I have referral apppointment to discuss steps for IVF in April and my goal is to lose at least 2 more kg before then as I will need to qualify for ivf on nhs. I have lost 2kg so far so getting there
I am a bit nervous however about ivf. Main things that firstly worries me is the injections, the idea of injecting myself or getting my husband to do it seems scary but I hear that women do get used to it and it'a not as bad as it seems. Do you ladies have any tips for dealing with the injections? Did you just get over any nervousness once you got started?
Lastly I am nervous about how to juggle ivf and work. My manager is supportive but still not sure I would want to mention ivf but also understand being open would help them to understand the need for appointments and mean I have less need to book holiday for EC and ET. How did you ladies navigate ivf and work?
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Jennifer89
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I was absolutely petrified of needles, and still kind of am. But I’ve somehow managed to do three rounds of ivf 😅 thing that helped me the most was having a routine, my husband always did my injections in the same place (lying down on my bed) and I’d lightly ice the area first, it helped the sting and I really couldn’t feel anything. You do get used to it!
With work, I was totally open and honest. They were super supportive and it meant I didn’t have to use holiday, I could put it through as sick leave. I think ivf if stressful enough so if you feel comfortable telling work, I really recommend it, it’s another weight lifted off of your shoulders.
The weird thing is I am ok with needles at the doctors but just nervous about idea of doing them at home. Also heard Elma cream can help but not sure if ok to use while doing ivf injections.Yes I think there are pro's to being open with my manager, luckily he is a nice man so know he will be supportive. Already had a down moment at work and opened up to him about infertility struggles so won't exactly be a shock to him...
Thank you have my fingers crossed ivf will work 😌 x
hi Jennifer89 if you look at my posts from my profile, I asked a similar question re work (my boss is NOT understanding!) and there’s lots of fantastic suggestions.
Best of luck! I’m ok with needles etc but I guess my advice would be to ask the clinic for an advice session, and remember the end goal. All the best 💜
I absolutely hated needles when I started this process (I'm on my 1st round)- I couldn't even look when my husband was getting his blood sample never mind my own. I was a bit of a wreck when I had to do the first couple of times. Very first time took me like 20 mins of psyching myself up. I found that it helped to watch the video explaining how to give the injections a couple of times... It kind of reassured me.
It sounds a bit cliché but I did get used to it very quickly.
With my work I told my manager incase I needed time off at short notice. She was indifferent tbh said I didn't have to tell her and that I could have just said it was a medical appointment with no further explanation. Which for me felt like a strange response but I was probably overthinking it.
My husband told his work too. He had to pick me up from my EC and wanted to be there for ET for obvious reasons.
I’d recommend telling work as it sounds like your manager would be supportive. For me it’s one less stress on top of everything else being able to book appointments or shoot off last minute. X
Hi, welcome to the club... Firstly, needles. You absolutely get used to them. Anyone who hasn't had IVF will speak of the horrible needles but anyone who has had it will tell you they are fine. I think that says it all - you will be fine. The first one is an odd experience but everyone manages. By the time you are standing there with it in hand there is no option. You can't quit then(!) so you just do it and then you realise you did it, and they get easier every time. I put mine on the table and abandoned ship 3 times. By the time I picked it up the fourth time I was panicking I'd had it out the fridge too long so the fear of messing it up overtook the fear of doing it and I did it and.. it was fine. I do mine myself and I prefer that.
On work, I had no idea what kind of support I would get but told my manager. I was terrified at doing so but I have been overwhelmed at the support I have had from him since. I would definitely recommend disclosing especially if you are in a supportive environment. It makes everything easier with appointments and time off. It just also explains why you might be a bit off one day, or struggling, feeling ill, or brain fog etc etc etc. After telling them you can say "I'm taking new drugs and feeling a bit sick today" or "We have just had a setback so I might keep myself to myself today".
well done losing all that weight so far!! 🫶🏻👏🏻 honestly dont worry about the needles part or even any of the exams or procedures none of them are nearly as bad as you are imagining and after the first few injections you will become a pro at it all. Great your manager is supportive and I just did as many appointments b mornings as I could do other than egg retrieval day and a few hours off for transfers it doesn’t really affect work as much as you’d think 🤗 do t overthink it and take one step at a time would be my advice xx
Hi Jennifer89, as other people have said you do get used to it. I'm terrified of needles and the moment the nurse brought in a bag of these incredibly long ones I thought I was gonna be sick. She saw my face and explained they were just to make the solution, showed me the smaller ones and my face was just as bad 😂 When she did the first one, I honestly felt my heart racing, but once it was done I was like "well, not that bad". After that it was my husband who was in charge, I would look away, breath in and out and in he went. For me it worked better to sit down as I could pinch a bit more fat! I finished my stimms with only one bruise, and more bothered about feeling bloated than for the actual injections.About work, I work within a small team and I had appointments pretty much every second day, so I told everyone before they started thinking I was either dying or taking the mick! I got nothing but support, but to be fair we're mostly young women so it's easier for them to understand.
It is very normal to be nervous. I hate needles too but found the IVF stimulation and down regulation ones pretty harmless - they are short and go into the fat tissues of your belly so you hardly feel anything at all. You can always use an ice cube to numb the area for peace of mind. I had my husband do most of the injections and tried to focus on something else to get my mind off them. The first one is the worst, then you realise there is not much to worry about. Very best of luck with your cycle!
I hate injections and was rubbish at having blood taken (tended to faint, and was banned from giving blood as my veins are apparently so rubbish and prone to hiding and collapsing, it's not worth the hassle!) The first time I had to do the IVF injection I asked my husband, but I involuntarily dodged whenever he tried, so I suggested he try stealth and surprise me (like trying to dart a zoo animal 😀) but he very sensibly suggested that maybe I should just do it myself. It took me ages to build up to that first one and I cried in frustration and disappointment at myself for being so cr*p. But fast forward to four rounds later (one cancelled part way through stims) plus having to do lubion twice a day for 10 weeks from FET, and I think you could actually throw darts at me and I'd put up with it. You may or may not bruise, some meds seem to be worse than others (looking at you lubion) and I found I couldn't do it in my stomach at all and went with thighs. You'll be fine. Oh, and I didn't tell my work re treatment, but I was able to work pretty flexibily so never knew how they would have been, but they did have an HR policy on it and sure they would have been supportive, I just didn't want anyone to know or have that added pressure.
Like others have said, the thought of the injections is worse than the injections themselves. The needles are quite small and you get used to them fairly quickly. I put an ice pack on my stomach beforehand so it was a bit numb and sat down so it was easier to pinch some fat to put it into. My clinic suggested moving an inch or so across the stomach for each injection and then back again, just so you’re not injecting in the same place in a row if it’s bruised.
I’m a complete wimp with needles and tend to faint, so my partner does the injections. The first time I involuntarily screamed as he came at me with the needle so after that I just closed my eyes each time 😂 but I promise it’s actually fine once you’ve done the first couple.
In terms of work, I just told them that I had medical appointments coming up and some health things going on that meant I would need to work from home more frequently, but didn’t specify what for and no one has asked for more info.
I was also really worried about the injection side of things and massively built it up in my head, I watched a lot of videos and had one playing as I was doing my first injection and honestly, it’s really not that bad, your instinct kind of takes over and you just do it!
In terms of work, I did let my manager know who thankfully is really supportive. There are a lot of appointments and scans to manage so I did find I needed to be transparent about what was going on.
My first ivf consultation is next week and I totally feel your anxiety. I'm the exact same, I just do not know how I'm going to cope with the injections, and I don't think my husband will be much help with it either. But we'll get through it, as everyone else on here has said, usually the thought is worse than anything
Wanted to reply as I was so unsure whether to tell my work but in the end I did and I'm so glad that I was honest with them. I had been feeling awful because it's a new job and I'd already been through months of appointments and tests. When I told my manager he said he'd pretty much suspected what was going on and that he 100% supported me and whatever I needed I. E. Time off for appointments or time at home wouldn't be a problem.
He did say he was "excited" for me which I felt a bit odd about - like maybe he doesn't fully understand how difficult this process is going to be.... But I honestly felt like a massive weight was lifted from me as soon as I'd told him.
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