Today marks two years that I have been working as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in my current job. I graduated with my master's two years ago and starting working less than a month after. I love my job and am constantly grateful for a rewarding, challenging, and well-paying job. My benefits are great (minus covering IVF), and my surgeries, ultrasounds, appointments, and medications have been (mostly) covered. As a great addition, W starting working this week. I can't even begin to express the huge financial weight that has been lifted off my shoulders. It's not exactly the weight of the world, but you get the idea. I can look forward to working less and letting him make some mortgage payments. The great part is we bought a house we can afford on one income, so when I finally do get my take-home baby, I can work as little or as much as I want (emphasis on the little part).
To be honest, I never thought I would work this long without at least being pregnant. Not that working for 2 years is that long, it's just that it wasn't my plan. Part of why I took my current job was the fact that I make my own hours and schedule and can determine how busy I want to be. Sounds perfect for someone with a young child, doesn't it? You don't have to tell me! Oh well, good thing I like it.
I want to ask for a raise but am not sure how to go about it. We don't have performance reviews and I basically only correspond with my boss (that one who does the business aspects) through email and rare phone calls. I think I may ask for a performance review and would only ask for a small increase, but feel nervous about it. Any suggestions?
On the IF front, I will start Lupron in a little over a week. Time has been going by relatively fast lately between being insanely busy with work and getting ready for our party on Saturday. I am supposed to call the nurse tomorrow to give her an inventory of my remaining meds. I got a cycle's worth of IVF meds for free from fertility lifelines about 7 months ago. We used most of a 900 IU Gonal-F pen last month for the IUI, but have 3 more pens, Menopur, and a Lupron kit (minus one dose). I will need an HCG trigger, more Lupron, and probably another Gonal-F 900 pen. I am pretty sure my insurance will help with the Lupron and know it will for the HCG, but am not sure about the Gonal-F. My insurance does cover IUI's but I'm not sure if they also cover injectables. The Clomid was cheap and covered, so hopefully it will be the same with Gonal-F. I will ask the nurse about donated meds since that is how I got the Lupron last time. We will see. I can't wait to get this cycle started since doing nothing feels crappy. At least when I am doing something, I feel closer to the end goal. No one likes being in limbo, really they only like playing it.
Doesn't that look like fun?
My only question/debate at this point involves progesterone. Last cycle (with my IUI) I ended up breaking out in hives and I'm pretty sure it was due to the progesterone. I'm not sure why since when I was pregnant I took it 3x's/day for 4 weeks without any problem. This time after about 4-5 days of starting my legs got these itchy bumps that spread and got worse with time. As soon as I stopped the progesterone they went away. I will mention it to the nurse and see what she says.
You are just ahead of me :) I start lupron on the 20th! Hopefully you wont have any trouble getting your hands on the extra lupron that you need!!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely ask for a raise!! There are some very tactful ways to request it (maybe a quick google search will turn up some pretty standard methods). I know in some careers the only way to get a raise is to ask. It may feel weird, but if you don't advocate for yourself, no one will :).
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you are in the US, but it's on national backorder here and I could not find the manufactured lupron anywhere (the only kind my insurance covers). I had to buy it OOP compounded at a nearby pharmacy. It actually wasn't too expensive that way... at least compared to some of the other meds.
I vote totally ask for a raise! Or at least for an evaluation. It's sorta crap they don't just do that on an annual basis since you never see anybody.
ReplyDeleteYay for a double income family. How wonderful to have that security for when a baby comes :)
Absolutely ask for a raise. If there's any way to do a face-to-face meeting I would recommend that. And can you make a list of how you've grown/gained in experience/taken on new tasks, etc. in the past 2 years? That might help your boss see why he/she should offer you more money. Good luck asking for the raise...I know it's a hard thing to do. And on a different topic, so great you are starting lupron soon. I agree it always feels better to be doing something.
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