u/hopeisnotbread

Hi all!

So I (30F) fairly recently rocked up to an ADHD diagnosis, and my clinical psychologist wrote on my form my GAI, and I nearly shat a brick (affectionate). I was encouraged to join Mensa at my chapter, and she wrote me a letter of referral. I went to my first meeting recently, and it was AWESOME!

People there are nice and delightful! I haven't been back for a bit, and didn't pursue the full membership despite paying the dues, just because I got distracted by other pursuits. I had everything done, just need to pop the forms in. But tonight I've sent off all my relevant paperwork, paid my dues, yada yada.

I don't want to talk too much about it to my friends, because I don't want to seem like I'm being one of those sorts. But I found my first Mensa meeting just such a joyful and lovely thing, and I can't wait to go back!

Once it's all signed and delivered, I'll grab my flair. But I'm really keen to be a part of the community. Thank you for having me! My father was also a Mensan, and really loved all the fun meetings (and the excellent cocktail hours).

If anyone has questions about the process, feel free to ask! I notice a lot of that here, and I'm happy to answer to the best of my ability. My entry was a little unorthodox, but I can give my experiences on submitting, rocking up, and what I've enjoyed so far.

Hello everyone! 30F from Australia. No current dx, taking Setraline 100mg and Vit D capsules, weekly B12 shots.

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Recent bloods showed high iron + saturation, low B12 and Vit D, high serum homocysteine. Everything else was pretty normal, Ferritin is a little low. Doc is taking a look into potential concerns with pernicious anaemia.

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I just got married recently, which is wonderful! At this position, husband and I would like to try for a baby. However, my recent bloods are showing I'm quite off balance. Doctor is concerned, due to blood results and symptoms (RLQ pain, chronic digestive issues, family history) that I may have Crohns Disease, or something of a similar nature around my digestive tract, causing malabsorption and making it hard for me to maintain good health. As far as I'm aware from my gyno, I'm in good reproductive health.

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We're going through all of the right diagnostic steps, fecal calcprotein, bloods, dietitian, pelvic physio. So I feel well cared for in that department, and feel comfortable we can get to the bottom of it.

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However: I'm also just mindful that I'm 30, and I feel a bit like I'm putting something I really want to be doing on hold. But I also want any child I conceive to be healthy, happy, and not be at risk.

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With everything going on: am I best off waiting until these levels are more stable, and I'm no longer experiencing pain? Is there a specific specialist I should book an appointment to to ask these questions? I have to wait a month to see my doctor again, and so I can't ask her directly right now.

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If it's not a good idea right now: can I be working on anything to make it easier when I'm ready? I think I'm just nervous I'll leave everything too late, and won't have the chance to start a family. Or these complications will take so long to resolve, that life will pass me by.

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Thank you so much for your time!

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to express some appreciation for this space. My mum has had Crohn's Disease all of my life, and I'm very familiar with it. I've had GI problems, pain, anemia, strange things going on for a long time - and today, I took a step to advocate for myself and gave my doctor my whole medical history. As it turns out, I've got a lot of potential markers for pernicious anemia, and with my family history: I'm getting referred to a specialist for a colonoscopy and some further testing rather quickly. Some of the results very much explain why I'm feeling awful, though I'll be honest, it's been a long time coming.

I'm not here to speak on whether or not I have the disease (but will update on the result) - but I just wanted to say how appreciative I am that a community that provides such honest, frank conversation from people who are dealing with it exists. My blood tests had significant enough craziness that I know something's wrong, and has been wrong for a long time. I've been intermittently ill all my life, but today, just having a doctor who listened, who let me talk about the ins and outs: that was awesome! Though when she asked me if I'd ever heard of Crohn's, my heart dropped into my (pretty unwell) stomach.

I'm definitely hopeful that this isn't what's happening. But reading the stories here, the memes, the camaraderie, and the kindness: I feel more safe, going into this process. I'm not sitting here in abject despair. It's a long road, but I'm not feeling so isolated.

I've had a lot of times I've felt I was a hypochondriac. Or the pain was just normal. I was eating something stupid. Shouldn't have had a glass of wine, or just should've sucked it up. I've had ultrasounds, blood tests, halter monitors, all of the hits. IBS diagnosis, then gluten intolerance. FODMAP diet (wow, loved that) and then doing all of the right things and puking my guts up after eating something stupid that I love like broccoli.

(I still can't write a post like this without the awkward feeling like I'm just bursting into a room and making it about me when there's nothing wrong with me, which is frustrating!)

Anyway, from the daughter of a Crohn's sufferer who loves my mum, and a person who is undergoing tests to check on my own potential journey with the disease: I'm really glad a community like this exists. Reading stories like mine is allowing me to channel the grief I'm feeling, and the fear, into advocating for myself and being kinder to myself.

I appreciate you all. Thank you.