First time IVF: Question about schedule and business trip

Kissmark

So DH and I had decided to do our first IVF in July. However, my boss just told me that he'd like me to take a week-long business trip in July. 
To a certain extent I can decide on the business trip date. Just roughly speaking, my cycle will most likely start around July 6th, then maybe egg retrieval around July 20th (CD15), when would egg transfer would most likely be? Do I need to rest for a week or so after the transfer to make help with implantation?  I have never done IVF so not sure what I should be careful of after the procedure. During the initial consultation the doctor just mentioned to rest well on the day of retrieval and transfer, but didnt mention if I can travel etc during the 2WW. Right now I am thinking maybe going the last week of my cycle (1 week after transfer) but I am not sure if that'd give me enough time. 

My business trip is not going to be too exhausting. I do have to take a 12 hour fly but it will be business class and won't be too bad. During the stay I will just have a few internal meetings and some training to attend. 
If it were you would you skip this cycle and postpone IVF for next cycle just to be sure?

Thank you very much. 

O2girl

I can't tell you how your stimms and cycle will go, but I can share how my cycle went.

During the 10 days I was on stimms I was getting u/s and blood work done every other day. I triggered on day 11 and had my ER on day 13. I did have a bad case of ohss and was laid up for a total of 8 days before I could go back to work. I didn't do a fresh ET I did FETs and I was off my feet for an additional 3 days for both my transfers.

The reality is that for about 2 weeks you have to plan to be near your RE for monitoring.....or at least that was how it was for me.

HTH
GL!

jencity9

I'm just piggy backing on this thread... I didn't realize rest after ET was required as well. Is that common? I will get more info soon but was thinking as far as work goes I just needed to worry about ER and morn appts for stimming..

BeckyP005

@jencity9‌ every clinic is different. There really isn't anything stating that bedrest is beneficial.

First day of transfer I was to be on the couch just getting up to go to the bathroom. Honestly after the transfer the Valium made me sleep for hours! 2nd day limited activity and by 3rd day I could resume with everyday activities except no lifting 15lbs or more and no high impact activity during 2ww.

My first transfer fell on a weekend which was great. This last transfer I went back to work the next day. I probably should of stayed home because I was really tired and crampy after a 11 hr day of running around. I'm sure others will chime in!!

O2girl

jencity9 said:

I'm just piggy backing on this thread... I didn't realize rest after ET was required as well. Is that common? I will get more info soon but was thinking as far as work goes I just needed to worry about ER and morn appts for stimming..

For my clinic it was 3 days bed rest. Every clinic is different. I personally was cool with the bed rest. My new RE says bed rest for 3 days post transfer as well.

Kissmark

Thanks to all who replied! 

Just wondering how many days after retrieval was your transfer? I guess it will depend on Fresh or Frozen as O2girl mentioned.

shelbeans82

I have done 2 IVFs, my 2nd I ended up stimming several days longer than anticipated so that pushed back everything.  Transfers are either 3 or 5 days (generally speaking) after ER.  For my 1st IVF RE recommended rest the day of the transfer only, 2nd IVF said he is no longer recommending best rest (just no super strenuous activities, went bowling 3 days after no problem).  I felt fine after both transfers but I know many other ladies do not.  Another thought for planning... would you be ok being out of town when you get the results of the cycle?  Or if you travel for a week a week after transfer beta might fall in that window. 

Deardra77

Just wanted to add that you will most likely need to have progesterone shots from day of retrieval through your first beta (and hopefully for you first 10 weeks of pregnancy). In my clinic at least there was no allowance to change to suppositories until a positive beta. I know some women have done the shots themselves but I would never be able to. You could try to find a clinic ahead of time that would be willing to do the shots for you maybe.

most transfers are in day 3 or day 5 after retrieval with day of retrieval being day 0. Both of mine were on day 4 but that's quite rare. Over the years I have heard a couple if women have theirs on day 6. At my clinic there was a 3 day bed rest and then no lifting over 10 lbs until beta/ultrasound as appropriate.

Is it a possibility to go right at the end if June or beginning of July? Maybe they can have you in birth control for an extra couple if days or something.

Kissmark

Hoping4LO Thank you for the reply. This is what I'm hoping to do, schedule the trip so that it's before retrieval time, such as during CD 1 ~ CD10 in July. But there is a possibility this wont work with my team so I am thinking what to do in that case. And if this is the case, then sounds like maybe I should do push the business trip to August, to the beginning of cycle in August. If i'm not pregnant with July IVF, then I can just start my stimulation for the next cycle during the trip. Hopefully doctor is okay to give me medicine before my cycle begins and before I leave for the trip. If I am pregnant however, I will have to travel but this is inevitable I guess. 

Kissmark

Deardra77 you are absolutely right late June or early July is the best timing for me. But one of my bosses will be out of town so they might not want me to visit during that week. 
I will try my best to push for that week though. 

This reminded me, has anyone ever lied to their company because of this? I can't really use IVF as a reason to insist on the travel date. But maybe I can say something like I'm having a procedure done...or something like that?

jszy10

@kissmark -- I'm not sure if anyone answered this question already, but transfer can happen anywhere between 3-5 days after retrieval.  I had to cancel a trip that would be right in the middle of stims because I just couldn't imagine being away during the process.

I definitely think you could find a way to say that you are having a procedure done.  That is actually what I told the group that we were traveling with for the reason that we had to back out.  Same with rearranging a party I had scheduled (I am in direct sales as a side job).

We will most likely be starting stims around the same time (July 4-6ish for me) and I had assumed I would be a bit "out of commission" until the last week of July, but it's so hard to tell.  If you have to plan the trip in July, I would say shoot for the very last week??  

I'm not sure how comfortable you are with your boss (or how flexible this trip might be), but maybe if you told him that you were having an 'extensive procedure' done that would require monitoring and rest before and after, maybe he would be able to suggest someone else travel in your place or that you could stay back? 

O2girl

Kissmark said:

Deardra77 you are absolutely right late June or early July is the best timing for me. But one of my bosses will be out of town so they might not want me to visit during that week. 
I will try my best to push for that week though. 

This reminded me, has anyone ever lied to their company because of this? I can't really use IVF as a reason to insist on the travel date. But maybe I can say something like I'm having a procedure done...or something like that?

I didn't have a reason to fib about what I was having done. IF falls under the Americans with disabilities act so anything related to IVF is protected the same as maternity issues.

Lillovebug79

I just wanted to add that during stims, you will most likely have monitoring appointments every 2-3 days so it prob won't be possible to travel from CD3 to transfer. I will be starting stims at the end of June and I already have my calendar. I would definitely touch base with your RE and get the timeline they have for you. If you are on BCP prep, they should have an idea when everything might take place.

gnl42

I don't think it will be possible to travel during CD1 - CD10... you need to be monitored (ultrasound and bloodwork) while stimming. I was going every other day at first, but then had to go every day bc my estrogen went high pretty fast. It's impossible to know how the cycle will go for you, but you sort of have to be prepared for anything. If you do a fresh transfer, it will likely be 3 or 5 days after retrieval as already mentioned... but there's also a risk of having to do a freeze all and then doing a frozen transfer a month later. I know you are probably anxious to start the IVF process. I can definitely relate to that. But, honestly, if it were me and knowing what I know now, I would try to go on that trip asap to get it over with and then start as soon as possible after you return. I was never on BCPs, but if that is part of your plan, then you can have a little more control over your cycle and exactly when to start. I would talk to your RE to see if you can work out a schedule like that. I'm sure it is also doable to travel if you schedule it right, but it is probably not worth the stress - you just don't know how things are going to play out. 

pblge

I would not attempt to travel during any part of an IVF (except to go somewhere FOR the IVF!). I would not try to do both unless you could travel while you were on BCP. Often that phase is somewhat flexible. There's not necessarily a reason that traveling after transfer would be bad, but why on earth would you choose to do something that might negate all of your hard work? There are strange bugs to catch, weird foods, disrupted sleep--I wouldn't be able to wonder if it were the cause of a failed cycle or early m/c.

Good luck!

przemosbabe

I feel like its not a good idea to travel until after they transfer your embryos. You never know what is going to happen from day to day with this. I travelled for this and was told I would be out of town for up to 16 days. I ended up stimming faster than they thought and triggering after 9 days of stims. I had my retrieval this morning and so far I feel find, and I think I find out in 3 days whether I will do a 3 or 5 day transfer. So I could be going home early. But things could have gone the other way too. You just never know.

Kissmark

przemosbabe, so how many days after the transfer did they say you can fly back?