IVF and work....

JenC · Post by **JenC** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 3:56 am

Just curious about what you guys do about work during an IVF cycle. My doctor advised me to take a medical leave, however I just found out that I was denied. I plan to fight it, but I start December 28th. I don't qualify for FMLA because I am part time and don't work enough hours...What do you guys do or what have you done?

k · Post by k » Wed Dec 07, 2005 8:20 am

Hi Jen

Welcome to the site! You will find a lot of support on here.
I continued working during most of my IVF treatment. Because I was part time and it wasnt a physical job, I found it helped me to continue working and take my mind off everything. I guess it depends on how stressful/physical your job is. I was lucky that my work colleagues were very understanding and were happy to swap shifts to fit in with my appointments. From what Ive learned been on this site, most people do continue to work during taking the drugs and having scans. You will need time off for EC and ET (Egg collection and Embryo transfer). I also booked time off between EC and ET, which I was glad of because I was still sore.Some people prefer to take time off for the 2 week wait between ET and pregnancy test. I had a few days off after ET but worked the rest of the time. (Some people think resting can help the embryo implant, it depends on how you feel. I would have gone mad with nothing to do and as I said, my job wasnt physical).
If your Doctor advised medical leave, why were you refused it? Cant he/she sign you off?
It might be worth posting this question on the General Forum, it tends to be where most people post.
I wish you all the best with your treatment!
Love kim

JenC · Post by **JenC** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:52 pm

Thanks Kim. I'll repost it.

My company is very strict...I can't just call in sick, it's hard to get people to switch shifts, and yes, it is a very stressful job...mostly because management makes it that way.

amfy · Post by **amfy** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 11:31 pm

You say you can't just call in sick.....but what if you were sick? What if you were throwing up so much you couldn't stray 3 yards from the loo? What if you broke your leg? then you would have to call in sick right? Work would have to manage.

If you have a sympathetic doctor you can get them to write something ambiguous on your sicknote.

I have the kind of job which isn't exactly physical, but where it is just impossible to choose to slow down. I was back at work 4 days after ET and in retrospect i do think it was too soon. Next time I will be off for the whole 2 weeks. If you have a stressful job, and no-one at work is going to support you to relieve that stress if you're there, then my advice would be to find a way to get that time off

JenC · Post by **JenC** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:40 am

If I am out a certain number of hours, I get in trouble and then go to a hearing. Well, if they don't grant me a leave, I give my 2 week notice. It's as simple as that. I can't stress about it.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Nicholas'sMom · Post by **Nicholas'sMom** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 1:43 pm

I went through 2 IVF cycle's and both I keep on working, that's right, it keeps your mind off things, I only took off for the ER(2days) and the ET(2days), My first time it was postive, but our son was born too early at 22 weeks, and I just went through it again but negative. Well hope everything works out for you.

NickiMark · Post by **NickiMark** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 12:52 pm

Dont talk to me about work and tmt, ve had so much hassle.

The 3rd lot was n't so bad had a new boss, but seems not many company's have policy's to cover it. It's mad!!!

I took it as sickness leave, mostly scans etc were done at 9 am so i just took off an short while and made the time up. xx

Lis · Post by **Lis** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 6:06 pm

Hi Jen,

That's madness! I would def. get your GP to sign you off if your work are so unsympathetic. Can you phone your human resources dept. and get them to put you straight on what the policy is? You can do this confidentially. I think by law you have to be given the right to time for tmt.

Good luck!

Lisa xxx

NickiMark · Post by **NickiMark** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 9:15 am

Bosses suck!!

I dont understand why it's so much hassle!!!

I mean if we needed time off for illness they wouldnt make a fuss. would they?

Arghhh!!!

nes · Post by **nes** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 8:48 pm

Hi,

I don't know if it was the same for anyone else, but I work for a local council, and even though they can be ok about taking time off, they do switch after a bit and get a bit funny - especially the moany management who think they are part of the council furniture....

I decided to tell my immeadiate manager that I was undergoing medical treatment for 'women's problems' and that I would need some time off for hospital appointments, and maybe a period of two weeks as 'recovery' after my final appointments, however things went a bit different...

When I started the meds for IVF, I was still going to work, but just taking the odd day off as annual leave when my scans were during the middle of the day. When I came to having my last scan to determin when to take my final injections, they noticed that my follicles were not developing fast enough and they were not big enough for the collection, so I ended up having to take the week off work, as I was on extra meds for 3 days, and I had to go to the hospital every day for scans and blood tests. I had my EC on Oct 1st, and had to stay in hospital for an extra night as I was really sore - I had over 45 follicles, but they only got 12 eggs.

I booked the next 2 weeks off work, as I was really sore, I thought that I would be better off resting during my 2ww instead of going to work...On Oct 3rd the clinic called us and said they wanted to leave the ET until the following day to make sure that they put the best two embryo's back.

I tested on October 18th, and got a BFP, and when I went to see my doctor, he signed me off work straight away for a month as I had a previous miscarriage, he didn't was me to stress myself. When I went back to see him he signed me off again, as I was really tired and feeling really cranky! - Just as well, because I am now 3months pregnant with twins!

I think that it really depends on how you feel. I don't think that I would have had the same results if I had gone back to work sooner, and especially as I have been sleeping for most of the last two months, I don't know if I would have been very concious at work anyway!!!

What ever you think the best choice is for you, I think that you should go for it. I am really glad i had that time off, as I feel it helped my twins to get a proper grip when attaching, and also helped then to gain size without being through too much outside stresses.

I hope you're treatment goes well.

pauline69 · Post by **pauline69** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 11:04 am

Hi,

My 1st cycle, I worked. My 2nd cycle I took the 2ww off but for my 3rd cycle (Feb-March) I'm going to take the whole time off - can't wait.

Pauline

JenC · Post by **JenC** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 5:43 am

I ended up getting denied for a medical leave, but they approved a medical leave. So beginning next Wednesday, I get 30 days off. Whew! I just wanted to relax and not stress about work while going through this.

Thanks for your insight!

IVF and work....

IVF and work....

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