Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Thoughts From The Fertility Clinic...

Waiting Room...


I seriously hate how no one makes eye contact. Everyone sits in their corner of the room, or when it is busy, with one chair separating them pretending that they are the only one in the room. I know those first few trips to the clinic are hard, I get that. BUT, in that room is one of the ONLY places we, as women (and men) struggling with infertility, can find company among an entire room of people who are in similar situations. Why do we sit in silence?

Socks...

I spend my time in the waiting room of the clinic trying to take a peek at people's socks. Is that weird? After reading this post over at Womb For Improvement, I have been wondering about what people wear or don't wear on their feet when they have an ultrasound. On Friday a woman dropped her socks on the way back to the ultrasound room... I guess she wears socks no matter what. I, in case you were wondering (and I'm sure you were), wear socks most of the time. If I am wearing shoes that don't require socks, then I go barefoot for the ultrasound (always with painted toes.) Fun fact: for all of the undress from the waist down appointments I've had, I have NEVER worn white socks. Perhaps, I just found my fertility problem?

Hairstyles...

The phlebotomist that usually takes my blood has had three hairstyles since we started treatment at the clinic. I don't think I've had three hairstyles in the last five years! In addition to this, it is somewhat alarming that I am at the clinic often enough that I notice new haircuts or fun new scrubs that the nurses have.

Cheers...

My fertility clinic is a little like the old TV show Cheers... everybody knows my name. When I walk in the the girl at the front desk says something like "_____, you're all checked in." Then, when I'm called back to either have blood drawn or be placed in an ultrasound room there is always small talk, because we see each other like twice a week. I see these people more often than I see most of my close friends.

7 comments:

Stephanie said...

Ha! Ok, so I totally am that one girl in the waiting room looking around and scouting everyone out. I always want to know the story!! I'm also that girl who will make up your issues for you (since you don't tell me yourself) Case in point: Friday morning as we sat waiting, a super young girl and a super older guy walked out - I deemed HE was the problem. Rick told me I was horrible but I assured him I felt confident people looked at us, saw we were overweight and deemed us being fat as the problem (which is partially true, thankyouverymuch PCOS). On the sock thing, I've never thought about it. Maybe I should and maybe my RE hates me and my feet. I've worn socks, including white socks and I've gone barefoot, with and without pretty painted nails. Hmm....

Brandi Hudack said...

Oh the RE waiting room fun!! There ususally isn't to many people in the waiting room with me so instead I feel like I think about who blah the area is the entire time. It almost depresses me while I'm waiting. The walls are plain and the paints are of generic things. Oh and the magazines are Sport and Time - hello I don't care about those. I feel like it should be more cozy. Don't they understand what were trying to do here!!

As for the socks it usually just depends on what I'm wearing that day. If I have them on I usually leave them on but if I'm not wearing any I just go barefoot.

Lola said...

Yes!!! It's very annoying when people go to the clinic and they just sit there not wanting to talk to anybody. I think the waiting room would be the best place for everybody to share their struggles. I don't know if maybe I'm just too open about my infertility. I like to hear people's experiences and share mine too.
As for the socks if I'm not wearing shoes that require them then I bring them in my bag. I love wearing socks I hate to be barefoot, I can't sleep without my socks!!

E and R said...

I completely agree about the waiting room! It is almost funeral home quiet! Like you said, if there were any place that we should be able to talk about infertility it should be there.
As for socks...I have a thing about other people's feet - in that I don't want to put my bare feet where someone else who may not take care of their feet (I'm thinking fungus or something equally gross) may have just put their bare (gross) feet. So, I ALWAYS wear socks...I don't usually pay attention to color though.

Liz said...

I know what you mean about the quiet of the waiting room. I always have to resist the urge to shout 'Good Luck' to everyone else as I am leaving.

And white socks? Oh no!

Miss Mac said...

I like to scope out the RE waiting room to. I wonder if they blog, if they're at the beginning or if they've been through several treatments, if they have a diagnosis...all kinds of thoughts. But that's as far as it ever goes.
Always socks!
Thanks for your comments on my last post!

Cherbear said...

I think everyone is wondering about everyone else! But my theory on why no one talks? Because someone might be pregnant. That's what I look around for...I think "She looks too happy, she must have just gotten her BFP" or "she's already got twins with her, I'll bet she did IUI, probably worked the first time". I start finding myself getting jealous and that is just no good.

As for socks, I typically wear socks to work on RE days. (But truthfully I wear socks 90% of the time anyway b/c my feet are always cold)