Giving up work

[hifer]

Thank you SO much for all your amazing comments about whether you have given up work or how you have coped with work during IVF. They were all so so helpful and helped me make my decision. I didn’t know if it would be helpful for others but thought I would give you an update..

Basically, I have resigned and leave at the end of the month. In my current role, it is not possible for me to go part time. It was just too stressful for me to manage the stress, the appointments and a full time job. Yesterday I had to go to my clinic for the third time in 24 hours. It’s a full time job in itself! I have contacted recruitment agencies re part time jobs to fit it around treatment and then see where we are. Obviously I have the support of my fiancée otherwise I would not be able to do this. I want to work. I desperately want to work. Sadly my mental health was suffering and I wasn’t doing my job properly anyway as I wasn’t able to focus. This is definitely the best decision for us at the mo.

If anyone else is going through a similar struggle making a decision about work then please feel free to DM me if it would help. Would be happy to chat through.

Thanks for your amazing advice you wonderful, sensible, clever people. The support from this group is incredible and I’d be lost without it. Xx

[LunaLovegood11]

Sound like the right decision for you, glad you feel better.

We are having tests but looks like IVF might be the route we go down.

I didn’t realise it had such an impact on time - It makes sense though, and I hadn’t really thought of how it would affect work! I’m not sure how I’ll cope as I have an hours commute each way.

Do some companies have a policy on this?

[hifer in reply to LunaLovegood11]

Hi there, firstly wishing you all the very best on your journey. Yes some companies do have a policy (we don’t). Please don’t think that giving up work is the only option! It was just right for me. Plenty of people maintain a full time job and manage it just fine. Some reduce their hours during treatment, or are able to work from home (I’m not). Some can take sick leave or holiday etc. There are loads of options and I really wouldn’t worry about them for you right now. See how you go. My stress was totally compounded by a very stressful boss so my options were really limited. Absolutely everyone is different and everyone’s treatment is different too so all IVF journeys will be unique.

Good luck with it all x

[Hanbee33]

Glad you’ve made a decision that feels right for you. Wishing you lots of luck with everything x x

[hifer in reply to Hanbee33]

Thank you xx

[Hidden]

Hi hifer

Really glad to see you have been able to make a decision and have this option at this time. I really feel for me that taking time out definitely helped me mentally prepare and got me my bfps. It's only temporary and you will work again. It's just at this point in time your main focus is this journey xx

[hifer in reply to Hidden]

Exactly😊. So pleased it worked out for you. Thank you xx

[2-shades-of-hope]

It’s great that you’ve reached a decision. Putting your mental and physical health first is very positive. Doing similar helps me and hope it will help you too. x

[hifer in reply to 2-shades-of-hope]

Thank you 😊 x

[Cinderella5]

Sounds like you've made a fabulous decision and it really sounds like the weight of work has been lifted off your shoulders already!! Best of luck with part-time work.xx

[Lyndsey_D]

At 1st my bosses were great they would work round me and i could do what i wanted came to starting injections they wanted me to still do 24hr shifts after i asked to be taken off sleepovers but no so i got signed off completly i was off 4 weeks in total and still put on a stage 1 for being off if i got a bfp i wouldnt have been put on a stage 1 cos it would have been pregnancy related i was fuming then they changed my shift that day to a house i cana cope and get no sleep in and i previously asked to be taken out of there and they did but put me back in that day so i kinda lost it with the boss luckily on holiday this week so iv not saw them back wednesday dreading it to be fair for 2nd round im just gonna get signed off again what they gonna do cant sack me right? (Im a Support worker)

[hifer]

Wow that sounds pretty stressful. Sorry to hear that. You definitely don’t need to be working in those conditions whilst going through injections too. Def get signed off x