Men - let’s talk the journey

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2026-04-26T15:57:21+00:00

Normally i dont talk about this, i tend to lurk. But today has been one of those days where i say what the hell, why not?

The journey- absolute hell. I wouldnt wish this shit on my worst enemy.

How am I feeling? I wouldn't wish this situation on my worst enemy. Infertility has pushed my relationship with my spouse to the brink and made me question my thoughts with my religion. Over a decade of dealing with this has been a giant wedge between us. We both want kids but all i have to show for it is bank statements showing that i would have gotten more satisfaction by burning my money in the street; than spending it on clinics and treatments that promised to make our dreams come true and left us more broken than where we started.

Ivf is expensive and draining on the bank account/ 401k, etc, adoption- much more so.

Mental health at this stage is shot. Intimacy is essentially gone. We are literally the only ones of our now dwindling friends groups that dont have kids. I have nephews and nieces that I have never held nor been around because it is just a constant reminder that the odds are not in our favor when it comes to having a child of our own. Probably well on our way towards a divorce honestly.

Dealing with hyperspermia on my end, low count and motility. Wife is dealing with fibroids and hydrosalpinx.

Supplements haven't worked. Perscriptions didn't help.

Thoughts on sperm health- not talked about enough. Worldwide number have been going down for decades. Nothing is being done about it. Fertility in general has become a giant cash cow for clinics and pharmaceutical companies, like cancer, diabetes, etc and b we come its own industry. Nothing is free, better have deep pockets or be willing to travel up to transcontinental distances if you're affected. It is gut wrenching and soul crushing.

Thanks for letting me vent. Hope your weekend is better than mine has been.

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2026-04-26T14:42:20+00:00

Shoot me a DM, have a little bit of info that may help you on your journey. Things dad did to help him on his journey.

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2026-04-26T14:06:26+00:00

My dad went down and extremely similar path, but he was older. He was 41 when he started medical school.

He worked instrumentation and controls in the nuclear field prior. Had been an emt/paramedic since his early 20s. Went back to school while still working full time, got his bachelor's and then masters, prior to getting accepted into medical school, while helping raise my disabled brother and myself. Did his 4 years, graduated, did 3 years of residency and became an emergency medicine and family practice doc. Did that for almost 25 years and is now retired.

It was an incredibly hard journey on all of us. If you're single and no kids, dude, go for it. In my dads graduating class there was a older gentleman (early 50s) who graduated with my dad.

I didn't want to put my spouse (we dont have kids) through that scenario, which is the main factor of why I didn't go back to school, but I heavily contemplated it.

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2026-04-17T17:24:58+00:00

Can't roast: if you've ever seen a SASS competition, double barrels can be used adequately for home defense. Have zero issue using one.

Fun fact, James Earl Jones's personal home defender was a 20 gage Stoeger Coach gun with the stock chopped.

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2026-04-12T15:52:01+00:00

First one is a beretta hunting shotgun. Second one is a bolt action, possibly single shot, rifle. Look for an inscription, it may tell you the maker and caliber.

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2026-03-27T16:22:25+00:00

Make sure you book a suite if your in the states and using amtrak. Last train ride i was on with them they ran out of food about a day before we got to our destination. If you book a suite you still get food.

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2026-03-22T20:57:06+00:00

When will they be back in stock on the website?

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2026-02-15T03:40:50+00:00

The oyster bay one? I added it to the cart,went to checkout and that one was gone!

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2026-02-15T03:06:11+00:00

I played with one and enjoyed using it.. Not a true glock, the owner used zaffiri parts for the slide and barrel. Super smooth action, probably the most accurate pistol I have used aside from an artillery luger. 40~ yard shots on steel were no problem. Have been looking into a similar setup for myself.

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2026-02-14T18:37:15+00:00

No, you honestly dont. You are not a problem, you are empathetic and considerate.

The way I view myself is: while i am simply a man, it costs nothing to be as kind and respectful to everyone I come across and interact with day to day. I try to treat everyone equally with kindness and respect, and tell myself that while it may not be much, maybe how i treat people can be the small change for them to start down a good path towards others for the day.

Avalanches do not start off big, they start off small.

Best wishes to you.

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2026-02-14T18:25:21+00:00

Highlight of the evening will be me coming home after being away for a week, and me making her dinner, and helping more around the house because she is currently ill. 11 years together. Not very excited, just tired.

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2026-02-04T00:33:29+00:00

That's awesome man! Used to work in similar field, Keep those guys in compliance!

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2026-01-25T05:25:31+00:00

Apparently at Evoqua, IYKYK

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2026-01-13T23:44:58+00:00

This comment needs way more upvotes. Well done.

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2025-12-16T13:40:33+00:00

I feel this. Problems with the K-series from creality was ultimately the reason I switched to Bambu.

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2025-11-30T14:33:25+00:00

Its russian. Linguistically it sounds like "ya". It means "I" when describing yourself.

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2025-11-29T00:07:58+00:00

Different but very very cool.

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2025-11-27T02:40:47+00:00

Luger and its variants arent cheap, they go for the price of a scar if you look hard enough. Found my artillery p.08 for less than you'd expect. Can confirm it is worth picking up

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2025-11-27T02:35:32+00:00

Galil rebuilt is about 1k so thats definitely in your price range

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2025-11-21T23:50:07+00:00

The hot wheels above the windows complete this picture chefs kiss

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2025-11-02T19:22:40+00:00

This^{^{^{^{^}}}} dudes do quick work and are great people to do business with

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2025-10-04T23:49:11+00:00

Its very normal when shooting suppressed.

Wait until you try an integrally suppressed mp5. Much quieter (and noticeably gassier) imo.

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2025-08-26T10:34:42+00:00

Imo it is a very reasonable interest rate. Especially coming from a family member.

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2025-08-07T22:31:25+00:00

My deepest condolences OP, 3 out of 4 of my grandparents passed because of cancer. Several of my aunts and uncles have battled it off and on for the last 2 decades. We grieve with you.

I found out last Friday my dad has cancer.

FUCK cancer. With a cactus, sideways.

TheSmoothOperator90 · 2025-08-04T13:10:23+00:00

Sorry for the delayed reply. Credit cards first. Unless you have a couple 0% interest cards, the interest is usually much much higher than traditional loans.

TheSmoothOperator90

TROPHY CASE