Time off work during treatment

[Hopefulforhappytimes]

Hi guys
Just after some advice & feedback really on your thoughts. I am currently on my third cycle of ivf. First cycle had 3 transfers & all failed. Second cycle got pregnant but sadly had miscarriage at 8 weeks & the following frozen cycle failed. I went through a third fresh cycle in the summer & got pregnant but had miscarriage at 10 weeks and that hit me hard. I am just starting a frozen cycle to transfer to embryos in a couple of weeks and am very nervous & anxious about it all. Work has been very stressful recently & we are currently having work done on our house so feel like it's all a bit overwhelming. And I want to make sure I am as relaxed & in best place possible when have the transfer to give ourselves best chance of success.

My doctor has said she will sign me off with fertility related stress and asked if and for how long I want this. Do you think this is a good idea? I think it will give me some time to focus on myself but just feeling guilty at the same time.

Thoughts appreciated or any stories of people in the same situation.

Thanks

My clinic automatically issued a sick note for 2 weeks after any embryo transfer, they simply put ‘post operative recovery’ after fresh cycle and, I think, ‘post procedure recovery’ after FET so work didn’t know the ins & outs of my business.

I do think it’s a good idea, it probably doesn’t make any actual difference to the outcome but, it’s stressful enough going through it all, so taking work stress out of the equation at least gives you a break from that.

Wishing you lots of luck

Thank you so much for your response It's so difficult deciding what is best to do! Just want to make sure there is as least stress as possible and we have the best chance of success! It's great your clinic does that as I've always had to take leave or just work through.
I hope you had a positive outcome x

@Hopefulforhappytimes I would absolutely get signed off sick, you matter and you’re important! Work can wait! You sound like you have many plates spinning and if one of those can be reduced it will most likely help you with anxiety. Good luck xx

@Sydney1986x thank you so much for your response it's much appreciated as I try & work out what best to do and good hearing from people in similar positions.
It's given some perspective in making sure we put ourselves first in this too! X

My clinic refused to give me a sick note for a couple of weeks when I asked, said they could write a letter for work saying I was having EC and talking about my menstrual cycle! Which was too personal for work so I didn't use it in any case. My GP wouldn't sign me off either saying that it wasn't allowed its my choice and I'm not sick

Happy to hear others have had better support from their doctors, if I could I was get signed off for this as its very draining and physical. Bet a man getting a vasectomy would signed off

@Hopefulforhappytimes I'd definitely take a sick note if you can! I have been using a combination of annual and unpaid leave to take time off for my IVF as my clinic advised me to isolate to reduce the risk of catching covid. IVF is stressful enough and I agree trying to be in the best state mentally can only help! Work will find a way to cope Xx