, just to call and he'd see me within 2 weeks.

     

    I do like my Dr, but sometimes she is a bit strange. She didn't prescribe me anything for the cholesterol. I don't want to take anything, hut I also don't want to have something happen I can prevent. My grandpa did have multiple heart attacks and stroke. Both parents have high cholesterol. No autoimmune diseases that we know of though.

     

    So hard to tell when I just need to suck it up and do what I can do or when to seek further help. I know so much can be improved by water, dietary changes, and exercise. Why is it so hard to start with the basics at home! :)

  2. Been on a long journey trying to find a reason to blame for my symptoms. Started years ago with severe hip joint pain. Dr did tests and discovered ANA speckled 1:320. D3 was also very low. I have struggled on/off over the years with iron as well. My dr's fix for this was 5,000 IU d3 a day. I do not currently take any medications, only some supplements.

    The past two years fatigue, muscle tension, random joint pains (for example fingers were swollen and stiff and in pain for several months this last summer), fatigue, mental fog, tension headaches/migraines, and have had hives/itchy rash almost every day since October 2017, also gluten intolerant (severe bloating, discomfort, and other things)

    My dr re-ran autoimmune tests. ANA still positive. All other tests came back okay. Sent me to an allergist for skin scratch test because of hives. Only positive was an allergy to trees. Allergist ran tests as well to rule out other things.

    TPO was <10 reference range of <40

    T3 Reverse 13.5 reference range of 9-27
    Thyroglobulin Ab <1 reference range of <9
    T4 Free .9 reference range of .6-1.3
    Thyroglobulin Antibody <1 reference range <4
    T3 Free 3.97 reference range 2.5-3.9

    I don't have another appt scheduled to discuss with dr. The message said they were all within normal range. What do you think? Can I cross this one off the list of possible culprits? :)
  3. Thank you all for the many responses and helpful questions to consider!

    My PCP did do C-Reactive and Sed Rate and other things a year ago. She basically just told me to do the naproxen for a few months and if it didn't help, then she would re-do my bloodwork and I should go back to the Rheumatologist. She literally told me not to go see him yet. Pshhh. I have not used the Naproxen! But, one of you said if I am taking something more than twice a week, that is something. I have taken so much ibuprofen and tylenol in the past year. Oye. 

    Last check (a year ago), my C-reactive and sed rate were both normal. Sed Rate was only 7. I haven't had those re-checked yet?

    Pen, you asked about organ damage signs? I don't know? I'm not sure how we would know that. I don't think I have had the classic lupus rash. My face is more sensitive to sun, but not that rash like I would see when googling images.

    Prairiewindmomma, I agree completely! Thank you for the reply. :)

     

    Attolia, I was tested for celiac a year ago. Gliadin IGG was 3, Tissue Transglutaminase IGG was 10, Gliadin IGA Antibody 10, IGA Gammaglobulin 225, and Tissue Transglutaminase IGA was 13. I was told all was negative. My PCP did do Food Intolerance Testing (blood test). I came back extremely high for all eggs, all dairy, and medium response to gluten and wheat. But my body's reactions to gluten are enough I would never eat it just to be retested. :) 

    It was a lab in Ann Arbor, Michigan that processed some of my results.

    Seasider too - I have not been checked for SIBO. Would my PCP order that or maybe my chiropractor could?

    Ellie - when they call me back I will ask about those other thyroid tests. I have a friend here who told me the same thing! She said it's hard to get a dr to order those. ?

    Katy - Yes! I think more dietary changes are going to be my saving grace here. :) 

     

  4. Symptoms - On/off strange pains for years. Sometimes in joints, sometimes in muscles. Headaches. Digestive issues. Definite sensitivity to wheat/gluten (been GF over 6 months). Almost daily hives since last October. Brain fog. Fatigue.

    First tests were done years ago after hip pain so bad I could barely move. ANA was 1:320 at that time. Dr put me on 5,000IU d3 a day and after a few months, it resolved. As time went on other symptoms, as noted, popped up and continued to bother me more as time went on.

    August 2016 I went back to dr for issues. She did a whole gamet of tests. ANA was positive ANA speckled 1:160. Went to Rheumatologist. Things must have been better enough by then that he was satisfied with my tests and said to come back if things got worse.

    Fast forward again to this year. Symptoms are bad enough if it interrupting my life at times. I know many are so much worse, so sometimes I tend to downplay things, but I know that if I feel bad enough that I just need to lay down for hours, it's not normal. So I am trying to address things.

    She did CBC w/ diff and CBC. I was originally in for a follow-up on cholesterol issues. I left with her being unconcerned with cholesterol and wanting to put me on naproxen for RA. Sigh.

    Sent me to an allergist who did skin test to see if hives are from allergy. Only thing that showed up was trees. But, he ordered all the following tests. I think I am missing a few results. I know he ordered TS4 and TSH and vitamin D. I don't see those in my health portal?

    ANA speckled 1:160

    DNA ANtibody Double Strand 159 (said negative reference range was anything under 200?)

    Thyroglobulin Antibody was less than 20

    Thyroperoxidase Antibody was less than 10

    ENA Sjogren B = 4

    ENA RNP = 3

    Anti JO1 = 2

    Anti Scleroderma = 5

    ENA Sjogren A = 13

    Smith Antibody = 4

    With these results could we surely say lupus is negative? I don't want to have anything "wrong", but it sure would be nice to have an explanation. :)

  5. I plan to use

    Math: Teaching Textbook, I think he will do level 4

    Grammar: Thinking he will do MasterBooks Language Lessons for a Living Education

    Spelling: Thinking he will finish his Spelling You See we started this year

    Science: MasterBooks God's Design Life Science

    History: Beautiful Feet Early American History Primary

    Bible: Thinking MasterBooks Elementary Apologetics

     

  6. 2 hours ago, Holly said:

    We have used SCM (Egypt, Middle Ages, & Early Modern guides).  We currently use Biblioplan.  One issue I had with SCM is that I wanted more in depth for my high school student.  We enjoyed Stories of America/the Nations, but we wanted more stories and more depth.  With BP, my younger ones (7th & under) use SOTW for their spine and my oldest is going through the BP Companion.  It's been a good amount of reading for their ages. We've really enjoyed the recommended books and there is tons to pick from (which could be overwhelming for some).

    One thing we've done is separate out the ancient history.  We are doing a multiple stranded history approach.  So we have Biblical history, ancient history, and modern history spread out over a 4 year cycle.  A Delectable Education has some information on one way to do this.  We love our history broken up into multiple categories! 

    Here is what we are currently doing:

    Bible (evening devotion time): We are reading through the Bible.  We are up to Romans, and I'm not sure what we'll do after this. We may just start back over or we may find a Bible program to use.

    Ancient History (this is scheduled as part of our daily literature time): 2nd & 5th grader are using MP's D'Aulaire's Greek Myths book & guide and my 7th & 9th graders are reading MP's The Story of the Ancient Greeks and will follow that with the Iliad & the Odyssey.  We are loving these books!  We plan on continuing with MP's Classical Studies books for ancient history.

    Modern History (3 days per week): I plan to use BP Year 2-4 over four years.  That gives us an extra year for more readings, videos, and projects when we are interested in a topic. I hope this gives you some ideas! 


    Thank you! I love your ideas.

  7. 14 hours ago, nixpix5 said:

    Well...I don't know how much help I can be but I will say SCM history is ok, but not the best. Before I did biblioplan I started with SCM Egypt and it felt truncated and clunky. I periodically would use it for something but it wasn't my favorite. 

    We use and love Biblioplan and you could use Mystery of History as your textbook since it is scheduled in biblioplan. We use SOTW with it along with the journey bible and other references. There are lots of options for biblioplan. It is flexible which is why I love it. It schedules reading for various age groups through high school so I know it can be used for high school I just wouldn't know what that would look like for credit. The schedule of books is smorgasbord so you don't have to do them all. We would choose a few extra per week. 

     

    Oh thank you for the feedback :) What years of Biblioplan have you used? Where do you think we should start?

    I forgot one other idea, my 3rd daughter, who will be 6th grade this fall would be happy to do Masterbooks World's Story Vol I. She enjoys doing her work alone, which makes me sad, but I also understand. 

  8. So we are 1/2 way through Notgrass America the Beautiful right now. I would hope we could finish it by fall, but I just don't know for sure. For background, we did MFW CTG and RTR and then came to Notgrass last year to just do American History. So, my middle kids have never had any early or modern history outside of American History. My grade school kids will be 3rd, 6th, and 8th. I also will have a 10th grader who will probably do Notgrass Am History for high school.

     

    My ideas for this fall are:

    1. Simply Charlotte Mason doing their Year 6 guide that would cover about 1850-modern American and World History. I love the looks of SCM, but I don't love that it's a 6 year cycle.

    2. Simply Charlotte Mason doing their Year 1 guide. I love the Bible being the spine, but again, a 6 year cycle. Eeks. Maybe it's a little late in the game for us to do that.

    3. Notgrass Uncle Sam & You with my two middle gals and BF Early American Primary with my 3rd grader. I already have US&Y textbooks and about half of the BF books & guide. But, I'm afraid US&Y will be so dry. I like that Notgrass is a "get-er-done" history, but what will they really remember? Will they enjoy it and be inspired by it? I like Notgrass, but sometimes the facts they include and the barrage of dates is overwhelming and unnecessary, in my opinion.

    4. Biblioplan Year 3 with the 3 middles to cover American History in light of World History. I don't mind doing this one, but I don't know about it since my will-be 8th grader would only get year 3 before high school.

    5. Biblioplan year 4 with the 3 middles for the same reason as above. I like this idea and think it could be fun and interesting for all 3 of my middle kids.

    6. Biblioplan year 1 just to start back at the beginning. Ah, what's not to love about a clean slate. :P However, with this plan, my will-be 8th grader will just have to move on to world history in 9th grade. 

    7. Totally just go simple and only use Mystery of History.

     

    See my dilemma! lol I can't even decide what time period I want to cover let alone which curriculum. Maybe it'd be easier if I could at least narrow that one down.

     

    p.s. I know this isn't the high school board, but if I could wrap my brain around how to assign credits, I also would be open to using Biblioplan for my high school students. So that could definitely be a benefit to that one. 

  9. Resurrecting this old post to see what the OP found that helped. There was some great encouragement on here!

     

    I have been dealing with some health stuff that has left me quite exhausted...combined with my growing daughters developing independence. I am having a hard time finding the right balance. This is our 11th year homeschooling and I feel like I need a revival in my homeschool.

    • Like 1
  10. 1 hour ago, Liza Q said:

    The program itself is fairly teacher intensive if you want to use it all. But if you go through it and assign readings and writing and you have a solid student...well, you will still need to discuss the readings with her. Unless you want to give her the TM so she can read the answers and extra info on her own. If she did the dvds/online, I think it would be quite independent, except for grading the papers.

    The program does not assign any books, only what is in the text - essays, short stories, poems, some excerpts of longer works

    This was so helpful! Thank you :)

    • Like 1
  11. I finally went to the ENT  yesterday because I've been having a spasm or fluttering in my left ear for a few weeks. He said everything looked perfect but referred me for a hearing test and some sort of air puff test, not until the end of April. In the meantime, my ear is starting to ache and my mind is left to wander. Is there anyone else who has experience with this sort of thing?

  12. We use Writeshop and I love it and find it effective on one hand, but I find I want to use something different because it isn't as open and go as I would like. I don't mind teacher intensive, but to me Writeshop is a bit disorganized.

     

    I love the looks of it, but I am afraid of that. I have read way more reviews saying that. :(

  13. I have really dropped the ball on writing instruction.

     

    My 9th grader is more naturally inclined and doing okay.

     

    I did Writing Intensive B with my 5th and 7th graders this year, but it ended up getting a little confusing to us and we didn't finish the last DVD. I bought the revised Writing Strands for them, but I'm not sure that's the best way to go either.

     

    I have looked at Writeshop but am afraid it is too teacher intensive. The people there thought maybe I should start the girls off in F this year.

     

    Anyone have any suggestions?

     

    I have 5 kids, from 3-almost 15 so though I understand I will have to have some degree of participation in teaching it, my attention is stretched thin.

     

    Thank you!

    • Like 1
  14. I dislike SOTW because the activity guide isn't spiral bound.  I can get the reading books any binding: hard, soft, spiral, but not the activity guide.  It means there's a shadow whenever I try to copy a page from it.  If I don't want the shadow I have to pay more to get a pdf copy. 

     

    I agree that it's frustrating, but I did have the AG spiral bound. I split it up into two parts. I got the activities section bound together and then all the pages to copy bound together. 

    • Like 1
  15. It's just called the ttg test. It is a blood test. It's worth doing if only to eliminate celiac disease. Or to find it if you have it.

     

    Are you familiar with celiac? I am curious if my symptoms really go with it? I do not have weight loss! I cannot lose anything. :( But I gather that perhaps the symptoms can be so varied, it's hard to say.

    Do you think a good place to start is just to ask my dr for a ttg test?

  16. I am pretty sure I have issues with gluten or wheat and xanthan gum. I am wondering if there is more.

     

    I have been positive for inflammatory autoimmune disease for years now. Symptoms are pernicious anemia, low vitamin D (even when taking 5000d3 a day), crazy fatigue,joint pain, headaches (usually 1 or 2 a week, and every so often they will just hang on for days), I bloat up HUGE after eating anything with wheat or gluten and also found out the same happens with some GF foods, burp/belch a lot, get cracks in corners of lips.

     

    So, my doc uses immuno labs and it isn't cheap! Just trying to decide if the tests are worth it or just stick to elimination.

     

    Thank you for sharing experiences and advice.

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