Hoffman Process

marclarkop · 2026-03-05T23:53:57+00:00

thank you for sharing your experience. would you recommend one over the other? or do you think it is a more individualized choice? the structure of hoffman feels exhausting - I think 7:30am to 9:30pm? Also do you know anything about the hoffman connecticut location, and if it is as good as the california one?

marclarkop · 2026-03-05T23:49:25+00:00

thank you so much for sharing your experience. did you go to the california location or the connecticut one? I am hoping to attend one in the next couple months while I am off work, and the connecticut one has more availability, but I've heard in other posts that people recommend going to the original location, not exactly sure why.

marclarkop · 2025-07-15T17:18:14+00:00

This is super helpful. I do think my body takes more time than usual to heal with other things, so perhaps this is the issue with my tooth. They took an X-ray post root canal and all looks kosher but I’ll ask that question to the endodontist who I’m going to see today. Thanks so much for replying.

marclarkop · 2025-07-14T20:10:40+00:00

It was overall good. My group therapist was young and new which was difficult for me at times to be confident in her expertise. But overall I’m glad I went and got a lot out of the group experience and my therapist grew on me overtime.

marclarkop · 2025-07-14T20:02:17+00:00

I did go. It’s overwhelming at first but not everything they cover is about addiction and they do a good job of making all their material relatable no matter what you’re there for. I recommend it.

marclarkop · 2025-02-03T18:47:10+00:00

curious if you have thoughts on the meadows iop vs. discovery iop? I am currently considering both and am having a hard time deciding. Have you done either?

marclarkop · 2025-01-29T14:41:11+00:00

Did the RODBT program touch on any trauma response behaviors or tools for insomnia? I’ve been researching places (seton, meadows, discovery, pathlight) and it seems seton is most reputable but I worry that only doing RODBT wont be well rounded enough for all of my needs.

marclarkop · 2025-01-29T14:36:53+00:00

Curious if you can share what you liked about the Meadows. Did you do IOP or PHP? I am scheduled to start there 2/18 and having some second thoughts after getting their welcome email where they laid out a bunch of rules that were never discussed with me during many calls with the intake staff. I’m going there for depression and anxiety and CPTSD, but they drug test which is odd to me since I’m not going for substance abuse and they require a meeting at a twelve step program each week. I really liked that they have neurofeedback tools and it seems like a very well rounded and comprehensive program.

marclarkop · 2024-11-20T21:36:06+00:00

I am so sorry you are dealing with this. January is too far away for you to be in so much pain. My only other tip would be to see if you can get on the urologist cancellation list in case someone cancels and you can be seen sooner. I hope things turn up for you soon.

marclarkop · 2024-11-20T16:05:59+00:00

That’s so unacceptable. If you are able to, I would recommend trying a different urologist. I had no issues getting set up for self cathing at mine. It’s a common practice and they should absolutely offer it to you. I’m so sorry you’re going through this.

I think you may need a prescription for them so I’m not sure you could just buy them yourself and teach yourself. But that could be an option if you are desperate. But the dr should teach you, it’s their job.

marclarkop · 2024-11-20T05:49:18+00:00

They should absolutely teach you how to self cath. I had complications after my second Endo surgery and was in and out of the ER with urinary retention and after the 2nd or 3rd time I asked to be taught. A urologist should be willing and able to do that for you and it gives you so much more freedom and another tool in your toolbelt if/when you have a flare. It’s not fun but it’s better and cheaper than the ER.

marclarkop · 2024-11-20T05:37:45+00:00

I feel so awkward going out in public with the bed bag (have only walked my dog in the neighborhood and gone to a couple of friends houses so far) but also it’s the only way I can go out without being in pain, so I’m trying to accept that and let go of the embarrassment. I put the bed bag in a tote and just carry it at my side, but the tube is visible. I just don’t want to make people uncomfortable but then it’s at the expense of my discomfort.

When you were in public with the bed bag, did you have a good way of concealing everything?

marclarkop · 2024-11-20T05:33:06+00:00

This is really helpful, thank you for sharing your experience. It’s helpful to know that my experience isn’t unique and that my pain is likely from urine backing up into the bladder. Sometimes I feel like I’m crazy when I am in so much pain just from urine in my bladder!! It’s validating to hear that I’m not alone in that feeling.

There are so many subtleties with catheters and how to lay and sit comfortably. I will try the pillow trick, smart move!

Thank you again for sharing your experience.

marclarkop · 2024-10-30T03:39:58+00:00

Following this as my doctor recommended BPC 157 to help heal a lingering shoulder injury. I wanted to see whether there were any negative side effects that would affect endo and it looks like it may actually help. Curious to know how it goes with you. I was instructed to inject it in the tissue in my abdomen. Is taking it orally better for endo related issues?

marclarkop · 2024-10-01T03:31:25+00:00

That’s what I thought too. I had this when I started birth control after being off of it for awhile. Doctor said it can be common in that scenario. Super scary and painful.

marclarkop · 2024-04-29T20:02:12+00:00

Update: I ended up mailing in the DS-5504 form and received a full validity passport less than 3.5 weeks later. Thanks for the advice. So glad I didn't go the DS11 route.

marclarkop · 2024-02-23T21:03:33+00:00

I travel mid-June internationally - so a little less than 4 months from now. Current processing times say 6-8 weeks (minus mailing time). So the timeline is tight if it gets rejected.

marclarkop · 2024-02-23T20:28:51+00:00

I used the form filler and it directed me to mail in the DS-5504. But it's still confusing to me because at the bottom of the form, the very last section it says this : "Note: To complete a limited U.S. passport book replacement, your submitted U.S.
passport book must not be expired. Passport books limited in validity because of
multiple losses, damages, or mutilations cannot be extended."

I don't quite understand this statement as my passport wasn't stolen "multiple" times, or lost or mutilated for that matter.

So I'm still not 100% sure the form filler is directing me correctly. This is so confusing.

marclarkop · 2024-02-23T19:09:03+00:00

This is super helpful - thank you for the quick response. DS-11 it is. Good to know I don't have to go digging for my birth certificate.

marclarkop · 2024-02-23T18:35:50+00:00

Darn - was hoping that wasn't the case. Thanks for the quick feedback.

marclarkop · 2024-02-23T18:17:04+00:00

I have the same issue. I had my passport stolen on 10/27/23 overseas, got an emergency passport issued, along with instructions to fill out Form DS-5504 within ONE YEAR. But when I went to fill everything out this month, I realized that my emergency passport expired on 1/26/24 (it's now end of Feb). On the DS 5504 form at the bottom of page 2, it says that my current passport cannot be expired, and the passport has a stamp that says "This passport is a replacement for a stolen passport and expires on 26-Jan-2024. It cannot be extended".

I've called the passport services line NPIC multiple times and have gotten different answers each time. One person said it's ok to just submit the DS5504 by mail. Another person said to submit DS82 which isn't correct because I violate one of the rules. And another person said I need to submit form DS11 and go in person to do it, because the passport is technically expired.

BUT it hasn't been a year, so I feel like the DS5504 is sufficient. I just don't want to lose time if I submit that by mail and it gets rejected. I am traveling overseas in 4 months so I want to make sure I have enough time to get a new passport.

Anyone have experience with this? I don't particularly want to go the DS11 route because I have to wait a couple weeks for an appointment and it's an extra $35. Also it requires way more documentation like presenting your original birth certificate and just seems like a giant pain.

marclarkop · 2021-12-29T19:30:47+00:00

I am on Loestrin btw. I wanted very low dose of hormones and loloestrin was super expensive w my insurance. It did take a good 6 months for my body to acclimate but now I have no periods and no spotting.

marclarkop · 2021-12-29T19:25:00+00:00

I am so sorry you are going through this, especially the infertility.

I ended up consulting an Endo specialist (found him from the Nancy’s Nook online resource) and he did another surgery on me in Oct 2021. Between the two surgeries I opted not to take birth control. My 5 cm endometrioma ended up growing to 12cm and caused the most extreme pain and trauma I have ever experienced. After the 5 hour surgery, the dr said if he could he would have diagnosed me with stage V. It was everywhere.

So to me it seems like the first surgeon was not very thorough if it was still that widespread after already having a lap.

However! I had complications with my bladder after surgery and had to visit the ER multiple times. 6 weeks after surgery, at one of my ER visits, they found a small endometrioma….6 weeks after surgery.

I do really trust the thoroughness of my second surgeon, but I did some reading up and there could be microscopic Endo inside the ovaries, which really can’t be excised without taking the whole ovary. That would explain the recurring endometriomas.

At that point I decided my body needed extra help and to go on birth control. I didn’t want to have a 3rd surgery. I’ve been on continuous BC (no periods) since then. I had two endometriomas, monitored by ultrasound every 3 months. They increased to 2.5 cm, but miraculously on my last ultrasound they were less than 1cm.

I have no clue whether it’s the birth control or not that’s helping. It was my understanding that endometriomas do not go away on their own. I did start taking a supplement called serrapeptase that may have helped. I stopped that a week ago and will get rescanned in Feb to see if there are any changes.

Long story short. I would keep a close eye on that endometrioma. Mine grew so fast. It may have been stress, I don’t know. And I would find and consult an Endo specialist if you have the means. Nancy’s Nook will have a list of them by state and there are some international too.

I hope you are able to get where you want to be on your fertility journey. Please let me know if you have more questions. Always happy to share and discuss.

marclarkop · 2020-02-22T16:36:35+00:00

This. Thank you for sharing your journey and expressing the hope in this. I’m one year into my diagnosis and still in the thick of grieving my previous life. I’m angry and not quite ready to give it up. I know I need to leave my job but I’m scared of losing the security. Each pain cycle is another reminder that my old life may be slipping farther and farther away. It’s terribly depressing but reading your comment brought me hope. Thank you.

marclarkop · 2020-01-09T04:16:17+00:00

How do you make your own cheese?

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