Posts by Brenda Hughes2

Hannah Kim5 said:Is there any way to get these pills without a prescription?

Not in the States.

frozencanyon10 said:I'm not entirely sure if this is the right thread for this, but I have a question regarding switching primary care physicians.

Is it actually possible to transfer to a doctor who lives outside of my immediate residential area?

It 🙂

Robin Morgan2 said:Hey everyone! 🙂 Quick question about birth control. Can I get all those tests done at a private OB-GYN clinic? I’m assuming it would be way faster than going through the public health system, and I was wondering if they could also write my first prescription, or would I still need to see a doctor at a state facility for that? Honestly, I just want to use them for protection. A condom has broken on me twice in the last two years or so, and I really don't want to take any more risks with that.

You should probably stick to the public clinic to get your referrals—private testing can get pretty pricey 🙂

crimsoneagle50 said:Brenda Hughes2 thanks for getting back to me 🙏 ... so basically, I start a 21-day cycle on Monday, then immediately jump into a new pack on the 22nd... honestly, I don't even use birth control for pregnancy prevention, it's more for other stuff, but still... what does that actually mean? Like, does that mean I won't get my period at all that month or what?! I'm asking because I have to go in for a Pap smear in two months, and I need to book the appointment ahead of time, so naturally, I need to know when my period is coming 🕺

That's right 🙂 I didn't get mine at all that month—just some occasional spotting—and then after the second pack, my period came back totally normally during the break.

crimsoneagle50 said:Hey everyone, quick question—does anyone know if it actually works to delay your period using pills? I’m currently on day 7 of my break and waiting for it to start. The problem is I have this massive trip coming up soon, and it looks like it's going to hit right during the last week of my travels 🤦
I was thinking, if I don't start the next pack this Monday like I usually do, but wait until the following week instead, will that push my period back?!?! My doctor is out on vacation right now, so I'm kind of stuck...

That would just shock your system, and honestly, you wouldn't even be protected, so it isn't really worth it. You're better off just starting the new pack without taking a break at all.

stormyfalcon3 said:My primary care doctor gave me a referral to get my TSH and T4 checked because they suspect hypothyroidism. Do I need to schedule an appointment specifically with the nuclear medicine department, or can I just show up and wait to be called? If I do need to book ahead, how long is the typical wait time?

I scheduled my appointment at the Community Health Center just a day in advance—though since my referral also included hormone testing, I had to time it for a specific day in my cycle.

If you're pregnant, your benefits have to be processed through Social Security—private insurance just doesn't handle maternity leave or disability claims like that.

Walter Brooks56 said:Only pet owners will truly understand this... ;D
I'm not even talking about family here—they usually realize it isn't wise to ask—but rather random acquaintances.
If they find out you have a cat, it doesn't take more than five seconds before they start rambling about "that disease"—which they can't even name, of course—that cats supposedly carry.
I know I have antibodies for toxoplasmosis, so let me just say that if it were actually as common as 90% of people think, most children would die before birth.
I understand the good intentions, but honestly, does your very first question really have to be about the potentially lethal diseases my pets might transmit?
It makes me want to tell them all the things the random strangers at the subway station could pass on to me—and the list is significantly longer.

Furthermore, there is the inevitable "what will you do with the dogs." As if they were some outdated piece of furniture we're getting rid of because we no longer have room for the crib.
I simply respond that if they don't like the baby or if there are allergies, they'll be put up for adoption.
That is the threshold where you stop feeling the need to explain to irrelevant people that dogs aren't just biological placeholders for children and can go now. Family is the priority. Period.

And finally, the "is it a girl or a boy so I know what color clothes to buy" question.
I told them that anatomy doesn't dictate a child's favorite color, nor does it determine the color of a onesie. 😁
When my friends are putting together baby clothes, I couldn't care less if it’s pink, blue, or green. I am just grateful I don't have to spend ridiculous amounts of money on something they will outgrow after two wears; the color interests me no more than whether there is a bunny or a teddy bear printed on it.

A friend of mine was expecting a daughter, and everyone was buying her pink things. In the end, the "daughter" arrived with testicles, so his ego wasn't bruised by being dressed in pink. 😁

You just tell them, "Oh, nothing much—they're going straight into the chili pot," and you just sit there watching their faces😬

Nausea is a pretty common side effect when you're first getting used to 🙂—for me, during my first attempt with pills, it lasted about two months, whereas the second time it was only about ten days.

wanderingbadger44 said:But wait, where is all this coming from, considering kids have been sitting through religious studies for twelve years of their schooling over the last quarter-century? Could there actually be some sort of connection there? 😬

edit: I was actually being modest when I said twelve years. I recently found out that even at MIT, they offer Biblical theology as an elective course. 🤦 I imagine you'd find similar things offered at other universities too.

How can there still be so much darkness in society despite having so much religious education? 🕺

No, just at MIT. According to the exam instructions, you're actually allowed to have your own Bible with you during the test. 😁

If I'm out in a city that isn't my usual medical network, I can just head straight to the ER, right?

ruggedraven2 said:Hey everyone, just scrolled through the last few pages but came up empty... Even though this is mostly about wedding cakes, I’m hoping someone can help—I've been Googling for hours with zero luck. My sister's having her 24th bachelorette party in Washington, D.C. (I'm stuck down in Miami, so I have to handle all the ordering online), and I need a cake ready for about 25 people. The theme is pin up, so the decorations really need to hit that vibe. The only thing I found that uses that specific frosting—whatever it's called, don't kill me—is a bakery called Horak. Anyone know if they're actually any good? Or does anyone have other suggestions? The look and the decor are the priority here, though obviously, I want it to taste decent too. Thanks a bunch...

You should also check out Cleveland and Sugarland. 🙂

I’m using these inserts—not from the Orthopedic Institute, but they're foam-based—and I honestly love them. My orthopedic consultation at a private clinic went something like this: "Your feet are misaligned. Are you wearing orthotics? No? Well, you really should be—go get some custom ones made." 🤣

So, yeah, that entire diagnosis was basically useless when it came to actually getting the inserts made.

stormyharbor2 said:I was actually thinking about asking—if I head out on a long trip outside the States, does that mean I can't just pick up two bottles of my meds at once? Not sure what to do here...

Maybe the solution would be to see a private gynecologist—someone who could just write out a prescription for you? 🤔
Though, you’d probably end up paying full price for that, I suppose.

wanderingwolf31 said:Personally, my doctor gives me a prescription every six months. Usually, I just get a new one twice a year, but I can't handle taking everything at once, so I pick up one box every month. Maybe it’s an issue with how private prescriptions are handled? You should check in with fastrunner24 to find out. 🙂 Honestly, if you ask me, you shouldn't be taking Lindy every single month without a scheduled break... that's just not how these things are designed to work. You ought to have a conversation with Ginny B. 🙂

Just wanted to check in—I went to get my new prescription yesterday, and of course, I'm stuck with that same old fate of having to pick them up one box at a time. 🤣

My pills have been added to some sort of state insurance list now, so the government partially covers them—which is fine—but because of that, I don't get a private script anymore. It's all electronic now, and I'm limited to picking up just one box per month.

Well, hey, as long as they're noticeably cheaper, I'm not complaining. 👏

rapidhawk24: wait—did I just miss something? i feel like i'm reading a whole conversation in my head that actually happened in real life. — anyway, hope everyone is having a decent Tuesday. kaže:
Yeah, I went through the process via the local health system—basically the same way most people handle things here. I actually sat down with my gynecologist to go over all the options, and it boiled down to two paths: either having a recurring prescription where I get one box every month, or just calling them up whenever I need to grab two boxes at once. Honestly, I’m still scratching my head wondering how you manage to get such large quantities when the rest of us are stuck in this exact same situation...

I’ve been taking Lyndinette—which usually comes with a week-long break—but I don't actually follow that schedule.

I'm getting a private prescription—meaning my gynecologist visits are covered by my insurance through the state, but the actual pills aren't. 😁Well, maybe that's actually the point—and honestly, I think I’d be a wreck if I had to make that trip every single month. I really ought to head over there sometime this week just to grab a new recipe from her before my summer vacation starts... though at this rate, I feel like I'm prepping for an expedition to the Himalayas or something. 🙂

I don't really know how to respond to that—just a random string of letters, I guess? If there was supposed to be a point or a question behind it, feel free to drop it in. I'm all ears. kaže:
I phrased that wrong, ladies—my bad. 😵
I thought the protocol was to take them for three weeks and then have a one-week break—you know, that whole cycle thing—but I've actually just been taking them every single day, without stopping, for months now.

Regarding that girl from before—my gynecologist told me the exact same thing—that she shouldn't be overprescribing anymore.
Is this year's prescription the same thing being repeated every month, or...? Also—would it be possible for me to just swing by the pharmacy and pick up 12 boxes of pills all at once?

It looks like you only sent a fragment—"A, to"—so I'm not quite sure what you're aiming for here. If you have a specific post or some text you want me to rework, just drop it in! I'm ready to get to work whenever you are. 🙂 I only did that once—never again. It wasn't even a real period; it was just constant spotting for the entire cycle. Honestly, it drove me absolutely insane. 🙂 When I’m drinking on an empty stomach—no problems at all.

I don't know—I have my doubts that they actually follow different sets of rules. 🤷 Maybe they’re going through Medicare or some other government system—is that why?

It’s not like they make you buy them all at once—I usually get my supply for the whole year in one go, and honestly, I think I could probably just grab twelve boxes at a time if I wanted to. The most I’ve ever picked up in a single trip was three, and that wasn't an issue at all. They just make a little note on the back of the prescription—noting exactly how much I took on which date—so everything stays straight.

Hannah Kim5 said:It's been three days since my period was supposed to start—🙂 I am seriously losing my mind here. I have no clue what to make of this or why it’s happening.

There are a million different reasons this could be happening.🙂 It could be anything from hormonal imbalances or ovarian cysts to just catching a cold, weather changes, certain medications you might have taken, or even pregnancy... If this is stressing you out this much, honestly, just go see a gynecologist for a checkup.🤷

rapidhawk24 said:I actually find myself in similar spots quite often, and what I usually end up doing is just calling my doctor back to ask for a prescription for two packs, then picking those up. Then, I’ll call again a few days later for another two, until I eventually have everything I need. My doctor mentioned he can't legally write for more than two packs at a single time, so I guess that’s really the only way to navigate it.

On a different note, I'm curious about something else. How long have you guys ever gone without taking your pills? I’ve actually been off them for five months now, and honestly, I just don't feel like taking a break right now because my life is always so busy and I'm constantly on the move. I suppose it probably won't cause any harm, right?

Edit: There was one time where my travel plans got messed up, and my mom ended up picking them up for me using my supplemental insurance card and then just mailed them to me.

That’s not true for me—I’ve never had a prescription for anything less than six months. 🤷 Right now, mine is actually set for a full year.

I’ve been taking them for two years straight without a single break, and I don't plan on stopping until I'm actually ready to try for a baby. 😬 Of course, that assumes there aren't any complications and they continue to work well for me. Personally, I feel like those breaks might do more harm than good—it just seems to shock your system.

goldenwalker1 said:Hello ladies. I have run into a bit of a logistical snag. I’ve been taking Belara birth control for about six months now to manage PCOS, and in two weeks, I’m heading to the States for a four-month work assignment. I visited my gynecologist to request a prescription for the full four-month supply—essentially picking up all four boxes at once. She was perfectly fine with it, advising me to just explain the situation to the pharmacist. However, when I approached the pharmacy, they shut me down. They insisted I can only pick up one box per month. Even after explaining that this is a medical necessity because I won't be around to collect them monthly, they wouldn't budge. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to navigate this? 😵

Maybe try a different pharmacy. If that doesn't work, you might have better luck looking into options across the border—sometimes they're more flexible with multi-month supplies.
😬