Hi Margie,
I'm so sorry; I somehow didn't see your message from about a week ago below.
It's so good to hear from someone else whose been through both IF hell and the dissertation hell.
I'm really, really sorry about your m/c. I'm glad that you were able to throw yourself into your dissertation - and get it done! Amazing! A million congratulations!
To answer your question - I'm in the writing process of my dissertation, but I have quite a bit to go. I have about 60 pages so far and I'm guessing it will be about 200-250. I basically took last year off because of IF and have spent most of this year analyzing data and writing (along with doing my research assistantships, etc.)
I do have to get it done asap though, because I was offered a postdoc fellowship that will start in September/October. Hopefully, that will be the fire under my ass that gets me going. But they are also being REALLY accommodating with the postdoc - almost too accommodating. They basically said that if I haven't defended by September that I can be a "consultant" unit January. (By advisor is going to the UK from Sept-Jan; damn him!)
I completely hear what you are saying about priorities. I really, really would like to solely focus on the dissertation and hold off on the IF treatments for awhile. Unfortunately though, I found out I have endometriosis in April when they did a lap - and they told me that I basically have about 6 months until it comes back. So DH and I started the process of getting the treatments recommended to me by Dr. Beers, which requires two trips to Mexico and are planning to do a low-stim IVF with Check in August. As much as I'd like to start this stuff after the dissertation is done, I don't think I could live with myself if I missed out on the six month window.
But maybe I'm too involved in the situation to see other possibilities. I'd be more than open to your ideas and suggestions.
Thanks so much and take care,
Sara