Travel for IVF?

[Hopethisyear]

We have decided to go the IVF route and we are meeting with RE next week to discuss this. My RE is located 25 minutes away by plane and this is the only way to travel to him. Has anyone done IVF from long distance? Will I have to have several overnight stays or can I fly back and forth in the same day? Luckily my state covers ivf, but still planning flights and hotel costs and time off work.

 

[mowat]

Hi there. I'm currently doing long distance IVF. My clinic is 2 hours away by plane---it's the closest clinic. I've done some blood work at my local hospital, and I had my introductory appointment on the phone (and injection teaching!) Saturday I fly down, and I'll be staying for a minimum of two weeks. There is really no other option as return flights are at least $450. Lucky you get some coverage---I don't even think my insurance will cover any of the meds.

Good luck!

 

[Care76]

I did IVF 3.5-4 hours away by plane. I stayed there during the whole process. It was 19 days, but I could have come home sooner because it was a 3 day transfer instead of 5. I made sure to stay an extra day even if I had a 5 day transfer. And when I went to the airport I asked for a wheelchair. That might have been excessive, but airports are huge and there is lots of standing and walking. I made sure to remind the staff on the plane so they had one waiting for me on the other end. It worked and I have my beautiful son from that IVF!

If we go again, I will start stimming at home and get monitored here. Then I will only need to be there 10-12 days. It works out well for us because we get a nice vacation out of it (we went to Cancun Mexico).

If you are only going to be 25 mins away I guess it won't be as bad and you can go back and forth. But personally I would stay at least a day after your transfer. Good luck!

 

[Hopethisyear]

Thanks for that info Mowat. Wow two weeks is alot. Do you work and did you tell your boss?

 

[Hopethisyear]

Care thanks for that info and congratulations on your baby boy.

 

[mowat]

Yes, I do work. I haven't told my boss what is going on. She knows I'm having medical treatment, but I won't tell her anything else. It should count as medical leave, but otherwise I'll have to take it as vacation.

 

[Hopethisyear]

I'm thinking I will have to tell my work something, especially if I am taking random days off without any warning.

 

[Disturbia]

I did mine 2.5 hours away by plane, in different country. I went there almost every month now. First for stims 2 weeks (combined with holiday). Second for transfered but canceled due to unexpected bleeding, third for transfer but failed. Will go there again beginning of june for hysteroscopy&other tests. I flew back 4 days after the transfer and used wheelchair in the airports. I'm a housewife so no idea what to tell your work but if you can have few days off there after the transfer I think it will help so the waiting game won't feel that long and it's difficult not to lift up something or walk alot in your own home/work. Good luck for your ivf!

 

[Hopethisyear]

Well I talked to my RE and and he says I will have to be seen 4-7 times in a two week time. I can't take 2 weeks off work so I will have to fly over for each appointment and then I can fly back the same day.
The nice thing is for most appointments I can just take the morning off and be back to work before lunch and DH doesn't need to go to most appointments. The not nice thing is each flight is $200 roundtrip