u/Future_Ship_3140

Last night, my husband went to bed about an hour before I did. We usually scroll on our phones for a bit before falling asleep, but always at a very low volume so we don’t disturb each other. He had already fallen asleep by the time I went to bed, so I was lying there watching some random short content on my own phone.

Around 1 a.m., his phone suddenly started playing TikTok really loudly on its own. I got so spooked because he never scrolls or watches anything at that volume, especially before going to sleep.
I got out of bed, went over to his side and tried turning his phone off with the side button, but it wouldn’t respond. I ended up turning the screen on and had to swipe and close 3 or 4 apps before I finally found TikTok and stopped the sound.

I know some of you will say the phone simply malfunctioned… But what really freaked me out was how drastically the volume had changed. Something like that has never happened before.

Earlier that day, we had been talking about the tragic passing of a member who was hit by a car. So now I’m wondering… could something like this ever be a sign from someone on the other side?

I’ve been working with Michael’s Make Market transparent glycerin and shea soap bases. I made one bar using 100% glycerin and another using 100% shea soap base, but I’ve noticed that both leave my hands feeling quite dry after washing.

I keep them mostly in the kitchen because they’re really good at cutting through grease. However, I’m wondering if there are any oils or other ingredients I could add to make the soap more moisturizing and less drying on the hands.

What would you recommend and how much would you suggest adding?

Hi! I’m a beginner and recently started making melt-and-pour soaps using essential oils for fragrance. For my first soap, I used a clear glycerin base and added 15 drops of lemon essential oil. For the second one, I used a shea butter soap base and added 30 drops of sweet orange essential oil.

The essential oils are very good quality, but I still find that the scent is quite subtle, especially once the soap is finished. I’m trying to keep my soap as natural as possible, so I’d love to know what I can do to make the scent stronger and longer-lasting.

Are there any natural ingredients or techniques you would recommend to boost the fragrance without using synthetic fragrance oils?
I’m also trying to avoid synthetic fragrances because I’m concerned about potential hormone-disrupting ingredients.

Any suggestions? Thank you so much for your advice!

Hi! PCOS girly here did one round of Letrozole back in February and it was a horrible experience.

The cramps were the worst I've ever had. I did ovulate, but even after the treatment ended, I continued to have lower abdominal pain for months. Because of the constant pain, I even started experiencing shortness of breath at times. Hot flashes were horrible too. I never imagined that a single round of Letrozole could cause so many side effects.

Has anyone else had a really bad experience with Letrozole or dealt with lingering side effects afterward?

The past two years have been a mix of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Everything went well with the egg retrieval and then everything seemed to fall apart after the three transfers: two implantation failures and one chemical pregnancy.

The latest loss broke something in both of us. It affected our hearts and our mental health, including my husband’s. We are exhausted and emotionally drained. I work a lot as well and I feel tired almost all the time. I’ve gained a significant amount of weight and my mood swings and OCD symptoms have become worse. Don’t worry, I have a great doctor supporting me through this. But IVF has also impacted our relationship and our intimacy. We keep postponing it because I’m exhausted, and I feel like my husband has become more distant.

A part of me still wants to keep trying, but there is also this voice inside telling me it might be time to stop. I just don’t know how to let go…

Anyone has felt lost in this process? How did you move forward?

Life is so f*cked up. Infertility is the worse.

Bonjour! Est-ce que quelqu’un connaît une bonne clinique à Montréal ou sur la Rive-Sud pour faire enlever plusieurs acrochordons à un prix raisonnable? J’en ai beaucoup, donc je cherche un endroit qui offre un tarif pour plusieurs plutôt que de charger par acrochordon.

Si vous avez une recommandation ou une bonne expérience, je suis preneur! Merci beaucoup!

Helping to ready for a photoshoot and running into a major issue.

Setup is a Fujifilm GFX 50S II with studio flash. When shooting tethered, the flash exposure fluctuates from shot to shot, even though all camera settings, flash power, and lighting remain unchanged. The exposure is inconsistent, making every image look slightly different.

To rule out the camera, I tested an other camera, and the exact same problem occurs with all of them. I also tested different flashes, but the issue persists.

Shooting on a solid-colored background and need perfectly consistent exposures because the shoo consists of combining individual portraits with a group shot. Even small exposure variations are creating extra work in post-production.

Has anyone experienced this issue or found a solution?

Is there a special setting that I am missing?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Helping to ready for a photoshoot and running into a major issue...

Setup is a Fujifilm GFX 50S II with studio flash. When shooting tethered, the flash exposure fluctuates from shot to shot, even though all camera settings, flash power, and lighting remain unchanged. The exposure is inconsistent, making every image look slightly different.

To rule out the camera, I tested an other camera, and the exact same problem occurs with all of them. I also tested different flashes, but the issue persists.

Shooting on a solid-colored background and need perfectly consistent exposures because the shoo consists of combining individual portraits with a group shot. Even small exposure variations are creating extra work in post-production.

Has anyone experienced this issue or found a solution?

Is there a special setting that I am missing?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

After 3 failed FETs last year, including a chemical pregnancy on the last transfer, I honestly felt like I was losing my mind. Work has been getting increasingly overwhelming, especially working in the corporate world.

Between working full-time, the stress at work, everything happening with IVF and even tension with my husband, I feel like I’m reaching a breaking point.

Has anyone gone through something similar?

Hi, I had my first round of letrozole in March. The cramps have been really intense. Even two months later, I’m still dealing with pain on both sides of my lower abdomen. I mentioned it to my OBGYN at my last appointment and she told me it was normal, but honestly, I feel awful. I’ve started taking Tylenol just to get through the day. The side effects, including hot flashes, are horrible...

The ongoing pain has been exhausting physically and mentally, and it’s making me feel constantly tired. Right now, I honestly don’t know if I can handle a second round.

Has anyone else experienced this kind of pain and fatigue with letrozole? How long did it last for you and what helped you cope with it?

I hate this question: “Any exciting news?”

People often ask it assuming that if you’ve been with your partner for many years, the “exciting news” must be a pregnancy announcement.

As if having a baby happens easily for everyone.

As if everyone is on the same timeline.

As if there aren’t private struggles, losses, and heartbreaks behind a polite smile.

What may seem like a harmless question can be incredibly painful for those facing infertility or trying to conceive. Every time I hear it, it shakes me.

One colleague left on maternity leave two weeks ago and today another colleague made a special announcement that she’s pregnant. It honestly feels surreal, like it’s happening all around me at once. I didn’t expect it to hit me, but I feel kind of numb and in shock. Dreading for the baby shower celebration at the office…

After multiple failed FETs last year, it just feels like constant reminders everywhere I turn, and some days it’s really hard. I’m trying to stay positive and keep moving forward, but moments like this can feel real conflicting. Feeling so happy for them but at the same time feeling shitty for me. Life sucks.

Anyone else surrounded by pregnant colleagues these days? Time to vent together.