So on the other hand, hurrah for surging, because it means I'm flying off to Sydney on Sunday to see MD and get an endometrial biopsy and... some other tests*... done, and then I can move on to what I hope will be an actual treatment cycle. My sister asked whether I want someone down there with me. Apparently they have offered to buy my mother a one-way ticket. Of course, they are joking, and we will all be fine.

The Travelling Book, meanwhile, is winging in the opposite direction, to Thalia. If you haven't heard of the travelling book, or even if you have and have already signed up for it but not received it yet and want to make sure you're still on the list**, check it out on Beagle's blog over here.

Then there's So Close, which is going to Vee and, by extension, Max. I've decided to split the parcels to keep things moving along, share the love more widely, and give myself a little extra time.

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What!! You're Pregnant Again!! Bite Me!! A Review

This booked was published in 2004. I wonder where the author, Sandra Zacchino, is now, and what she's doing, and whether she knows we're passing her book around the world and relating to her words. Because the thing is, it starts with a funny title, and some snarky language, but then there's Chapter Seven: Pages From My Journal. The next twenty pages take us from her initial pregnancy in 1999, through her loss, and to the years of secondary infertility on the other side. "Today I got my period." "Got fucking period." "Got my period as usual, that is about the only reliable thing in my life." "Today was horrible." "I got my fucking period today." Over and over, until your heart just breaks. And then, in Chapter Eight, I found this:

"I refuse to torture myself in every possible way in order to get there."

And I wanted to reach through the page and talk to her, because I didn't understand. Oh, I understand people who choose not to pursue fertility treatments in favour of living childfree or taking another path to parenthood. I can understand moving on, or sticking with low-tech treatments. But I can't understand why she battled all those years on her own, getting the same result, feeling the same hurt at the end of each cycle, asking the same questions, getting the same non-answers, passing up on the same options. I can understand her not wanting to "torture herself", but she is, and she does, and it's so hard to read.

I wanted to reach out and say, please make a decision you can be happy with - no matter how things turn out. Make a decision you can look back on without regret, knowing you tried what was right for you. Just don't keep passively riding the rollercoaster with your eyes shut, screaming, hoping someone will make it stop until eventually, they do. I can't imagine a worse torture than that.


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*I feel like I should know what they are, but I don't.

**Because I, er, seem to have lost the list, so you might want to double-check you're still on it. Really - if you want the book, please drop round and make sure you're on the list, even if you've done so previously.


13 Comments

Baby Blues said...

I like Thalia's attitude towards infertility better. Although I found Sandra's book amusing, but I know what you mean. We can do something. We can pursue ART and beat infertility.

Bea said...

Or, as I was just reading over at Baby Proof - first the epiphany then go read about the TCM retreat, then the plan at the end.

I believe there's a book "Sweet Grapes" or something on the subject as well?

But yes - taking charge and tackling it in whatever way's least likely to leave you bitter at the end. Perhaps the author's story has a better ending than the book in that regard.

Bea

ColourYourWorld said...

I am looking forward to reading So Close. I have only ever read bits and pieces of Thalias blog so hopefully there will lots of surprises.

Thanks Bea !

ultimatejourney said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog with well wishes.

I haven't read either book, but I've definitely been the proactive IF type. I can't imagine just sitting around doing the same things and waiting for a different result.

Good luck with your tests.

Mandy said...

I have unfortunately been like Sandra... I understand her. It was a number of things that caused me to take the long road. I only wish someone had told me differently. I would not have taken that road so blindly, so certain that I would be pregnant within 6 months, only to wake up 6 years later to the truth about myself. Now I am older (sadly) and wiser (luckily) and am a lot more proactive about my infertility. (maybe I should post about this)

Bea said...

Or get more proactive about dealing with it on an emotional level, whether you choose to pursue treatments or not. Maybe I just wanted more closure on the story. For preference, a "happy" ending, even if it's bittersweet. As I said, I wonder if the author is doing better now.

Bea

Anonymous said...

I can heartily recommend the book "Sweet Grapes." I really think it is the best of the childfree/resolving without children books. The authors talk about the phenomenon of "drifting," which is like your description of passively riding the rollercoaster.

Good luck with your tests in Sydney.

Anonymous said...

Ah - what wise words. Make a decision you can be happy with. That's what it's all about, IMHO.

ggop said...

Thank you. I needed to read this mail. I've made my first appointment ever with an RE. I was going through feelings of depression while filling out the paperwork. Your comment on passively riding the roller coaster really made an impression,
gg

Mary Ellen and Steve said...

Good luck with all of your testing Bea!

beagle said...

I've updates the traveling book's location. Thanks for writing a review!

Lollipop Goldstein said...

I'm so curious about this book. I should probably jump on the list over at Beagle's.

Anonymous said...

I also wonder what happend to the author of this book.

And I would like to know what happened to the person who did the
'Empty Arms' slide show.

I hope your tests, whatever they are, help you get to the ultimate goal.

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