I am in a dilemma and would like help from anyone gone through ivf. I am doing a short protocol which will potentially start Monday 8th September! I have the following coming up in the month
Nans funeral - could be next week but no firm date
20th September - accountancy exam. Very important
8th October - holiday in Spain
I really want to start my ivf but am I trying to cram too much in? I’m concerned that the dates may clash with scans or egg collection. Should I just go for it and work around it or just wait til after I get back from holiday? My heart says go for it but my head says be sensible and wait.
Thanks very much!
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Jaygee
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So strange as i am on my first cycle (started 7 Aug), had transfer last week 21st and sat an accountancy exam this morning! More this week! I also was worried about timing and my exams but before i started i was given an estimated plan of when everything would be. I took time off for "study" for egg collection and transfer. I was warned that egg collection could move a few days either way depending on response.
Blood tests for me were early mornings and before work so really manageable, scans should be flexibleish time wise too. Egg collection and transfer you will need days off.
I was concerned about exams and was asked "do you have to pass them?, you might feel unwell after egg collection" my answer was that i had to attend them but i have put the treatment first and rather than get stressed just used revision as a distraction.
The best thing to do would be to speak to someone at the clinic who will be able to plot some dates for you to take away.
Sorry, i got my dates wrong above. Started Stims and first scan on 7 Aug, egg collection was planned for 19th Aug but moved to 21st. Supposed to have 2 scans before EC but needed an extra 1. They are quick appointments.
Then a 5 day transfer on 26th, test day is 9th sept.
Hope that helps give you rough idea, the dates have to be a little flexible as it all depends how you respond, what day transfer you have etc.
For egg collection i was planning just the day off but ended up needing 2. Everyone is different so you may need less or more xx
It’s pretty quick then! Did you have any issues with lining thickness? This is another one of my fears ha! Oh wow not long till test day. How are you feeling?
Mine all went quite smoothly, my extra scan was because i had some follicles which just needed an extra day or two. Everything up to egg collection is really straight forward. Thes next stages just require a little more time and waiting on updates after egg collection had me a little anxious as i was convinced we wouldnt have anything too transfer but we did.
The 2ww is torture. I tried to study last week and it was impossible as i had zero concentration but im now wanting time to slow down. Dont really have any symptoms, just tired and feel back to my old self now.
Its easy for me to say but try not to worry, i worried about details along the way and in the end it all went well. Its all broken up into little stages. Looking back now it has absolutely flown. Just have to pray for my positive on monday now xx
It’s hard to predict because it also depends on how u respond to injections and what scans reveal. You may be kept on injections longer than originally planned if follicles need extra stimulation.
On short protocol I injected for 11 days (7th -17th May) and had trigger shot on 18th May. Egg collection was on 20th May and transfer on 25th May. My schedule went according to plan and something similar is what you can expect from a short protocol.
I’d say go for it! There is never really a ‘good time’!’
I too did short protocol - started stims 16 Aug for 10 days. Had 2 scans during this time - 23 & 24 Aug. Egg collection was 26 Aug and Embryo transfer on 31 Aug. However, everyone is different. Best of luck with it all xx
Thank you so much! I’m praying it’s only 11 days then it won’t be an issue. I just get worried I’ll end up the one who it doesn’t work properly for! Fingers crossed for your test day!
I did short protocol and ended up triggering the day after my first scan with egg collection on day 13 BUT I really suffered after collection and was off work for a week afterwards and couldn’t really do anything. One thing I would say with IVF is it kinda controls you not the other way round so flexibility is key. That said there is no real right time for this sort of stuff x
I would echo this as I had a bad experience after egg collection too and I think the trauma on my body affected the transfer. Also, whilst u can get an idea of your planned schedule, there’s no telling how you will respond to meds so flexibility is key as Noodleone said. You also don’t want the stress of worrying about clashes so you will need to prioritise and then be at peace with that decision whatever the implications for anything else. That’s if you aren’t prepared to delay IVF until each of your commitments are addressed. Good luck...x
Hi love. Ivf is such a massive toll on your body you really need to be in the right frame of mind for it. We went thru our first cycle in April there. My daddy passed away, I had my final exam and my niece was due (also an ivf baby). I was under so much pressure and stress. My body didn’t respond to the meds the way they thought it would and I ended up only getting 1 viable egg that didn’t fertilise. We are now giving ourselves a break until the new year to try and get my body and mind back to a place I can really cope with ivf again. It’s your decision sweetie, whatever you decide will be the best for you. Xxx
I would see if you can defer a month. Only because I had loads of plans for after egg collection and ended up being 2 weeks behind schedule as my body didn’t initially respond to the drugs. Then at the end they told me egg collection a week later but ended up going in that Friday as I responded suddenly very well to the stims. There’s just no telling how you will react. I didn’t get any, but mood swings are also very common which could have a negative impact on all of your plans. Good luck whatever you decide x
Hiya.. Id wait for a month it is was me.. These things definitely don't always run on schelude so could end up clashing plus you don't know how you'll react to stims etc yet...best of luck whatever you decide ox
Like others have said I would also wait a month if it was me. It is all consuming and although you can get an idea of timescales no one can be exact and things move. You also don’t know how you’ll respond. It’s best to be fully focussed on it. Plus a holiday & a chance to relax after all you have going on before is no bad thing at all. Wishing you lots of luck with whatever you decide x
I would personally wait, only because I am an Accountant and couldn’t think of anything worse than juggling my exams with IVF, both are very demanding and I would hate to think after all the work that goes into studying, that day may clash with ivf procedures..
I had both a long protocol and a short protocol and all my reactions came with the short as I developed OHSS and was admitted to hospital.. That saying, lots of people find short a lot easier than long!
It’s totally up to you but it seems like there’s a lot of potentially stressful situations going on together so may be too much on you..?
Good luck with the exam and the IVF and I’m terribly sorry to hear about your Nan xxx
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