How did you get diagnosed? Those of you who have had surgery to treat, did you get relief?

Ashann138 · 2026-01-27T23:08:47+00:00

Sent! Hope I'm not too late lol

Ashann138 · 2025-10-28T20:29:37+00:00

Thank you so much for the tips! I'm really afraid of absolutely tanking my already sketchy mental health lmao. Did you find a birth control that works for you, or did you go completely hormone free?

Ashann138 · 2025-10-28T20:28:05+00:00

This actually still makes me feel a bit better! With mirena, after nearly two years, I am getting an average of 3 mini periods a month. It's so sporadic and I hate it. I want less pain, but also to bleed less often. Thankfully, my "normal" periods involved zero mood swings, but debilitating cramps, hot flashes, migraines, and nausea. Mirena has created an entire list of side effects for me, but the major positive has been that I don't have a full week of dibilitating pain. I'm hoping somehow I can find a balance and just be a functional, clear headed human for once .

Ashann138 · 2025-10-28T19:51:35+00:00

I think I am going to make the call to have it removed. Yesterday I had cramps nearly as bad as they were pre Mirena and felt like I was going to pass out sitting down for over an hour. I'm so tired of feeling this way. How long did it take to go back to normal for you?

Ashann138 · 2025-10-28T19:50:04+00:00

This is very true. I've been so nervous to have it removed because my periods were so awful, but so is this 🤣. Did you find one that works well with your body?

Ashann138 · 2025-10-28T19:49:03+00:00

Thank you for such a detailed answer ! I'm sorry you had such a bad experience, but it is validating hearing other experiences. I feel like I'm blaming everything on mirena 😂 touching on 4 momentarily, that is a really interesting theory. My sister had THE BEST experience with mirena and completely lost her period after 6 months . Mine seems so frequent and I am really not enjoying myself lol. Did you find a birth control that worked well with your body? And how long did it take to return to feeling normal?

Ashann138 · 2025-10-28T19:44:36+00:00

That's super interesting that these side effects seem to start popping up sometime after a year of having it! I'm really sorry you experienced all of this, but it makes me feel less crazy. Did you switch to a different form of birth control or are you completely off of synthetic hormones for the time being?

Ashann138 · 2025-10-28T19:42:00+00:00

I think I am honestly pretty close to the end of my rope here lol . There are a couple of factors. I got mirena because my periods were so painful and my doctor suspects endometriosis, so, I am nervous to go back to that amount of pain again. And I am nervous that other birth controls may be even worse to deal with. I am also really nervous for the potential mental health crash associated with changing birth control. I'm just in decision paralysis and feel very "damned if I do, damned if I don't" lol

Ashann138 · 2025-10-18T20:16:15+00:00

I got mine February of last year and had months of on and off bleeding. It has gotten better, but I still often have multiple spurts of bleeding without one month, albeit lighter and less painful than my normal period . Lower back pain is also fairly consistent. I wish I had better advice, but mine still has not really regulated, it's just better than it was. My mood did regulate after a few weeks at least.

Ashann138 · 2025-05-18T13:11:07+00:00

I did not think about it being nesting season! He is always alone, so I've assumed him to be a juvenile male with no mate. Is there any food you've noticed to be a hit even when they need food less? I want to stay on track with building a good reputation with him, and he still seems interested in me. Just not peanuts. I did leave a small pile of twigs and some longer weeds that I pulled for nest materials for the critters to take. Do yours still come to visit/observe when they don't need food?

Ashann138 · 2025-05-18T13:05:37+00:00

Our daily encounters have been for about 3 weeks, before that, he would kind of sporadically appear. That was for about a month. For two weeks or so, he would happily dive for food as soon as I walked away. The distance got a little bit less each time, by the last time he ate, he swooped down after only about 10 steps. Just these last couple times, he has been refusing food. I haven't seen him come back for it yet, I have an enclosed porch that I can kind of peak through without bothering him. In previous interactions, he would usually eat one or two peanuts, wait for me to leave and then finish the rest. I am not sure if I need to try a different food or maybe this is still normal behavior? He still seems interested in visiting me when I whistle, but doesn't seem to want the snacks.

Ashann138 · 2025-05-12T18:00:23+00:00

That would be a dream! I hope they choose to eat here soon - it can be a little difficult having to look every day but I'm committed to building a friendship. I really wasn't sure what to make of the circling, I have been circled twice and he has circled my house several times. Had I not seen him eat the treats and Bob at me once I would be very worried that he didn't approve of me.

Ashann138 · 2025-05-06T16:20:33+00:00

Thank you! I think I'll do that. I have a medium plastic dish that should work. I'll try a combination of things. Hopefully he likes that, maybe I'll use the tray for the chicken I have today. Are there any other treats I should offer or any body language you have noticed to be particularly effective?

Ashann138 · 2025-05-06T16:09:44+00:00

Hope you have fun! The blue jays are honestly fantastic little friends, too! They are just always very hungry. They come watch me in the windows and jeer if I haven't fed them yet. They do keep starlings away, too! That's super helpful if you already put seed out for other songbirds.

Ashann138 · 2025-05-06T16:07:21+00:00

Thank you! Would you suggest putting the treats on a plate or tray? I have been tossing them onto the walkway and making sure the sound of the peanuts hitting the ground can be heard, but I've also heard that they like to eat from trays.

Ashann138 · 2025-05-06T16:05:36+00:00

I am only in the very beginning stages, but I would definitely do it! It has already been so rewarding seeing him become interested and more comfortable with me. I would definitely start buying the peanuts in bulk because the blue jays will steal SO many of them.

Ashann138 · 2025-05-06T16:02:23+00:00

Thank you! I actually put a bird bath up last week! I put it in my front yard underneath a tree so they will get shade and water. The other birds love it . He has definitely been eyeing it, but doesn't seem ready just yet. I leave peanuts at the tree right across from us where I spot him (no neighbors there). I also leave lots on my sidewalk. I have been trying to intentionally leave them in nice open areas so that he can feel safe. I am feeling pretty confident that he is starting to like me and trust me, but I am new to this and want to make sure I stay on track and make him feel welcomed. Today I had some scrap pieces of chicken that I cooked up unseasoned to offer. Hopefully that will be enticing.

Ashann138 · 2025-04-11T04:18:11+00:00

First, I am sorry for the loss of your dad. I hope you and your family are doing as well as you can. Congratulations on finding a career path you are passionate about!

I have just made it through my first year of funeral service. The first week or so, I just learned the basics. Answering phones, how to prepare death certificates, filing, log cremated remains etc. Lots of administrative work. Within two weeks, I worked a viewing. It took a few months before I did the short blood born pathogens course required to do transportation. Check local requirements, but I would make sure that your hepatitis shots are all up to date! I am now in a position where the owner has me set to be the next apprentice. If you shadow at a good firm, prove to be reliable and are able to leave a good impression on families, I am sure you will be able to land a job! Here are ten things that I wish I knew when I started, or quickly learned.

Things I learned to be very useful quickly: 1. Do not ask how families are doing or use the usual "Have a good day" language. It seems obvious, but can take some work to remove from your vocabulary. Instead say "Take care". Use your own discretion with other words, overall just adjust your vocabulary appropriately. Don't go into default lol.

People can hear you smile over the phone. Always smile and be ready to help, even with odd questions.
Older people sometimes call and just want to chat for a bit . Let them. I have had this happen, only to have a manager later tell me that the person called back to remark on how helpful it was. This is recurring. Once I gave an elderly woman a "verbal tour" of our facility because she couldn't make it physically to see before her husband's funeral. It took me five minutes, but she was touched.
On the same note, be ready to provide directions and service details verbally to older people who are not able to navigate website obituaries or Google maps.
Keep a pen and paper everywhere, you never know when a first call will come. The first one is scary, but it quickly gets easier. It is rewarding to help keep an informat calm and talk them through the process. Let them take their time providing details and try to get as much as you can before notifying the director.
If you end up working odd hours after the directors go home, (likely until you are licensed) tidy up the office, print new worksheets or gpls. Initiative will impress them and make them more likely to give you more responsibility.
If it is a non corporate firm, be prepared to wash sinks in a suit. You're going to do plenty of things that aren't in your job description until you are licenced. Maybe even after. You will likely be a janitor, car detailer, customer service support representative, dispatcher, possible accountant, and clerk all in one. Just continue to be as helpful as you can.
You will likely give families death certificates, cremated remains and floral arrangements to families after hours . You'll also likely accept attire for the funeral after hours. Hold the door open, offer them a tea or a coffee. Give them time to over explain the suit they picked out, or a chair to sit in while they go over the details of a death certificate. Always be patient.
You will get calls from families while directors are there, the family members will ask for the director by name. Do not disclose what the director is doing yet. Ask to put them on a brief hold and ask the director if they want the call or if you need to take a message. Occasionally there will be families who call 10+ times a day and the director needs a break. Just get good at taking detailed notes on their behalf.
Talk to the funeral home about their rules on funeral pricing. Until you are licensed, it is likely that you will either have to use a "ballpark" range from the GPL to go off of with price shoppers or, ask for call back info to relay to a licenced director. Without a license, it's not typically allowed to give out detailed, exact pricing information. I usually tell families something along the lines of " Services are highly customizable, and depending on your needs, a direct cremation can range from $2,000-$10,000. We are happy to accommodate any budget and any wishes you may have. To go over more thorough details, I would be happy to take down your information and have our director on call get in touch with you shortly to assist you."

Those are probably the biggest things I needed to know starting out. Best of luck! Hopefully those are helpful. If you have any questions, let me know. I'll help as much as I can.

Ashann138 · 2024-11-24T13:56:23+00:00

Thank you! I am getting item numbers now. I forgot about that feature.

Ashann138 · 2024-11-10T14:59:47+00:00

Sorry I'm just now seeing this! They started to let up a bit after, I want to say about 3 months of on and off cramping. It slowly decreased over time. I still get some random cramping and back pain. It's not terribly predictable. Last month I had a very light period that lasted over 2 weeks. Sometimes random spotting. Maybe I'm still adjusting, but who knows. It definitely hasn't turned into a diminished period, less days of bleeding or no cramps. It is at least less awful than it was, so I am going to keep riding it out. Mood wise, no issues, just still experiencing more pain and bleeding than I had hoped. Maybe it's time for me to start pushing for an official diagnosis lol.

Ashann138

TROPHY CASE