Posts by slyscout192

Donna Wood52 said:Hey there!

I’ll be turning 20 soon. I actually sat down with my doctor about a month ago to discuss breast augmentation—it's something I've been weighing for a while. I'm currently holding off because I have some other commitments to wrap up first, but the decision is essentially made.

So, I wanted to get some honest perspectives from this group: has anyone here actually gone through this kind of surgery? To be perfectly blunt, I used to look at women who opted for this and think they were just being immature—that was my internal bias, anyway. But then it hit me that making a change like this can seriously boost your self-confidence and overall happiness, which is why I've decided to take this leap. Still, I’d be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous. So, I have a few questions:

1. How long does the recovery process really take? I’ve heard some talk about it being closer to six months...

2. Am I looking at an overnight stay at the hospital, or is it more of a "get in and get out" situation where I head straight home after?

Any experiences you can share??

Then again, who exactly are you trying to impress?

Ask yourself what you would say to those men who might laugh at you for making this choice.

And then ask yourself what you would tell your friends or acquaintances if they tried to label you based on this decision.

Ultimately, whatever answer you give to those men and those friends—tell that same thing to yourself, provided you are doing this strictly for your own sake.

Honestly, you don't even realize that men—and I’m not talking about little kids here—aren't actually staring at breasts; they’re looking at the ass, or rather, a well-shaped, fuller backside. It can be any shape, really. Even bigger. But once a man matures, that's where his eyes land.

Now, the real question is who you're actually trying to attract. Men, or children?

As far as I’m concerned, go ahead and get the surgery if you want—but just know you’ll be altering the very thing that makes you who you are as an individual.

Maybe you aren't even aware that what you consider a flaw is actually your greatest asset.

Perhaps you've grown used to guys falling all over you—guys you aren't even interested in—
yet somehow, you still can't seem to catch the attention of the ones you actually like.

True self-confidence? That comes from being with someone who actually loves you, not from having larger breasts.

Look, honey, you can have melons for breasts, but if you end up with a jerk on your arm, God help your self-esteem—and just think about whether you really want to invite those kinds of jerks into your life by getting them bigger.
In doing that, you might actually be digging your own hole even deeper.

Just the other day, a friend came over for coffee; she’s got breasts, huge ones, for sure. But what does it matter? Her husband was cheating on her anyway.

Then again, if you're doing this strictly for yourself—just so dresses and necklines fit better—then maybe it's time to rethink the media you consume and the information sources you trust.

But then again, giving advice like this requires a lot of experience dealing with people.

And I know you didn't come here looking for genuine help; you're probably just here to brag a little and maybe fish for some encouragement to go through with it.

Well, I'm telling you: don't do it.
Work on your ass instead. And once you're married, just make sure you're taking care of your husband in the bedroom every single day.

Simple as that.
There's your self-confidence right there.

A long time ago, I dealt with GERD—it was pretty rough—and after my endoscopy, my doctor put me on Controloc to take on an empty stomach. I stuck with it for about ten days, and just like that, everything cleared up. I haven't had a single issue since. Hopefully, you'll have a similar run of luck. Good luck with everything.

stormypilot52 said:I'm 20 years old and was recently diagnosed with lupus. I want to know if it's true that the disease is incurable—can it be managed, and if so, how much control can you actually have over it? Thanks in advance for any answers.

Look, the disease is incurable, but it’s not quite the apocalypse people make it out to be... You can live with lupus—really live—as long as you actually listen to your doctors. If you stay on top of things, you can lead a pretty normal life, almost like you don't even have it. We have a dedicated "Systemic Lupus" thread here on the forum where you can find just about everything you need to know, or ask your own questions. You'll get some incredibly helpful responses from people who, unfortunately, have more years of experience dealing with our version of the American political circus than they'd like. Hang in there.😉

Here we go again—I see you all blaming God and the Church for the fact that this law was passed. Look, Catholic doctrine might be against it, but the Church didn't pass the legislation, nor does it have the power to strike it down. The Church voiced its opinion just like any other politician would. Honestly, the blurring of lines between religion and politics drives me absolutely crazy, but I suppose that’s just how things work now—getting worked up about it doesn't actually change anything. I truly wish everyone the best of luck, whether you're using IVF or conceiving naturally. At the end of the day, the method of conception isn't what matters; what matters is that a child is born. Someone mentioned that abortion is legal here in the States, and I had no idea! It really shows how much of a "Catholic nation" we supposedly are—it's all just a facade, if you ask me. Disgusting. Best,

Does it even matter what I think—or what any of us think, really? Even President Mesić is against this law! In the end, they’ll just repeal it, everyone will act like everything is perfect, and the handful of us who actually supported the law won't be asked for our opinion either—just like you guys aren't being heard right now. But what truly gets under my skin is how people immediately start bashing the church and faith the second something goes wrong.

Regarding the connection between IVF and treating other medical conditions:
After I was discharged from the hospital, a priest actually told me that it's a sin *not* to seek treatment. It's a sin to act against your own health, so there's clearly a link between all of these things. Personally, I look at doctors as an extension of God's hand—and if they are actual professionals rather than total hacks, they’ll do everything in their power to help the patient. I assume the same logic applies to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

I know I’m basically contradicting most of what my husband and I wrote earlier.
But look, if I decide I don't want to undergo IVF, nobody has the right to force my hand. And by that same token, if anyone else here decides to go through with it, I believe they have the exact same right to freedom that I do.

Casey Palmer5 said:Oh, please—I’m not actually participating in any sort of Chicago Symphony Orchestra process here.

I am simply stating my opinion on the matter.

Don't waste your breath trying to figure out if I'll have trouble finding a husband. It's not like I'd be out hunting for a new man just two months after a funeral.

Well, where are you from? Because I actually know someone—a woman around that age—whose husband passed away only two months ago; I was at the funeral myself.

What did her husband do for a living?

Carol Scott98 said:I'm studying psychology

You clearly aren't using it—but if you've personally decided that I am, then I must be doing something right, wouldn't you say?

Casey Palmer5 said:Honey, I’m 29 and a widow. Am I an old lady? Maybe—though I don't quite count myself in that category just yet.

Yeah, I have no one left to lean on—my dear husband was laid in the ground at 32.

And honestly, I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

I am truly sorry for your loss; I honestly don't know what I would do without my wife.
Actually, I'm typing this from her account...

Anyway, it isn't a solution for your child's life purpose to be centered entirely around mourning their father.
That isn't fair to the kid.

Why don't you marry again?
Maybe with someone else, you could have children?

Because if you start now and end up pregnant, who knows if anyone will want to step up?
Don't you see that God might actually be doing you a favor here?

They say a psychologist is only useful as long as you don't get emotionally attached to them.
So, forgive me if I come off a bit cold.

Why not find another husband and simply not have more kids with him?
Who do you think can help you navigate a question like that?

Some kind of authority figure, right?
What if God appeared to you right now and told you that your bond with your late husband is tied to you until death—either yours or His?

And then later, you're forced to look for someone else...
I know that's a lot for you women to handle, but then again, you don't exactly have much higher education...

Carol Scott98 said:stop trying to play amateur psychologist with us.
I think I can say the same about you—that you're just frustrated, trying to work through your own hang-ups by sending these mile-long manifestos when, deep down, you know you aren't actually getting anywhere...

just as much as you and your wife are struggling with adoption (or rather—knowing exactly what's ahead of you), women struggle with conception. so, really, you're both in the same boat...

nothing is bothering me.
But please, feel free to apply your "expert" psychology to me anytime.

Casey Palmer5 said:Look, honey, people don't just decide to go through IVF because they have it on their bucket list. Unfortunately, it’s almost always an unplanned, difficult circumstance. They do it because things like inflammation or other medical hurdles have stripped them of the ability to conceive naturally.

Do you honestly think it isn't more beautiful—more intimate—to make a baby in a marriage bed (whether that's in the bedroom, at the kitchen table, or wherever works for them) rather than enduring painful, invasive medical procedures? Don't you think it's enough punishment having someone use needles to extract eggs from your ovaries while you're wide awake, only to then have the added stress of wondering if the procedure will even work?

At the end of the day, these people love each other just as much, and they'll love their children just as deeply as if everything had happened naturally. The only difference is that before this happy moment, they had to navigate the gauntlet of modern medicine—which, let's be honest, often isn't painless, even if it does deliver results.

Planning for a child is exactly what my cousin was doing. It wasn't happening, so she sought medical advice, it worked, and here we are. That counts as planning. There’s nothing wrong with that. If it hadn't worked, or if she had given up, maybe she would have looked into adoption or further testing to find the root cause. But she’s happy because a few pills made the difference. This wasn't some spiritual intervention; it was purely medical. If it weren't for those pills—would it have happened? Maybe, maybe not. You can't take a minor medical issue like that and claim it’s some message from God saying they didn't deserve the gift of parenthood.

Here she goes again... Whether it's inflammation or not, the point is whether they're married or not.
Forget the inflammation.

In my view, it’s better and the only way to do it in bed. Nothing involving needles and cold metal...

If they love each other, why not just get a civil marriage license? Milinović never said they had to have a church wedding.
You all seem more religious than I am.
You all have these rules for your lives, but you're too afraid to actually live by them, so you subconsciously hide behind the excuse of "we don't believe in them"...
You can say what you want. Lies, lies, lies...

I agree that planning is the same thing, but the method matters.

As for my cousin, her business is her own.
I believe she would have traveled to the ends of the earth if it meant getting pregnant.
But.

Her mother left her with her grandmother when she was little and moved to another state with her father. She didn't see her during the war.
Do you really think that might be a psychological trauma or something similar?

And as for messages from God, everyone interprets that for themselves.
Personally, I have no intention of putting my wife through those kinds of treatments either, because I know there is greater joy in God if we welcome a little one.

"Whoever welcomes one of these little ones in my name, welcomes Me."
That’s what Jesus said. Regardless of what he said, my heart feels it and knows it's the right path.

Like I told you, I'm not against medically assisted reproduction; I'm just against doing it outside of marriage.

Outside of a situation established by a legal document—even if there's a prenuptial agreement involved.

Carol Scott98 said:Like I said—some people just don't believe in marriage, and you can't exactly force them to!
It’s the same logic—married couples are allowed access to IVF, but you seem to be stubbornly ignoring all the actual implications this law carries —I'm talking about the sheer pressure, the physical toll, and the psychological strain a woman endures... and then if it doesn't work out—sorry, "not your fault," right?

I'm heading to bed—there's no point in getting worked up over this...

If they don't believe in marriage, why don't they just go for a civil ceremony? Do you actually realize how simple that is? You go to the courthouse, get registered with the state, bring two witnesses, and that's it.
My wife and I could have been those witnesses—no big deal, no signing anything complicated.

You can change your name whenever you feel like it, too.

What exactly is there to "believe" in? It's just paperwork for the records...
You're just lying to yourselves. You seem to believe in the sanctity of marriage more than the people actually entering into it.
That's why you aren't getting married—it isn't a lack of belief, it's fear.

Again, a civil marriage. Done in five minutes flat.

Casey Palmer5 said:Honey—let’s be honest here—if I actually sent you a legitimate scientific paper, would you even be able to wrap your head around it?

That's why I sent you those pieces meant for laypeople—they actually address the core issues without all the jargon.

And what, you think an organization like Planned Parenthood—which advocates for women's rights and maternal health—is some kind of anti-religious cult?

Honestly, maybe it’s best if you just find your own "scientific" articles in the Council Voice and leave the rest of us alone.

From where I'm sitting, you all just look like old women who have already lived through your prime and missed out on plenty of opportunities.

Not to mention the disappointment of having mediocre partners who never truly saw you for who you were.

It seems pretty clear to me that it isn't about who you are—it's just that you don't have any reliable partners to lean on. I get it, though; you're alone and looking for some sense of community.

Sure, Milinović screwed up.

He really should have brought in some psychiatrists to evaluate the people applying for IVF when they aren't even married.

Casey Palmer5 said:Everything you mentioned is out there. But they aren't performing the MPO procedure—my faith won't allow it.

Someone else handles those things. And if they're going to do it—well, they should actually do it right, instead of using American women's health as a testing ground.

Or maybe it doesn't matter if we aren't Catholic? Who's to blame if we chose such an ungodly path...

Personally, I don't feel the need to cling to anything in this life. And if we’re being honest, lately, all I've been clinging to is my widowhood.

Look, as far as I'm concerned, whether you choose assisted reproduction or not is your business—just don't do it without both parents present, and don't do it in a way where the children become mere commodities or nothing more than a reminder of everything else in your lives besides their own individuality.

Because the moment you start "planning" a child instead of welcoming them as a surprise—as a unique human being—they lose their sense of self.

They become little more than robots coming off an assembly line.
A child should be the fruit of love between two people who truly care for one another, not just some random adventure.
A child isn't sandpaper; they are a delicate soul.
And when two people love each other deeply, they choose marriage. For them, assisted reproduction is perfectly fine.
So, really, what's the issue?

Love is the answer to everything.

Casey Palmer5 said:

The point here isn't whether IVF is essentially synonymous with abortion—we aren't debating that. I’m trying to actually stay on topic.

"If the current proposed legislation regarding assisted reproduction were to be passed, it would inflict massive damage on America—on its entire population, the medical community, and especially on couples who rely on medicine to fulfill their desire to have children, according to American experts. They are convinced this approach will undermine the success rates of medically assisted fertility treatments in the US, forcing couples facing infertility to seek help at foreign clinics instead. More details here..."

And there we go again with the empty platitudes... just because something is in bold doesn't make it an empirical fact.
What a "stellar" scientific article this turned out to be.
Except it’s not even a real article, let alone a scientific one.

Carol Scott98 said:First off, my apologies—I should have specified that IF you support the law, then it doesn't apply to you. That was my mistake; I was being a bit too impulsive. It’s obvious why I reacted that way—because I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS LAW!!!!!

Read between the lines, for heaven's sake!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course you want to choose your own partner!!!!!!! It’s hardwired into our DNA for the sake of species survival!!! Women gravitate toward strong men who can provide protection and resources, while men look for young, attractive women who signal fertility!
And please, stop nitpicking every single word I say and try looking at the context instead!! You seem so preoccupied with defending yourself that you twist every sentence to suit your own narrative!! You've written such a massive wall of text that even you probably lost the thread, and frankly, nobody else is reading it anymore because there's just no point... you came here to pick a fight, not to actually share an opinion.

You can't make sweeping generalizations. Life happens to everyone. There are plenty of couples who functioned perfectly fine and yet... they fell apart. We won't get into individual destinies here....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFQlZht2DU4

It seems like Sparta was the pinnacle of civilization to you people, given how they used to toss their infants off cliffs...

Casey Palmer5 said:Just listen to your priest and everything will turn out fine. It’ll be just like some TV show.

Just let the people who actually spent years studying medicine do their jobs.

Because if priests start dictating how we practice a profession, things aren't going to end well—not for Catholics, and certainly not for non-Catholics. Or, better yet, just let us non-Catholics handle our own medical care while you lot go see the priest for your healing.

And what, there aren't any doctors who are believers? Or priests who are doctors? Or nurses who are religious?
Don't they know how to read just as well as you do?
Are there really no scientist-priests out there?

Throughout all of history, they were the ones founding schools and universities...
And here you are, questioning their knowledge...

What exactly are you talking about?
Are you actually studying medicine, or are you just pretending to know something?

Casey Palmer5 said:Look, that’s where you’re fundamentally missing the point. You seem to think our issue is with the marriage itself—or the lack thereof. It isn't. That’s not the core of it at all.

The real issue is that this specific law effectively bans performing IVF in the way it has always been done—the way it's done in every other functional country. The old way actually works. The experimental method they’ve mandated here produces subpar results while simultaneously increasing pain, health risks, and costs.

I mean, come on—Mengele was infamous for his horrific human experimentation. Surely you can agree that subjecting people to medical procedures that yield inferior outcomes is wrong? If we are paying for medical services, shouldn't we expect access to the same standard of care and advancements available anywhere else in the world?

Can you actually back this up with anything substantive, rather than just throwing around empty platitudes that sound deep but lack substance?
Because you haven't proven a single thing here.

If you're such an expert, have you actually tried anything? Please—give me a legitimate source instead of more rhetoric—something backed by actual physician statements.
Otherwise, this is just public manipulation. Or maybe you're just being manipulated yourself.

Casey Palmer5 said:I just hope your cousin wasn't being active while she was on birth control. If she was—well, we’re talking about a mortal sin here. Beyond just stopping ovulation, those pills essentially destroy an embryo in its earliest stages. I assume her priest made sure to mention that.

I don't even need to double-check—it's right there in the textbook, a solid A grade in OB-GYN.

Here is how a priest explained it to me...

The truth is, people originally developed these "contraceptive" pills primarily to regulate menstrual cycles.
But then they turned out to be effective for contraception too, so that became their label and their main use.

One thing is certain, though: without them, she wouldn't have gotten pregnant, but with them, she did.
It's pretty simple, really.

Carol Scott98 said:you have to realize that not all women are cut out for adoption. I’m definitely on board with it, but many aren't. It isn't just because they want to, as you put it, "feel that little miracle in their womb"—it's also because they're afraid of what they might get, or they're wary of someone else's genes... it sounds a bit ugly, but everyone wants to have a child, and primarily, their own...
and you can't go attacking others just because they think differently. No one was attacking you, yet here you are, already acting defensive... I don't see the point. 🤷 State your opinion, sure, but there's no reason for a fight. If you don't support the law, then it doesn't really affect you since you aren't planning on having biological children anyway—you're looking at adoption. So don't lecture others on what they should or shouldn't support. Everyone is entitled to their own view.
Personally, I find the law repulsive and I don't support it; I believe one single individual in this country shouldn't have the power to decide the fate of thousands of people(primarily the women struggling with infertility and their partners)!!!

And there it is—the perfect answer and proof for everything I've ever written...
You say it sounds "ugly"... You know what it actually sounds like?

It sounds fascist and racist...
And I support the law. Precisely because of people who think the way you do.
I mean, if we were all only about having our own biological kids, wouldn't we all just be hermaphrodites?

Good grief, if they want children, let them get married (civilly, not in a church—are you even reading what I'm writing?) What does a piece of paper mean to a kid when they're more worried about the church anyway...

How can anyone find a law "repulsive"? It's just words on a page.
It's something else you're repulsed by, you just can't admit it to yourself.
Milinović didn't just invent this law out of thin air... He simply gave it form. He isn't deciding everything on his own, either. So how do you justify that logic? If these were actual dictatorships, would the American people still be voting them in?

And as for what you said regarding women and their partners...

Now I finally see through to the bottom of this...

You people just want to hand-pick who the father will be...
Are you all out of your minds?
What kind of sickness is this, being unable to accept what nature provides...
You clearly lack the strength or the luck in life to just accept a tiny human, no matter where they came from...

But no, according to you, that child has to be some kind of Superman, right?
My God, the mindset... 👎

I have a colleague whose mother picked his father out for him; he fathered a child with her, and then she married someone else...

And look at her now—sipping beer, lying naked on the bed while guests arrive, her husband is doing the dishes while she yells at everyone...
And with that second guy, she can't even have kids.