I’m due to start ivf next month. My manager is aware I am having some treatment done as I have had a few appointments lately but I’m going to have to go back to work tomorrow and tell him that I am starting ivf and I’m going to need lots more time off 🙄 Not sure how he is going to take this..basically the consultant has just told me that part of the treatment involves a scan every other day. I work long hours so there’s no way to arrange appointments out of work hours plus my works quite a drive from the hospital so wouldn’t even be possible to go in a lunch break..it’s happening because this means more to us than anything now but just feel bad about the time off I am going to need. I have only been in my job since January.
What are your thoughts/advice? X
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kirstyblue
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I know its difficult... but you have to think of yourself and dont feel too bad about that as you have way more important things on your mind. Be as honest as you can and also depending on your protocol you may not need too much time off xx
I was really lucky and managed to fit my scans in over bank holiday weekends and work a 4 day week. If your boss is understanding, they should be fine. Can you offer to take half day holiday for each appointment?
I’m going to get to a point where I’m going to run out of holiday tbh. I have made some time up but I may just come to a point where I take it unpaid..I’m more worried about explaining it to my colleagues. People are going to wonder what’s going on! X
Your lucky to have been able to tell people. Unfortunately I don’t feel close enough to my colleagues yet to be able to share this. It’s difficult too because no one is even close to being in my situation x
Hi kirstyblue, I have done the long and short protocol ivf while juggling work. You are on stim injections for 1 week before any scans are done but then if you are not ready for EC then scan are every other day until you are ready, this includes weekend. For me I needed about 3 scans. So you wouldnt need any time off until 1 week into stims. Scan are usually am so the clinic has time to calculate any changes in doses in the afternoon (if needed) so could organise scans before work, come in late/ finish late? Do overtime before and take in lieu time? Holiday ? Unpaid leave? No one but your boss needs to know if it’s unpaid or not, you could self certificate sickness for 1 week ? U will need to plan day or two off for EC. ET you just need an hour or so. So could just say you need a doc appointment get it done and go back to work ? But I would recommend book the week off of EC so you can relax. The clinic can organise your protocol so if you said I want EC that week they will work it back for when you start stims. I hope that makes sense
Good luck with your treatment I hope you get your Bfp xx
Thank you that’s really helpful. Do you know what the scans every other day are for? At what part of the treatment do they come in? The hospital does open at 8 so I will try get some early appointments just abit concerned if I’m going to be sore after or something I wouldn’t want to have to sit in the office all day after x
The scans are to check how your follicles are developing so they can tell you are ready for egg collection. They are not painful. For me they started after one week on the stim injections and I had a max of three before I was ready for egg collection
Once you are ready no further scans and 48 hours later you are in for egg collection. That’s an all day job and u may not be able to drive the next day depending on the drugs they give you. Then embryo transfer is either 3 or 5 days after that xx
Hi, I don't have my dates yet as waiting for laparoscopy first but told following that I will require IVF due to low AMH and I told my boss today so they are aware as lots of appointments going forward. They were surprisingly understanding and said they were there to offer support and for me to let them know if I needed any adjustments ect. X
Hi there. How are you doing? I hope you are doing fine. I am doing good. I read your post. I think IVF is really a good option for women who are under 33 years of age. It has many factors to be such as health, the type of facility, experience of doctors and many more. Going to work during this needs to be well thought out. Work stress may be bad for you during this time. Make sure the work you are doing has no negative effects on your mental health. You need to make a decision. The choice is yours. I hope all goes well for you. Take care. God bless.
I think lots of mine will probably end up being unpaid but it’s a sacrifice I’ve got to make. Having a baby is my priority. Is it silly but does anyone else feel embarrassed about their boss knowing? I do but I keep telling myself I’m nearly 30 so why should I feel awkward about wanting to start a family!! Doesn’t help because I work with mainly men. The girls I do work with are younger and most even still live at home with their parents. I just really don’t want everyone to start questioning and getting annoyed with me always taking time off. I don’t know why I’m even worrying because it’s happening! X
This is really tricky and I feel for you. What's your relationship like with your boss? Although I'm not going through ivf, hopefully clomid first, I'm the only one in my team TTC but they've all been lovely and I have to say my manager has been amazing so far.
I don't know what you do for a living but can you work from home at all or do extra at the weekend /seeming to make up time? Check what your works policy is on hospital appointments as we get ours off paid without having to make time up - but routine GP / Dentist appointments we do.
I have only been in my job since January so I don’t feel comfortable talking to my boss at all plus he’s male. I have told him but only because I felt I had to explain my time off. Working from home wouldn’t be an option..I think tbh I’m leaning towards just taking it unpaid. Not ideal but I don’t want to constantly be stressing over making time up x
Hey Kirsty, i too am due to start IVF next month and like you worry about the amount of time off work i’m going to need as i work full time. I’ve been as upfront and honest with my employer as i can be. Luckily my managers are fairly supportive and the ladies i work with are really supportive too, but i also understand that some work places and colleagues aren’t as supportive or understanding. My clinic do all the scans in an afternoon so i’ll just work in the morning and finish at dinnertime as i need to travel to my clinic too, i’ll be either taking holiday or unpaid leave for any appts i have and i’ve decided i’ll be getting a sicknote after EC which my clinic have said they’ll issue for me.
I will be in the same boat in the next few months when we reach the top of the donor list.
I will need a scan every other day and blood tests.
I have been advised by the ivf counsellor that you should do what makes you feel comfortable. She said a lot of people say they have "gyno issues" and others are straight up.
I’m dreading telling my manager. I’m going to speak to him this afternoon. Just don’t think he will be that supportive and it looks soo soo bad that I haven’t been there long.
So I told Work..they weren’t that reassuring At all tbh. Been told I need to speak to HR. Seems like their main concern is the work being done. I’m really worried now because I have only been there since January so probably still on probation. Can this be reason for them to let me go??
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