Hcg pharmecuetical and gorge

I'm by no means a medical professional but I did a lot of online research, Reddit thread reading, and got some great tips from my clinic. I wanted to collect the best info in one easy place because this subreddit has been a huge resource to me during this process and I wanted to contribute where I could. Please add any more tips you have in the comments!
Chances of getting OHSS

• Officially, around 20-35% of IVF cycles result in mild OHSS and only 3-6% result in moderate OHSS. Although all IVF cycles overstimulate the ovaries to some extent.
• Risk factors include: age under 35, low body weight, large number of follicles, high levels of estrogen, PCOS, previous episodes of OHSS, HCG trigger shot.
• Remember that it's a syndrome which is a collection of symptoms (you may only get some of the symptoms), and it's temporary.
• The general consensus is that most symptoms of mild to moderate OHSS should go away once you get your period (usually within a week or two of retrieval), however it can last for a few weeks longer in more severe cases.

My experience:

• I was fine up until egg retrieval day, but I got what I would consider moderate OHSS immediately after egg-retrieval day. I was super bloated and my belly was so distended that I looked 6 months pregnant. It was difficult to put on socks, walking was harder, I couldn't take very deep breaths and I would get tired easily. It wasn't super painful, it was more so just super uncomfortable to feel so bloated all the time (imagine the feeling after you've gorged yourself at an all-you-can-eat buffet lasting for several days). I would go so far as to say that the discomfort of OHSS overshadowed any internal pain I may have had from the procedure which was actually very nice considering.
• Post-retrieval my doctor gave me 2 extra shots of Orgalutron aka Ganirelix (administered while I was still high and I couldn't have cared less) as well as a week's worth of Letrozole tablets and Dostinex aka Cabergoline suppositories to take on my own at home. If you're concerned about suppositories post-procedure, know that Cabergoline is TINY (half the size of a TicTac).
• I also went into the clinic the day after my egg retrieval for an ultrasound to see if I had any fluid retention. This was an external ultrasound done on my belly (got to keep my pants on for once). They saw lots of fluid and told me to keep eating salt.
• The first few days were the hardest. On day four post-retrieval I remember feeling like this would never go away and I had to accept my new life as a human balloon animal. But on day six, I finally saw a noticeable difference (I only looked 3 months pregnant), and felt a lot better energy and comfort-wise, pretty much overnight. It kept getting better each day after that.
• All symptoms fully resolved when I got my period, which was nine days post-retrieval for me.

When to seek medical help:

• More severe symptoms include: fever (temperature over 100.5F/38C), hallucinations, severe abdominal pain that doesn't respond to Tylenol, persistent nausea and vomiting, difficulty breathing, rapid weight gain (more than 2 pounds per day), inability to urinate, and some Redditors said they experienced shoulder pain.
• Severe cases of OHSS happen in less than 1% of IVF cases.
• If you're experiencing severe symptoms, contact your doctor. Redditors recommended reaching out to the fertility clinic (most have an after-hours number if needed) rather than just going to the ER because many hospitals aren't super familiar with how to handle an IVF-related case.
• Treatment - your doctor may recommend paracentesis, which involves draining the fluid with a needle. I heard the procedure is very similar to the egg retrieval setup, but if anyone has experience with this, please share. It's not always the go-to solution because the fluid can come back, but several Redditors said it provided instant relief.

Okay on to the tips!
High Salt, High Protein

• Yes, it feels very counterintuitive, but you want to avoid water and eat as much salt as you can. Don't mess around, you really want to commit to this lifestyle. You're dehydrated because fluid is leaking from your blood vessels into your belly. Protein (medically referred to as albumin) can help fix fluid leaks in the body and electrolytes can help you replenish the vital nutrients you're missing from dehydration. Also, OHSS can take a toll on your kidneys, so lots of fluid is key in supporting this organ.
• I was drinking around 2.5 sugar-free Gatorades each day (the white and blue ones were my favorite). It doesn't have to be Gatorade specifically, but you want to be constantly sipping on electrolytes so that you're constantly peeing. The more you pee, the more fluid you're flushing out.
• To boost my protein, I would have 1-2 Ensures every day (chocolate flavor of course).
• Alternatives to Gatorade: There are many electrolyte options out there including Pedialyte, Nuun, Liquid I.V. and some Redditors encouraged looking up recipes for Ketorade as a DIY option. The focus is on replenishing your body with fluid, salt, and electrolytes. Sugar content isn't helpful. When I got tired of sweet flavors, V8 on ice was a refreshing change of pace.
• Now is the time to indulge in all your fave salty snacks and high-sodium meals. For me, Michelina's and Miss Vickie's were my best friends, but you can also eat veggies with lots of salty seasoning (lemon pepper salt is so good on green beans).
• Other foods to try: sushi with tons of soy sauce, Uncle Ben's flavored instant rice, pho, ramen, salted nuts, canned soups or broth, olives, pickles, smoked salmon, processed meats like salami, cheeses like feta and aged cheddar, fried chicken, beef jerky and of course, eggs (gotta re-up). I loved making a fun grazing board of some of the above.
• If you're having a hard time staying regular, use whatever stool softener you prefer, and consuming fiber, fruits, and veg should help too.

Avoid

• Avoid plain water. I'm a water lover so I found this super hard, but find your favorite flavor and sip electrolytes like it's your job so you never feel thirsty. If you have to dilute with water, that's fine but you really need the electrolytes to keep your body hydrated right now.
• I thought coconut water was a smart move at first (Thirsty Buddah is my preference), but in reality, it's not too far off from water and doesn't have nearly the amount of salt and electrolytes you need to be consuming.
• Avoid sweets and carbs. Yes, we're indulging in our fave savory foods, but you don't want to consume a ton of sugar and bread right now. Maybe have some super salty crackers (I found Veggie Thins had the highest salt content) to go with that salty charcuterie board, but otherwise, you want to avoid plain carbs that will only add to the bloat.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol because they can exacerbate dehydration.
• Avoid diuretics03537-1/pdf). While the goal is to pee a lot, diuretics will only make you more dehydrated.
• Avoid anti-inflammatory painkillers. Stick to Tylenol (extra strength if you need it) and avoid Advil etc. because it can have a harmful effect on your kidneys which may need extra support during this time.

Non-Food Related Tips

• Try some low-key movement. I was pretty sedentary the first few days, but I saw huge progress the day I decided to go for a short walk. Keep the movement as chill as possible (no yoga, jumping, or running) because your ovaries are still huge and are more susceptible to ovarian torsion. Slow, short walks are ideal. You can even just walk around your home if you don't feel like going outside. It also helps with seeing how much better you're feeling when you realize you can walk for a bit longer each day.
• Check your urine. Are you going often enough? Is it too dark? You want super light and diluted urine so keep drinking those electrolytes. Aim to pee once an hour, although I definitely didn't end up peeing this often.
• Elevate your feet. Not only does it feel nice, but it also helps prevent the small risk of thrombosis03537-1/pdf) (aka blood clots) that can come with the dehydration and bloating of OHSS.
• Use body pillows. If you have a pregnancy pillow, you might want to use it. I used a four-pillow system where, in addition to my usual head pillow, I had one in between my legs, one in front of me to support my distended belly, and one behind me to support my back. Stuffed animals work too.
• Get a heating pad. This just felt really nice on my belly/abdomen area. Not sure if it actually helped with fluid retention but it was very comforting. Don't use heating pads if you have eggs or embryos inside you. I only used a heating pad post-retrieval and I didn't do a fresh transfer.
• I also saw suggestions for weighing yourself and measuring your belly each day to watch for progress.
• Take it easy on yourself. Beyond the strain IVF can have on your body and mind, you're going through a big hormone crash right now which can cause (in some cases) depression, an increase in anxiety, and an overall feeling of weakness in the body. I personally experienced heightened levels of anxiety more than anything but crying also occurred.

More Unusual Suggestions (take these as you will)

• DO NOT MASTURBATE. This isn't OHSS-specific, more of a general tip for the week after egg retrieval. We're obviously not having any intercourse or putting any toys up there post-procedure, but a couple of Redditors said that after pleasuring themselves externally, they had the most intense abdominal pain that lasted 15-20 minutes and included fever-like symptoms.
• Try belly breathing. A good way to relax and increase blood flow.
• Consider acupuncture. I personally didn't want to volunteer myself for more needles but a friend of mine (who had mild OHSS pre-retrieval) said acupuncture helped her a lot throughout her IVF journey. I would recommend seeking someone who has direct experience with fertility patients.

Hiding it in public

• Please never feel ashamed about your fertility journey or your body. You just went through an incredible feat of science and our bodies do so many incredible things for us. That said, it's fully understandable if you don't want people at work asking questions about your bloated belly and funny walk (I waddled like a penguin because my belly was just so stiff and heavy).
• Other than loose tops/sweatshirts, wearing a basic knee brace from the drugstore can be a great red herring. This was a happy accident I discovered because my knee was genuinely acting up. People thought I was hobbling around because of some sports-related injury (truly laughable) and it distracted them from noticing anything else "off" about me. It also explained why I was getting winded so easily and made people on public transportation a lot nicer. Overall, great life hack.

Again, I'm not a medical professional, so consult with your doctor and, if you have any additional tips and tricks, please share!

the queens enter the workroom after the top two lipsync
May: Congratulations Moxie!
Lisbon: Yeah, really happy for you.
Moxie: I'm sorry!!
May CF: I was really hoping that last week would be my moment. I felt like it could've been. Some might even say...should've been. My friendship with Moxie though really paid off because being blocked from a possible win would be a nightmare.
Jords: What was the motivation behind blocking Lisbon?
Moxie: I'm a big fan of Lisbon, she knows that. I loved her work on Season One. And her momentum has been rising this time around and I can see her striking gold this week.
Lisbon: Thank you. I can't say I'm happy to be blocked but I do feel better knowing your reasoning.
Moxie: And I hope you know it was nothing personal. You don't seem like the type to take it that way but it totally came from a place of respect.
Ebony: Chrono, care to share who you would've blocked?
Chrono: Hmm. I don't want to be messy but I'll just be up front and say I also would've chosen Lisbon.
Lisbon: Work.
Chrono: For the same reasons as Moxie has already said. Lisbon is on an upward trajectory and I couldn't look past that.
Chrono CF: Taking the shot at Lisbon was the right move. I don't trust her as far as I can throw her. And do you see these arms? They can't throw very far. I have no doubt she'll come for me when given the chance.
Lisbon: I'm a forgiving person. One to forget? Maybe not. But when I return the favor, just don't take it personally.
The Next Day
the queens enter the workroom with interlocked arms
Ebony CF: It's a new dawn, a new day, and I miss the top. He hasn't talked to me in awhile and I've gotten lonely. His name was Alfred. He was an intense but gentle lover. Some say he passed away. Nobody says that but I thought about it one time. I miss you baby, hope you're watching.
Nikky: Girls. I want to tell you something. I know how hard this has been. And it's been emotional for me too. But no matter how much prettier I am than you, I'm still the same girl you love.
May: Define love.
Jords: That's very sweet of you Nikky. A queen for the people.
Nikky: First winner to also be Miss Congeniality? I would like to see it.
Tiwa: You have my vote!
Nikky: Well yes.
Tiwa: I'm really glad we had another chance to do this together. It's been the time of my life.
Tiwa CF: Having Nikky here with me is such a good feeling. Being with her until the very end would be amazing. The girls are girling their way to the finale!
May: Nikky being here definitely made this unforgettable. In so many ways.
Nikky: Mhm stay mad.
May CF: There's only one queen here that I want out right now. Nikky is someone who I've always clashed with, even before coming here. She is consistently pushing the limit and being shady for the purpose of being shady. I came here to play a fair game and I think other queens feel the same. But as long as Nikky's here, I'll be on edge.
the door swings open and Micro enters the workroom
Micro: Well hey there! Now before we get started, I have to say something.
Ebony: Did somebody else quit?
Micro: Don't beat me to the punchline of my own joke!
Ebony: Sorry, sorry. We'll pretend I didn't say anything.
Micro: Whatever, moving on! There's a cause that is near and dear to my heart. World domination. And since so many people think I made up Micronesia, I felt inspired! For your next challenge, each of you will be creating your very own country. Design a flag and tell us all about what we could expect. And it better be vacation friendly because mama needs to go to the beach. On the runway, serve up some "Beach Day Realness". Good luck!
Nikky and Tiwa go over to the couches and talk about the challenge
Tiwa: How do you feel about this?
Nikky: Honestly, I feel like shit about it. I hate this challenge.
Tiwa: Why?! This challenge is so you.
Nikky: I can't think of anything that is good. I just go back to big booty island.
Tiwa CF: blinks Big booty island? Oh no baby, let's not.
Tiwa: So how can we take that idea and maybe change it to be not like that.
Nikky: Tiwaaaa.
Tiwa: Nobody can do your style of humor like you can. Where would you want to go on a holiday?
Nikky: Miami.
Tiwa: And why?
Nikky: To show everyone what a good BBL looks like.
Tiwa: Maybe an island of botched BBLs?
Nikky: Exactly. Something I'm passionate about. Thank you doll, love ya.
Tiwa: Anytime!
Tiwa CF: This would usually be when I share my idea of what to do but based on all that, I don't know if Nikky's feedback is the best move. I'm sorry!
Ebony, May, and Skylar talk by the mirrors
May: At this point, I'm desperate. So can I just get advice on what to do to not fall in the bottom?
Ebony: Can I be brutally honest?
May: Please.
Ebony: You have to take risks. Playing it safe on the runway and predictable in the challenges won't get you a win. And don't take it as me being harsh. I just know you have what it takes.
May: No, I needed to hear that.
Skylar: Lisbon getting blocked rubs me the wrong way. But I know it could've been me.
May: I don't think you need to worry about that.
Ebony CF: Skylar. Hmm. Here's the issue for me. I think she sees herself doing better than what is actually being done. It's giving Shea. And she absolutely needed to be worried about being blocked. I was doing all I could to get Moxie to block her. I don't think she knows her true position here. But that's none of my business.
Ebony: Whether you were close or not, what matters is that you didn't get blocked.
Skylar: Bummer, right?
Skylar CF: Ebony is not as slick as she thinks. Moxie told me right away that Ebony was trying to get me blocked. That's the power of having solid friendships here. Sorry that she doesn't know what that feels like. Must be hard.
Lisbon and Jords steam their garments and chat
Jords: I do find myself being a little impatient for a win. I keep giving it everything I have and it comes up short.
Lisbon: You know I'm here for you. We came into this thing together and I want to make it far with you.
Jords: Same to you. I got your back.
Lisbon: Thanks!
Lisbon CF: I consider Jords to be a close friend of mine. But in terms of allies, I don't know if it makes sense. There's only so much I can do to save her and she hasn't had the chance yet to stick her neck out for me. When her time comes, it'll be sad to see but I need to make sure I'm set up to make it to the end.
Countries
Micro is standing in a boardroom, with each flag hung on the wall. She has on a bedazzled lab coat for literally no reason at all
Micro: We are coming at you live from the United Nations where we have nine businesswomen proposing a new country. From drag queen to actual queen!
Chrono: Blood Island
Ebony: Chocolate Starfish Island
Jords: Ew Micro Island
Lisbon: Clitopia
May: Bryttaneighland
Moxie: Island Nation of Ostrov
Nikky: BBL Island
Skylar: Lovelustia
Tiwa: HamburgerNikstonia
Runway
the lights flicker and a golden wash floods the runway as Micro struts down the center
📷
Micro Episode 5 Look
Micro: Long time no see! Earlier, the queens were tasked to design their very own country. And let me just say, the feedback is flying in! Mainly because the UN has sent us a sensible 74 lawsuits since the challenge. But jokes on them, I don't know how to read all that. And now on the runway, category is "Beach Day Realness"
”Bad Juju” by Jujubee plays
Chrono: This week on the runway I’m serving BODY! I’m going for a more simple look this week, to really hone in that attitude but also showing my nerdy side. Call me pretty seashell beauty - and a Pokémon Stan, with a hat for sun protection, of COURSE!
📷
Chrono Runway
Ebony: A wise pedophile once said: "Let's go to the beach, each, let's go get away!" Tonight I am serving beautifulness and sexiosity. I tear off my Catherine DeLish beach covering to reveal... my slender, hairy body. Because let's face it - waxing is taxing, and epilation is procrastination! I am letting my freak frag fry!
📷
Ebony Runway
📷
Ebony Runway Reveal
Jords: So, this is for me a beach look, because I don‘t see you wearing this anywhere else. I hate swimming, so we‘ll just be there to show these karens and mothers what the bitches of today wear! The one thing that is the most accurate is actually the hat, it‘s a perfect accessory for making it a beach look. I have never looked richer with the quality of my looks
📷
Jords Runway
Lisbon: So after a long night of swimming, the fishermen saw me in the water so he reeled me in and gutted me and left me in the beach to die. But I didn’t die, I had crystallized, now I’m a glamazon bitch ready for the runway!
📷
Lisbon Runway
May: This week, I wanted my beachwear to be inspired by... the sun! For me, whenever I think of a day on the beach, I always think of a bright, hot, and sunny day, so I wanted to replicate that brightness on the runway. I am covered in the bright colors of the sun, I have a giant sun hat to prevent sunburns, and to top it all off, I have a gorgeous pair of stoned opera glasses to bring the look together. I feel sunny and I feel amazing!
📷
May Runway
Moxie: For my Beach Day Realness look, I want to make sure everyone knows that safety at the beach does NOT mean you have to look ugly too. I'm prepped for laying around on the beach, snorkeling, building sandcastles or walking a runway! I am gonna get sunburned though, because I always forget to reapply sunscreen, so if you see red later on today do NOT say anything!!!!!
📷
Moxie Runway
Nikky: Today on the runway im serving you Rich bitch from Rio, you know shes Rich when she arrived IN A DAMN GOWN TO THE BEACH?? Shes in all the expencive fabrics and in a Hat hand sewn by Donatella versace purple_heart , and has a purpse that cant carry any shit, oh its a Sand bitch? Well thats no problem for her, as a Rich White Lady she always has her right hand...MATHEW....MATHEW!!! He snatched the dress so fast some random ladies panties fell! She reveals in this gorg bikini with...heels? Is this bitch for real....anyways...why does she Have gloves? Girl ik she Rich but Miss thing? Anyways mathew grabs that unbrella thats bigger then my ass(somehow) and they are Just struting down the beach...its a private beache OBVI
📷
Nikky Runway
📷
Nikky Runway Reveal
Love Skylar: I am serving you BODY, seashell bikini, princess of the beach fantasy! Keeping up my reputation for being that BITCH when it comes to fashion this season, while paying omage to some of my favourite memories growing up. Collecting seashells in the waters of Jamaica, white beaches, and crystal blue waters. I’ve never felt more at peace then in those moments and I loved getting to take a conch shell home from one trip. The colours on that shell remind me a lot of this look and that feels really special!
📷
Love Skylar Runway
Tiwa: For this week's runway I am giving you this stunning colour palette and something I don't do very often... CAMP! My hair is a literal palm tree, like look at me! All of my inflatables are hand sewn onto the costume by me last night in the hotel room. Yes... that does mean I did a lot of blowing last night hehe. Watch out girls the bitch with the best body is here!!
📷
Tiwa Runway
Critiques
Micro: Thank you ladies. When I call your name, please step forward.
Micro: u/AustralianChrono, u/TheeEbonyEnchantress, u/Lisbon_After_Dark. You are all safe! You may leave the stage.
Micro: The rest of you represent the tops and bottoms of the week. It's time for your critiques.
Micro: Jords! Wow wow wow, this look!! I am a sucker for all brown and this does it for me. You look sensational, I need this. In the challenge, sadly you didn’t match that level of success. When it started, I thought you were about to snatch a win because I was laughing. But it felt a little bit lost if that makes sense? The energy was there but I wish it was applied to a more coherent idea.
Micro: Love Skylar. I have to talk about this look, wow. It’s such a beautiful color palette and the use of shells to bring in a sense of structure is great. One of my favorite looks of the night. Moving into the challenge, I’m torn on this. It’s well written and executed but I’m not seeing a clear concept of what your island is. I got your pitch of why the UN should want to accept an island from you but I don’t know much beyond that. It’s hard to balance because as solid as your submission was, I’m not sure it totally fulfilled the assignment.
Micro: May! You made a bold choice by going with such an annoying ass character for this challenge! And for me, it worked. You were aware of how the character would act in a situation like this and the ending with the oil drilling joke told me that you were very aware of the role you were playing and the ability to poke fun at it. I love how clean your flag is because it almost works as a red herring for what your island actually is. I probably would’ve gone more comedic with it but it’s very well done. On the runway, it’s cute! The design feels a little dated but I asked for grand and you gave me that.
Micro: Moxie! You are...wild. The way you approach every challenge is hilarious and I eat it up every damn time. In terms of pure comedy, you stole the show tonight. It may have gotten a little misguided at points and needed to be put back on the track but it was really funny. This look has the same critiques as your performance. All the elements are there, it's funny, maybe just needs a little bit of refining. Very good night for you still.
Micro: Nikky. I know you weren’t the most confident in this challenge. And it absolutely breaks my heart to say that this was not my favorite night from you. To start with the positives, I adore this runway. It’s so light and pretty and I think it’s an effective reveal. And the poster worked for what the island was and made me laugh. In the challenge, it faced an issue of not having a clear enough idea about where you wanted it to go. When you start to struggle in a challenge, it can be an easy move to start doing shocking humor. But I don’t want to see easy from you. You have better in you than this. I’m sorry girl.
Micro: Tiwa. Your ability to poke fun at Nik in a way that is still sweet and coming from a place of love is really a talent. I was very impressed by you tonight. With similar challenges on your season, you didn’t always stand out for the right reasons but this was redemption. The energy was present throughout and your had a clear concept that you went for. Could it have had more levels to it and been tightened up a bit? Sure. But there are pros and cons for everyone tonight. Your look tonight definitely stands out with the strong colors and silhouette. This felt like the week where you decided it was okay to let yourself take up space in this competition. Very proud of your work tonight.
Micro: I've made some decisions.
Micro: u/Bmay1310, u/TiwaGrande_. You are the top two queens of the week!
May CF: Finally!! I have been clawing my way towards this for weeks and it finally happened. And a chance to take out a certain queen? This is perfect.
Tiwa CF: Made my way out of the safe zone and during a week where I can protect Nikky. This is perfect.
Micro: u/moxievalor. You are safe. Keep up the great work.
Moxie: Thank you.
Micro: u/TycenesUniverse, u/niktheburger, u/thereal_OG101. I'm sorry my dears but based on your performances in the challenge, you are all up for elimination.
Skylar CF: Great. I can't say I'm surprised but I'm definitely disappointed in myself. It just wasn't enough.
Jords CF: I don't necessarily feel close to the queens in the top. But I am not going out without a fight. And I'll throw anyone under the bus to keep my spot here.
Micro: You can all head backstage.
Untucked
the top and bottom queens join the safe queens in Untucked
Ebony: What's the tea?
May: I got a win!!
Lisbon: Oh work! You deserve it.
Moxie: And the other win went to Tiwa!
Lisbon: Oh thank god.
Ebony: And the bottom two?
Skylar: Three. We're all up for elimination.
Chrono: All of you?
Skylar: Yeah.
Skylar CF: Getting back to Untucked, I feel even more gutted. Lisbon told me that before we came in, Chrono was talking about how she wants Nikky to stay this week. I knew I couldn't trust her with all of those alliances. I have only been loyal to her and then she does this.
Chrono: I'm honestly shocked it's a bottom three. I didn't see it coming.
Chrono CF: Seeing Skylar in the bottom kills me. I thought she would be safe for sure. I need her to stay. I'll fight for her.
Nikky: Congratulations to both of you on your first win. I know you really wanted it.
Tiwa: Obviously, it's a little bittersweet because you're in the bottom but this moment has been something I've wanted for so long.
Nikky: I would really like to talk with May when you have a chance.
May: Yeah, I'd love to hear from you!
May and Nikky move over to the back of the room and talk
May: I want you to know that I haven't made my decision yet.
Nikky: If you keep me, you will be my number one. I will make sure you're safe.
May: Over Tiwa?
Nikky: Of course. You will be my closest girl.
May CF: I wanted to give Nikky a chance to save herself. But I know she's lying to me right now. It's making this decision clear to me.
the other bottom queens talk with the top queens and plead their cases. Jords tells them this week was a fluke and that she will rebound. Skylar says she wants to see strong queens at the end and sees herself there with May and Tiwa
Tiwa CF: I have to go with the decision that feels fair to me. I have love for this queen but someone has to go.
May and Tiwa walk into a room and choose their lipsticks. May grabs at Nikky's lipstick and traces her finger along Skylar's. Tiwa looks at herself in the mirror then grabs Jords' lipstick
the queens return to the ruwnay
Micro: Welcome back ladies. Will the top two queens please step forward.
📷
May Lipsync Look
📷
Tiwa Lipsync Look
Micro: Prior to tonight, you were asked to prepare a lipsync performance of "Havana" by Camila Cabello.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ0mxQXmLsk
Micro: This is your chance to impress me and give one of the bottom queens...the chop.
May CF: Being in the top isn't enough for me. In order to prove myself here, I have to win this lipsync.
Tiwa CF: Nikky is counting on me. This is crucial.
Micro: Good luck, and don't fuck it up!
"Havana, ooh na-na (ayy)
Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh na-na (ayy, ayy)
He took me back to East Atlanta, na-na-na, ah
Oh, but my heart is in Havana (ayy)
There's somethin' 'bout his manners (uh-huh)
Havana, ooh-na-na (uh)”
In the beginning of the song, May sidesteps in time with the music, while overdramatically miming snaps with her left hand in time with the clapping/snare. As the vocals come in, she stays in one spot and looks to her left as she lipsyncs the beginning line. At the same time, she swings her left arm up, then slowly and gently drags it down the side of her face. For the second mention of “my heart is in Havana”, May brings her hands to her heart and uses her pointer fingers to draw a heart over her actual one, then she raises her right hand up, similar to what she did with her left one
Tiwa starts by playing around in her coat, it's closed at the moment so you can't see anything underneath. With ever Na-Na-Na, Tiwa jolts her body to the beat, lipsyncing very sultry and sexy. Tiwa touches her lips with one finger and then touches the air, putting out a fire, then grabs her coat for the…
"He didn't walk up with that "how you doin'?" (uh)
When he came in the room
He said there's a lot of girls I can do with (uh)
But I can't without you
I knew him forever in a minute (hey)
That summer night in June
And papa says he got malo in him (uh)
He got me feelin' like…"
With her raised arm, May does a quick hair flip as she turns and walks to the other side of the stage in time with the music. At the same time, she really plays up her emotions, looking solemn when Cabello explains how the boy in question let her down
REVEAL! This red playful outfit underneath is shocking and this colour fit's Tiwa so well! Tiwa gets a little campier in her movements playing with the songs fast tempo and vibe. Tiwa is basically doing the Tango moves without a partner... come on spins!. The gold chains hanging from her midsection fly in the wind with each letter spelling T-I-W-A and shine when the lights hit them. Tiwa stops and quickly grabs her nether regions for the last line of the verse.
"Ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh (ayy)
I knew it when I met him (ayy), I loved him when I left him
Got me feelin' like, ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
And then I had to tell him, I had to go
Oh-na-na-na-na-na (woo)”
For the ad lib in the pre-chorus, May slowly unties the ribbon on her sunhat and tosses it to the side, then slowly squats down with her hands moving down her legs, as she rolls her head to keep with the sultry nature of the song. For “And then I had to tell him…” she slides into a split, and waves goodbye to her hypothetical lover. And for the last line, May kicks her back leg up in front of her and uses the momentum to quickly get herself up
Tiwa throws the coat on the floor and jumps on it, laying down and rolling around in all the ooh's. With every sung word Tiwa is playing around. Grabbing sections of the coat then herself and rubbing it all over her. Tiwa is serving the sexiest lipsync on the MDR stage ever! Tiwa quickly gets up and does a funny walk to the line "I had to go" and does a long spin for the rest of the pre-chorus
"Havana, ooh na-na (ayy, ayy)
Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh na-na (ayy, ayy)
He took me back to East Atlanta, na-na-na (uh huh)
Oh, but my heart is in Havana (ayy)
My heart is in Havana (ayy)
Havana, ooh-na-na”
As she gets back on her feet, May kicks her performance into high gear, while still maintaining the sultriness of the song. She starts by taking off the sheer jacket and placing it behind her, leaving just the sundress. Then while keeping the focus on her lipsync, she moves slowly but gracefully while still adding a touch of flare to it, mirroring the overall feel of the music. With the way she moves, you could say that she was performing an upbeat burlesque number with no reveals. And to end the lipsync, May walks to the side of her coat, then gracefully falls on top of it, ending in sort of a “draw me like one of your French girls” pose
Tiwa gets on all fours and from the back of the stage starts crawling down slowly to the front, ignoring the other girl who is... somewhere on the stage with Tiwa. As Tiwa gets to the front she turns over onto her back with her head over the stage and the lights, everything is upside down to her but she is lipsyncing whilst gentley moving her arms around her body and emoting every harmony, melody and lyric
Micro: Thank you queens. I've made my decision.
...
Micro: May, you're a winner baby!
May looks up in glee as Tiwa claps for her
Micro: Tiwa. You are safe to slay another day. Good work this week.
Tiwa: Thank you.
Micro: Will the bottom queens please join May on the stage.
Micro: May. With great power comes great responsibility. Which queen have you chosen to get the chop?
May: Before I share who I chose, I hope all three of these queens know that I love them all so much, and that this was one of the hardest decisions I've had to make. However, someone does have to go home this week, and I want to be as fair as possible with this choice. I know how badly all of them want to stay, so I hope there are no hard feelings, but unfortunately, I have chosen to eliminate...Nikky.
📷
May's Lipstick Choice
Nikky buries her face into her hands and Micro looks at her in shock
Micro: Nikky. I am crushed to see you go. This absolutely breaks my heart.
Nikky: I wish I could've stayed here longer to make you proud. Thank you for having me.
Micro: I am so proud of you for all that you've done here. You aren't just a star, you're a legend. But for now, I must ask you to sashay away.
Nikky: From the bottom of my heart, fuck you all. May, imma key your car. Bye!
May giggles as Tiwa hugs Nikky and fights back tears
Micro: Eight queens remain. We're almost at the halfway point of the competition. Keep it up, it is anyone's game. Now, let the music play!
”Banjo” by BeBe Zahara Benet plays
Next Time on Micro's Drag Race: All Stars
Micro: They say legends never die, so what the fuck happened to Mufasa?
Ebony: I just need you to give me as much as I' m giving you or else this won't work.
Skylar: The time to strike is now. She had it coming.
📷
Track Record
📷
Cast Shot w/ Placements

In the last post I wrote in this sub, I had been informed about my MMC in my first Ultrasound (US). I was 12 weeks that Monday. You can read that post via my history.
Trigger Warning: This is my experience with D&C. It is very detailed. My apologies if that is triggering to you. I found most comfort reading real detailed experiences from other members here so I am sharing my own story in the times of covid19 as a way of giving back.
Post being informed at my 12w US that my baby was only 6w6d, I underwent another HCG blood test on 12w1d (Tuesday). The results showed between the 9th week and 12th week my hcg had tripled from 33,000 to 98,000 (12w1d). My Dr recommended I wait for another two weeks to repeat the US, as from the blood tests there was no sign of miscarriage. The next two weeks I oscillated between hope and praying for grace.
I went for a transvaginal US at 13w4d (Thursday), the baby still measured 6w6d, but my sac had grown and matched my calculated dates, my body was proceeding with the pregnancy as normal and was showing no signs of miscarrying. I was recommended to undergo a D&C as the sac was too big to pass at home and there was a danger of infection now.
I was sent to the Emergency unit and then the Early Pregnancy Assessment Centre (EPAS) unit at my hospital directly from the US by my GP. I had to go alone in the building due to covid19 restrictions and my partner waited in the parking lot. That day I was waiting without food or water for 9 hours, with a face mask, and had meetings with the emergency room doctor who processed my referal to EPAS, the mid-wife and finally the gynec. I also underwent a covid19 test. My d&c was scheduled for what would be my 14w1d (Tuesday), after five days. I was informed I was scheduled for a blind d&c. I was told I might start spotting earlier and to use pads, but if the bleeding was heavy to come immediately to emergency. My partner and I headed back home after 9 hours of no food and water and had no energy left to grieve.
​
The night before.
I was asked not to drink water or eat post mid-night. No alcohol 24 hours prior. I take thyroxine for my hashimoto’s so I was allowed to take that with a sip of water at 6 am. I took off all my jewellery. I spent the day googling and reading other women’s d&c experiences and got no work done. My covid19 test had come back negative earlier in the day.
Up until this point I was yet to spot or bleed a single drop of blood. I felt incredibly guilty for opting for a d&c. I felt like my body had faith in the baby and wasn’t giving up and I was betraying it by choosing to abort. I didn’t want to let go of my baby and wanted to keep it safe within me. While I trust the US which told me that the baby wasn’t alive, there’s was that doubt saying, What if they were wrong? What if my baby was alive? What if I am having twins, and they keep missing the alive twin? I kept checking for spotting blood all night, but nothing happened. I wept at the thought that this was my last night being pregnant and going to sleep with my baby.
The alarm went off at 6 am. I showered and wore my flannel pajamas, sweatshirt, beanie, thick socks and sneakers. I had a bag packed with two pads, extra underwear, reading glasses, my iron and thyroxine medication, my cards (medicare, insurance, driver’s licence, credit card, little cash), my phone charger, hair clips, lip balm, face cream, headphones, a fleece jacket and a scarf. I donned my covid19 mask.
I reached the hospital parking lot at 7:20 am and popped the two misoprostol tablets on the inside of my cheek to dissolve. The mid-wife gave me these tablets during my consultation the previous Thursday. They took a long time – about half an hour – and I felt guilty for initiating the process. I had yet not spotted even in the morning and still wanted to keep the baby. I couldn’t accept that my body was making such a big mistake and carrying on a pregnancy that died 7 weeks ago.
There was some drama at the hospital entry because I tested febrile (38'C) entirely because I travelled in a heated car (it is very cold where I live, and it was 2'C outside in the morning). The lady at the entry completed over-reacted and despite my pleas to check my temperate again in five minutes, called up the day surgery, the covid19 and the emergency isolation department. I tested afebrile five minutes later (36.8 C) in the isolation room and they let me through to day surgery. I wasted 15 minutes in needless distress that I would be denied the d&c and worried that I that I had already popped the miso pills. While I appreciate the lady was just doing her job, I think she over-reacted and could have just let my skin cool down. I was also made to change from my own cloth mask into a disposable mask provided by the hospital before entry.
Because of covid19 my partner wasn’t allowed to accompany me at all, and had to drop me off at entry point outisde the hospital and leave.
I made my way to day surgery floor and registered at the entry desk at 7:50 am. I was tagged on both hands with a band with my details. The clerk reconfirmed my address, my medicare details, emergency contacts etc. The entire thing took five minutes. I sat down in the waiting area. I waited for about 20 minutes, and started to feel pressure in my uterus. Scared that I would soil my only pair of pants, I went to the toilet and wore my pad even though I wasn’t bleeding.
Minutes later, a nurse took me through to a consultation room.
She was kind, and asked me questions regarding when I last ate or drank, whether I had any bleeding or pain (I told her I was feeling crampy), known allergies, previous experience with anaesthetics (none). She asked me if I had any dental plates, and I informed her my top two front teeth were crowns. I have had these for over five years, and while they are not loose, I had spent the day prior in extreme anxiety that I would be denied general anaesthesia and therefore the d&c because of them. It probably sounds stupid now, but it was a very real fear for me. She checked in her system and informed me that while crowns weren’t listed as a danger I would do well to inform the surgeons.
She explained to me that my d&c would involve suction and scraping, but with an ultrasound to guide and hysteroscopy if required. That the procedure takes approximately 20 minutes but I could be asleep for up to an hour or even two after that.
She gave me an information sheet on recovery post-D&C, instructions to follow, and numbers to call for emotional support.
I was taken to a small changing room with a mirror. All of my belongings and clothes had to be placed in a plastic bag and placed on a trolley outside the room with my name tags that were provided to me to attach on the outside. I put on a white hospital gown with ties in the back, disposable mesh white underwear which was entirely too big and I found it hard to keep the pad in place due to its size, a white robe, blue mesh booties (but I could keep my socks on, but no shoes) and a blue hair net. No eye contacts, jewellery or bras beyond this point. I was allowed to keep my phone with me and given a clear bag that I would need to place it and provide to the nurse before my surgery.
It was 8:45 am and I was escorted to the waiting area which was right across the change room and shown the toilets. The waiting area was behind the nurse’s station and in a corridor. There were recliners, and I was provided a heated blanket. Through this entire process I had kept my face mask on. There were three other women waiting there. All of us were gowned and masked up. I was given two Panedol tablets by my nurse, as there was a delay due to some emergency and I could be waiting for a few hours, during which my cramps could get worse. I took these with two sips of water. Luckily I had my phone to pass time.
I kept oscillating between chatting with my husband, surfing the internet and dozing off to sleep.
Finally at 10:45 am the anaesthetist consulted one of the ladies in the waiting room. I listened carefully for questions around loose or cracked teeth, but this lady had perfect teeth (unfortunately for me). She was taken for her procedure 15 mins later by the same gynec /epas team I had met on Thursday. Next at 11 am the anaesthetist consulted with another lady who had a gap in her teeth, he checked if she had mobility in her lower jaw and was able to open her mouth wide. Which she was. Both these ladies were both informed that their anaesthesia involved intubation, and I was getting worried by the second.
At 11:45 am the epas gynec assistant called my name and lead me directly to the operating room. The anaesthetist was in the room and didn’t ask me any questions. The main gynec came up to me and introduced himself. They reconfirmed my name verbally and checked my wrist-tags, they asked me to repeat what procedure I was there for.
I was lead to the bed, and the nurse took my blanket and robe off me. My gown ties were loosened and asked to step onto the bed carefully, and then untuck the gown from under my butt to the sides.
The anaesthetist approached me. He was very kind and said he was sorry I was at the hospital in these circumstances, and that he would be there to take care of me through the procedure. The nurse attached the blood pressure monitor to my right arm and the ECG leads to my chest, apologising for the coldness, and talking me through what she was doing.
The anaesthetist was to my left inserting the IV into the crook of my arm. I had informed the doctors on Thursday that I have dodgy, hard to locate, thin veins and was worried it would hurt. But he was proficient, and I barely felt anything as he quickly got the needle in place. Above me, the large, disc-shaped lights were off. Ahead, there was a clock on the wall and I remember looking intently at it, trying to record the time, but I could not concentrate. They took off my covid19 face mask and placed it on my chest.
The nurse placed a gas mask on my mouth and nose and asked me to take deep breaths, the anaesthetic said he was going to give me a pain-killer for my comfort, and now I would go to sleep, he would see me on the other side in three, two and… I had dozed off.
Afterwards
I woke up in a recovery room with two nurses around me, and images of new born babies on the wall across from me. The face mask had been placed back on me. The nurses were asking me if I knew my blood group, I answered. They asked me if I was feeling fine, and I said I did but very dizzy which they said was normal. They asked if they could move me to a ward. I consented. But I dozed off to sleep again as soon as I reached the ward.
The nurse woke me up again after some time. The two ladies who were ahead of me for d&c were there too. The nurse asked me about my pain and nausea. I just felt a bit tender around my uterus and dizzy, but the cramps were bearable, so I refused medication. I had no nausea. I was asked if I would like to eat or drink and I requested for some cold milk and water, which I was provided. I was also brought some veggie sandwiches and a jelly. I was told I can take off my mask to eat, but to wear it again as soon as I was done. I wasn’t feeling hungry initially, but once I started to eat I felt hungry and my dizziness subsided.
I was bought my belongings and my phone. I noticed it was 12:45 pm. The entire thing had taken an hour. The nurse suggested that if I felt like it, I could change into my clothes and could leave in as early as 30 minutes, if I felt fine. I was informed I could have my husband come to the day surgery waiting room to pick me up.
The nurse said that it would be likely that I’d feel a gush of blood when I stood up but that it was normal and not to worry. She also asked me to sit back if I felt any sign of weakness or nausea and not attempt to rush into changing. When I stood up slowly, I realised that the doctors had wedged a pad between my legs after the surgery and that my disposable undies were gone. But I had also bleed a bit on the sheet and on the bed as the pad wasn’t secured. I was provided fresh pads to change into. I didn’t feel any gush and changed into my clothes.
After I dressed, I was guided to one of the nearby recliners to wait for my partner to get to the hospital. While I was waiting, the surgeon who performed my procedure came over to see me. He told me that everything went very well and they had sent the sample to the lab for testing. If there was bad news, he would call me in a week’s time. He asked me if I had questions, and I shared with me that I felt guilty for choosing the d&c, I couldn’t understand why had no spotting at all, my hcg was so high, and why my body wasn’t miscarrying. He told me that they had looked at the sac and the baby, and while the sac was very big, the baby was very small. He told me that before the advent of US, cases like mines would continue to be pregnant until late second trimester at times, only to result in a petrified stillborn. I was relieved to hear that I had been spared this outcome.
My partner arrived and we picked up food on the way back. I bought a bunch of cakes from my fav Greek bakery to gorge on.
That afternoon I cuddled in blankets settled in for a Netflix binge of “Nailed it”. The bleeding was very light and bright red, like on day 4 or 5 of a regular period. I had mild cramps and didn’t feel the need for medication, a hot water bottle was sufficient.
I took an Advil (200) at night just to ensure my sleep was undisturbed. My mood yesterday and today has been stable and calm. I am not sure if I was given anti-anxiety medication yesterday or if it the hcg still coursing through my veins. I will be praying for healing – both emotional and physical.
To any person going through a miscarriage or a d&c, you have my healing prayers and virtual hugs. A big thank you to all the women who shared their d&c stories here. It really helped me.

Hello keto clan! Up until yesterday I had been a lurker for 95 days, which is when I joined reddit. While yesterday was the first time I’ve ever commented, today will be my first post on any sub. (<— did I say that right?)
Consider this my introductory, progress, praise for keto post.
Here’s my pictures: https://imgur.com/a/9EYcAiK
And here’s my post:
Back in June 2013, I was 25, a mom to a 2 year old, and 160 pounds, which suited me just fine (see image 1). Later that summer, after having various medical issues, and one MRI later, I was told that I suffer from Trigeminal Neuralgia. It’s an unpleasant thing to have. I was told several things that day. First, I would need two separate craniotomies, second, it was the cause of my failing hearing, and third, I was unlucky. In my Nuero’s experience his patients with TN were usually over 60, and only suffered on one side of their face, I had it on both.
Fast forward to September 2013, I had my first Microvascular Decompression surgery. The recovery was 12 weeks, mostly in bed, with a husband who didn’t cook. Cue 25 pound weight gain. It wasn’t just the surgery, or the bed rest, or even all the fast food, it was all 3. Over the fall, I fell into a depression, though I really didn’t want to admit it. The anxiety of having to put myself through another difficult surgery, and seeing the affects of the first one on my body, turned me into a bit of an emotional eater. Counter productive, I know. Add in 30 more pounds before April 2014.
By my second surgery in April 2014 I was 215 pounds. That’s a whole lotta regret and weight to gain in 7 months, and I wasn’t done yet. My second surgery left me completely deaf in my right ear, and caused bell’s palsy paralysis in the right side of my face, which later recovered 95%. This surgery left me feeling too sick in the beginning to eat, so I lost a few pounds here and there, but still ended my recovery at 225. Also between surgery 1 and surgery 2, there was a divorce.

Man, this post is getting longer than I anticipated<

And here starts my saga of weight loss attempts. At 26, I hadn’t a clue where to start or what to do.
Feeble attempts in order:

1. Summer 2014 HCG drops. Bought from consultants. Found via FB friend. Yeah, I should have known this was a bad idea. But I was desperate for those “great” results. But any diet that has you gorge on snacky cakes and milkshakes (aka “loading”) for 2 days before starting, really doesn’t bode well in my book.
   
2. August 2014. Beach body 21 day fix. Found via another FB friend. (Sensing a pattern?). My new boyfriend and I decided to give it a shot. It seemed worthwhile. At home work outs, portion control, etc. Yeah. We definitely did 3 back to back “rounds”, so 9 weeks. My boyfriend went from 254 to 226. And I went from 226 to 224. AND before you say, but muscle! Measurements! 21 day fix has you do that. Not a smidge of change for me. There would be no round 4 for me, as I gave up, and promptly had surgery for a cochlear.
   
3. Anti-weight loss program. Aka pregnancy. 5/2015-2/2016. Fun fact about my pregnancies. They always come with bed rest, now and in the future. I have trouble keeping them babies in. Terrible food choices, eating for 2, and bedrest, got me to 284. Holy shit. I was so depressed during pregnancy.
   
4. Birth. The most painful kind of weigh loss. 2/14/16. I had a 7 pound baby girl via c-section, and the day I went home I weighed 270. I also developed a hematoma the size of a bar of soap shortly after and spent 3 months with an open would that liked to get infected and wouldn’t heal. Didn’t help that I developed a belly apron over the years, and the incision was covered by it. Side note: wound packing, worse than brain surgery, IMO. (See picture 2 left side)
   
5. I couldn’t work out with my festering wound, but I could watch what I eat, and I saw a friend doing weight watchers on FB. (Yup). I could have 2 Reese’s miniature cups a day! What’s not to love? But at least I got down to my pre pregnancy weight of 226. (See picture 2 right side) I didn’t take another picture during picture, but by November 2016, and the day of my wedding, I had made it to 219.
   

Over the next year I gained weight up to 268. My highest weight non pregnant. No excuse. Just life. I have two high needs kids and no will power. Then, I heard about keto, (not from a Facebook friend!) right at a time when I was realizing that I can’t stay this unhealthy, and I needed to fix my relationship with food. I drug my husband along with me in the journey too. We started Keto on 2/5/18 and have been at it 13 weeks. He weighed in at 254 and is now 217 (-37). I weighed in at 268 and am down to 236 (-32). (See picture 3)
It’s the first time that I’ve approached something as a lifestyle change, opposed to a diet. It’s the first time that we don’t cheat or feel the need to. It’s the first time that I don’t feel like I’m eating rabbit food, or forcing myself to stick to something.
Oh, and for your viewing pleasure, pictures 4,5,6 are my craniotomy scars. I’m glad to have found, and to now officially be a part of this community! That’s it. I’m finally done. ^{.^}
https://imgur.com/a/9EYcAiK

I think the biggest revelation I've experienced since beginning to diet is that I can eat what I want to eat. I never thought it'd be like this. I thought it always had to be low carb or some fad diet with an interesting name.
But really, the choice is mine. If it fits into my calories, and I weigh/measure it, I can eat it. So while I don't eat extremely healthily, I find myself mixing in better choices with my vices, or limiting how much I can indulge I stay within my goals, and I try to walk a mile and a half every day.
Five years ago I lost 40 pounds in the hcg diet. I did it in a month and a half and it was terrible. Not only did I gain it all back plus 62 pounds, but it didn't feel like a choice. It was something I was told to do so I could start my senior year prettier. Ended up ruining my cycle too. Still not where it was. I felt so trapped that when I finished the shots I gorged myself on the things I couldn't eat when I took them.
Since July 11th, I have lost 40 pounds, just like I did when I was 17. But I feel so much better because it is my choice, something I can sustain and build on.