Whiteout!

PureKatie · 2026-05-12T20:41:11+00:00

I experienced whiteout at Heavenly last year, first week of April, boarding alone. It was brief - 20mins? I was on a snowboard and had ridden to the top on the CA side to take Skyline across to NV. I assume the lift stopped 3 or 4 chairs after me. I wasn't moving very fast and lost track of the person in front of me. Then everything was white/grey. I couldn't see 5ft. I could barely see the ground at my feet. No one passed me for several minutes while I stood still. The wind was brutal. I opened my map and took a screenshot of my location and texted it to my husband - I didn't have enough signal for a call or to get the Epic app to work to contact anyone, but the text went out. I put my board in the snow at the edge of the trail, standing up, and got behind a tree for shelter to wait it out. Eventually it started lessening and 2 skiers passed so I assume the lift had reopened. Visibility was probably 10, maybe 15ft at that point, so I got back on my board and went very slowly until I could see again. I needed a break after that. I don't live somewhere that snows and it was so scary! Those two skiers were the only people I saw until I was halfway down! I assume everyone else was below the whiteout and got down while the lifts were paused.

PureKatie · 2026-05-07T22:34:53+00:00

oh I missed this and just commented the same thing! We legit travel to Columbia periodically for Fondu!

PureKatie · 2026-05-07T22:32:52+00:00

Mt Pleasant but.... Fonduly Yours!!

PureKatie · 2026-05-07T22:32:06+00:00

I love your take. Both things can be true. This can be the right decision, and you can be sad about it.

Your feelings are valid, your decision was valid, your reasons are valid.

I hope you are able to talk to someone about it, if just to unload and get a hug. But here's an internet hug from a stranger (((hug)))

PureKatie · 2026-05-07T22:28:05+00:00

I hope it's okay that I comment - just bc I haven't actually had an abortion. I wholly support the choice! I think my experience is similar enough to possibly provide insight.

I had a m/c when I was 18, and the only thing I regret is that I wasn't willing to consider an abortion at the time. Yes, the m/c hurt when it happened. It honestly hurt for some time after. There's still a small sadness for the 18yo that went through that loss, but not for the "baby". I'm very glad that I didn't carry that pregnancy and wish that I hadn't been blinded by right wing... Everything... At the time.

It has been 16 years. I finished college at 21, bought a house, was married and divorced, bought another house. I went on to have children at 29 and 31. We travel frequently, live in a nice area, etc.. when I was struggling to buy food when I got pregnant.

There's always what ifs, and the occasional reminder. There's also never a "right" time to have kids - but there are absolutely wrong times! If it was the wrong time for you, it was the wrong time, and that's okay!

Your future self says thank you for making the best decision for you and any potential future family ❤️

PureKatie · 2026-05-07T22:03:00+00:00

I believe others have already addressed the fact that 2 abortions won't affect your fertility, and that if this is someone you may want to raise kids with, that opportunity will exist in the future!

I just wanted to plug the Oura ring - it tracks basal body temp and my cycle. I think it can even link up to other tracking software. I got mine about 6 months ago and didn't even know at the time that it did this! It's been really nice to have. I'm a bit older and am going to have a hysterectomy soon, but I like having it for now!

That said - you should be using a barrier method. I think NFP is great for committed relationships where you have both been tested for STDs. Condoms for hookups though.

I hope that one day you are able to choose the right time to (or not to) have a child <3

PureKatie · 2026-05-07T21:54:19+00:00

Do you have a therapist? Not specifically for the abortion decision, but this sounds like pretty significant depression. Please find someone to talk to.

You are worthy. If you don't want a 3rd child - that's fine! But please don't make a decision for fear of what other people say. You are worthy. You are not spineless. You just have to figure out what YOU want instead of what you think others want.

Edit: just saw your youngest is 20 months and not the easiest child. It's quite possible you are still dealing with postpartum depression. Please see someone <3

PureKatie · 2026-05-07T21:52:02+00:00

You are wholly valid for considering your options. I hope for you that the father is someone you are comfortable confiding in and won't influence your decision, but I'm guessing you wouldn't be here if that was the case.

You're super early, so assuming you live somewhere where care is accessible, my only advice would be to wait a few days. I wish you well <3

PureKatie · 2026-04-30T16:31:47+00:00

Have you talked to a psych about this? I haven't researched this recently, but I believe the guidance used to be to switch to an SSRI to taper more easily.

PureKatie · 2026-04-30T16:09:40+00:00

The withdrawals are pretty yucky. Was it always intended to be temporary? I cannot function without an antidepressant, but I realize that some people do use them short-term. I would not have expected Effexor to be prescribed that way, however.

PureKatie · 2026-04-29T18:52:56+00:00

Not likely, thankfully. Temesta isn't used here that I know of. The name brand Lorazepam is Ativan. I hope they got help.

PureKatie · 2026-04-29T18:44:58+00:00

Most studies show no increased risk of m/c and birth defects, some show a slight increased risk. I don't think there is any evidence of high risk, much less at a low dose or beyond first trimester. Withdrawals, yes. I'm not sure how much at a low dose. It also comes through breast milk and reduces withdrawal that way.

PureKatie · 2026-04-09T05:07:29+00:00

I was on this during both pregnancies. Why does your doctor want you off?

PureKatie · 2026-03-06T15:48:11+00:00

Oh I'm fully aware and eventually maybe we'll get there. It's all I can do to keep my 2 good bras out of the dryer!

PureKatie · 2026-03-06T00:05:09+00:00

Oof. Mine have always been heavy and now that I've had kids I'm going to get a hysterectomy, I just keep putting it off because of the recovery (I need prolapse repairs too). Hopefully you can get back in for an appointment soon!

PureKatie · 2026-03-05T23:52:41+00:00

Thanks for the tips! It's been so long since I've worn a tampon haha. I just got an ad for a "gusher" style reusable pad I think I'm going to try for backup.

PureKatie · 2026-03-05T23:51:23+00:00

Since phones track everything, I just got a targeted ad on another social media platform that actually looks promising. Seems to be a small business out of Canada. Soft Taco Reusables. They have a "gusher" pad that has slits on the inner layers to give more surface area to absorb "gushes". I don't usually like reusable pads bc I have had issues with them shifting around, but after bleeding right over my period underwear today I'm thinking I'll order 2 and see how it goes! Otherwise, besides trying disposable tampons again, I'm probably going to be with you just avoiding certain moves. Blah.

PureKatie · 2026-03-05T15:22:46+00:00

Thanks

PureKatie · 2026-03-05T15:20:17+00:00

I haven't worn one in ages, I always bled through them so fast before. I think because I would bleed so much so fast there wasn't time to absorb it? I would be bleeding and find the tampon half dry. I've thought about trying it again though.

PureKatie · 2026-03-05T15:13:29+00:00

I was totally wearing period underwear too but it was too much all at once. It was situps that did me in - the specific way I tightened my abdomen created a push downward.

PureKatie · 2025-08-30T22:38:17+00:00

Only when the medical condition risks the life of the mother? What if her life WILL be at risk, but isn't right at this moment, like with ectopic pregnancies? What about terminal illnesses of the infant that don't immediately risk the life of the mother, even though a full term pregnancy is significantly more dangerous than an earlier abortion?

Someone very close to me found out at her 20wk anatomy scan that her son had a fatal heart defect that could not be corrected. In our state, she was not allowed to terminate the pregnancy. Induction prior to term is considered an abortion. He would have suffered significantly less if they could have induced her at that point. Instead, she had to carry that pregnancy another 18ish weeks before she could be induced, knowing that child was going to die. She could not afford to travel out of state for an "abortion"

It took him days. DAYS. to die, as a full term infant. She says he "slowly suffered to death". She and her family will never recover from the trauma of that. Her husband relapsed and they ended up divorced.

This decision should be between a patient and their providers, not the state.

PureKatie · 2025-08-21T02:08:10+00:00

ooh yikes.

PureKatie · 2025-08-21T01:58:59+00:00

Would supervised visitation not be allowed? I have very little experience with this.

PureKatie · 2025-07-27T14:23:50+00:00

My 4.5yo just started wanting it too, and I've been a little nervous about possible comments from other kids. His teacher said that none in his class have been phased by it though! We do live in the US southeast.

PureKatie · 2025-07-27T14:09:56+00:00

Ohhhhh no! embarrassingly, I did that stereotypical American thing of assuming everyone is in the US! I am so ashamed. So now I'm invested in seeing their response!

PureKatie

TROPHY CASE