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Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

The mind numbing boredom of infertility

999 replies

icy121 · 14/09/2015 20:16

Two years. Month in, month out, and no change. I'm finding a huge part of this whole nightmare is trying to cope with the boredom. I bore myself incessantly googling variations of the same question, staying up late at night to the glow of an iPad, reading more and more obscure medical research abstracts. Asking my doctor friend if I can borrow her password so I can see whether the BMJ has any updates from last week. It's fucking monotonous. Nowhere else in my life have I had to strive so hard to get absolutely nowhere.

I don't talk to friends about it, they don't want to hear it and frankly I've cried too many times when it's come up for them to have any sympathy left. They're bored. So we just ignore and and plod on, except I'm not bloody plodding on. I'm wallowing side to side and achieving absolutely fuck all. And secretly dreading the fact they're all getting married and their babies will be on the horizon. I'm going to lose my friends.

I decided not to put my life on hold, got a new job in a small firm, booking holidays but it all feels very empty because what I'm really doing is waiting. And it's so fucking tedious.

OP posts:
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Fractiousfractions · 22/01/2016 19:16

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PotatoesPastaAndBread · 22/01/2016 19:36

Thanks karla I'm the same. Never get to the end of the 2ww so this is so weird. It'll be a £6k POAS.

fractious it's beans on toast. With grated cheese. Food of the goods.

Fractiousfractions · 22/01/2016 19:44

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pebbles086 · 22/01/2016 20:28

Oh Sammy as if that's going to go to plan! They sound too stupid to get lucky and be care free! Mean I know, but annoying that people have an oblivious/ignorance to how difficult it is to conceive and how tricky the odds are at sperm meeting egg at the precise time! Good bloody luck to them!
when I am in a gym class I always look around and think 1 in 10 of you ladies will have difficulty conceiving! Mad I know, but I guess people don't realise how common infertility is until you find out your that poor bugger out of the 10 Confused
Hi glitter you poor thing! Sounds like you have a lot to deal with. Glad your DH is so supportive and understanding. Don't really have any advice for you other than, if all your investigations and ops are via NHS be prepared for long waits for appointments and referrals. I find the waiting is the worst part. So when you are ready, take time into consideration. Do as much as you can to help speed things up for when your are ready.
potatoes how the hell you got through that 2ww! Hats off to you!

Hello everyone else! Got to love how bitter and witty we all are at times.
Glittery shit to everyone, big dollops of it!!

karlafox · 22/01/2016 20:38

Just thought I would share for those who are having a cheeky drink tonight ..

The mind numbing boredom of infertility
Lauraqc · 22/01/2016 20:43

Hey gorgeous ladies! Welcome glitter fucking fabulous name btw...! I'm so sorry life is dealing you a right shitty set of options at the moment and I hope you navigate your way thru it with your lovely-sounding DH right by your side (and us in cheerleading outfits smeared with glittery dogshit right behind you)!

Sammy your response to Fractious' comment is also exactly why I love this thread! Let's hope the fella calculates the time backwards and realises conception was during the OFSTED inspection when she was 'too tired and stressed' to have sex...

Potatoes and Karla I'm thinking of you both and sending glittershit vibes to you!

I'm hugely stressing at the moment cos we've booked time off in March to go for our first round of ICSI in the Czech Republic. The clinic Reprofit have been amazing as I was a bit worried about fitting it all in before we go and this was the response I got:

"If you have all the test done with your February period and the results will be optimal, I will make sure you get the stimulation protocol as soon as possible before your March period starts.
If you want to be absolutely sure about dates, let´s do the following:
When your February period starts, have the hormonal profile (including AMH) done on the 2-3rd day. After they collect your blood (the next day) start taking BCP (birth control pills). These are to regulate your next period. On day 12-14 have your ultrasound scan done.
If you want your egg retrieval on March 18th, you have to keep taking the BCP continuously until March 1st. Within 4 or 5 days your period will arrive - that would be let´s say March 5th.

On second day of your period (March 6th) you would start your stimulation and would have to have two ultrasound scans done before coming here for the egg retrieval on March 18th (between day 6-8 and 9-10). The egg retrieval happens on day 12-14 of your cycle."

So I'm now madly ringing UK clinics to check prices of ultrasounds (help me ladies - have I got to have the 'gel external' one or a dildocam - daft question but I don't know the answer?) and making Dr appt to try and convince them to give me blood tests for free and also getting DH to do his sample that we've already paid for...! Phew loads to do but as I say I feel that the clinic are really pulling out the stops to help me work to the date I want - wish us luck please Grin

Am also running out to buy lottery scratch card Bip ha....

Lauraqc · 22/01/2016 20:45

Crossed post - no drinking for me tonight I got completely hammered on prosecco last night by accident! Going to work this morning and sitting in court all day was not easy!!!

PotatoesPastaAndBread · 22/01/2016 21:02

Wow! They sound efficient.
I would say dildo cam, all of my scans have been. Only thing external was scan during ET.
If time is critical you might want to get blood tests done privately too - I found that I could get my GP to do tests but results took 1-2 weeks whereas clinic turned them around same day.
GP also lost some results and clinic was able to do them again same day.
Good luck!

Lauraqc · 22/01/2016 21:17

Thanks Potatoes re the scan, I thought I should probably double check before I left someone put that cam up my foof and then realise I actually only needed the external one ha!

Yep I'm super-impressed with them so far, still feeling very stressed about it all tho cos of the timings. But hey we've got 2 weeks off in June too and if it has to be then, then that's life.

I have got quotes from a couple of clinics re blood test prices and to alleviate any more stress about what CD I'm on and stuff it might just be worth the £250 for private bloods too. Got to get my prescription and ring round and get quotes on the meds next...

icy121 · 23/01/2016 01:00

Laura well done surviving a day in court on a hangover. Good friend of mine is a copper... Court doesn't sound like the Good Wife at all - it sounds shit!

Just had a bottle of Wine tonight. Spent all week making corporate career plans. My only goal these days is to earn £x by y date as -LOL- it literally feels more achievable that with careful planning I could get a main board position for a ftse 250 than actually ever get pregnant. Pick your battles etc

I'll read back and post properly when I'm a) not squiffy and b) not sat in dark listening to OH snore! Not felt depressed all night. I blame thank wine

OP posts:
PotatoesPastaAndBread · 23/01/2016 08:32

BFN. Can't believe I ever expected any different.

Thanks for all your support, couldn't have got through the last few weeks without you. How some of you have put yourselves through this more than once I don't know!

BipBippadotta · 23/01/2016 08:38

Oh shit, Potatoes. Shit shit shit. I'm so sorry. How devastating, after everything.

How are you feeling?

loopylou1984 · 23/01/2016 08:51

Potatoes, I'm so sorry to hear that Thanks

It is shit. When it was me I felt like it was the end of the world. But the fog will lift I promise you.

Be kind to yourself, scream, cry, smash things up (our medicine box may have got it when I couldn't find paracetamol!) and then, when you're ready, you can formulate the next plan. Xx

Lauraqc · 23/01/2016 08:55

Potatoes. Fucking awful news. This is such cruel shit, please try and be kind to yourself and let yourself be looked after for a while xxx

Fractiousfractions · 23/01/2016 08:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Chattycat78 · 23/01/2016 08:56

Hi guys,

Been following this thread, observing. So now crashing to sympathise.

Potatoes- was rooting for you. Am so sorry. It's horrendous and you don't deserve it. Take some time to recover and feel better. Blow money on a holiday maybe! I know that's trivial and frivolous but you hsve to do what you can. It will happen for you. You have to think that.

Sammylou- just to say that I'm seething about your "colleague 1,2,3" scenario. People's ignorance has always really pissed me off. How can you possibly tell your colleague that you're going to conceive "in January"? Idiot. I experienced something similar a few months ago when one of my Nct friends (and not a close friend) announced that she was going to "get pregnant in June" - shut the F up!!!! It really pissed me off at the sheer cockiness of it!!!

Biscuitsforbribes · 23/01/2016 09:00

Potatoes - god that's fucking shit I'm so sorry! Woke up thinking about you today and so sad it's not worked for you xx

Do what sammy says, that's pretty fucking solid advice!

Hey to glitter, this is the best place to be!

Hope everyone else is hanging on in there without too much rage this weekend. Had a shitty stressful week work wise so spending the weekend doing nothing but relaxing. Can't have the chocolate as still on my health fix but never mind!

PotatoesPastaAndBread · 23/01/2016 09:30

Thanks ladies. I feel ok. Bit numb and, back to where we started with this thread, I'm bored. How fucking boring, another bfn. I won't be having a baby this year, I won't be having a baby while I'm 36, I won't be telling my mum I'm pregnant when I see her at Easter. Urgh.

DH was more optimistic. I think he now thinks ivf is never going to work. He asked me who I knew for whom it had worked if it didn't work first time. I hope he doesn't give up, his optimism keeps me sane.

Today we are going out for slap up lunch, where I will be drinking and eating mouldy cheese, then booking a holiday to somewhere warm in March. I feel bad spending the money as we should save for next round of ivf but fuck it we need a life.

Welcome chattycat to the thread where bad shit happens to good people! I hope you have some better luck!

PS I'll come and join the berries now. Was waiting to see if this worked (didn't want to instadiff, ha ha fat chance).

PotatoesPastaAndBread · 23/01/2016 09:46

Seriously, thank you for listening.
There is nowhere else I could bang on about the same thing constantly without someone telling me to stfu.

karlafox · 23/01/2016 10:13

potatoes I second all the empathy and words of wisdom.Good on you for looking on the bright side.
Enjoy the cheese and wine make sure you have plenty! WineFlowers

Moomin37 · 23/01/2016 10:49

Just dropping in to say I'm so sorry about your news Potatoes - I was so hoping that this was your time Thanks

I haven't posted on this thread for ages, but follow all your stories and laugh/cringe at your tales. Oh what a shitter this all is Sad

Like you Potatoes I'm 36 and can't stand the thought of not having a baby this year. Just on second round of Menopur injections, but feel like I'm just going through the motions. Like a lot of people here I don't spend much time thinking about babies as all my focus and energy is on winning the battle. I really struggle with fertility treatment as it's all so deliberate - I always thought I wouldn't be brave enough to actively try for a baby and hoped that it would be a happy accident one day when I was as ready as I'd ever be. I'll shut up now before someone lobs some glittery shit my way Wink

SesameSparkle · 23/01/2016 12:04

potatoes I'm so sorry. Flowers I've been there and know how devastating it is. Time does heal though, even if it doesn't take away from how sodding unfair this is.

tigerdog · 23/01/2016 12:32

Potatoes sending you strength and gin by the bucket load. I'm sorry it was bfn. Allow yourself to grieve for the hope and rant away in here as much as you need. As someone else said, it does lift but be prepared for a rough ride and a bastard hormone crash. I thought the sadness would finish me off but somehow I ploughed on and gradually it improved. Holidays helped. Would love to see you over on the berry thread, come on over.

moomin I'll be 36 this year and over 3 years ttc. Some days I feel utterly panicked but almost worse I think I'm settling into resigned acceptance.

BipBippadotta · 23/01/2016 14:03

Was thinking of glittery shit projectiles today, as we went on a walk this morning and DH got shat on by a goose.

Hope you're up to your neck in stilton and full of wine by now, Potatoes, and coming up with some good holiday ideas. I know what you mean about spending guilt. But you need a bit of pleasure in amidst all the stress and heartache. Happy memories are always a good investment.

Moomin I hear you about fear of deliberately trying. In my case it was a control/denial thing. If I don't really try, I don't have to learn I have a problem. If I don't really try, technically it's my choice, nothing's being taken from me. I don't have the humiliation of wanting something I can't have. Though I get deliberate about things a few years back, it still doesn't feel right; it feels somehow like cheating, trying to take by underhanded means something I'm not entitled to. Other people are 'blessed' with children, with 'happy accidents' and 'surprises', and I'm trying to finagle one without anyone's blessing or permission. Like some grubby pickpocket.

Nearly 39 & 4 years ttc here. I will not be a mother in my 30s. On to the next decade. Can someone link to the berries thread? I'm too dim to find it anywhere.

SesameSparkle · 23/01/2016 18:56

berries Smile