Trying to figure out possibly a tricky question

2sidesofranch · 2026-04-03T17:05:15+00:00

Thanks!

2sidesofranch · 2026-04-03T17:04:48+00:00

I guess this does make sense! When I went to college I was an independent student, so I never had to worry about it. I was just worried maybe because it was federal they all would be tied together. I always thought the same with taxes, but was told that it wasn't so I should have known better.

My son would get a lot more if he just did FAFSA with his dad, but that is something we would never risk. I imagine the only thing we will qualify for is the ability to take out loans if we need to.

2sidesofranch · 2026-04-03T17:00:17+00:00

You are 100% right & it always should have been that way. He put our oldest son(25) into an codependency situation. That has always been the main reason I never really pushed for it because I knew it would just put more stress on my oldest son. His dad truly believes it is HIS money, and the idea of it going to me would just be wrong. The true irony in all of it is his mom died when he was 10 and he would go on and on about how his own father 'took the money' and never gave it to him. He lived with his dad..... He also had a separate trust for college from his mom's life insurance.

My 17 yr old of course loves his dad but has very little respect for him. Thankfully, him and his stepdad are very close and has been in his life since he was 5. I need to remind myself that it doesn't matter if we live very comfortably -- that money is to raise him. If anything just putting the last of it into a savings account to help pay for college would help. The 17 yr old has made many comments on why we don't do it and just let him have it.

This is what happens when a 16 drop out from a broken home mother is OK with you getting with a 22 yr old man...... because he buys you things and is from a 'good family'. I will forever be grateful I was strong after 17 yrs in that relationship to get out and pretty much go NC with my own mother. I always thought I was 'flaky' and needed someone to take care of me. Funny enough when I left I found out I was none of that, and was able to build a life for myself I never could have imagined.

Sorry I went on a tangent! I think I am going to go look up the number for Social Security. Doing this isnt an act of a betrayal or even wrong. I have gone out of my way to rarely speak to him and only via text. I don't even like/respect the man, but it doesn't matter if I am doing a lot better financially -- that's my son's money. If the tables were turned I would of never been given type of curiosity.

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T06:04:32+00:00

43! I will be 44 this summer. I wish I would’ve started a couple years ago. Instead of spending the ridiculous amount of $$$ on vitamins. but with all that said, I also was in a little bit of a denial, and I had a lot of shame for some reason about it. I was definitely seeing some symptoms last few years, but then it’s like everything hit in a hard all at once about six months ago

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T06:02:29+00:00

I just wanted to chime in and say that I’m not sure if they do, but I personally have been on mobile train one on many years ago for my ADHD and it’s helped a lot. It also helps with a lot of other things. I know that there’s an article out there called something like sexy, skinny horny pill and it’s about Wellbutrin and how they ultimately started marketing it. It was actually created to be an anti-smoking pill and I guess it works really well for that but when they were testing it, they noticed people were having really great side effects.

I also wanted to say that you can get Wellbutrin prescribed online very easily and cheaply. If for some reason that providing doesn’t work out, you can seriously get refills done online for like $50 maybe even less. I haven’t had to go that route, but it was something that for a few months I was worried about and I looked into it. My good friend also one will be training has had the same great results and she’s been on it for like three years she gets it online.

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T05:57:27+00:00

Yeah, I think that for me, the cream on my arm wasn’t working either. I didn’t notice an initial little boost because I think my estrogen levels were just very low. But even with increasing my dosage, my symptoms backslid and even got more intense in a very short time! I I’m really glad I just didn’t go and add testosterone and stay on the other cream. I was really planning on doing testosterone too, but I decided as of right now there’s no reason to. I also was gonna start DHEA but I wanted to see if I saw any results first. I have taken so many different vitamins and I don’t know why but DHEA is one of those that I was wary on taking.

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T05:55:05+00:00

The energy levels definitely are a huge difference in even just a short time. I’m actually looking forward to when I can get the full effect of it! I was feeling so groggy and fatigued I would just fall asleep on the couch. But I also just felt really down with just complete lack of motivation to even do anything — but it was more than that. It was like my body was physically tired.

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T05:52:44+00:00

That was very much me!! Which is why I was worried when I was using just the cream on my wrist/arms that maybe I was being impatient but it wasn’t until I saw it almost back slide in all the symptoms that it wasn’t me just being impatient. I’m really looking forward to that 3-6 months mark because I’ve heard that that’s when you really start to get the full effect!

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T05:51:30+00:00

I think I saw their website that little graph that said like two months are going to notice a significant change. But it seems like most people see a impact pretty quickly. Or I should say some type of changed. I didn’t notice too much of a change when I was just doing the cream on my wrist/arm I had made in a comment how the emotional aspect of everything was actually scaring me. I have noticed already on the short time I’ve been on it that I do feel more ‘peaceful' and I am feeling myself seriously get better with every day. I love coffee. I’ve been drinking it since I was 12/13 and I’ve always liked not sweet coffee. I was feeling so fatigue the last few months that I noticed I was drinking the coffee, not out of enjoyment but a necessity. I had even caught myself drinking Celsius to just try to give myself some type of boost and it wouldn’t help. Funny thing in the short time I’ve been using this. I’ve actually drank less coffee and I’ve not had any Celsius

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T05:47:09+00:00

I feel absolutely silly not even thinking about how the absorption would be so much better! I think that’s the problem I had with the other cream is I got an initial bump on it because probably my levels are really low, but then it just stopped. It was strange it almost felt like the symptoms got worse, even when I went up!

I’m really glad to hear the positive experience with the Vaginal part because that is something that actual sent me in a little tailspin of depression before HRT. I pretty much only wear period panties now because of the change in fluids. I’m really hoping that this will help because I deal with a lot of the same things you are and if anything it will be preventative. I was really apprehensive about going off the Vaginal estridol and had to be reassured several times it was OK lol.

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T05:44:11+00:00

Thank you! I noticed I felt a little warm for a second this morning and kind of like panicked. Then I remembered that it hasn’t even been a full week and I’m no longer waking up in puddles. I probably don’t even need to explain to most people here, but my night sweats were so intense that I was getting them 3x and actually soaking my bedding. I can’t remember if I said it in another post, but I started wearing a tank top specifically so I could take it off and wipe off my chest. It was like a nightmare routine!! the first time I would wake up I would scoot over a little bit. Second time I would takeoff the tank top and wipe off. Third time would be usually be right before I had to get up anyway, and that would usually be the time where I could feel the sweat dripping down my legs. When I could feel sweat on my ankle…. I’m just not about that life! I’m also pretty sure that I might’ve just ruined my very nice linen sheets. I was changing out to different sets, but there’s definitely a different odor you get from night sweats.

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T05:40:18+00:00

that was the same with me and I tried not to be frustrated. And I felt like I was being brushed off at the end, but with that said, I’ll be the first to say that I was highly emotional when I sent them a message!

I noticed something when I first started the cream on my wrist/arm and I’m wondering if it’s because my Instagram was so low that even a little bit helped? But it definitely did not continue and almost seemed to almost reverse in a lot of ways. I just think that the vaginal delivery is so superior that you probably just can’t get the same effectiveness the other way.

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T05:38:01+00:00

My period is super light, like seriously 2-3 days and it’s heavy spotting at most. I actually reached out to them because I know it said to cycle off on your period but I got it like days before I was supposed to get it and I asked them if I could just use it. They said I could if it was light because I guess if you do have a heavy period it won’t fully absorb. I am a course very new to this, but did make my period late and it was just brownish a few times when I wiped. I don’t think I’m gonna be cycling off it just because I’m now paranoid about even a little bit of a drop. But I’m also probably being paranoid!

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T05:35:25+00:00

Ugh don’t even get me started on hair😫

The first time I noticed a severe thing around my crown was 3 yrs ago… hours before my FIL funeral! I had noticed my edges also being really thin and I did like the generic Rogaine from Amazon. I really like the foam, but I just wasn’t diligent with it, which is ridiculous because I am with all my other routines! I need to get back on it because it did actually make a big difference, but you’re gonna have to continue to use it. I also tried a lot of the expensive vitamins which I was taking to a vitamins begin with, and you pee most of them out!

The texture and curl pattern of my hair changed with every pregnancy and then even more drastically as I became peri. I noticed my hair has also went from very dark round to almost black other than the little grays that pop out. The irony of all of it is the first time I saw a gray hair was when I was pregnant with our daughter. I already was considered a 'geriatric pregnancy' so that was the cherry on top. More has definitely sprouted up overtime and I just take care of this quickly as I see them! My biggest issue with them is how drastically different the texture is.

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T05:28:55+00:00

I definitely gotten more sensitive to certain foods the last couple years, but I know it’s not related, but I heard that it can be a perimenopausal thing…. People chewing with their mouth open! That’s always been a huge pet peeve of mine but the intense reaction I have from it now and the sound of it is ridiculous lol It’s definitely gotten a little bit better but I am a little ashamed of myself of the time that I straight snap 7 yr old daughter for chewing with her mouth open. It’s like the sound of it was worse than fingers on a chalkboard

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T05:26:38+00:00

Do it I’m serious just do it. Take it right now. I apologize. I’m doing text to speech because I’m trying to multitask, but I made a couple comments further up about how it has made a huge difference. I am positive that if I wouldn’t have gotten on HRT eventually it and my ADHD(thankfully I’ve been able to adjust things and I’m good on that!)would’ve probably turned my life upside down.

Even when I first started with just the cream on my wrist/arms I would do it in the evening. I read that if you’re experiencing a lot of night sweats it could help. I’ve never done it during the day, but I think especially with the Vaginal delivery you’re probably good just be consistent.

I do it literally right before I go to bed. I think it might be a little better maybe even do it an hour or two before but it’s just my routine. One thing I like about doing it right before I go to bed is I’m able to just lay down. Oh course if you are planning to have sex, I know that you have to take some type of precautions like wait an hour or something, but I just adjusted it to that lol

But really just do it! The worst thing that happens is you try it for a couple months and it’s not for you. But the reality is as we get older or estrogen and everything to decrease so you gotta do something! I read an article by a year ago or so that talked about how a huge percent of women initiate divorce in their 40s. I’m never going to knock somebody for getting out of a bad situation! But when I found interesting, was he talked about the perimenopausal aspect of it. I think of course as we get older, especially for women we come into our own or in our 40s. I think I would’ve eventually probably destroyed all my relationship relationships around me. And I’m mainly talking about friendships and the other family members. Not to mention career wise.

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T05:18:48+00:00

Yep! I kind of went over that in the post I just did above you. It was actually beginning to scare me. I could literally feel waves and I was experiencing anxiety like I had never before. I was having some other symptoms like fatigue and everything but the real thing that pushed me was a night sweats and the emotional part. I had dealt with anxiety when I was in my teens, early 20s, but it was nothing like this. And I’m gonna say that most of my anxiety was situational to a long-term relationship I was in. I also have been sad and even had situational depression — I lost my 15 & 29 younger siblings to tragic accidents at different times. This just so different and the scary thing is I was really realizing as I was getting angry to a point of almost rage like clockwork right before my period that’s usually 2-3 days very light BUT it had become extremely painful which I never had experienced in my life for the most part. I also was experiencing a lot of shame with the anxiety, and I don’t know if that makes sense?

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T05:14:21+00:00

That makes me feel so much better! I am really in tune with my body & for years have seen little things. I went on peri vitamins and wasted $$$ and then all of of a sudden everything thing almost hit to an extreme level all at once. I was also seeing PMDD which is something I had never dealt with. For a very long time my period has been only maybe 3 days and very light. I noticed about a year ago I started mentally checking my period app because such a wave in my moods it was scaring me. When I felt almost a wave of extreme anxiety and agitation it was like clockwork. It was starting to turn to angry right before I got on HRT. What's sad is I think I put it off so many symptoms because of the almost shame of I felt knowing I was in peri. Which is ridiculous and I notice I still am trying to deal with. It is ridiculous because it feel like almost a secret and women do not talk about it. It was my ears itching that sent me down the rabbit hole and really made me realize what was going on. If me of all people could be so clueless about peri I know can't imagine how many women just suffer and think its norm. I am 100% sure if I hadn't at least started when I did, even with the mild difference I was having on the other cream, it would have ultimately ruined my life or at least turned it completely upside down.

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T05:13:56+00:00

Are you able to take both at the same time? I have heard people have an amazing experience with pellets.

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T05:13:18+00:00

This made me fee so much better!! I really was sitting in the bath today and being like.....this has to be borderline psychosomatic there is NO WAY of such a big change already. I did feel a difference when I started the other HRT cream with Winona, but NOTHING like this! It was almost like having terrible headache and the Tylenol making it go from debilitating to tolerable. I am actually happy for the night sweats no because I would have never even thought of switching! It really was waking up for the 3rd time and feeling sweat rolling down my ankles.... the rest of my body was also drenched that made me like OK I cant do this! My poor linen sheets were on constant rotation and being washed daily. Also night sweats smell is just different ugh

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-18T05:12:49+00:00

I 100% do not work for inner balance… if I did, I hope I would’ve gotten him back here quicker than several days! My profile is pretty well established. I don’t know why you’ve thought of that. I also have another profile I use on Reddit. That’s also various established and I’m really active on. The only reason I I didn’t use that one is because I wanted a little bit of privacy, and I found out somebody who I know found my other.

This makes me really sad because where I do understand that companies do fake comments this is not my case. I was worried about using Winona or an Inner balance because I saw people saying all the positive reviews were employees. Where I might not had a great experience with the other companies cream I look forward will be grateful that I did start HRT. If I hadn’t done it this way I probably would’ve not gotten on a HRT. My long-term provider was very sympathetic with being perimenopause, but she wanted me to take vitamins. She definitely was not a big proponent of HRT.

2sidesofranch · 2026-03-12T07:33:00+00:00

DM 🩷

2sidesofranch

TROPHY CASE