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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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icy121 · 01/10/2015 13:49

I've never really been much of a pant spotter, I don't seem to produce much of it. Does dark paper make it easier or harder to examine?!

Have put constant pelvic pressure and the twinges and cramps down to some sort of ohss. Maybe I'll go from barren to octomom?! Or just stay barren, do not pass go do not collect £200.... Zzzzz

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Monten · 01/10/2015 20:46

I just wanted to say I stumbled across this thread and think I love you all. It's all so very fucking tedious.

We've been trying 2.5 years and are 3 miscarriages down. Actually the first wasn't a miscarriage, we decided to terminate after baby was diagnosed with Edwards syndrome, a fatal fetul condition, at 12 week scan. Just to add to the fun.

I'm now 38. We started trying when I was 35.

And starting trying again every time is all so fucking boring. I know the drill now: have miscarriage, stock up on pads and cheap preg tests. Do them until it finally turns negative (fucking weeks). Stock up on ov sticks and hideously expensive supplements. Start all over-a-fucking-gain.

Really bored if this shit now.

Monten · 01/10/2015 20:49

fetal. You'd think I could spell that fucking word by now.

As you can probably tell I heartily approve of the swearing on this thread.

Viewofhedges · 01/10/2015 21:10

So do fucking I Grin. It is not polite but it does help!

I have just been in London for 24 hours on a work thing and have been gloriously Not Thinking About It but just checking in while on train home to hang out with youBrew all. I feel like I've found my people! Hope you're all doing well tonight wherever you are. X

Lauraqc · 01/10/2015 21:33

Well fuck me. I'm so pleased I've found you all! I'm currently sitting in our bedroom in the pitch black cos af has caught up with me again. Couldn't help myself but to trawl around on web to also Google something slightly differently than before.

I'm so fucking bored. We have been ttc for just over 2 years and I've had irregular cycles so I feel bitter about not having 20+ cycles to try in - mine has been more like 10. DH also has very low count. It's private IVF for us in Feb/March and trying till then. I had a HSG 3 weeks ago so I was stupidly pretty much expecting to be upduffed having read all the success stories online.

We have savings. I daren't suggest we do anything with them though. We need a deposit for a new car; we need a new bath; we need a holiday. I have definitely put my life on hold for this. I have also moved to a job closer to home so that I can get home for childminder/school collections etc.

Just read that back. Yep this sucks balls hard.

Lauraqc · 01/10/2015 21:58

Oh and my pregnant workmate (with whom I have shared my 2 year difficulty to conceive) made a major fuck up at work y'day which resulted in me having to sort it out said 'so sorry, at least I can say it's baby brain now'!

GO TO THE CORNER AND SLAP YOURSELF IN THE FACE YOU SILLY BINT.

CatnipMouse · 02/10/2015 11:14

I hope you gave your colleague a special hard stare Lauraqc. And irregular cycles + infertility must totally fucking suck, you must have been monitoring ovulation (SO BORING) like a woman obsessed. I don't want to add to your expectations too much but the 'magic HSG' effect persists for a few months apparently so don't write it off just yet.

Monten I am so sorry for your horrible experiences, I've had miscarriages too, one of them post-IVF, they are fucking shit. I wouldn't say I'm bored of them yet but if I have a third then yes, I will definitely be bored to the back teeth of that as well.

Is that enough swearing for you all for now? I have plenty more where that came from...

icy121 · 02/10/2015 17:28

Thank fuck it's Friday.

In the 2WW but won't let that stop me having wine and a fuck off chunk of Camembert tonight. All those months I've been so very boring and careful. And for nothing. Done with that. If I by some miracle am pregnant then I'll deal with the guilt later. For now - sod it. Life is too short.

Sacking off work now, time to do battle with the "baby in boards" on the tube - grrrrrrrr. Back off smug bints.

Seems I'm fucking raging. For a change.

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Hugamug · 02/10/2015 17:45

Enjoy your wine icy! Have one for me, we are in the lead up to ivf and have to be good sigh. When I think of how many parties/nights out I've had to skip a drink and all for nothing. Sooo boring!! Fucking infertility!

Viewofhedges · 02/10/2015 20:14

I'm glad someone else is drinking. I nearly admitted to it before - should have - but yes, am no longer avoiding wine. Don't think I could have coped without it! Waiting for af - seems my cycles are getting more and more irregular as I get closer to 39 dry up like the wizened old barren witch that I am need more wine and some chocolate and a bloody long sleep

Monten · 02/10/2015 20:45

Oh god, I'm so drinking. I've never given it up (apart from when up duff of course). Life really is too short.

icy yes fuck off to those fucking baby on board badges. I don't know what it's like to try and get in London transport with a bump (of fucking course I don't) so perhaps they're necessary in that situation. But I saw a girl wandering round a farmers market on a Saturday afternoon with one on the other day - FUCK OFF. Well done fucking you for being impregnated. You even have a badge to prove it.

While I'm here I have a corker of a bad consultant/medical professional story. My third MC was natural. I was told (by the lovely ladies on here) that if I 'caught' the pregnancy sac/fetus I could take it in for genetic testing (to see if there was a chromosomal issue). So I duly fished it out the toilet bowl and put it in a Tupperware box and took it down to the EPU (just casually riding the bus with a fetus in my bag, as you do). I deliver it to the EPU and then witness a lengthy and confused conversation between the consultant and the nurse about where to send it. They finally decide that half needs to go to histology and half needs to go to another department. The nurse disappears with it and then comes back and proceeds to moan at length about how bad she felt for cutting it in half. ShockShock Yeah that's right, that was my fucking baby you stupid cow, but I'm so sorry you had to go through that and thank you for making this so much easier for me. Fucking knob.

Lauraqc · 02/10/2015 21:36

Christ Monten that really is a shitter of a story. So sorry to hear about the worst example of NHS experience ever.

I don't drink much so I haven't altered that side of things at all. I do however eat like a sumo wrestler. Desperately trying to stick to the 5:2 diet to shift the stone to get NHS IVF.

Thank fuck this week is over. Now I can spend all this weekend obsessing over why my period is so light after my HSG this last cycle and what do I count as CD1 to start another round of soya isoflavones.

DH has just taken delivery of his brand new games console today so I'm sat watching old OBEMs wishing they'd all fuck off with their shiny screaming kidlets.

CatnipMouse · 02/10/2015 22:32

Sorry Monten that's awful. You'd think the EPU would know what to do for genetic testing. And so sorry the nurse was so insensitive. Jeeeesus what a cow.

Lauraqc don't do that to yourself, don't watch OBEM! Just don't!!

I've just been to the pub and had soft drinks only because my IVF down regulation starts next week. Boring boring boring. Want wine.

Somedaymummy · 03/10/2015 10:44

monten that's the most awful infertility story I've heard. What a horrible way to go about things!

I'm having a bad day. Maybe even a bad few weeks/months actually.

Have anybody else's friendships suffered during the mind numbing boredom, and pure torture of infertility? I was ok for the first couple of years, now I've just become lonely, and hopeless.

karlafox · 03/10/2015 13:24

Somedaymummy

I too avoid friends. Not always intentionally though, I just feel exhausted with every day life so when the working day is over, i can't face boring chit chat. I just want to go home, lock the door and mope around until my hearts content!

Hugamug · 03/10/2015 16:13

I have a specific friend who has always been a little smug and in your face about her successes in life. I had a dream she was pregnant and low and behold shortly after found out she was in real life. I suspect she had been dealing with infertility too, possibly for many many years but if so she kept it well hidden. Anyway I just could not cope with her pregnant and smug and I have completely distanced myself. She has since had the baby and I do feel quite guilty for dropping out of her life but on the other hand I think she kind of brought it on herself.

Monten that story is horrific. I can't imagine how anyone could think that was appropriate? Even to discuss what to do with it in front of you?!!

This pales into insignificance beside that story but I had a coworker who after I got married informed me every month how long I had been married and enquired if I was pregnant yet. I had never and did not want to discuss ttc with this woman. Six Months after our wedding (we had only been trying a few months) she told me everyone at work was talking about me and wondering when I was going to get pregnant. A few months after this she asked when I was going to see a fertility specialist. What the actual fuck. Arrrrrrrggghhh!

JessieMcJessie · 03/10/2015 17:40

I went to the nurse for routine tests after registering with a new GP. She told me that the surgery did STD testing and I told her that there was no need as I had had all the tests before starting IVF. She ticked some box and the her next fucking question was "What contraception are you using?". Is it too much to expect a nurse to know what IVF is?
I can SO identify with trying to find new things to read about infertility, I do feel like I have read the entire internet. Twice. However there is a good and VERY detailed book available on kindle if anyone is interested, it's by Dr Sherman S Silber and is called "How to get Pregnant". Obviously it hasn't solved my problems but it did sate my reading appetite for a while.

I have just fallen out with someone over the implausibility of a soap opera plot where a character got pregnant after one shag, ha w been firmly told that this IS true to life and should not let my own issues cloud my perception of dramatic stories...

Monten · 04/10/2015 09:35

Thanks guys, sorry, didn't mean to put a downer on the thread! Yes it was horrific but by that point I actually just found it quite funny in a 'did that actually just happen' way.

In the 2ww so off shagging duty thank god. There's nothing worse than coming home from a 12 hour day and having to pretend to be gagging for it. Now that truly is tedious.

tigerdog · 05/10/2015 06:09

I here you monten. TTC sex is a chore after three years of no results. We've given up a bit recently.

I can't believe some of the experiences people have had. Truly awful.

My friendships have defintely suffered. My friends are all in a different place, and focused on their families. I often feel lonely, never more so than at big gatherings when we're the only childless ones.

karlafox · 06/10/2015 18:20

So IUI #1 done!.. Most undignified thing ever! Now the dreaded 2ww

icy121 · 06/10/2015 20:47

Monten with you pretending to be gagging for it. Our relationship has suffered so much with barren stress but also other life-shit that I'm determined we won't lose or secs life. This of course means I'm engaging in it when I cba, but he doesn't need to know that. And I read somewhere sometimes just getting on with it makes you actually fancy it, which I'd say works 20-30% of the time. But the other 70-80% of the time ZZZZZZZ.

Karla hope your iui is a success & next fortnight isn't an absolute disaster.

Am 2 days away from period being due, symptom spotting like a complete "TTC #1 cycle 3, we BD'd every ten minutes, hope it's a sticky bean baby dust [flashing angel emoticon]" n00b. Fucking shoot me. Remind me of this when I'm doing the shower weep eh.

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Elektra83 · 06/10/2015 20:56

Ugh, bad day over here too. A friend sent a whatsapp message to a group of us...it was a picture of her ultrasound. Sigh.

In the time that we've been tttc she has had one baby and is pregnant with her second! The whole happy/sad feeling is there (had a cry once hubby left the house). Still waiting to start the icsi treatment and am just so fucking bored of this shit.

Lauraqc · 06/10/2015 22:11

I'm of the school of 'pretend you're gagging for it and hopefully the feeling will follow'. TTC after over 2 years is not the naive enthusiastic event you think it'll be. Lol Icy re the n00b comment!

I'm just coming to end of AF and feeling weirdly upbeat about the next round of tension, promising myself I'll not bother to think about it the 2ww. Fucking ferret.

comeonalready · 09/10/2015 21:23

Hi ladies , can I join you? I am normally a lurker on here but I have been reading through this thread and feel I can relate to a lot of it. I'm so sorry for all that you've been through.

In particular feeling the comments on mourning the idea of being able to get pg without having the whole world looking up your chuff, the finding sex a pointless chore, the inane and insensitive comments from friends, the insanity of hoping (and letting myself believe, even for a split second) that it could be different this month, the not moving on in other areas of my life and feeling like I am wasting so much time on something that only ever seems to make me unhappy....

I have been ttc almost 2 years, and I just feel so worn down and exhausted by it all. It is so unfair & heartbreaking.

I feel lonely too....I have sort of distanced myself a little from friends I guess, for fear of difficult / upsetting conversations. I have told a few friends, and the close female members of my family, but I still find it difficult to talk about in person (a bit easier over email which is how I've communicated with my friends about it).

Part of the reason I'm on here is due to a get together of uni friends (and all our husbands etc) tomorrow which is weighing on my mind as one of them now has a beautiful 1yr old, they celebrated her "3 month" birthday on the same day as their 1st wedding anniversary....and all the while she was pg, my friends were hosting her baby showers, congratulating her on being "so fricking fertile" and then cooing over the new mum raising her beautiful new baby, I've been slowly dying inside.

comeonalready · 09/10/2015 21:26

Sorry, bit of a long post! BlushConfused