Anonymous session problems with new user registration

I have user/register in my list of secure pages, and new users must confirm via email. When they submit the registration form, though, they are directed to the homepage with no status message telling them to check their email.

If I disable Secure Pages, the status message does appear.

In reading other threads about this, I see many references to problems with anonymous sessions. I assume that's the issue here? What can be done to fix this problem?

FWIW my DB does have a UID 0 in it, so that's not the problem.

I did see the issue about the anon vs auth and http vs https; there was a reference to a patch, but I didn't see one in the thread referenced.

Thanks - this is one of the problems holding up my site launch, so I appreciate any help.

m.e.