Green clumpy vaginal discharge

Some info from Facebook group
I’m going to start posting info in here from Facebook group to help users from the ring, I’ve posted these in the group (Pete Lewis) Put together some info on ring syncing issues and battery issues- what to do it may help anyone with any issues especially new users. Hope it helps.
Been some people ring not syncing with the app or new
First of all report all issues and what tried in feedback
How to remove old ring:- Go to :- ( me- settings- ring settings- ring setting tool - remove connected device )
or me- press on the ring at top - ring setting tool - remove connected device .
The old ring must be removed if being replaced.
If new ring ensure the old ring has been removed from app ————————/————
Ring Not Syncing Things to check first

1. If using VPN turn it off
   
2. Ensure Bluetooth enabled
   
3. If Android phone, ensure location services enabled, and allow physical activity ticked In permission. Also on Android phones, you sometimes need to clear cache from RingConn app on phone in settings .
   
4. Ensure charger and ring charged up, log out app - restart phone - log back into app.
   
5. If that does not work try :- put ring into charger, close case -remove app totally from phone - remove ring from Bluetooth in phone - restart phone - reinstall fresh app - - log back into app -open ring case see if ring asks you connect.
   
6. The ring may need resetting , put ring in charging case and gently press on back of ring so it clears the contacts 5-7 times - ring should flash blue when reset - repeat until flashes blue, ring should ask to pair with app.
   
7. If above does not work remove app from phone and restart the phone - reinstall fresh new app from App Store ( make sure you know password and email address it’s in old app )
   

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4QcX2v-Mbw8

1. If above does not resolve issue, please report into feedback in app - so engineers can check what you have done - put all above info into feedback. ———————————————— If you have battery issues or continuous green light on ring - try this and report in feedback.

BATTERY ISSUES - Follow this guide
Battery issues what to do :- ensure charger charged up - white light on charger and fully charge the ring prior to any reset. Leave ring in charger extra hour over 100% as engineers may ask you to do that
Ensure charger and ring contacts points clean to ensure good contact.
1 . First of all charge ring to 100%.ensuring good charge in charging case (white light) plus 1 hour

1. Reset the ring - procedure below
   
2. Log battery times and discharge times from 100% -20%
   
3. Take photos of battery discharge times in app - so it’s time stamped off phone in app to help engineers 100% date time - <20% date time
   
4. Repeat this at least twice.
   
5. Send all info in feedback in app
   

7.if it’s a continuous green light on ring inform feedback all you tried to reset it .
Here’s a reset video https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4QcX2v-Mbw8
Light will flash blue on ring in case when reset
The reason :- engineers need to see you have tried to resolve the issue (they will ask you to reset ring)
Then submit all info into feedback, including log of at least two or more - ring discharge times and any photos from app - this has to go in feedback to engineers to assess ring - the more info the better - the engineers will then contact customer care and give them their recommendations to replace the ring if applicable.
Writing only to cs@ringconn.com will do nothing - feedback first
In app - me -FAQ/ Feedback
Join Facebook group for more info like this
https://www.facebook.com/share/8Gc1NeyGpaK18KvS/?mibextid=K35XfP

Ftm , 20 years old , female , 40+5 pregnant.
Long story short, I have Bacterial vaginosis and my midwife prescribed me metronidazole gel / 5 doses for 5 nights. I noticed when using it i got clumpy brown / colored discharge after i finishe using the restroom. I sent her a message through mychart awaiting a response but does anyone know if that is normal ? I am on my second dose and will take 3rd dose tonight..

Long story short, I have Bacterial vaginosis and my midwife prescribed me metronidazole gel / 5 doses for 5 nights. I noticed when using it i got clumpy brown / colored discharge after i finishe using the restroom. I sent her a message through mychart awaiting a response but does anyone know if that is normal ? I am on my second dose and will take 3rd dose tonight..

Long story short, I have Bacterial vaginosis and my midwife prescribed me metronidazole gel / 5 doses for 5 nights. I noticed when using it i got clumpy brown / colored discharge after i finishe using the restroom. I sent her a message through mychart awaiting a response but does anyone know if that is normal ? I am on my second dose and will take 3rd dose tonight..

I am having a mystery illness/infection or skin problem affecting my vulva.
•i (24F) have had inner labia pain since early feb, 2-3 days after sex with my partner (25M) of 2 years. also used a toy and saliva at the time. symptoms were raw pain on left inner labia, redness/irritation near vagina left entrance. a month after initial symptoms ulcers or lesions appeared on the same affected area (inner left labia), without any other outbreaks. Also have had yellowish on/off discharge that is sour smelling.
•plenty of dr visits, mostly taken medications based on symptoms not tests. which were (clotrimazole suppository x2, metronidazole tablet, doxycycline x2, acylovir, ceftriaxone, miconazole + metronidazole suppository, vaginal probiotics suppository, zinc oxide cream, lidocaine gel, prednisolone tablet, steroid gel) all in diff timelines in a span from early feb - now. currently on prednisolone and steroid gel.
•After taken most of the medications stated above. ive run many tests as well. But some test (unsure) might have been affected since many medications were already taken most tests were done mid march- april ;
hiv, syphilis, hsv, hep, chlamydia, gonorrhea, ureaplasma, mycoplasma, trichomoniasis, high vaginal swab for yeast, strep and bv or other bacterias and a pap smear test was done.
ALL NEGATIVE. but during a swab test for gonorrhea which was done mid march, pus cell was seen. And by this timeline, i only had taken clotrimazole suppository.
•Today i took a UTI strip test at home. the leukocyte part changed from nude to purplish? but not covering the whole square, nitrate doesnt change colour and rbc is same base colour just with tiny green dots? unsure of the results.
•i am still in pain, left inner labia, red patch or whatever and ulcers/lesions are still there. Now right inner labia hurts as well. Both labias and clit/clitoris hood feels sensitive or just uncomfortably painful. its going to be 4 months since initial symptoms and i still have no idea what i have. im suffering. please help me. anybody.
** i have hypothyroid and im taking levothyroxine 50mcg daily.

For context as to why I took the UTI test. I am having a mystery illness/infection or skin problem affecting my vulva.
•i (24F) have had inner labia pain since early feb, 2-3 days after sex with my partner (25M) of 2 years. also used a toy and saliva at the time. symptoms were raw pain on left inner labia, redness/irritation near vagina left entrance. a month after initial symptoms ulcers or lesions appeared on the same affected area (inner left labia), without any other outbreaks. Also have had yellowish on/off discharge that is sour smelling.
•plenty of dr visits, mostly taken medications based on symptoms not tests. which were (clotrimazole suppository x2, metronidazole tablet, doxycycline x2, acylovir, ceftriaxone, miconazole + metronidazole suppository, vaginal probiotics suppository, zinc oxide cream, lidocaine gel, prednisolone tablet, steroid gel) all in diff timelines in a span from early feb - now. currently on prednisolone and steroid gel.
•After taken most of the medications stated above. ive run many tests as well. But some test (unsure) might have been affected since many medications were already taken most tests were done mid march- april ;
hiv, syphilis, hsv, chlamydia, gonorrhea, ureaplasma, mycoplasma, trichomoniasis, high vaginal swab for yeast, strep and bv or other bacterias and a pap smear test was done.
ALL NEGATIVE. but during a swab test for gonorrhea which was done mid march, pus cell was seen. And by this timeline, i only had taken clotrimazole suppository.
•as of today the pic taken shows the uti test strip that i just took. unsure of the results. Could anyone diagnose me? Ive met plenty of GP, a derm and a gyno and non is helping me.
•i am still in pain, left inner labia, red patch or whatever and ulcers/lesions are still there. it going to be 4 months since initial symptoms and i still have no idea what i have. im suffering. please help me. anybody.

Well this journey has been unlike any I thought I’d have. Just before my third trimester started I got diagnosed with pre eclampsia. For 21 days I was admitted to the hospital for daily and sometimes 2x a day non stress tests and ultrasounds every three days while having my Blood pressure taken and meds management to keep this baby in as long as possible. But between my placenta causing blood restriction flow to the baby and my kidneys starting to shut down with the creatinine levels they were spewing, I woke up today and was told I’d be delivering today by c section. I had no time to process any of it or the fact that I planned on trying a vaginal birth. And he was out within 20 minutes. He is now in the NICU, he’s doing well, has some low sugar levels they’re trying to control but was a small 3.92 lb baby boy who was born at 34 weeks on the day. I can’t believe it all happened today, and how difficult it is to be away from my baby while I try to heal up from surgery. I can’t believe I’m a mom of a tiny preemie. I really hope he won’t be having a long stay in the hospital as I’ll be discharged in two days time. I hate the idea of going home without him I’m still in awe of having such a drastic change of plan and having zero control in that.. and now he’s here. He’s a whole different kind of love. All you mamas to be, you’ve got this! I hope for speedy deliveries and ease of any healing you may need while meeting your littles ❤️

Following up on on my latest post TLDR: had failed a hysterectomy in February and second surgery was successful.
34 y/o, high BMI, stage IV endo, suspected adeno, (not confirmed in biopsy)dense adhesions and scarring. Had my LAVH, robotic assisted on May 7th. I found a super compassionate doctor who reassured me and gave me hope after I lost it when my first surgery had to be aborted. Surgery went better than expected, with no complications. It took about 6 hours and took forever for me to wake up. I went home the day of the procedure, only took oxy twice and been managing pain with over the counter meds and gabapentin before bed. Hot water bottles and heating pads. Bloating is annoying, I am lonely and bored but I am happy to be done with it. I felt immediate relief, pain peaked on day 2 - gas pain is no joke. I wanted to thank this community for the advice and support provided, it has been crucial for my journey and I am grateful 💗
My hysterectomy was the culmination of more than 13 years of seeking relief from my discomforts that only worsened over time.
It started with anemia on the verge of blood transfusion that had no explanation other than hypermenorrhea. Each menstrual cycle became more tortuous with the passage of time, heavy bleeding, clots, leg cramps, lumbar pain and chronic fatigue.
I will have seen more than a dozen gynecologists and various doctors.
Blood studies, ultrasounds, resonances, endometrial biopsies, colonoscopy, contraceptives, hormonal IUD that ruined my mental health, I tried absolutely everything. I even went to the middle of the Amazon rainforest to seek relief in the medicine used by the Shipibo people.
I came out of many consultations crying, medical gaslighting and gordophobia were 98% of my experience.
They sent me to the psychiatrist because my pain seemed to have no other explanation than to be psychological.
Since I knew about endometriosis I KNEW that surely it was what happened to me, but finding a doctor who would take me seriously and believe me cost so much. It cost time, money, energy, tears, mental health, putting the body.
First they confirmed fibroids, then suspicion of adenomyosis (waiting confirmation of the biopsy), in February I was operated on for 3 hours without being able to remove my uterus due to the intensity of the adhesions and the advanced endometriosis (phase 4 that was confirmed in said failed surgery)
I had my second operation with a specialist and an interdisciplinary team of gynecologists, urologists and general surgeons.
They took out my uterus, cervix and fallopian tubes. The uterus was attached to the abdominal wall, bladder, intestines and basically everything around it. They drained cysts in the ovaries that I keep. I was cleaned of endometriosis of the sacrous ligaments and mainly of the bladder that was very compromised. They took adhesions from me and I'm sure I forget more.
I feel like I was born again and although this disease is chronic and has no cure, I already hope to see improvements and have a better quality of life, make up for lost time ❤️‍🩹 I can’t wait to see if I can ride a bike again.
Now slowly recovering and feeling very emotional and tired, otherwise happy and excited for my new healing era.
Will include surgery notes, biopsy report and pictures for the curious ones, Hope everyone is having a lovely pre surgery or recovery journey, it’s not easy, but we got this 💪 we are stronger and more resilient than we give ourselves credit for, we fight relentlessly and we show up for each other, our bodies are amazing and can do incredibly things. Sending lots of love your way, internet strangers ✨ 💗
Surgery notes:
Surgery
Findings: Laparoscopy: Smooth diaphragmatic peritoneal surfaces and liver without gross lesion. No injury under site of injury at umbilicus and no umbilical adhesions. Intraabdominal adhesions in the right lower quadrant at the site of prior appendectomy, with bowel and omentum adherent to the right abdominal sidewall. Once this omentum and bowel was taken down, there was a divot with a small amount of fat seen in the RUQ. Dr. Kim evaluated this did not require intervention. Similarly, no clear indirect R inguinal hernia seen without bowel and omentum involved, so Dr. Kim similarly did not recommend intervention. Omentum, bladder adherent to the lower uterine segment anteriorly. Extensive pelvic adhesions and evidence of endometriosis. Thickening of the bladder peritoneum and tacked up to lower uterine segment. Fallopian tubes and ovaries adhered to pelvic side wall, with left hematosalpinx noted in the setting of tortuous left tube. R ovary with small ~1cm functional-appearing cyst. L ovary with hemorrhagic ~2-3cm cyst. Rectum free, no posterior adhesions but extensive serosal endometriosis between the uterosacral ligament and on R posterior serosa overlying R uterosacral. Due to the ICG and use of firefly technology, the course of the ureters were well visualized. Procedure Details: After discussion of risks, benefits and alternatives to the procedure, written consent was obtained. The patient was brought to the operating room. The patient was positioned in the dorsal lithotomy position in yellowfin stirrups with arms padded and tucked at her sides. An exam under anesthesia was performed with findings as noted above. Urology completed a cystoscopy (no endometriosis) and placed ureteral stents with ureteral indocyanine green dye placement. See their operative note for further details. The cervix was dilated with tonsil forceps. Paracervical block was placed. The Rumi uterine manipulator with medium Koh ring was secured to the cervix. A Foley catheter was placed to drain the bladder intraoperatively. A 0.8 cm incision was made at the umbilicus, kocher used to elevate the fascia, and a Veress needle was inserted. Intraperitoneal placement was confirmed. The abdomen was insufflated until an adequate dome was achieved. A 8 mm robotic port was placed and the robotic scope was inserted. Under direct visualization, 3 additional ports were placed, two 8 mm robotic ports to the right of the umbilicus and one 8 mm robotic port to the left of the umbilicus. The patient was placed on steep Trendelenburg and the bowels were swept into the upper abdomen. The Da Vinci robot was then docked in position. The filmy adhesions in the RUQ were taken down with combination of cautery and sharp technique. The omentum was taken down off of the uterine fundus with bipolar and monopolar cautery. The left fallopian tube was followed out to the fimbria. The salpingectomy was then performed, starting at the distal fimbriated end of the tube and sequentially coagulating and transecting the mesosalpinx adjacent to the fallopian tube and well away from the ovary. The fallopian tube was left attached at the cornua. The procedure was repeated on the contralateral side. Good hemostasis was noted. The bladder was noted to be densely scarred to the LUS/cervical junction. The junction was incised with monopolar cautery and the bladder was meticulous dissected off of the underlying uterus/cervix to the level of the KOH ring as marked cephlad traction was placed on the Rumi device. Due to the anterior compartment scarring, round ligaments were not clearly identified. The thickened tissue in this area was grasped, cauterized with bipolar and divided with monopolar. Both ureters were seen using firefly technology. The left utero-ovarian ligament was ligated with bipolar cautery and divided with monopolar. The same procedure was performed on the right side. Marked cephlad traction was applied to the KOH ring. The uterine vessels on either side were skeletonized and ligated with bipolar cautery. The remainder of the cardinal and parametrial attachments were ligated with bipolar and divided with monopolar. The vagina was opened over the Colpo device circumferentially. The fibrotic uterosacral ligaments with overlying endometriosis was incised below the implants and fibrosis, taking care to avoid the ureters. The endometriotic implants over the right uterosacral ligaments were excised. The uterus and fallopian tubes were then removed through the vagina. Given the extensive adhesions and fibrosis, this portion of the surgery took an additional 60 minutes longer than expected. After that, the vaginal occluder was placed into the vagina to maintain the pneumoperitoneum. Dr. Kim then came to assess the inguinal hernia. He deemed no intervention was necessary for the R inguinal hernia or the RUQ divot. The functional ovarian cyst in the R ovary was drained. The 2 cm hemorrhagic ovarian cyst in the L ovary was felt to represent hemorrhagic corpus luteum. Two <1cm nodules on the R uterosacral were excised using cautery, taking care to avoid the right ureter. The vaginal cuff was closed using 0 V-lock in a running fashion in 2 layers . The area was irrigated, and hemostasis was evident. All instruments were then removed under direct visualization. The skin was closed with 4-0 Biosyn . Sterile dressings and Tegaderm were applied to all port sites. The ureteral stents were removed and inspected by urology and noted to be intact. A foley catheter was placed for routine voiding trial in PACU. Sponge and needle counts were correct times x2. The patient tolerated the procedure well and went to the recovery room in stable condition. There were no complications to the case.
Pathology:
Final Diagnosis A) Uterus, cervix, bilateral fallopian tubes, hysterectomy and salpingectomy: - Myometrium with leiomyoma. - Serosal/subserosal endometriosis. - Early secretory endometrium, negative for neoplasm. - Bilateral fallopian tubes and cervix negative for neoplasm. B) Peritoneum, right utero-sacral, biopsy: - Fibrotic squamous epithelium-lined tissue with scattered lymphocytic inflammation. - Negative for neoplasm and no definite endometriosis. Clinical Information Pre-op diagnosis: Adenomyosis [N80.03] Dysmenorrhea [N94.6] Menorrhagia with regular cycle [N92.0] Pelvic peritoneal adhesions, female [N73.6]
Gross Description A. Uterus, with or without tubes and ovaries, other than neoplastic/prolapse. Received fresh labeled; 1)Uterus,cervix,bilateral tubes" is a uterus with attached bilateral fallopian tubes.. The uterus alone is 105 g, 9.5 cm cervix to fundus by 6.0 cm cornu to cornu by 5.0 cm anterior to posterior. The cervix is 3.3 cm long by 3.0 cm diameter with a 0.6 cm diameter os. The ectocervix has punctate areas of hemorrhage. The serosa has scant fibrous adhesions anteriorly and extensive cautery and disruption posteriorly. The endometrium is ragged, hemorrhagic, 0.1-0.4 cm thick. The myometrium is up to 2.6 cm thick and is mildly trabeculated with cysts up to 0.1 cm greatest dimension filled with hemorrhagic material, suggestive of adenomyosis. There is a 0.2 cm diameter intramural well-circumscribed nodule with a whorled cut surface. No areas of softening are identified. The right fallopian tube is slightly serpentine, congested, 5.3 cm long by 0.5-0.6 cm diameter and has attached hemorrhagic fimbria. The left tube is 5.0 cm long by 0.5-0.6 cm diameter, purple-tan with attached hemorrhagic fimbria. Representative sections are submitted: A1-anterior cervix A2-posterior cervix A3-anterior endomyometrium A4-A5-posterior endomyometrium with possible adenomyosis (A4 with leiomyoma) A6-right fallopian tube and entire fimbria A7-left fallopian tube tube, entire fimbria. (MUA) B. Soft tissue, OTHER. Received in formalin labeled, ; 2)right utero-sacral biopsy" are 2 tan red rubbery tissue fragments, 0.7 and 1.0 cm, that are entirely submitted in B1. (AA) Case Report Value Surgical Pathology Report Case: SU24-15696 Authorizing Provider: Chiang, Seine, MD Collected: 05/07/2024 03:42 PM Ordering Location: UWMC Main Operating Room Received: 05/07/2024 05:21 PM Pathologist: Garcia, Rochelle Lorraine, MD Specimens: A) - Uterus, with or without tubes and ovaries, other than neoplastic/prolapse, 1)Uterus,cervix,bilateral tubes B) - Soft tissue, OTHER, 2)right utero-sacral biopsy
Surgery pics

Hi, so this could get really gross.
Background; at the end of April till about 2 days ago, I traveled to Nor Cal and then to Oregon all the way from Arizona, so, lots of time spent in the car.
On the night of the tenth I started to get really painful itching and sharp pains down in my cooch. It got really bad seemingly overnight.
When I got back to AZ I could hardly walk because how painful it is. I went to my campus clinic, pissed in a cup and did a vaginal swab. The women came out and said I have a UTI and then proceeded to say something is for sure wrong. She had a little list of what the labs found, imbalances and stuff, but I cant find it on my health thing.
I was given Fluconazole 150mg and Nitrofurantoin 100mg that I'm going to take as directed.
Here's the issue, I'm swollen down there and there are some bumps as well. Very heavy white mucous discharge that smells. My boyfriend also started to get these pimple like bumps on his area as well. (hes been great with all this ya'll, holding my hand and sitting with me while I showered.)
I've done research on yeast infections, bv, and when I started to look at staph infections I got really scared and stopped research there.
Does anyone have any idea if this is just a yeast infections or bv? I get the swab results tomorrow.

Bit of background I was on a year of high dose daily antibiotics with a private specialist mainly amoxicillin (I know vagina microbiome killer) due to a chronic UTI that I’m still dealing with. I had to stop all antibiotics after I had a severe reaction which caused neuropathy that I still deal with and also I had a severe acute case of thrush where I was so sore down there. Since coming off the meds my vagina has a smelly but not fishy smell, my discharge is sometimes like a bright yellow or thick and clumpy. I get lots of discharge all the time, often soak through my pants but on the other hand I can sometimes get an extremely dry vagina where I can’t even insert a finger. Itching, redness and general uncomfortable feeling. I had an STD panel which was clear but not sure if it tested for trich. Pessaries don’t work and I can’t take anymore oral meds. I had 2 days of metronidazole in December for hpylori (gut infection) and my body erupted in bouts of neuropathy causing severe nerve pain, burning all over, fasciculations: this is all better than original onset but still really affects me. Feel at my wits end and feel like nothing works down there.

October 22nd 2077 This is the personal terminal of Dr. Joseph Wright Director and head of the Vault 815 experiment, logging for all future events.
Objective of the Vault: Study human behavior when normal subjects are given absolute authority over their peers
Hypothesis: In a close environment, a minority population with absolute authority over a majority will always lead to a brutal authoritarian regime. This can be useful in rebuilding America after the bombs to quickly build an efficient autocracy regardless of skill of the lower classes.
Preparation Phase: 80 residents were randomly selected through a series of standard interviews given to every control vault to determine admittance to Vault 815, as well as a behavioral analysis and an IQ test. 20 candidates out of said 80 residents who score low in IQ and high in aggression will be chosen to become a part of the “Security Team”. The Security Team will have complete authoritarian control of the vault, and will be tasked with keeping everything in complete order. The candidate that scores highest on aggression will be chosen to be the Overseer, which is now currently a 38 year old Caucasian male named Justin Davis, a veteran recently discharged from Anchorage due to a friendly fire incident involving a deserting soldier. On October 10th 2077, the candidates for the Security Team were brought to Vault 815 for a multi-day orientation. I, under the guise of an anthropologist, told them that in all of our research we found that most vaults would quickly destabilize socially without strict rationing, schedules, and cooperation from the rest of the residents. I was sure to emphasize just how important their jobs were, to give them a sense of urgency in controlling the vault as efficiently as possible.Of course, I used
Each resident was also given a “Security Team’s guide to dissidence, a Vault-Tec How To guide”, which was specially authored to teach the new security team how to prepare against any possible dissatisfaction that comes from the other 60 participants that will be joining the experiment. The guide exaggerates exactly what “dissidence” is, and encourages guards to break up gatherings, to oversee work and “use their own judgment” when deciding how to increase productivity. The Security Team were also shown their rooms, spacious 20x20 square foot rooms with king sized mattresses, all with their own personal showers, bathrooms, refrigeration units, climate control, and mood lighting that can be operated by the residents. All the rooms will be connected the a garden that will be tended by the vault’s Mr. Handy units. A concession stand will be put in the garden that will hand out snacks for the Security Team to enjoy in their off time. The snacks are laced with psycho, and buffout, to increase aggression and alertness
This is in stark contrast to the rest of the vault. The 60 other residents, who will henceforth be known as “Workers” will be divided into 30 rooms, sharing a bunk bed in a 5x10 room, that has enough space for a sink, a toilet, and a small communal desk with 2 chairs. The lights and air conditioning are controlled by a central control panel only accessible to the Security Team. As per the worker schedule, they are allotted 2 hours of personal release time in their own atrium. The atrium is deliberately painted dull, and lifeless, with 7.62x51mm machine gun turrets on full display, constantly aimed at the workers. The overseer’s office will look out to the Atrium, a constant reminder to the workers that they’re always being watched
Justin Davis, the new overseer, was given special orientation involving a personal tour of the vault, all the while we poked and prodded him for questions, massaging his ego, telling him how good of an overseer he was going to be. We applauded his exemplary IQ and showed him falsified documents proclaiming that he was chosen due to his cool collective nature and decisive action. We even congratulated him on “putting down that retreating commie who turned tale at the battle of Anchorage” and admired his bravado. We ended the tour by showing him the armory, which ranged from basic 10mm automatic pistols to advanced riot gear and crowd suppression technology, such as tear gas, and assaultrons designed for incapacitation.
On October 11th 2077, began physical training day. The Security Team were given physical and firearm training by Justin, who was more than happy to begin his role as a leader in the Vault. All things considered, Justin did well. There was an incident at the shooting range where one of the lower ranking Security Team members, Julianne Valdez, was reportedly “Limp Wristing” a 10mm automatic pistol, which caused Justin to verbally berate and physically assault her. Overall, the experiment team is very pleased with the results, and commendations were given to Justin for his strict discipline.
The Security Team was also given time to get to know the facility and get comfortable utilizing our active oppression systems, and were all told that above all else, it was critical that they follow the instructions of the overseer, since they know best. There were a few whispers of ethical concerns, but a short trip into the Security Team’s relaxation spa seemed to quell fears, which coincided with listing penalties for any officer a part of the Security Team who fail to appropriately use their authority to ensure vault productivity. At the end of the 2 day orientation, all 20 subjects were given welcome baskets of various dried meats, canned salted fish, and Nuka Cola. Naturally, Overseer Justin was given a disproportionately large bag compared to the rest of the team, which included champagne.
At this point, the Security Team is oriented, prepared, and eagerly awaiting their luxuries down in Vault 815. The 60 workers who were not given any sort of orientation were mailed postcards, simply letting them know that their place in Vault 815 was ready, and prepared for their future. Everything is green, I am certainly proud of my amazing team for everything going so smoothly. Should the heavens fall, we shall be down below, achieving science. Forwarding the green light status to our local Vault Tec HQ. With how everyone at Headquarters talk, I fear we have barely scraped by on our “deadline”.
This concludes my first terminal entry for the Vault 815 experiment. This is Dr. Wright logging off.

My 2 year old goldendoodle started her second season one week ago. Yesterday, she became very tired and less playful. She also began to smell of fish. It is not her anal glands as she used to have problems with this and I know the difference. The smell is from her vulva. There is no vaginal discharge. The blood is a dark red. The vet has seen her today and is satisfied with the clinical examination and a normal ultrasound scan. Does this 100% rule out pyometra? What is the reason for the fishy smell? She did not smell like this during her first season.
I’m in the UK

My 2 year old goldendoodle started her second season one week ago. Yesterday, she became very tired and less playful. She also began to smell of fish. It is not her anal glands as she used to have problems with this and I know the difference. The smell is from her vulva. There is no vaginal discharge. The blood is a dark red. The vet has seen her today and is satisfied with the clinical examination and a normal ultrasound scan. Does this 100% rule out pyometra? What is the reason for the fishy smell? She did not smell like this during her first season.
I’m in the UK

Crying as I type this, I have been dealing with this ongoing vaginal issue since february. I got diagnosed with Chlamydia got treatment with azithromycin symptoms went away but came back (they were better but still here) i assumed i still had it so I got prescribed more antibiotics same thing happened went into urgent care hoping for answers good thing is chlamydia test is negative she didn’t further inspect just swabbed me and gave me doxy. I am still experiencing burning when I urine, thick white discharge, with dryness, urge to urine, some times pelvic pain, some times it randomly just burns at the opening, all of these symptoms are come and go and now this morning when i wake up there is blood in my urine. I am afraid these medications are damaging my vagina and I am so hopeless because I am not receiving any answers from doctors just money wasted

Hello guys,
If you could PLEASE read my previous posts beforehand that would help you understand my situation (sorry I didn’t succeed to add it in my post, but you can find it easily on my profile).
Now basically, the itching is still there, even if it’s less intense. I’m actually on my period so I think it might increase it, but I’m honestly feeling so desperate. It’s been a month that I’m dealing with hooha issues. I’ve had antibiotics and 2 rounds of econazole vaginal pills (think the equivalent in the US is fluconazole). I’m seeing a gynecologist tomorrow, I know he’s a very good doctor. But I don’t even know what to ask him, besides telling him I feel very itchy internally, not so the vulva, and I still have this heaviness and feeling of discomfort.
Am I gonna be cure one day or am I gonna deal with this forever ? This is annoying and I’m afraid it’s gonna ruin my sex life with my partner at some point (he’s very supportive, but I can imagine it being annoying for him too if it lasts too long).
Could the itching be because of a YI but with not much discharge ? Could it be BV but with no smell at all ? Could it be from the varicose vein that gives me this itchy feeling because of the nerves/blood circulation issue idk ? Thing is, besides the ichynesss i dont have much discharge that could be a clue for something.
I want to precise that my tests came back normal, even the STDs ones, besides a raise on the white blood cells that could indicate an infection but I’ve took a bunch of different antibiotics so it might have induced false negative idk.
Please help 😢
Thanks in advance

Hey! I suspect i have BV and im pregnant… my vagina has been so off the last few months, extreme itching, burning, sousweet smell and a musty smell, yellow and green discharge.. im now 7 weeks pregnant and the snell is so much worse!!! Green discharge… I went and bought an internal Gel (safe for pregnancy) and as soon as i put the dose in my poor kitty is BURNING…… did i just expell a demon?! Is this normal? Should i wash it off???? I have a dr appointment tomorrow.

Hello, I’m new here! I was recently diagnosed with Ureaplasma and let me tell you….its been a journey!! First treatment I was only given 1gram Azitho and that made my symptoms worse (cramping, green discharge that has egg white consistency, burning- burning has stopped) I went to both my gyno &family doctor who know nothing about this bacteria &they both insist I take Levofloxacin…this morning was my first dose and I feel like I’ve already noticed this morning I felt almost drunk/stumbley followed by muscle aches &my vision is foggy &very sensitive to light as the day went on! I honestly don’t know if I just psyching myself into anxiety or if I’m actually have a reaction! I’ve looked this medication up and told my doctor I was terrified to take it but seems like they will not go any other route!!! Idk what to do at this point and I’m honestly scared to continue taking it.

Hi guys can I check, when y'all had your initial discharges and subsequent what colour were they?
I've never been diagnosed, however, have been having discharges that are occasionally green.
Thus I am arranging for a new panel std test tomorrow

Hi!! First time poster here.
I'm pretty familiar with my body and I understand my cycle pretty well to include discharge consistency and odor.
I've noticed over the past couple of days a very foul, sour smelling odor coming from my underwear. The discharge is thick and sticky (to be expected as I'm about 6 days out from starting my cycle).
I've had BV once several years ago after being severely sick and again last NovembeDecember post-shingles - My body tends to be thrown off balance under such high stress situations and/or after having to take meds (which I very rarely ever do unless necessary). And both times it smelled more like fishy ammonia and burnt rubber during sex which has me wondering if this is BV or something else.
To add, I did recently have a skin biopsy done on a mole that is located on my vulva and wonder if either that level of stress has led to this or if the silver nitrate she used on the wound may have came in contact with my vaginal opening?
I've also noticed increased hair loss, my boobs? Mainly nipples, being sore way too early in my cycle, post ovulation, amongst other abnormal physical changes that have occurred this past cycle....and no I'm not pregnant so could this be hormonal? So many questions.
I hate to take Flagyl because I feel it destroys too much good bacteria and sets me up for other gut/flora issues, which could eventually lead to BV again (which I fear may be the case here).
Any idea if this may possibly be CV and not BV? Or something else?
TIA!!

The garage door shut with a groan behind us, closing us in the gloom of the single bulb hanging over the car.
Mother took a drag off her cigarette and sighed as she exhaled, the smoke filled the cabin of the Ford and stung my eyes.
“You really disappointed me today, Julianne," she tapped her cigarette in the ashtray below the dash, "you embarrassed me in front of the other mothers at the Ice Cream Social, shoveling down seconds and thirds like a pig. I thought I raised you better than that.”
She took another drag, daintily holding the cigarette between her perfectly manicured fingers.
“I'm going to have to tell your brother about this," she continued, “he'll have to come up with a punishment fit for a pig."
I felt my stomach drop. My kid brother, Thomas, was only six, but could be exceptionally cruel. Mother seemed to encourage him and was deferring to him more and more frequently for how the house was run, especially concerning my upbringing.
"Mother, please, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you. I'm sorry I was a pig and ate so much ice cream. I promise I won't do it again, I'll never eat any ice cream again," I was pleading with stone, unyielding.
“Hush your mouth. Go to your room and wait for Thomas," she put out the cigarette and got out of the car, I had no choice but to follow.
It felt like walking to the gallows as I stepped inside the house and headed towards the stairs to go to my room. Thomas had grown fond recently of physical punishment, he obviously delighted in Mother whipping me with a belt or, recently, Mother had allowed him to start beating me with a wooden spoon. He would squeal and giggle like a normal child watching bubbles in the wind while I screamed. I was dreading whatever was going to happen tonight, I chastised myself for eating that ice cream, I should have known she would show up. My sins were always laid bare.
Down the hall, I could hear Thomas watching television in the den. I only got to watch TV for half an hour on Saturday morning and new episodes of Happy Days with Mother and Thomas. Thomas got to watch all the TV he wanted. He could listen to the radio and turntable as much as he wanted, as loud as he wanted. Thomas had an entire room just for his toys.
I entered my bedroom, it was a space I occupied, but it didn't feel like mine. Mother kept it spartan, white walls and white bedspread. A crucifix over the bed and a painting of Jesus over the door. I had my desk and chair and a dresser with some of the porcelain dolls Daddy gave me before he died that Mother let me keep. That was it.
I placed my book bag down and sat on my bed, waiting for Thomas. It was a while, sitting there with nothing but my own thoughts and staring at the open door. I felt humiliated, I was almost thirteen and my entire life was dictated by my brother. Mother kept the house in constant lockdown to keep Thomas a secret. No outsiders were allowed in. I couldn't have friends because she was afraid I would mention him or sneak a friend in to gawk at my brother and tease him for being different.
I would never make fun of him, I was terrified of him. Terrified of what he was and what he was becoming.
Eventually I heard his heavy footsteps coming up the stairs and I felt my heart start beating faster and my palms began to sweat. I kneaded my skirt in my hands, trying to calm myself and dry my palms. His slow arrhythmic footsteps came down the hall and I watched him as he entered the room.
I couldn't help but internally recoil at his appearance, even though I'd known him since he was born, I could never adjust to how unnatural he appeared. Thomas had been born at home and had never seen a doctor, but he was obviously unwell.
He was six years old and was barely over two feet tall, but very squat and wide. His skin was thick and gray, the whites of his beady eyes were yellow and his hair was wispy and white like an old man's, spreading out like a halo around his gargoyle face. A slight odor of decomposition hung about him, it reminded me faintly of garbage cans on a hot summer day. I hated when Mother made me help him with a bath, his skin felt like old brittle leather that flaked onto my clothes in gray flecks. His body was dense like concrete, I could barely lift him into the tub. Picking him up forced his hair into my face where that smell of rot would fill my nose, causing me to gag, silently, so as not to offend him and draw any ire from him or Mother.
Today, Thomas was wearing bib overalls with a red and green striped sweater underneath, reminding me of a grotesque doll.
“Mama says you acted like a piggy today at the ice cream social,” he spoke up to me in his unsettlingly high pitched, yet raspy voice, like a child that smoked as much as Mother, "you need to come down for dinner right now for your punishment for embarrassing Mama."
He turned and walked back down the stairs and I had no choice but to follow his toddling form downstairs to the dining table. We entered the kitchen and the table was placed with two settings. Mother was already seated and Thomas clambered up into his booster seat at his normal spot next to Mother. She took a drag off her cigarette and motioned vaguely to the floor without even looking at me.
Neatly situated on the linoleum was my dinner, not on a plate, but directly on the floor. A pork chop, scoop of mashed potatoes, and a small pile of peas. No utensils, either.
Thomas giggled with glee upon seeing my face.
“You have Mama's permission now to eat like a piggy, now. No hands! Piggies just use their face!” He stood up in his chair and reached out for Mother’s ash tray and flung it out over my meal, peppering my dinner with cigarette ash and butts.
"Oops! Piggies don't mind trash though, do they, Mama?” he giggled and the sound filled me with rage.
"No, they don't,” Mother replied coolly while maneuvering her ashtray back in place and carefully putting out her cigarette before saying prayer.
As angry as I was, I got down on my hands and knees and did my best at eating what I could without using my hands. I knew if I refused, it would be far worse. The whole meal, Thomas made pig noises and would reach down and poke me with his fork, making comments about what a fat piggy I was and how he wished he could roast and eat me. I doubted Mother would even object if he actually did kill me and eat me.
Gagging my way through another bite of ashy pork chop, I felt a warm splat over my head and heard Thomas giggling. I reached up and felt he had dumped mashed potatoes into my hair.
Choking down tears, I asked Mother if I could clean the floor and bathe. She rolled her eyes and excused me to clear the table for them as well while she changed Thomas into his pajamas. Picking him up, she walked out of the room and Thomas stuck his putrid little purple tongue out at me before they made it out the kitchen door.
I silently cried while I cleared the table and washed the dinner dishes. Tears splashed down as I mopped up the mess from my food on the floor. I hated how awful Thomas was. I hated how they treated me. Ever since Daddy died and Thomas showed up, I was their punching bag. I missed Daddy so much.
Mother was kinder then, too. She was still severe, but Dad kept her tempered. After he died, there was a change that came over her. I was only six, so I didn't remember her too much from before, but I did remember her gushing on and on when she was pregnant with Thomas. How the baby was a gift from Our Heavenly Father, that it was going to complete our broken family.
My sixth birthday happened right after Daddy died and I remember sitting on the patio crying while the house was full of people after the funeral, normally he would have gotten me a new doll and a chocolate bar, instead I was forgotten. No doll. No chocolate. Just funeral potatoes and a house full of cigarette smoke from the adults.
Nobody remembered. The closest thing I got was my dad's sister, Aunt Judy, sitting next to me on the patio step for a few minutes of comfortable silence before giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. I don't think she knew her brother was memorialized on my birthday. Next year, Thomas was born the day before my birthday, so it was completely eclipsed as Mother had just birthed her new love into the world…
I stopped mid mop as a lightbulb finally went off. I had never put much thought into the dates before.
Thomas was born a full year after Daddy died. He couldn't be his dad. Who was Thomas’ actual father?
Washing mashed potatoes out of my hair that evening, I ran over and over the timeline. No matter how I parsed it out, Thomas was only my half brother. Going to bed that night, I kept myself awake, going over and over again to make sure. I couldn't remember any men being around at that time, but that didn't mean much. Adults can easily hide things from children. Tension began throbbing through my head and I felt queasy. Mother had always known all of my secrets, able to sniff them out like a bloodhound out or using Thomas to spy. Now I had one of Mother's secrets and I didn't know what to do with it.
First I wanted to confirm it, but it would mean snooping, which was difficult in a house that was rarely left empty. I would have to try finding Mother's calendar book or journal to see if she mentioned any dates or men.
But when could I attempt such a daring maneuver? Thomas hardly left the house. As proud as Mother was of him, she was very cognizant and protective of his differences and didn't want to draw attention to herself or Thomas like that. Mother herself had few social engagements throughout the week and mostly stayed home to watch her golden child.
I finally decided I would take the risk and fake sick on Tuesday, grocery day, so I could stay home from school while she went shopping. All Thomas did all day was watch TV downstairs, so that should give me about an hour to look through her room for clues. I decided to tuck my head down, try to behave as best as I could to avoid their wrath, and wait for Tuesday.
That weekend limped along agonizingly slow. Thomas was in a fine mood and was constantly seeking out a reason to poke me, punch me, slap me… he'd laugh while calling me a piggy with his off-putting wide mouth. I tried to mostly stay in my room and it seemed like neither of them cared.
School on Monday was a relief, but my anxiety ramped up. The consequences would be dire if Mother caught on that I was faking sick to stay home. I didn't even want to imagine how off the leash she'd let my half-brother become in his punishment for that level of insubordination.
I stayed up all night, my stomach was in knots, but I was committed to my plan. Throughout the night, I screamed as hard as I could into my pillow. Screamed until my throat was raw and I could barely talk. It felt cathartic in a way. When it was close to school time, I put on my heaviest flannel pajamas and began doing jumping jacks until my face was flushed and my scalp was soaked with sweat.
Looking in the bathroom mirror before heading down to talk to Mother, I thought I looked pretty convincing, my skin was flushed and sweaty, my eyes had circles under them from lack of sleep, and my voice croaked like a frog.
Heading downstairs, Mother was already feeding Thomas breakfast. I hesitantly stepped into the kitchen and stood there awkwardly for a second, pawing with my pajamas to keep my nerves steady until she noticed my presence and looked up.
“Why aren't you dressed, Julianne?"
"I don't feel well. My throat hurts and my tummy hurts.” My voice graveled out more than I was expecting, I really had hurt my throat.
She strode over to me and placed a cool hand on my sweaty brow.
"You do feel warm. Take an aspirin from the medicine cabinet and go lay back down. I'll check on you later," with that she turned back and walked over to Thomas, who was frozen in place, glaring at me over a forkful of scrambled eggs. The sharp glint of malice in his beady eyes made me shiver before I shuffled out of the kitchen.
I laid in bed, trying my best to look miserable until I eventually heard the faint sound of the television playing in the den as Thomas settled in for his normal daytime routine and the garage door opened as Mother headed to the grocery store. I bounded out of bed and watched the car back out of our driveway and head up the street.
My heart began to pound as I tiptoed down the hall to Mother's bedroom, a place I rarely even caught a glimpse of, let alone entered. I very slowly opened the door, taking great care to not make any noise to alert Thomas downstairs that I was out of bed.
Creeping into the butter yellow room, I could feel my heartbeat pounding in my skull, this was the naughtiest thing I had ever done by far. I stepped onto the rug to help disguise my footsteps and slowly made my way past the brass bed and towards her desk. My hands shook as I opened the top drawer, I pawed through rapidly and found nothing. I checked the next drawer down and again found nothing of interest, just stationary and envelopes.
Finally, the bottom drawer was what I was looking for, a stack of journals from the past decade. I flipped through, trying to find entries relevant to when Daddy died and who Mother slept with afterwards.
I've never fully recovered from what I read.
July 6, 1968
Edgar died today. Car accident. I cannot believe this is real. My light, my life, my anchor... Dr. Benson gave me a sedative at the hospital and I feel so tired. So very, very tired. Why has my Lord forsaken me so?
July 9, 1968
I feel like I am in a very bad dream, I feel numb and disconnected. All the consolation and pity from everyone makes me feel sick. After the memorial, it took everything in me to not break dishes and to scream at everyone to get out of my house. Julianne was moping about crying and I wanted to throw her out, too.
If I hadn't seen my dear Edgar's body in the hospital and held his urn in my own hands, I wouldn't believe he was really gone. I still don't entirely believe it.
I have prayed to God every night asking him to show me why he took my husband from me and I have gotten no answer.
I skimmed over the next few months, as it was more or less similar sentiments repeated night after night. I finally got to an entry that caught my eye.
September 17, 1968
My battle with my faith has been fraught the past few months, but Hallelujah! I feel I can see the Lord again in all his glory and might, for he has given me a way to reconnect to my Edgar!
I was thinking about the night Julianne was born, right in this very home, it was a difficult birth and she struggled to breathe at first. Ingrid, my midwife, made a comment to me that if the baby had failed to wake up on her own, that Ingrid had ways to make sure she would have made it.
I remember asking if it was a medical methodology and she made it clear to me that in certain circumstances, it was a mystical property she used to bring the air of life into a struggling baby's lungs. She gently alluded to being a practicing member of the dark arts. At the time, I felt quite scandalized to have someone like that in my God fearing home. Now I see her as the answer to my prayers! My angel!
On a whim, I called her and asked if she still practiced such techniques. She hesitantly confirmed that she did. I asked, if she could turn breath into the lungs of a child without, could she turn breath into a child that did not exist? Could she magick into existence another child of my beloved Edgar? She told me she had to do some research and she'd be back in touch.
Ingrid just called back after a few hours and said there was a spell she found, but it was dangerous and might have unpleasant results. I said, yes, of course! I trust my Lord and I believe he sent this woman of blessed magick to me for this purpose.
She says we will have to do it soon, in a few days during the new moon. She has a potion to brew, but it is happening! Praise God!
September 23, 1968
The ceremony was last night, and Ingrid believes it was a success, but we will have to wait. It did not take long, only an hour or two. Ingrid lit my bedroom with many beeswax candles and she had me drink a thick and bitter tea that caused me to become quite relaxed and foggy.
From my inner thigh, she cut me and collected my blood in a chalice, with which she mixed quite a lot of Edgar's ashes and other ingredients which I could not glean from my supine position and groggy wits. Ingrid began to chant, calling upon a higher power, as I pleaded with my Lord to let this work. To give me any piece of my Edgar back. She came to the bed and worked the paste between my legs into my womanly chamber, which was very uncomfortable, but manageable with the numbing effects of the tea.
She continued to sit with me and chant, her hand placed over my womb, until she decided at which time it was complete. She left and I fell into a deep sleep. When I woke up this morning, I felt quite uncomfortable, my body ached and when I used the restroom, a yellow fluid like pus poured out of me, but no sign of any ashes or blood, which gives me hope it was absorbed into my womb.
November 3, 1968
Praise be to our Lord, Ingrid just confirmed for me that I am with child, I had been hoping so, I had not gotten my cycle in October, but I wasn't sure if that was because of the discharge like pus that was still coming. She told me that was common with this spell and a side effect that would stop after the baby came.
I feel like I am floating on air, for the first time since Edgar left, I feel-
I suddenly became very aware of the feeling of eyes on the back of my head. I had become too engrossed in what was written before me and I had lost track of my surroundings. Very slowly, I turned around and my heart began pounding again as I saw Thomas standing in the doorway holding his wooden spoon in one hand. How had I not heard him?
He pointed at me with his empty hand and screamed, just a pure guttural screech from somewhere deep inside his disgusting little body. He charged at me from across the room, his horrible feet thumping solidly along the rug. He began beating my legs ruthlessly with the spoon, causing my legs to buckle. I crashed down to my knees in front of him, and he began lashing at my face, pulling my hair with one hand while wailing away at my head with the spoon.
I had dropped the journal I was holding and was desperately trying to get a hand on the spoon or push him away. All I could hear was him screaming. My arms flailed and I reached around on Mother's desk and grabbed onto the first thing I found and sank it into Thomas’ neck.
The end of Mother's gold letter opener protruded under his jaw. He went silent and he looked at me with utter shock. He dropped the spoon and collapsed on the ground, clutching at his neck as his thick black blood oozed out from his wound, letting out a stupendous odor of rot that filled the room. He didn't really say anything or make any noise. He just twitched for a moment and I saw his eyes glaze over.
In shock, I stood over his little body for a moment and I watched as he seemed to mummify in just a few minutes, like an ash person from Pompeii dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt. Even his blood that looked like shiny oil a second ago became like potting soil on Mother's rug. Reaching out to touch his hand, it crumbled away like sand.
Panic ran through me like a rabbit caught in a snare. Not knowing what to do, I ran. I ran down the hall, changed my clothes, put an extra change of clothes in my backpack and the last doll Daddy had ever given me and I ran. Mother would absolutely never forgive me and I was genuinely afraid she would kill me in retaliation for taking her beloved Thomas away from her. Her precious gift from God. My feet flew over the pavement and took me away from that house.
I called my Aunt Judy from a payphone outside the five & dime, and told her Mother had kicked me out and asked if I could stay with her. She had always had a strained relationship with my mother and it didn't take much convincing that she had kicked out her “only” child. Only Mother, Ingrid, and I ever knew about Thomas.
She gave me a home and took care of me. She never beat me or humiliated me. Even with her love, I was far from okay. For years I would close my eyes and hear Thomas scream, then the sudden silence. I'd see him fumbling at his neck and turning to ash. But I would also remember all the ways he would hurt me and how bad he was becoming. I could never talk to anyone about it, especially not the silent relief I felt I refused to admit to myself. Over time, however, Thomas' screams became a whisper and his silence faded into dust in my mind.
I moved on with my life. I went to college and became a photojournalist, getting to travel the world and watch history unfold. By choice, I never married, but was quite blessed with many beautiful friendships for companionship over the decades. I found balance in my life and a sense of happiness, if not peace. I never could quite stomach mashed potatoes again, though, they always taste ashy to me.
Mother never made any attempts to reach out to me or find me, at least that I'm aware of. Ten years ago, I was contacted by a hospital and they said my mother had been admitted earlier after falling and was about to pass, so she must have kept some tabs on me to know my phone number for her emergency contacts. Apparently she had collapsed in the driveway and a neighbor called an ambulance. I got there and her only words to me were, “take care of him," as she placed a locket in my hand. I opened the locket, Jesus was on one side, Thomas on the other. I didn't say anything to her, just held her frail old hand with nicotine stained nails until she passed in the night. My mother was gone and I felt nothing except a vague sense of relief.
When I got to her house, it was like a time capsule. Other than a newer television, it was just like it was when I'd fled so many years ago. The smell of tobacco smoke hung like incense in the air. It felt oppressive, like a tomb.
I wandered the house in a bit of a daze. The one place I didn't want to go was upstairs. I didn't want to see my old room, or Thomas' room, or Mother's. Putting it off, I went to fix myself some supper, realizing I hadn't eaten in almost a day. I took a pause when I opened the fridge and saw a baby bottle on a shelf. Silently praying she had been babysitting for a neighbor, I fixed myself some toast with sardines and sat eating in the den watching TV. It had been almost forty years and it still felt rebellious not eating at the table and watching TV without permission.
My eyes grew heavy and I finally mustered up the gumption to head upstairs to go to bed. The stairs creaked in a familiar way under my feet and I was taken back to the feeling of dread hearing either Mother or Thomas climbing up. My old room was at the top of the stairs, I saw the door was nailed shut and had rambling quotes about Judas copied from the Bible in my mother's handwriting taped to the door. I sighed gently and turned from the door to head down the hallway, deciding Mother's room was probably the best place to sleep.
I passed by Thomas’ toy room and I heard a murmur from the room. I stopped, curiosity got the best of me and I entered. In Thomas' old toy room was a crib with joyful clown sheets. Dread swelled up inside me as I heard more murmurs and saw the sheets move. Approaching slowly, I peaked under the sheet and gasped.
Tucked inside was what looked like a baby gargoyle, gray and papery looking. Pus leaked out of its milky, bulbous eyes. I pulled back the blanket and saw it had no legs and its arms bent back, like wings on a bird. It was wearing just a cloth diaper, overflowing with tarry looking stool that took my breath away with its pungency, it smelled like Thomas’ blood, but somehow worse. My heart broke for this poor creature, Lord only knows how many years it has been in this crib suffering from its unholy existence.
So this is who Mother had wanted me to take care of…
Not knowing what else to do, I gently scooped him up. Like Thomas, he was shockingly heavy for how small his body was. Placing him on the changing table, I cleaned him and rewrapped his bottom in a clean diaper cloth. It was difficult, he fussed tremendously, crying and flopping around as much as his flipper-like arms would allow. I tried wiping off his oozing eyes and he snapped his mouth, which I saw was full of disturbingly square yellow teeth, trying to bite me. I carried him to the kitchen and rocked him while I heated up his bottle and he became furious with me, almost barking like a dog when my hand would get near his face.
He settled a bit as he fed, but he would still sometimes suddenly spit out the bottle and attempt to bite me. I laid him back in his crib, this abomination in a clown sheet, and I walked down the hall to Mother's room letting out a long sigh.
Combing through my mother's journals in the early hours of the morning, it looked like she tried the ceremony again shortly after Thomas died, but she either lacked Ingrid’s help or didn't have enough of my father's ashes left. Something went terribly wrong. She was vaguer than she had been about Thomas’ conception, but I suspect she had used some of Thomas' remains. The resulting birth she named Isaac.
Mother's journals told a sad tale of her and Isaac's suffering. She never mentioned me, but lamented the loss of Thomas and Dad relentlessly. She was hyper protective of Isaac, as that was all she had left. If her world had been small before, it became microscopic after he entered her life, requiring nearly constant care. According to Mother, he was blind and colicky, sometimes going years at a time without sleeping through the night. She had breast fed him for years, but she had to stop after he grew teeth and began biting her intentionally and feeding on her blood.
I spent a lot of time over the next few days pondering what to do. I had to get her estate in order, she had left me the house, in an obvious attempt to get me to continue caretaking for Isaac, but I didn't want it. I had my own cozy home an hour away from here, filled with happy memories and my possessions acquired traveling the world. Mother's home had a heavy energy I couldn't shake. Her and Thomas were both gone, but the memories of the scoldings and beatings hung in every corner, like cobwebs that would never sweep away.
So, I fed Isaac and kept him clean and tried to keep him company, although he seemed to hate me passionately. I took care of him, all the while thinking about what I was going to do. After a week, I felt resolute in what had to be done.
Gathering up all of Mother's journals in a tote, I made my way to Isaac and picked him up and carried everything to the living room.
The ancient logs in the fireplace meant for display ignited instantly. One by one, I fed the journals into the fire, burning away years of my mother's consuming sorrow. Isaac fussed and moaned next to me the entire time. When the last pages shimmered away into lacy ash, I took a throw pillow off the couch and gently cradled Isaac in my other arm. It didn't take long before he stopped struggling and I felt his little body relax after decades of suffering.
I gently wrapped up a bundle in a clown sheet and placed it in the fire. It burned furiously, like the paper in my mother's journals, and was soon gone. Nothing but ashes and embers.
“Don't worry, Mother,” I said purely for my own sake, "I took care of Isaac for you."
And finally, I felt at peace.

Before I start, I don’t have any malicious intentions towards my stepmom despite of everything but I feel conflicted on what decisions I should make.
My (19F) stepmom (32F) came into my life around 3 years ago. However, she and my dad had been acquainted for a few years prior. My first impression of her was her attempts to home-wreck my dad’s previous relationship with my sister’s mother, this happened on a trip we all made to our home country back in 2019, from that moment I had the feeling she would be bad news. Fast forward a few months, my dad broke things off with his previous wife for unrelated reasons, and as a way to grieve the relationship he was taking many trips to our country, spending astronomical amounts of money, buying cars, building houses, and overall was a financial mess, nonetheless he had a lot of women trying to be with him due to his “money”. Stepmom was aware of this and started pursuing my dad as well. She is a beautiful woman and if we combine that with the fact my dad’s ex-wife had just announced she was pregnant and married someone else, he was making even horrible decisions.
Two weeks into my dad’s and stepmom’s relationship she decided to propose to him and unexpectedly quit her job and made my dad buy her a flight to come back to the states with him. I was 16 and felt heartbroken that my dad took so many life changing decisions without speaking with me first, regardless of this I tried my hardest to make her feel comfortable since from my POV she could make my dad happy again. Fast forward a few days, we found out she was pregnant, although she only had a visitor’s visa she was making all of her doctor’s appointments here and we found out how far along she was. My baby sister was born and I wasn’t home the day of their discharge from the hospital because I had school in the morning and my friend who has lost her dad the day prior asked me to be there for her. This lady threw a whole tantrum at her old age, she was complaining to my dad telling him i’m a horrible person, she would ignore me in the house every time she saw me and would even go as far as telling me to not hold her baby. I’m the type of person who likes to avoid confrontation with those I live with simply to maintain the peace in the household, so I just ignored her antics.
From that moment on, I stopped trying to please her and our relationship became strictly common pleasantries but I noticed she would only do that whenever my dad was around, otherwise I would go back to being ignored in every sense of the word. I became uncomfortable in my own home so I would rarely go out of my room and I started eating at school or at work. She was a stay at home mom and was in charge of all the chores aside from anything related to me such as my room, my laundry, and things of the sort. This absolutely was a problem for her and began complaining once again that I don’t help her around the house and that as a woman it was my responsibility to help with all of the chores. I get that being a new mom can be stressful, but the baby spent Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm at daycare, and I was a full time high school student with a full time job, I was rarely ever in the house and her demands were pretty unreasonable. After that we became kind of like two roommates who disliked each other, and yet I never mentioned anything to my dad for the sake of his newfound happiness.
I even went as far as to offer her a job at my current company so she could have something to do besides being at home all day long, she only worked like 15hrs a week and would be incredibly demanding, expressing her frustration when she wouldn’t get the easy positions, my coworkers would complain that she would turn a blind eye every time it was her turn to pay gas for the shared rides, and my boss told me she was walking around telling everyone she was only with my dad for papers and that she would leave him the moment she got her way.
Fast-forward 2 months before my baby sister turned 2 years old, my dad found her having an affair with her ex-fiancé, throughout the whole argument my dad was restlessly screaming at her for answers and she remained stone cold, not one tear or sign of remorse. I was the only one crying over the situation. She made the decision to call her affair partner in front of my dad and asked him to pick her up, the guy told her he would call her in minute and proceeded to block her everywhere. My dad was the sole provider therefore he confiscated her phone and threw all of her clothes on the front yard. Going through her phone he found out that she made arrangements to stay with an aunt in NY for a few days, so he gave it back and told her to go on her merry way.
One week after she left my dad received a call from his mother in law begging him to pick my stepmom and sister up and to allow them to come back home since they were uncomfortable with their living situation, and so he did. She only stayed for maybe 2 days before they returned to NY. At this point, she had spent all of her savings in Ubers and was asking her mom for money since she couldn’t ask my dad anymore.
As I stablished before the girl cannot keep her mouth shut. One time she was scheduled to work with my best friend from school, I had also brought him to work with me, she began to ran her mouth telling him that I was disgusting and that I didn’t help her around the house, and many more mean things. The moment she got dropped off home he called and told me everything, this was my last straw. I gave my dad the ultimatum that either she leaves or I would and he told me that he cannot simply throw her out of the house… So I packed my bags and left to stay with my cousin who lives a few houses down. I stayed there for about two weeks until I felt guilty about making my dad worry, especially since he is diabetic and cannot be put under too much stress. I came back home and the next day I noticed both my baby sister’s and stepmom’s toothbrushes were missing and I just assumed she left again. My dad told me she left for NY for a third time but there was no communication for like 2 whole days until a friend of hers called saying she and the baby were there in Atlanta and was asking what was going on. Apparently my stepmom had been telling everyone that my dad and her got separated because he was being abusive to her. My best guess is that she was only coming back and forward to gather any type of evidence she could, but at the end of the day my dad never laid a finger on her, he only ever talked to her aggressively when he found out about her affair.
I honestly thought this was the last we would hear from her but today in my dad’s and hers shared back account he noticed a transaction of immigration fees and lawyers made by her. He is trying to expedite the divorce proceedings because he doesn’t want her using his name to get her green card but our city is incredibly busy and these sort of processes take their time. When he mentioned this to me I brought to his attention that she might be going for the VAWA method by telling immigration authorities she was a victim of abuse. However, that leaves my dad standing as an abuser and we don’t want that either.
My dad is one of the kindest souls ever, he fought for me when I was being physically and mentally abused by my mom, he sends money to our family back home (which is something that bothered her as well), he refused to press charges when she basically kidnapped my baby sister, he refuses to call ICE on her for marriage fraud. I don’t think he deserves this, and I’m no authority on who gets to stay in this country and who doesn’t but I don’t want her to stay her by painting my dad as this abuser he isn’t.
PN: There has been doubt on my baby sister’s legitimacy as my dad’s daughter. My dad confided in me that he was not sure the dates matched up. Later, I found the instagram of my stepmom’s affair partner and I discovered that he was in our home country at the same time as my dad. Also the baby has none of my dad’s features but share eerily similar traits to the affair partner and his kids. I won’t confirm or deny anything since she is an innocent baby in all of this chaos and I love her with all of my heart.
Should I contact immigration services and tell them my side of the story before she discredits my dad?