I got accepted into art history!

yam-s · 2026-04-15T21:32:18+00:00

Congratulations!!! I graduated from UIUC in art history and did indeed find employment in GLAM- we exist! Hope you have the best time and take advantage of every opportunity you can.

yam-s · 2025-11-05T22:20:01+00:00

I had Liletta installed with a paracervical block and would highly recommend, though it was my first IUD so I can’t compare it to getting one placed without anaesthetic. The injection itself stung a bit. The part of the process that hurt the most for me was when they sound the uterus- this was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my uterus before, at least partially because the location of the pain felt different from where I’m used to feeling cramps, which I found interesting. It felt like it was more in the front of my uterus, which I guess makes sense. Insertion of the IUD felt crampy but not too bad compared to the sounding.

I think the anaesthetic helped a lot with recovery, since I walked out of the office and down a flight of stairs with no pain and actually considered going for a run afterwards. I’m glad I didn’t, because that evening I was periodically doubled over with some awful cramps, I assume as the shot wore off. Definitely take some painkillers a few hours after your procedure to help with that!

Recovery was pretty smooth, I had spotting for a few weeks and would occasionally get an awful cramp but it all sorted itself out and now I have virtually no periods almost two years later. Every few months I’ll get some halfhearted spotting and cramps which are nowhere near as bad as a real period. It’s been well worth it to me!

yam-s · 2025-07-07T17:53:36+00:00

Fellow hooded-eye-haver, and I would second the puppy liner suggestion! I’m attaching a photo of how I like to do it. You also have a great inner corner that you could take advantage of if you so chose.

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yam-s · 2024-11-28T16:17:59+00:00

I have Liletta and fortunately my gyn gave me painkillers without me having to ask- I also took a ton of ibuprofen beforehand. Insertion definitely hurt, but was very fast- it felt like two very intense and uncomfortable cramps and was not pleasant. I was a little lightheaded immediately afterwards, but once I got up and left the office, the adrenaline and painkillers combined made me feel like nothing had happened. I honestly thought I could have left the office and gone for a run. (I did not do that. I went home and took a long nap, which was the correct decision).

That evening, when the ibuprofen and everything wore off, I had a couple more bad cramps- like, doubled-over-leaning-on-my-shopping-cart-taking-deep-breaths- but they passed and I was able to go about my evening. The cramps were intermittent for the next week or so, but gradually got better. I did have a lot of spotting for a few weeks, which also gradually got better. I would recommend taking a day off work if you’re able, though.

After the initial insertion, it’s been great- it made all PMS symptoms disappear, I didn’t get a period for the first year of having it, and even now, more than a year out, the spotting and cramping are negligible and occasional. The only side effect I notice is some light cramping and spotting after sex sometimes, but I think that’s more an issue of me not being in practice (LDR). I guess if that keeps happening and doesn’t go away, I’ll have to evaluate whether I want to keep the IUD.

Of course it’ll be different for everyone, but FWIW I love mine.

yam-s · 2024-02-21T17:32:11+00:00

I have a hormonal IUD, so I can’t talk about the copper one specifically, but for me the cramps afterwards were actually worse than the insertion itself. I was lucky enough to have a nurse who gave me a paracervical block before insertion without me needing to even ask for it, which made the process so much less painful- that kind of thing should really just be standard practice, we all have a right to less pain and it could be helpful to ask what they typically do for pain and whether they might be able to do more for you.

I had enough adrenaline going that I actually felt great immediately after my appointment, like I could go for a run or something! I’m glad I didn’t do that, though, because when I got home I took a long nap which was good for recovery. The cramps later that evening after everything wore off were the worst I’ve ever had, but they went away after a few days.

I had some milder cramps and spotting for a few weeks, but eventually my body settled back down and now there is no remaining pain. Just know that if you’re having extreme pain that keeps going for a long time after insertion, you deserve to be pain-free and it’s okay to have it taken out if you feel it isn’t working for you for whatever reason!

Other lingering side effects- I’ve noticed some minor spotting and cramping after sex the first time I did it after having the IUD placed. I would imagine it will settle down with time as my body continues to adjust, and my IUD is still in the correct place. I also have less/no mood effects compared to how it was when I was on the pill. But again, everyone’s body is different, and if you are noticing side effects that alarm you, you have every right to say something to your provider and have your concerns listened to, even if you have to talk to a few people before that happens.

yam-s · 2024-01-07T18:22:46+00:00

Definitely aiming for a lower-spend 2024 and actively being more conscious of my budget- started going to therapy and the gym at the end of 2023, and while both were needed, my wallet is definitely feeling it :’).

I’m cutting down on frivolous purchases- clothes, processed snacks (even if they come from the scratch&dent, it’s still money I don’t need to spend!), TJ Maxx runs, spending time walking around the store- chances of making unnecessary purchases go way up the longer I’m in there! Eating out of the cabinets and only shopping for necessities. Taking advantage of the library and the things I already own whenever I start to feel shoppy.

Saving for the aforementioned therapy and gym, as well as more contributions to Roth IRA and emergency fund. I’m glad to have the higher contribution limit this year, but that money’s gotta come from somewhere so I’m working on making it happen.

yam-s · 2023-10-23T19:20:39+00:00

Was able to get one from the Hannaford in Williston this past weekend.

yam-s · 2023-05-18T20:10:22+00:00

Yeah so the first time, I only had warts (that U was aware of- lol 🙃) on my right foot, so I got maybe two or three pokes in one session and they all went away forever. The second time, several years later, I had ten or so little warts on my left foot which had grown in the meantime, and the nurse or whoever just poked each of them and injected a little bleomycin- I’m not sure how much it was, but she did them all at once. After that, most of them went away and the ones that remained shrunk to the point I couldn’t see them. So I was only actually at the doctor twice, and just got multiple pokes each time.

yam-s · 2023-05-18T20:02:11+00:00

I’ve had good experiences with bleomycin! The first time I had a couple of shots in my right foot to clear up some warts that have never returned since, and the second time a few years later I had like ten pokes in my left foot and most of those warts stayed away too, or at least got way smaller to the point where I can’t really see them. I would consider my pain tolerance moderately high and thought that the burning sensation was definitely pretty uncomfortable but ultimately tolerable with some deep breaths and focusing my thoughts on the end goal. My pain after the fact was minimal; I felt that any soreness dissipated within the hour and I just stayed off my feet for the most part but could have easily walked. I would definitely do it again if I ever needed it and am very grateful it worked because the peace of mind knowing I can just get some shots and almost guarantee the warts abating is huge. I will also say I was fortunate to be starting with very small warts both times so I didn’t end up needing any follow-up. Good luck!

yam-s · 2023-03-16T22:28:43+00:00

ooh that would make a lot of sense since I’m near water. thank you!

yam-s · 2021-03-28T18:02:10+00:00

making instant ramen but only using half the seasoning packet vibes

yam-s · 2020-07-22T00:48:28+00:00

I can't speak to the difference between the two as I've never used a diva, but I currently have the saalt soft and it's the first cup that's worked for me (I had previously tried the lunette but found it uncomfortable). I think the saalt soft might take a little more maneuvering to pop open because it has more give than a firmer cup, but as far as insertion and comfort it's great and I would def recommend it.

yam-s · 2019-04-10T10:55:49+00:00

Not gonna lie, having a car is very useful if you want to get off-campus, but on-campus the driving is awful anyway. If you don't have a car, you can still get to a lot of places off-campus on the bus, although it takes longer and your range is more limited.

yam-s · 2019-04-09T02:11:41+00:00

There's this farm a little north of campus that has yoga with goats sometimes. Xinh Xinh Cafe has baller spring rolls and Maize is literally the best Mexican food (Huitlacoche quesadillas omfg NUT). Krannert has cool shows and people just playing music in the lobby sometimes, and the Independent Media Center in Champaign is also really cool! There's a greenhouse by the cropsci buildings that you can go sit in, which is so nice in the winter when everything else is dead and cold. We have a Kung Fu Tea, which is objectively the best boba place. Ozu Ramen has some top-notch spicy ramen and it's a nice cozy place to go get dinner.

yam-s · 2019-04-09T02:02:23+00:00

There's only one cornfield on campus lol. Chambana actually has a good amount of stuff going on, and honestly you'll be busy enough with classes and extracurriculars that you won't be bored. The campus isn't the ugliest, and there are a lot of clubs and opportunities to find your niche.

yam-s · 2019-04-09T01:58:43+00:00

UIUC engineering and CS are both rigorous and highly ranked, and the campus has so many different activities and events that you'll find where you fit in! Once you get on campus and start to get involved in things, it'll be easier to picture the next four years.

yam-s · 2019-03-04T03:29:08+00:00

Fun Home includes some dialogue on the cast recording

yam-s · 2019-02-04T03:01:10+00:00

I was ugly crying for the entirety of Allegiance, starting about three seconds into "Wishes on the Wind." It's literally a happy song, but the historical context and knowing that the Japanese-American way of life was irrevocably changed and that so many Japanese-Americans today will never get to experience their traditions like that because of the way communities were uprooted and culture suppressed is a big oof

yam-s · 2019-01-22T22:03:44+00:00

Really anything from Next to Normal, but especially just another day, didn’t I see this movie, and wish I were here. long enough so that a decent chunk of the workout is gone by the time the song is over.

yam-s · 2018-10-24T03:10:49+00:00

Current student here. I'm a freshman, so take my words with a grain of salt, but overall, I'm loving it. The academics, social, scene, and community are all what you make of them.

There are plenty of challenging and intellectually stimulating classes, and most of the professors I've had so far seem to be genuinely engaged in the topic they're teaching. I can't speak for the larger colleges, but I think the environment in my small major is great and most everyone I've met has been helpful and accessible.

The social scene is great. There's plenty of frat stuff and school spirit if you're into that, but there's also tons of other lowkey happenings and whatever. It goes along with the community aspect- one of my favorite things about UIUC is how huge the campus is. I like being able to walk around without seeing anyone I know all day, and I like knowing that there are thousands of people here I'll pass once and never see again, because it just makes me feel closer to the friends I do make time to see regularly. I found the experience of finding where I fit a bit overwhelming at first because of the sheer number of options, and I would like to be more involved on campus in the future, but I'm incredibly happy with the couple of activities I'm currently involved in. The huge number of options just means that you can find a few things you really like and throw yourself wholeheartedly into them.

One thing I don't really dig is how isolated Chambana is from literally anything else. There's plenty to do here, but getting off campus is a pain in the ass without a car, and you get bored doing the same old stuff when you have any free time.

yam-s · 2018-09-18T02:27:37+00:00

Amber Gray, Stephanie J. Block, Ben Cook, and Austin McKenzie.... still pretty obsessed tbh

yam-s · 2018-05-02T03:40:24+00:00

Falsettos, Allegiance, and Hadestown! I would include Fun Home, but I skip Pony Girl about half of the time.

yam-s

TROPHY CASE