Friday, October 12, 2007

Tales from the infertile.

Most people would be thrilled to have some time off work on a lazy Friday to take a mid-morning nap. A calm siesta, where one could drift off into a tranquil slumber, if only for a short while. Alas, that was not the case as I lay on the examining table for 40 minutes today waiting for my ob/gyn. “Just relax,” the nurse had said, but staring up at the bright florescent light while lying on a hard surface (the paper liner does little for back support) was not cozy.

Infertile women should not have to wait that long. We already have an unhealthy obsession with thinking about how we are infertile, but giving us extra time to think about this as we’re surrounded by baby magazines, pre-natal vitamin samples, and sonogram gel tubes is just asking for a flood of tears. Fortunately I held my composure today and chose to focus instead on how I could better please my husband with an appropriately elaborate, tasteful, and expensive Thanksgiving centerpiece (guilt compliments of the Martha Stewart magazine- the only non-baby publication in the room.)

After the nurse, adorned in her cute Halloween scrubs, removed the stitches from the aftermath of my laparoscopy, my doctor came in to talk about the “next steps.” Once again the road to getting baby "insert name here" will be a “wait and see.” The good news is that nothing is really majorly wrong yet. Dr. W is hopeful things will “take” this month and we’ll be in business. If not, he foretold of the great fertility drug SHOTS (ouch!) that will await me–complete with horrible side effects (bitchiness, mood swings, nausea….sorry sweetie!) If THAT doesn’t work it’s time for the IVF conversation.

I stopped off at Gloria Jeans on my way back to school from the appointment. 40 minutes of wait time deserves a pumpkin spice latte. A large, complete with whipped cream, sprinkles, and an extra long straw. Probably all the daily recommended calories I need, but us infertile gals’ deserve a little extra sometimes! Driving back I reflected on the trials we’ve been through the past two years and what lies ahead this next month of “waiting”. Despite it all, I lift up my latte and toast to the promise of a productive month, full of hope, faith, and well….production!