Honestly, it was pretty decent—actually, it was amazing because I spent the tail end of the year surrounded by great people and just soaking up the peace we all desperately needed.
Yesterday was a bit of a headache, but nothing I couldn't handle... looking back, the whole year was a massive grind, honestly pretty stressful, though mostly because I let certain things get under my skin that didn't even matter. Like, the constant work travel? It wasn't even stressing me out anymore; it was just driving me absolutely insane, so I finally stepped in and rearranged my schedule to suit my own sanity—and hey, if anyone wants to sit around whining about it, be my guest. 😁
Bottom line, I’m hoping this next year is an upgrade and stays way lower on the stress scale. 😁 🎉
I’m in a similar boat right now; my period isn't due until the middle of next week, but since Sunday, I've been dealing with this light spotting—not full-on bleeding, but enough that I'm low-key freaking out and reaching for a liner. Back in September, my last pope test came back positive for CIN, then I had a colposcopy in October, and since then, I’ve been knocked around by two different rounds of antibiotics for bladder issues. Honestly, the whole ordeal has been such a massive stressor that I’m wondering if that’s what’s throwing my body off, but the constant worrying is just eating at me. My follow-up pap is scheduled for either December or January to see if that CIN is still hanging around, and let me tell you, the anxiety is doing absolutely zero favors for my health...
From what I’ve gathered, spotting can sometimes happen during ovulation, though for me, it’s also happened a few days before my period hits, especially when life gets extra chaotic. It actually happened like this back in August, and my period showed up just three or four days later..
wanderingbadger0 said:Maybe hit up the legal sub on Reddit instead. You’ll probably get some actual useful info there.
I heard you can actually get a full CBC once a year through a referral from your primary doctor, regardless of whether you’re even feeling sick or anything. Like, you just tell them you want a general check-up to make sure everything is running smoothly. It should be pretty much the same deal as how you’re entitled to a dental cleaning twice a year at the dentist.
Honestly, that makes total sense to me; I don't see why we wouldn't have that right.
The folks at the clinic are telling me they've never had a case where a doctor refused to write a lab referral without prior symptoms—they claim just saying what you need is enough and they'll document it, but I told them I didn't need that headache since I already checked prices with a private clinic earlier. And look, I pay for supplemental insurance... I'm not about to end up paying out of pocket for stuff because these people... well, I won't be rude, but you know how it is.
I need some advice because I’m honestly not sure if I’m even in the right place to ask this.
So, I need to get some blood work done for an elective cosmetic procedure at a private clinic, but my primary care doctor is being a total pain and refusing to give me a referral for the lab unless I already have existing test results signed and stamped by a physician.
Is she actually allowed to pull this? Who do I even complain to about this nonsense? I don't have any prior results to show her! How can she just block my right to get basic lab tests done?
Look, I’ll admit it—I’m a bit of a hypochondriac. If it were up to me, I’d be getting these panels done every single year just for the peace of mind of knowing everything is running smoothly. But since I don't have some "baseline" medical history to point to, she’s basically telling me I’m stuck in a loop where I can’t get the tests because I haven't had them yet. It's ridiculous. 🤦 👎
Just confirming that you don't need any paperwork for crossing the border anymore; nobody's even asking for it out there. Just have your Little Mask on while you're on the bus and you're good to go.
Honestly, this happens to me all the time and I don't find it weird at all. I just take it as a sign from the universe—like a little nudge or a heads-up that everything I’m stressing about is going to pan out fine in the end. It's like getting these subtle messages or directions, you know? I’ve been dealing with this my whole life, so I'm totally used to it by now; whenever things start acting up, I just realize I need to pay way closer attention to everything swirling around the stuff that's actually bugging me!
Why does the isolation period seem shorter for vaccinated folks compared to everyone else?
If someone who’s been vaccinated catches COVID, aren't they still contagious after a week anyway?!
And why isn't there a mandatory quarantine for vaccinated people after they've been around someone sick—meaning they can just head straight to work even if they have family members battling COVID and they themselves are feeling a bit under the weather?
Also, is it actually necessary to re-test once that isolation period is up? If not, how are we supposed to know when someone is officially out of the woods and no longer spreading it?
Honestly, I’m drowning in questions and nothing makes sense anymore... I work in a client-facing role and need to be going to people's houses, but with all the conflicting info flying around, it feels totally illogical. It honestly makes me want to just stay hunkered down at home working remotely forever seeing how people act and these completely nonsensical calls being made. 👎
How reasonable is it to ask someone who's vaccinated or has already had it to take a test, especially if I'm willing to show my own negative result just to get through the door?
Sorry for the interrogation, but everything just feels so incredibly blurry right now!!!
I'm honestly flying blind here, so I figured I’d just throw this out into the void of this forum!
So, at the end of January, I finally called it quits on the pill after being on it basically non-stop for almost eight years. My first period showed up about four weeks later, and everything seemed pretty regular after that... though, thanks to some earthquake stress and all the chaos surrounding it, my cycle was already acting wonky—it was supposed to arrive right on schedule, but ended up being two weeks late.
Since then, things have been landing almost exactly when I expected them to. I was looking at my next period for this coming weekend, but instead, it decides to show up today. Like, what even is happening?!
I had this super light spotting for a night or two—just a tiny bit and then nothing by morning—so a few days after my last period, I figured it was just some leftover stuff. But then I started reading online that spotting can happen around ovulation (which would have been about ten days ago, roughly ten days after my last flow)... and then last night before bed, I see a little more, and by morning there's a bit more again. Now it actually feels like my actual period is starting; I've got that familiar crampy feeling in my abdomen/ovaries—maybe a tiny bit weaker than usual, but definitely there. It’s totally throwing me for a loop because I wasn't due until next weekend. I should mention I've been feeling some occasional twinges in my right ovary, but nothing scary; I mentioned it to my doctor before and he said everything looked fine. He also did an ultrasound and said everything was normal, noting that since the pill kept everything "quiet," it's totally standard to feel your ovaries waking up again.
I have absolutely no clue how long it takes for the body to find its groove again after ditching the pill, or what this specific mess could be. I never really dealt with anything like this before the pill, and even while I was on them, it was rare—just a couple of times I had some breakthrough bleeding and then it was over.
My check-up during the second month showed a clean Pap smear, but my endometrial lining was thin because I'd stopped the hormones. My doctor said he couldn't predict when my period would return because of that, though it didn't look like it would happen anytime soon—yet it arrived just two weeks later. As for those fibroids, they're exactly where they should be, so no reason to worry about their size or position according to him.
🤔 😲 Is this just a normal thing, or is it possible that the summer heat is messing with me, or maybe my hormones just haven't leveled out yet?! 🤔
Just to add a bit of context: even before I started the pill, my period was always a late bloomer. It never actually hit on the exact day I planned for; it was always day 30 or later, so this sudden shift is making me even more confused.🤔
So, I finally kicked the pill habit at the end of January after being on it for about eight years straight without a single break. Honestly, part of it was just pure panic over my health—you know, worrying about how old I am and how long I've been loading up on them without a breather. But the real wake-up call was when I suddenly got hit with this dizzy spell out of nowhere. I haven't felt that way in ages, so I went to see my doctor, and after running some tests, they told me my blood pressure had spiked. This was huge because everyone knows me as someone with low blood pressure, so I wasn't messing around; I popped my last pill two days later and tossed the remaining three Diane-35s from my pack right into the trash!
I just couldn't justify the risk anymore, especially since I had a mountain of job interviews lined up and was stressing out big time from all the studying.
Here’s what I’ve actually noticed since I quit: my first period showed up two days earlier than expected, and it was lighter and shorter. But more importantly, I feel so much more chill lately. It’s like that constant edge is gone; things don't get under my skin nearly as much as they used to, which is a total win because, let's be real, I used to be such a nightmare to deal with right before my period arrived.
Oh, and my second period was late, but I'm pretty sure that was just due to the earthquake and the chaos of moving to a new place, plus things were already getting a bit hectic a few days before the quake hit. I'm really curious to see how the next one plays out.
I was definitely freaking out a little about quitting the pills for good, but now I’m mostly just kicking myself for not doing it sooner.🙂
They’re definitely cranking up the side effects these days; honestly, I’ve thought about ditching them entirely, but like you said, there just isn't a solid alternative out there right now.
In my case, my libido is actually spiking when it shouldn't be, but since my OB-GYN didn't bother offering anything else—like pregnancy or surgery—and kept pushing the whole "just have a baby" angle, I'm just not even entertaining that idea for the time being.
I’ve heard Mirena is a great option, though apparently, they’re a bit hesitant to implant it if you haven't gone through childbirth yet.
I don't think your libido being high before the pill is really a thing; for me, it fluctuates, but I've definitely noticed a massive dip since I started them, which is honestly just one more reason why I’m looking to unhook from the pill.
I’m not totally convinced you can just pop these forever without some kind of fallout, regardless of what anyone tells you... my doctor claims you can stay on them as long as your bloodwork looks clean, but then you hear people say they mess with your future fertility if you take them too long, and everyone’s got a different story!
Look, you don't need to spiral into a panic over birth control; there are tons of brands on the market, and you’ll definitely find one that clicks with your body, provided you keep up with your checkups and take them consistently—they're amazing protection, but yeah, we can't ignore the fact that we're messing with hormones.
I wish I had some profound wisdom for you on this, but it’s such a toss-up; everyone reacts differently—some people bloat up, some don't, others lose hair, it's all over the map.
Diane always worked wonders for me, aside from the killer libido drop; I didn't deal with any other issues, whereas those low-dose pills actually made me feel pretty nauseous.
So, I’ve been seeing Dr. Miller at Mayo Clinic for years, or at least that was the deal before this replacement doc showed up and completely flipped the script.
The second I sat down, I gave him the basics and mentioned I'm a regular patient there, and he immediately starts grilling me about how many days into my cycle I start taking the pill during the break. I told him eight, because that’s what I was told, that’s what the instructions say, and that’s how I’ve done it for ages without anyone ever correcting me—unless you're trying to delay your period, which isn't even on my radar.
Then I bring up the fibroid that’s grown a bit over the last year... and he asks how long my period lasts. He looked absolutely floored when I said six to seven days, even though that’s just the total duration; it’s not like I’m bleeding heavily the entire time. My stomach doesn't hurt and my flow isn't crazy, but the guy kept cutting me off so I couldn't even explain myself. He had this bizarre sense of humor and used these weird expressions that left me totally WTF, but whatever.🤔 Let's just say I walked out of that exam room feeling absolutely drained, thinking it's high time I find a new doctor or go back to private practice. I honestly don't have the patience for unprofessional jokes, snarky comments, interruptions, or some guy aggressively pushing the pregnancy conversation on me.
He's replacing my old doctor, who is incredibly professional, calm, actually listens, and doesn't interrupt with nonsense. But I have a sinking feeling he won't be coming back anytime soon, and this was already my second appointment with this substitute, which was honestly just soul-crushing.
The fibroid grew a tiny bit—about 4mm since the last scan—plus two new little ones popped up. So I ask him if I should stop the pill so we can figure out our next move, and he just keeps hitting me with, "What about pregnancy? Right now?"
Then he asks about my cholesterol and other levels. I tell him I don't know, and he acts like I'm being dense! I had my bloodwork done back in September, called the nurse, and she told me everything looked fine and I could stay on the pill based on the results. How am I supposed to just magically know his data? It’s like he’s using a computer for nothing because he didn't bother looking at my previous records once. Honestly, I don't even know what to make of the whole visit, other than the fact that the thought of going back there is giving me straight-up anxiety.
During my last checkup, the other doctor covering the shift was super chill—he just checked the fibroid, didn't panic, and basically said we just need to keep an eye on it. He mentioned I could influence things regarding pregnancy if I wanted, but I don't have anything to "think about"—life isn't set up for kids right now. When I told this new guy that, he snapped at me, saying I *must* consider it, questioning my relationship dynamics, and claiming if the fibroids grow more, it'll be too late and then we'll all be panicking.
Like, let's be real here. I'm not sure, and my partner isn't sure either if we even want kids; the only thing we know for certain is that it's a hard "no" for right now. I would have much preferred if he offered actual solutions or actually sat down to talk through the details—you know, like why they're growing (stress, diet, whatever), what our other options are, or if there are treatments available locally or elsewhere. Instead, he just shuts me down and brings up pregnancy five different times... 🤔 😠
Man, I gotta ask... I wouldn't call myself a total hypochondriac, but I definitely lean that way 😂 so I tend to overthink pretty much everything 😁.
And honestly, as far as I know, there isn't anything super specific going on—just your standard blood work you'd get for birth control. If my memory serves me right, my sister told me ages ago that it’s best to just knock it all out during the break, so I just stick to that routine because it's what she suggested and I guess I'm just a creature of habit, that's about it. 🤔 😁
Ladies, when are you actually getting your blood work done for the pill? Like, what's the schedule? 🙂
I usually knock mine out during my break—maybe a day or two after my last pill, or about 2-3 days before my period starts. Plus once a year, roughly around that window.
I really should get mine done next week since I already have the referral, but honestly, I’m a total neurotic mess when it comes to health stuff and I tend to spiral. Also, since my sinuses have been acting up lately, I’ve got a question...
I haven't caught a cold or anything, but a few days ago when the weather turned chilly, my sinuses started acting crazy—lots of drainage and I'm blowing my nose constantly. It's even made me sound a bit hoarse (even though I don't feel sick!). So, is there any way this could mess with my blood test results?
Basically, I feel totally fine overall, but I really don't want to push my labs back another four weeks just because of some sinus drainage and pressure... especially since this won't clear up until the weather finally warms back up. 🤔 My nose isn't even stuffed up, physically I'm good, no sore throat or anything like that, it's just these sinuses being annoying and... now what?!
Hey, can anyone hook me up with a good dermatologist in New York City? Feel free to slide into my DMs with suggestions!
My gynecologist basically told me I need to get my face checked out because of all this redness—suspecting rosacea. Before I go trekking to my primary care doctor to beg for a referral (since paying out-of-pocket for private clinics right now is basically a robbery), I figured I'd ask if you guys have any favorites you swear by. 😉
Also, how does this even work? Like, what exactly am I supposed to ask my doctor for to make sure they actually send me to a specialist? This is my first time ever dealing with a dermatologist, so I’m flying totally blind here. I don't really know the drill when it comes to anything outside of those fancy private clinics that charge an absolute fortune just to look at you, let alone actually treat you. 😲
Honestly, I’m not sure how smart it is to be handing out pills like candy without a prescription... unless you're just passing them to someone who’s already on the same cocktail, but even then, without a paper trail at the pharmacy, I wouldn't dare get mixed up in that mess... 🤔
wiredfalcon83 said:Hey ladies, I could really use some insight here. My girlfriend has been on Lindynette 20 for just over two years now, and honestly, it’s been working perfectly for her. But she called her gynecologist today, and apparently, they’re being pulled from the market, so he’s going to have to switch her over to something else. Does anyone actually know what’s going on with this... why would they be withdrawing them? Was there some kind of safety issue or a spike in nasty side effects that we should be worried about? She doesn't have an account on here herself, so I'm stepping in to ask for her. It’s a bit of a headache because switching medications means we’ll have to keep a close eye on any new side effects, especially since we finally felt like things were stable and she was doing so well on the Lindynette... Thanks so much for any info you can share 🙂
I haven't heard the specific reason why they're pulling them, but I definitely heard from a few girls that they were a nightmare to deal with. Honestly, they didn't sit right with me at all... I ditched them almost immediately. Between the breakthrough bleeding and everything else, it was just a mess. There are way better options out there!😉
Abraham Lincoln, I gotta admit, my PC was being custom-built back then, so I had zero clue how ancient the parts actually were! 😉 😁 😂 And yeah, regarding the upgrade, that’s pretty much what I figured needed doing, except I can’t exactly drop the cash right now since I’m out here hunting for a job—so for the time being, I’m just gonna ride this wave and hope for the best. Honestly, I was totally losing my mind when it crashed because the repair bill is basically a second mortgage 😲 😲 so my big plan is to just wipe everything and reinstall Windows, praying nothing else explodes before I land a paycheck... Once things settle down, I'll definitely be reaching out to pick your brain!
Alright, here’s the latest update! After basically wrestling everything out of it and plugging it into a PC just so the guy could take a look, the thing actually fired right up like nothing ever happened! I gave it a deep clean too—man, there was so much dust... I honestly have no idea how I managed to totally forget about "dusting" it for three whole years. 😁 Everything is hooked back up and it's running fine, though I think I'll try a fresh reinstall of Windows, especially given what I mentioned about Mozilla; after several years, no matter how you slice it, a fresh start is probably the move! 🙂 The tech guy says it was clearly just being a total pain, but all that shuffling, turning it off, and letting it sit finally did the trick! By the way, for those asking about the desktop specs: Intel (R) Core (TM)2 Duo CPU; E6750 - 2.66 - 2.67 GHz 4 GB RAM 64-bit operating system x64-based processor
I’ll see how it holds up once I get Windows reinstalled.. Right now, this is where it stands (Facebook, YouTube, Gmail, plus GameRoom—which is the biggest CPU hog); Mozilla itself doesn't eat much CPU, but it definitely gulps down memory, and as soon as GameRoom is closed, it becomes the main CPU user again. I have a ton of bookmarks in Mozilla, but I don't use any extensions—just AdBlock Plus and the standard stuff that comes with it, plus one background; I try not to clutter it up with useless junk.