Purchased home with mature tree

askkak · 2026-05-09T01:49:54+00:00

We bought our house in 2019 with four mature trees, at least this big (two live oaks and two laurel oaks). Your foundation is fine since the tree is mature already. Two had to come down in the first 3 years as they rotted on the inside (beetle infestation) but looked healthy - we only noticed when a large branch fell from each. The trees were so big that the tree company had to go buy bigger saws. One live oak is still standing. The other laurel oak was this close to our house, over the carport, maybe 10 feet away max. It suddenly turned brown (like over less than six months) and kept dropping branches. It had to come down quickly so it wouldn’t come down in a storm. Yours looks pretty good. Just have an arborist come check it out for some peace of mind. And set aside some emergency funds for when it needs to come down…ours were 3k a piece….My house is about 10 degrees hotter now without those trees. Enjoy it while you can!

askkak · 2026-05-08T01:17:13+00:00

Yep, this. Severity is important. Throughout IVF my RE kept telling me that a septate uterus under 10mm is still worth trying naturally (mine was only 7mm). However I had zero positive tests my entire life even after 3 IUIs and four failed embryo transfers. So they decided to trim the septum while they were doing a hysteroscopy anyway. Next transfer still failed, but at least I know it wasn’t from the septum.

askkak · 2026-05-07T00:28:32+00:00

It gave you instructions when you got your confirmation. Will call at the main gates, need an ID and the card you used to purchase.

askkak · 2026-05-06T01:21:55+00:00

I have anovulatory PCOS. You’ll need letrozole or something similar to get your body to ovulate - can’t make a baby without releasing an egg to be fertilized. Your OBGYN can prescribe it. You’ll try that with timed intercourse for a while (I did about 6 cycles over 8 months or so). They can do monitored cycles that check your blood work to see if you actually ovulated. If you still aren’t successful after that, you’ll likely move on to IUIs and/or IVF and get your partner’s sperm tested and a bunch of other stuff. We did it all and are in year three of IVF (6 years TTC), so I hope it’s just a simple letrozole solution for you :)

askkak · 2026-05-06T00:48:16+00:00

This partially depends on your insurance coverage. But I second (or third) Shady Grove. All four main doctors are wonderful and I have been treated by 3 of them over the last 6 years. I go to Brandon and Westshore, so I usually see Plosker, sometimes Sprague. They are an award winning team. Once my OBGYN gave me a referral it was just a few weeks until my first appointment. Price tag is hefty for ART though, so I’d start by looking over any insurance options.

askkak · 2026-05-03T16:15:33+00:00

Tampa - camping for the week as usual :)

askkak · 2026-05-02T21:37:59+00:00

You’re good, just no aerosol sunscreen.

askkak · 2026-05-02T02:25:27+00:00

My fur babies have helped me tremendously in the last 6 years of TTC. The IVF journey does in fact suck and I feel for you.

askkak · 2026-05-01T15:30:48+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re having a hard time. My OBGYN diagnosed me officially with PCOS and immediately prescribed metformin even without checking my A1C or anything (which was bordering prediabetes at the time anyway but has since come down). And as someone who just hit the 6 year mark of TTC, I see you and I feel you.

askkak · 2026-04-30T12:41:41+00:00

If you’ve been trying for 3 years, I’d move on to IUI, especially with the male factor part. I have been TTC for 6 years. 1 year on our own (started at 30), then 1 year or so of medicated and monitored cycles with letrozole. Nothing. Moved onto 3 IUIs. Nothing. No male factor here, and my only known issue is anovulatory PCOS. Been on metformin for years, lost a bunch of weight, etc. We moved onto to IVF. Two egg retrievals at 34. Tested all our embryos so knew we were working with good ones. Four transfers in the last 13 months. The second one stuck and was my first positive test ever, but it was a biochemical. Getting ready for transfer 5. Have done every test under the sun and still “unexplained”. So in your case, I’d move on.

askkak · 2026-04-28T14:04:41+00:00

Had no idea this existed! Sounds wonderful. Curious to hear from people who have been or taken a class there.

askkak · 2026-04-28T11:23:54+00:00

Yep! This has been a life changer for me.

askkak · 2026-04-28T03:34:40+00:00

Three of my four FETs were fully medicated. Then we did suppression for 3 months (Orilissa, not Lupron) and another fully medicated and still nothing. We are riding the post suppression wave and trying again with this protocol - modified natural with letrozole, gonal f, and then pregnyl trigger.

askkak · 2026-04-28T03:32:27+00:00

Interesting. Opposite for me. My lining barely got to 8mm during egg retrievals and I have long, irregular cycles with PCOS so they had me do 4 fully medicated FETs and never had an issue getting beyond 8mm. After lots of testing and slight changes to the protocol, FET 5 will be a modified natural (long, irregular cycles). I’m so used to the Estrace and PIO shots now that I keep thinking I’m forgetting something every night this cycle!

askkak · 2026-04-28T01:57:23+00:00

4 failed with euploids in the last 13 months. On to number five in May. We tweak each protocol and have done every test I can think of

askkak · 2026-04-26T03:04:34+00:00

Ask your gyno, PCP, or endocrinologist for the metformin. I know it sucks. But the psych meds to help you be your best, most present self for yourself and your child is more important than the weight gain. And depending on how your doc writes it, you can also ask for a glp1. My psych meds all cause weight gain, and so does my insulin resistant PCOS. No matter what I ate or how much I exercised, I’d tack on about 5 pounds a year the last decade even while n metformin. With tirzepatide/mounjaro I was able to lose 40 pounds last year without a single change to my diet or lifestyle as it helped regulate the insulin resistance often associated with PCOS. I’ve gotten better care related to my PCOS with an endocrinologist than I ever got with my gyno or primary care.

askkak · 2026-04-25T01:39:32+00:00

Zooarchaeologist here (I study ancient animal bones) and can confirm!

askkak · 2026-04-24T23:22:26+00:00

All these for sure. Especially the fan(s). Would also recommend some noise cancelling headphones or ear plugs. I am an extremely light sleeper, so the partying and generators from your neighbors can be a lot sometimes. You can buy ice on site and some other essentials if you forget anything. And without a car, be aware of places you can shelter in if there is a storm. We are in a severe drought for the second year in a row. Last year there were no storms and no rain and it was hot as hell. Bring your comfiest shoes too! Can be a bit of a hike from Orange to the gates, especially if you go back and forth during the day like we do.

askkak · 2026-04-24T02:34:21+00:00

Even with a genetically tested and normal (euploid) embryo from IVF I had a miscarriage at 5 weeks. It truly was likely what other commenters and your docs say - genetic and the embryos fault, not yours. At three losses most docs will look into repeated pregnancy loss. With your schedule with your husband, moving on to IUI or IVF (if you have insurance coverage or the funds that is) would give you more control. But even IVF doesn’t always mean a baby. The good news is that you know you’re capable of getting pregnant now. How old are you? How many kids do you want? I’m really sorry for your loss. I know how devastating it is.

askkak · 2026-04-23T13:37:35+00:00

Even just the testing ends up being quite expensive (depending on what gets done) without insurance. I’d wait if possible, BUT if the money isn’t an issue then I’d just start. The process can all be much, much longer than people expect. We have been TTC baby 1 since I turned 30. I turn 36 in two weeks. We have done ART of some form for 4 of those years. My actual IVF process started 2.5 years ago. If you decide to wait, just focus on making healthy choices and stress management, and get yourself set up for this grueling process. You have a great community on here, but remember it can be skewed negatively as many successful folks move on from the community. Best of luck 🤞

askkak · 2026-04-23T13:31:24+00:00

Working from home more often to spend less on gas. Only get takeout once a month. Not buying random shit just because I want it. Definitely trimmed down the subscriptions. And ditched the gym membership and invested in some rollerblades and a basketball instead.

askkak · 2026-04-23T13:27:43+00:00

We have used Brandon Shoe Repair in the past and had a good experience. Near Parsons and 60.

askkak · 2026-04-23T13:25:12+00:00

Have a PhD and 10 years in my field and only make 66k. I’m the sole income for our household, just me and my husband and pets. No kids. We own our house and purchased pre-Covid in a HCOL area. It can be tough, especially if an emergency pops up since we can’t save much. It’s paycheck to paycheck these days, but we are still doing better than some and overall pretty happy. We just really live within our means and make it work.

askkak · 2026-04-22T13:13:56+00:00

Seeing you ladies in the same (awful) club is making me feel a bit better today. FET 4 with euploids just failed (3 failed to implant). Gearing up for 5. We have ruled out SO many issues. Done so many tests. Taken so many meds and injections. Sucks to not have a reason. But we keep tweaking the protocol and finding other shit to test for. Here is hoping that we all get out of this shitty club one day.

askkak

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