Down regulation anxiety

[Ern250324]

I’m currently on day 7 of down regulation for my first cycle of IVF (long protocol). I’ve been struggling with my mood from the drop in hormones. I constantly feel like I’m on the edge of tears at work. I felt like I was doing ok trying to act normal but my manager said to me in a meeting I seem uninterested in work and my performance was slipping. This set me off, I ended up having to go home as I couldn’t stop crying. I’ve told them I’ll not be back in before I start stims and I obviously can’t hold it together enough to be in work. I work in oncology so the emotional side of the job is too much at the moment.

I feel like I’m the only person to be struggling so early on. There are lots of posts on here regarding people struggling with the 2WW, I haven’t even got near egg collection stage and already off work. My GP has offered to sign me off for the rest of IVF process which is great but I feel so guilty like I should be at work.

Has anyone else had to get signed off work for the whole process ??

[JA-fnuk Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

The down regulation meds can make you feel awful - a bit like PMT ! Hopefully when you start the stimulating meds you will feel much more settled Make sure have people around you for support and keep talking to your OH Your job does seem quite stressful and it might be an idea to get signed off work and concentrate on your own well being

Look after yourself

Janet-Partner

[Figgypudding89]

I'm sorry to hear you're struggling. I also struggled a lot the past few weeks with mood, brain fog, general fatigue and listlessness (same situation, first IVF cycle and long protocol). I was on norethisterone and buserelin - I just went off the norethisterone earlier this week and felt immediately better, mood improved overnight and had so much energy. I'm working for myself and therefore have had a much more flexible schedule - so a lot of afternoons just resting and being a bit zombie-like (which feels frustrating when I really need to be working). I think you should consider at least taking some time off if you're able to, these meds can be so hard on your body - certainly for me it was much harder than expected. Fingers crossed once you finish this phase you feel better too - and here's hoping things get easier for us in the later stages!! Big hugs xxx

[Ricecrispies2024]

I found it one of the hardest parts actually, partly because I didn’t know what down regulation was and my clinic sprung it on me the day before, and at that point I was very scared of the injections so it was a horrible shock. What you’re feeling is totally normal and you have a very tough job, so I think it makes total sense to be signed off work. Be kind to yourself, this is a really hard process and everyone’s journey is different xx

[MBean0813]

if you can be signed off, and its better for your mental health, take the time. work will be there when you are feeling more like yourself. this is a difficult process from start to finish. my moods were so wacky my poor husband didnt know what to do sometimes. if i could take off the whole process i would. best of luck to you :)<3

[Hopefullme]

Take the time off and do not feel guilty. You can’t look after someone else and support them if you are in that fragile state due to all the flux in hormones which you have no control over!

I wish someone had told me that!! I struggled through 3 cycles of ivf only taking time off after EC( as felt pretty awful after) before finally taking my last cycle off from downregulation and it helped everything! Reduced my overall stress. Meant I could keep on top of recomended fluid intake through out( I work in NHS and would often be so busy, getting a min to pee is tough let alone drinking water)

I believe that taking care off myself meant I didn’t have as much pain after EC and the quality of my eggs were better. I finally got eggs to freeze and got my first BFP. Unfortunately it was a chemical but it still felt pretty momentous! Honestly feel taking the time off for down regulation was what helped. So sorry for that very long winded way to say yes take the time and do not feel guilty! Best of luck!!