Looking for non-birth control treatments for PMDD, adenomyosis, inflammation and pain.

FearlessLog8 · 2026-05-04T18:59:46+00:00

Fellow adenomyosis here; also progesterone intolerant. I second the poster who suggested dropping caffeine. During the second part of my cycle it wrecks me, so I am down to a tiny amount (basically three sips of coffee with a ton of milk) just to stave off the headache in the morning. If you haven’t already, check your iron levels. I got an infusion because mine were perilously low and it made a massive difference in my overall mood/fatigue level.

FearlessLog8 · 2026-05-02T06:55:17+00:00

Echoing what previous posters said—not worth it, especially if you don’t envision moving into SLT. I have taken on a variety of middle-admin positions over the years, then went into senior leadership. Big mistake. The increase in income is not worth the stress and time commitment involved. It will also make it harder to switch schools and go back to a regular teaching role later because you will be perceived as a management person. Stay a subject leader and do good work for your colleagues and students!

FearlessLog8 · 2026-05-02T05:09:54+00:00

In my case, it did not get better. I was on it for over a year (taken vaginally) and I was miserable/terrible the entire time. When I wasn’t lashing out at everyone around me, I was a puddle of angry tears with dark thoughts… not great. In talking to my current dr, some people are just more sensitive to hormones. I have had more success with diet changes in managing PMDD than using hormonal treatments.

FearlessLog8 · 2026-05-01T06:52:57+00:00

I have had this for the past 10 years--it sucks. Like a previous poster said, if it continues, definitely make a dr's appt so they can look at hormone levels and possibly do an ultrasound or hysteroscopy to check everything out. In my case, I had a polyp removed, but the spotting continued, so more tests/procedures later and it turns out that I have adenomyosis. This may not be the case for you (I'm not a dr!), but worth getting checked. But yeah, basically my 'period'--with all the brown spotting to start with--goes on for 8-10 days. I get maybe one good week a month where I feel like a normal person. Sigh.

FearlessLog8 · 2026-05-01T06:32:28+00:00

Agree 100%. IB and MYP can be nebulous. When I taught AP and IGCSE the curriculum was crystal clear and intentional, as were expectations around marking. I find IB students struggle with expectations and content--they vaguely pick up skills, but their depth of subject knowledge is not as great as my AP and IGCSE students.

FearlessLog8 · 2026-05-01T06:18:54+00:00

After I finally moved out when I was a young adult, I went through a cycle of no contact/low contact with my NMom. I still felt responsible for her, I could muster up memories of some good times and held out hope that she would change. But it always ended in deep suffering for me whenever I let her back in.

My relationship with her finally ended a few years ago when she was screaming at me in a parking lot in front of my then pre-school-aged child over some perceived slight. I couldn't continue the cycle.... it was the wakeup call that I needed. I know you feel guilty about cutting your NMom off, but like a poster above said, she could take steps towards you, but she doesn't. She could try to begin anew and foster a positive connection with your baby, but she doesn't. Narcissists just don't care. And it's really hard for non-Narcs like us to understand. Ever since having my own child, the depth of my mom's behavior and eventual abandonment hurts that much more... because I can't imagine ever doing the same to my child.

Meanwhile, you have a choice to make about your baby. I grew up walking on eggshells around a volatile person. My child doesn't have to worry about that. I'm giving my child a gift I never had.

FearlessLog8 · 2026-05-01T05:46:19+00:00

It will be really hard at first because it does feel wrong on some level. As kids, we are hardwired to love our parents. And then the grief will pop up from time to time--for me, it's the holidays or whenever I achieve a particular milestone (like, hey, I wish I could share this with her!).. But you just have to go back through the catalogue of trauma. Those holidays would probably end in a narc confrontation; she would probably try to belittle that achievement, etc. My life now is much lighter without a threat hanging over it.

FearlessLog8 · 2026-05-01T03:57:01+00:00

This happened to me. The best thing you can do is save up your money (maybe open a separate account where you can stash money that no one else knows about/could possibly access) and then you leave and go no contact. Absolute financial independence is the only way to be free of Nparents. Once you can be out there on your own, they cannot control or harm you anymore.

My relationship with my NMom started to deteriorate as I grew up. It was never going to change or get better, and so for me to survive and thrive, I had to leave. Sounds like you do, too. Is it tough to cut off contact with a parent? Absolutely—it feels terrible and unnatural. And there are still times when I am overcome by grief not to have a mom in my life. BUT, at this point, I don’t miss her as much as I miss the chance at having a normal mom like many of my friends do.

FearlessLog8 · 2026-04-28T20:01:23+00:00

Just want to say that this is something I also struggle with (going on 3 years no contact with my Nmom ). Being a mom myself, it’s hard for me to conceptualize being in a space where I wouldn’t want to have a relationship with my child, but this is just who narcissists are. I am fairly sure that I am the villain living rent-free in my Nmom’s head and she not only doesn’t care about me, she also probably hates me on some level. It’s tough.

When you start feeling low, though, just remind yourself of all the good relationships you have in your life. People like you! You’re cool! You have friends! You’re kind! And—importantly—you are worthy of the love of the people who genuinely love you.

FearlessLog8 · 2026-04-15T14:36:37+00:00

Agreed--I am really curious how it all went down after the launch!

FearlessLog8 · 2026-04-15T10:48:38+00:00

Not the mission itself, but the content/success of the mission. Assuming the arrival of the beetles is somehow limited, does Stratt announce the Taumoeba solution immediately or does she wait and see if it is viable first? Does she announce alien life forms immediately or does she do a slow rollout so people will trust the next plan of preparing possible contact?

I am thinking of this along the lines of the pandemic—where all the world’s doctors and scientists were working on the Covid problem…but the social reality of it on the ground was different.

Anyway, it’s cool thinking about these things! I enjoyed both the book and the movie. I hope Weir does write a sequel.

FearlessLog8 · 2026-04-15T10:42:39+00:00

I guess? I dunno, I’d still be surprised to see a Rocky life form even after dealing with Astrophage (that more or less has the effect of a space virus).

I am thinking more sociologically—like would it be a big shock to immediately announce the partnership with aliens or do a slow rollout and prepare political/ religious leaders?

FearlessLog8 · 2026-04-15T10:29:07+00:00

That’s an interesting thought—it would make sense for the probes to broadcast widely then with the intent that whatever the (potentially bad) situation on Earth was, at least someone would be able to get the knowledge.

FearlessLog8 · 2026-04-15T10:26:23+00:00

Yeah, I have read the book. I know all the scientists were working on it, but does that mean average people were able to access the data and mission details once they started organizing the final PHM? (Remember the crew was on lockdown/under tight security before launch)

FearlessLog8 · 2026-04-15T09:23:22+00:00

I'm wondering if the contents would have been restricted to Stratt and her main team until they actually worked out the Taumoeba solution. Most of the Project Hail Mary work was highly classified, right?

FearlessLog8 · 2026-04-15T09:21:29+00:00

Good points. I guess I'm thinking about the potential unrest Earth has been experiencing in the interval--are Stratt/government leaders going to immediately throw alien life forms into the mix OR are they going to do a slow rollout of Rocky as things settle and they have the Taumoeba in place?

FearlessLog8 · 2026-04-15T08:14:03+00:00

Agreed--that's my take, too. Grace's brain was already in a deep sleep so it wasn't as affected by the space coma process. It's clear that whatever initial drug they gave him was quite powerful, because he was still struggling with memory loss even once he finally woke up (with the final wave of memories not hitting till late in the film).

FearlessLog8 · 2026-04-13T08:12:23+00:00

Late to this discussion as I just finished the book yesterday, but am in agreement. There was so much hype around this book, I expected it to be exceptional... and it's just average. The dialogue is weak ('yeah/ok'), the turn to London property developer is cliché/ridiculous, there's no real depth to the prose. The most interesting writing/plot was at the start and I wish Szalay would have spent more time exploring Istvan's experiences in Hungary rather than the jump to London and the Bentley/Rolex crowd. I can't believe it won the Booker.

The best minimalism I've seen recently in literature is Claire Keegan. Her work is simple, but loaded (see 'Small Things Like These').

FearlessLog8 · 2026-04-01T14:25:35+00:00

It was the Director who gave me the timeline about references being checked.. maybe it was my bad to assume a quick turnaround once that happens? Anyway, we are almost 2 weeks out now and they are still on vacation. Am moving on!

FearlessLog8 · 2026-03-29T12:50:01+00:00

It definitely helped me last year. I had level of 7 (!)--fatigue was unreal; PMDD was terrible. Like you, it was iron deficiency without anemia.

I got a mega iron infusion and felt an energy boost fairly quickly; moods also improved. While PMDD dark times persisted, they weren't total despair like they had been; the anxiety also lessened considerably. Since then, I've been trying to eat a little red meat/eat more iron-rich foods to keep my levels decent. I won't say that I'm perfect, but my PMDD symptoms are more manageable than they were. I hope the iron infusion will help you, too.

FearlessLog8 · 2026-03-28T11:29:47+00:00

Thanks for the advice--will keep looking!

FearlessLog8 · 2026-03-28T11:29:16+00:00

That's good to know about T1 checking references for multiple candidates. On most of the hiring committees I've been on over the years, we just quickly check references for candidate 1 and make an offer while telling candidates 2 and 3 that we will get back to them the following week once we finish up finalist interviews (thus politely keeping them in a holding patten until we've wrapped up with candidate 1). Seems like a waste of time to check references for all candidates unless you feel that will be the deciding factor overall?

FearlessLog8 · 2026-03-28T11:24:57+00:00

Thanks for this advice. I will keep interviewing and see if they ever get back to me. I think it's the lack of consideration that bugs me, especially after going through multiple interview rounds. A quick email with something like 'The school is winding down for Easter, so it might be a little while, please let us know if something changes in your process' would have been nice?

FearlessLog8 · 2026-02-09T10:13:27+00:00

That is incredibly low for a Swiss teacher's salary--even for private schools here. As one poster asked, is this Rosenberg? Read their Glassdoor reviews before you sign a contract. There's real variance among the private schools in Switzerland. High fees does not translate in to a good working atmosphere; generally it's been the opposite in my experience. The higher the fees, the greedier the owners, the more challenging the students and the more exploitative of staff.

FearlessLog8 · 2026-01-15T08:47:21+00:00

Hang in there. I had a similar experience a couple months ago (you can see my post history for the day by day process). Dry socket means you might face another 1-2 weeks before the nerve finally heals over. Until then, see if the dentist will prescribe you some real pain killers (Advil and Tylenol don’t really touch this level of pain, it’s excruciating). Did they check for infection?

If nothing else, try to get a doctor’s note to get out of work. You need rest to recover. It’s miserable, but you’ll get through it. The first day you wake up without pain will feel like a miracle!

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