u/Standard_Stop9095

I 31F & my partner 33M visit our respective homes in India once in 2-3 years(if visa gods allow).

The last time we went, was the first time after getting married and now we're nearing our next visit. Our houses are 2hrs apart and his place is closest like 20mins from the airport. So my parents come to airport to receive us and take my large luggage bags as my in-laws place is super small like 250sq ft. We have already bought our separate place which is nearing construction but till then, this is where we live when back in India.

I hate staying there and it's super uncomfortable. It's okay for a day or two but I feel suffocated as the days pass by. No space to move, the door almost always open and zero privacy.

Last time when we visited, I stayed there for a week before heading to my home and stayed for like 3 weeks. My husband flew back after a month and the next day my MIL called like at around 11pm and scolded me for an hour till I cried, why? Because she wanted me to be back in a week and spend time with them. She said stuff to my mom and questioned my upbringing and whatnot. My parents sent me to my sasural the very next day. It felt like being sent to a prison because it was just gonna be them & me. I discussed all of this with my husband and he was furious and called his mom to discuss. That backfired!! She said neighbors & relatives have been asking them about me and taunting her.

After their phone call, she got furious at me and said I can never go to my house without her permission because that's what her MIL did with her. I was still new to their family, so I didn't say a word and cried to sleep.

Now after 4yrs & more such dramas later, I've gathered the courage to stand up for myself and dismiss her arguments or straight up ignore. It's easy to react and respond when you're miles apart and on call.

I have decided to only stay there for 3-5 days this time and spend the rest of my time at my place. My husband said he'll handle her and won't let her bother me this time. Idk how he is going to "handle" it but I know when I'm leaving I'll be questioned again!

And I want to smartly give it back this time & set boundaries without hurtful words. Act "chantt" to be specific. How do I do that? What do I say in return? How do I not cry while giving it back? I don't want to be seen weak & spineless and I don't want to throw him under the bus. It's better to show her that I'm not gonna tolerate her sh*t anymore, even in person!

We've made a deal to live equal days at each other's places, so there's a fair deal between us two. I hate having to go to his place first just because it's closer to the airport. My husband doesn't mind me going to my place straight up but I don't want any additional drama right at the beginning of our trip.

I recently saw a new doctor and reviewed my past and current thyroid reports with her. She said I can start trying to conceive because my hypothyroidism is subclinical, but I must continue taking my 50 mcg levothyroxine daily.

My Thyroid History:

In 2023, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. My TSH was 14.43. I started on 25 mcg of levothyroxine, and within a year it came down to 7.6.

In 2025, after moving countries and going through a stressful period, my TSH went back up to 12.34.

Now, my latest TSH is 11.3.

Interestingly, I’ve been off levothyroxine for the past 3 months because I ran out of my supply (I’ve now restocked).

During this time, I’ve been very consistent with my supplements: B12, D3 + K2, and iron (36 mg).

I think these supplements may have helped bring my TSH down a little, but I’m still surprised the doctor gave me the green light to try for a baby. I’m not sure why she’s comfortable with it given my current TSH level.

My lab results -

Thyroid:

TSH: 11.3 (High)

Free T3: 3.70 (Normal)

Free T4: 1.00 (Normal)

Thyroid capacity: Low

Blood Count:

Hemoglobin: 12.5 (Borderline)

MCV: 76.6 (Low)

MCH: 24.6 (Low)

RDW: 14.6 (High)

Iron Studies:

Ferritin: 6 (Very Low - Urgent)

TSAT: 10% (Low)

Vitamins:

Vitamin D: 27 (Low)

B12: 378 (Borderline Low)

I am the primary H-1B applicant and am creating a group appointment by adding my H-4 dependent using the existing UID.

The H-4 applicant's MRV fee has already been paid successfully. No appointment has ever been scheduled or attended using this payment.

However, after adding the H-4 applicant as an existing dependent, the payment page is requesting the MRV fee for both applicants instead of recognizing the H-4 applicant's existing payment.

I have submitted a request through the scheduling portal, but I don't have visibility into how soon they'll review it. Are there any quicker ways to reach the support? Any similar cases?

I take the NOW Iron Double strength 36mg pill every other day in the morning, empty stomach followed by a light breakfast. I did my labs this week and was super disappointed. I am thinking of doubling my dose plus adding vitamin C supplement. I read somewhere that bisglycinate does not need vit C for absorption but I'm not doing great without it so I'm gonna add it. I am also thinking of adding lactoferrin. I just really need to get the ferritin up as fast as possible.

I understand iron infusion is an option but I don't have insurance nor do I have a job at the moment. Please advise how can I do better with my iron intake.

My results -

Ferritin -> 6,

Serum iron -> 41,

TIBC -> 408,

TSAT -> 10%,

UIBC -> 367

I've been going grey since I was 14. I don't know the root cause but I hated my hair and all the henna routine my mom used to put me through. I despise the henna smell, hate it to the core! Did everything after I moved out - salon sessions, box dyes, color-depositing conditioner, supplements and nothing helped. I'm 30 now and work from home, so I don't bother dying as often as I used to.

I read something about Clairol's beautiful collection line being safer and thought I'd give it a try as I have a trip coming up. Apparently it doesn't have the developer that causes the damage. I got the semi-permanent moisture version as I read in this sub somewhere that it's better than the advanced grey line. I kept it for more than an hour, and achieved better results than I expected. Application was messy because of the bottle and runnier consistency compared to regular box dyes. But that's alright to me. It's cheaper and I still have half left in the bottle. I heard it fades away quickly being semi-permanent. I'll update on how that goes for me. But overall, I think I'm sure gonna stick with this one for the long term.

P.S - I didn't see any appropriate option to talk about the product recco/grey hair in the flair list. So I chose the random one.

I purchased it in powder form recently, so I can use it in baking recipes to replace eggs. I tried it for the first time today - mixed it with a whisker in lemon, honey water and drank immediately. Didn't love the taste.

I am looking for ways to disguise its presence altogether.

A few suggestions I already know of -

1. Mix it in fruit juice to form jelly

2. Mix it in yogurt

3. Mix it in protein shakes

Apart from these, do you guys have any tricks under your sleeves? Like mixing with chapati flour or mixing it in gravy? or maybe in a custard flavored milk??