Experienced IVFers please can I get your advice?

[RiverRiot]

Hello, I’m wondering if I can please get some advice from those far more experienced and knowledgeable than me.

Big apologies in advance for the very lengthy message! 🙈

Brief history; age 36, 3+ years TTC, unexplained.

I got the call today to say I can start my short protocol on my next cycle, which falls next week.

The thing is I’ve been so stressed at work lately. I’m freelance and the last five months have been pretty unpleasant. Lately, it’s been 11-12hr days and some weekends.
As my contract is naturally coming to an end, I was planning to take June off to completely relax. So in a way good timing.

However, the next two weeks are likely to be crazy busy and potentially even more stressful than they already have been. And if the timings work out as I think they will, I could be starting my first injection on my last and busiest day.

The nurse said it’s no problem to postpone to my June cycle. And although mentally I think I could cope with the mayhem of starting next week, would it be better to have some time to relax and for us both to do all the right things and physically prepare?
(We already eat pretty well and have cut down on alcohol but DP still has a drink on the weekends, although less than he did and was planning on going teetotal in the month leading up to IVF).

I’m obviously so eager to get cracking after over three years of trying but I also don’t want the stress of my stupid job to scupper my chances.

Having already been through it, with your experience, what would you do in my shoes?

TIA. x

Hi

So just to clarify your first day of stims will be on your last day at this company?

I had to take suppression meds, then I got a bleed and day 1 of stims was the first day of the bleed. Just checking if you've taken any suppression meds into consideration when working out the timings?

I took my injections in the evenings so I don't think it will matter if day 1 is your last day of work. The stims were fine for me, the only issue I had was that as I have a high AFC I had a lot of pressure around my ovaries, not everyone gets this, but it made working very difficult, I couldn't sit or bend to the floor, I was most comfortable lying down. This was towards the end of my stims.

Having a job that is as stress free as possible is useful, because you don't need any more stress on top of fertility treatment and also one that will be flexible with time off, given that you can be given little warning for scans and procedures.

It doesn't sound like you need to put things off if you're ending at this company as you're starting the cycle. It would be more of an issue if you're still there close to the time of egg collection.

I think the biggest issue is whether you would be able to make all of the scans and blood tests this cycle? You need to be prepared to go in a lot to the clinic, so will this be possible?

For me personally, I like to be busy during ivf. I find I'm far more stressed thinking about it all the time so if it was me I'd go for it!

If you are starting stims on the final day of work I think it's fine. Usually any lifestyle changes take 3 months to take effect anyway - and that includes your husband going tee total - he's need to do that for 3 months to see any benefit. I'd just start the treatment rather than delaying it anymore

Like another pp, personally I found keeping really busy helpful during our cycle. I was careful to make sure I was still doing some exercise and other things to manage stress levels, but worked throughout it. So long as you're able to take the time you need for scans without stressing, I'd be inclined to go ahead, but I know others prefer to take time off. Up to you really. Good luck!

Thank you so much for replying everyone!

Yep @Gardenlady543 that’s right I’d be starting on my last day at this company. I’ll be on short protocol so no down reg/suppression and would have all the time off I need for scans etc. @Shamoo (Although my clinic don’t seem to do that many scans but that’s another matter).

Thanks @andivfmakes3 it’s really good to be reminded of that.
I’m a bit of a worrier and because of the stress, I’ve fallen off the wagon a bit myself this month and have been beating myself up about it. But overall we’ve cut down for the last 5-6 months, I have a good AMH/AFC and DP had a very good SA. (He should be able to get himself pregnant with his numbers!) So I guess I’m just slightly terrified there’s something inherently wrong with my egg quality or something, which I suppose no amount of clean living would change even if that was the case.

And also the flip side is that if I did postpone I’d just be twiddling my thumbs for a month waiting for everything to start as I’m sure I’d be too scared to socialise properly in case my treatment got put back any further if, say, I developed COVID symptoms. Jeez, I really am a worrier! 🙈

Thanks so much again ladies, I really appreciate it. x