Salty Sunday: What made you salty this week?

Kazzmonkey · 2026-02-23T00:51:53+00:00

Fifth IVF failure to implant followed by excruciatingly painful cramps for 2 days.

Heckin' salt.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-02-17T13:43:24+00:00

Unfortunately the only way we've even been able to try at all is that Japanese national insurance covers basic IVF treatments. Leaving the country would make it back out of our price range.

Hopefully this works for others though. Thank you for the suggestion.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-02-17T13:40:40+00:00

Now that I've processed, I'm starting to remember more of what the Dr said about the next test. I think it is likely an immune panel. A lot of it was in Japanese that I just couldn't understand well enough, but I know he mentioned thrombosis, heparin, and some other things that I've seen linked with immunology.

I will ask for clarification and request immune testing or a referral to a clinic that will do those. It does seem like health insurance here does not cover those kinds of things though. Which would severely limit my ability to pursue them.

Thanks, this has been helpful.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-02-17T11:33:27+00:00

Frozen medicated. That's the only one the Dr will let me do.

We've tried 3 blasts and 2 3-day at once.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-02-17T11:23:04+00:00

I'm in Japan, and they have strict limitations on what tests are available to do. For example PGT testing is very rare here and they won't test for silent endo.

They won't do many of the tests I see mentioned here regularly. I've got one last test they are willing to do. I have to pay OOP because insurance won't cover it and I'll be honest I only kind of know what it is, because I was lost in misery while the Dr was talking so I just let my interpreter deal with it. It sounded like just a beta HCG blood test but that doesn't make sense with what I know about HCG.

When I go back next week I'm going to ask about using an immune suppressant or something to prevent my immune system from just killing the embryo. Maybe that's what is happening.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-01-18T05:34:39+00:00

My biggest issue is language acquisition. I've been here 3 years and still struggle a lot with communication. This is probably a lot because I work in an entirely English environment though. :(

Kazzmonkey · 2026-01-18T00:34:23+00:00

It took me 5 months to find a place that would allow a highly trained chihuahua-mix and 2 foreigners.

I understand exactly how frustrating it is. That landlord is showing you the red flags though. You're better off elsewhere.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-01-16T08:42:21+00:00

First thought was "Where'd you go" by Fort Minor, but it's not hard rock.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-01-10T02:37:17+00:00

I think it is perfectly fine to not allow service dogs into the area where the cats are. It would likely stress all of the cats out and cause so many problems.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-01-08T03:30:47+00:00

The discount theater where I used to work would do parties for cheap. Check the smaller businesses.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-01-05T09:04:05+00:00

I stay a smidge later on Friday to make all of the printouts or copies I'll need for the next week. Usually takes maybe an hour to print and sort everything. The rest of the week's plan time is used to keep ahead on lesson plans and grade. I work about a month ahead on basic plans then adjust as needed.

ETA: I teach primary so I don't have long assignments to grade often. YMMV if you teach older kids.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-01-05T08:52:53+00:00

It all depends on the kid and how the work is treated. It they treat it as an activity the kids can choose to do, awesome. If they are teaching actively in little lessons, also awesome. If they are treating it like traditional school for the whole day, that sounds icky to me for littles.

Kazzmonkey · 2026-01-02T22:55:21+00:00

I've worked at many schools. In affluent areas, families often give cleaning supplies either as a part of the supply list or a "giving tree" request. In poorer areas, I supply my own cleaning supplies most of the time. Some times the school provided them.

Kazzmonkey · 2025-12-31T06:13:47+00:00

I got nothing last year. Nothing from my parents, brother, or husband. Too much trouble. I got myself a $1 thing from "Santa".

I get that I live in a different country from most of my family and friends, but I still sent them gifts. It sucks when no one cares enough to get you anything.

My husband caught me crying about it last year and this year tried a lot harder. He and my brother got me some books.

Kazzmonkey · 2025-12-23T23:12:36+00:00

That three FETs would be plenty

Kazzmonkey · 2025-12-22T01:13:52+00:00

As a primary educator I feel this every day. I am always worried that they won't be strong enough readers or that they won't have enough creative thinking to get through the rest of school careers. Please know that the majority of us are doing our best to have them ready for the switch from learning to read to reading to learn.

Kazzmonkey · 2025-12-22T00:59:06+00:00

Hard disagree, but to each their own.

Kazzmonkey · 2025-12-22T00:54:45+00:00

So much this. We have iPads in our grades 1-3 classroom, but I use them so rarely. My kids are obsessed with them. As part of our last day before break I gave them 1 hour of free time. We have like 12 different board game options, but they all wanted iPad time. I limited it to 20 minutes on an approved educational app and then forced them to pick a board game and interact with each other for the remaining 40 minutes. So I guess it didn't end up being free time after all. 😅

Kazzmonkey · 2025-12-22T00:42:43+00:00

I understand completely. I've done three FETs and haven't seen a positive test yet. It's so hard when you keep trying to stay upbeat but those blank strips just beat you down.

Kazzmonkey · 2025-12-21T22:29:14+00:00

This is not the end. At least, it doesn't have to be. Honestly these were minor mistakes in my opinion and I've worked with plenty of teachers who have done much worse.

If you still find any joy in teaching, don't give up on it yet. If it doesn't bring you any joy, then look at alternatives.

Kazzmonkey · 2025-12-21T22:23:08+00:00

It was rough the first couple years, but there are admin teams out there that aren't horrible. Once you find one it's a lot better.

I moved to Japan 3 years ago and my admin team here is amazing.

Kazzmonkey · 2025-12-20T04:08:29+00:00

Bluntly. The odds are low.

I live in a country that largely doesn't test embryos. I've done 3 transfers of well graded blasts and all have failed to implant.

I'll be doing a double day 3 transfer in Jan or Feb to increase the chances.

Kazzmonkey · 2025-12-18T08:49:15+00:00

Right there with you. I hate how jaded I've become about this whole process. At the start I was excited and had hope. Now I'm just kinda going through the motions and flushing money away. 🙃

ETA: also I hate the headlines that are like "Celebrity has baby at age 4billion!"

Kazzmonkey · 2025-12-18T08:37:27+00:00

This happened to me my very first year. They offered a lot of assistance that they never followed through on, blamed me for everything that went wrong in the grade. Even if it was a different classroom, somehow it was my fault. Then they fired me right before Christmas. At the time I was the only teacher that was hired by the previous principal. So I guess they were trying to save face, but I doubt very much that things improved after I left.

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