How do you balance work and IVF?

becky · Post by **becky** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 5:28 pm

Hello Girls..I think that the time has come for me to take the plunge and give up work...but before I do please reassure me that I am not in a stage of panic. We have done 2 ICSI and work did support me..but the chance of them allowing me more time off for further treatment is nil..is that against the law? Any one know? I am in 2 minds about the whole thing..would I be bored ? have no money and what if the treatment fails..have nothing? or it would allow me to sail through the treatment stressfree and then really have time to think about what I want to do..lets face it we have no time to think about what to wear these days let alone things as huge as this! Please share your thoughts with me..rather stuck in a rut..but scared to move Becky B

SJ BROWN · Post by **SJ BROWN** » Sat Aug 16, 2003 7:04 am

Sorry you feel confused. Only you can decide. Do not know where you work but They shouldnt stop you having time off for treatment-if the stress gets too much I am sure your GP would sign you off sick & then they cannot say anything. What I would say is we had ICSI in MAY (doing FET at mo cos did not have ET due to OHSS) I did not take much time off, just took time off for bloods, scans etc-my boss knew what I was doing but everyone else thought I was going to the dentist!! I booked a couple of days off for EC & arranged a couple for ET-luckily my boss agreed I could have a few days secial leave(if not I would have used AL) Unfortuantly did not use special leave as got OHSS & ended up being signed off sick for 2 weeks. Everyones different but I wanted to carry on as normal as possible, if I had stayed at home it would have been on my mind all the time. It all depends what job you do. I work in an office & although quite stressful, not physical & work definitly takes your mind off the whole IVF thing. It sounds like your boss was understanding so why not have a chat-you could even offer to work from home (again not sure if this is viable as do not know what you do) if it helps them. My philosophy when I started tmt was to carry on as normal as possible & worst scenario if I could not cope or had side effects was to be signed off by Dr. DOnt forget to look at the big picture, I know its not the BE all and end all but we all need money to live so think very carefully if you do give up work...Also if next cycle does not work(but Im sure it will be 3rd time lucky) think how you will feel if you are not working-all that time on your hand may not be healthy as you will feel very isolated & lonely & things will prey on your mind Good luck with what you decide, sorry have not been much help Take Care Sarah xx