Chinese Accupuncture

[Vonn]

Hi scarlettw--I am currently doing acupuncture and herbs, for 3 months so far. Not much change yet, but I believe it can help. We'll see. I think it's pretty common to hear the cold diagnosis and be told to eat and drink primarily warming foods and drinks.

My acu was talking to me about my deficient qi and I asked if there is only one qi for the whole body. She said each major organ has its own qi, so I asked if all my qi-s are deficient. I expected the depressing answer of yes. Instead, she told me that my heart qi was strong, and that that is often not the case for women dealing with infertility. For some reason that made me feel so good. Esp since sometimes I feel so broken-hearted about it all.

A while back I wrote a big long response to the thyroid booster topic and the iPad/BnB froze up and I lost it all. That's happened a few times. Made me so made I didn't post at all for a few days. Has that happened to anyone else?

Anyway, I haven't tried thyroid-boosting supplements since I want to know exactly how my body is reacting to my medication. So I can't speak to them, though I've seen numerous ones out there. They do tend to have selenium in them, which is also great for fertility (both men and women), so I'd say take some of that. I actually am taking that, although my dr didn't put me on it for my thyroid necessarily. I think the kelp/seaweed idea is super healthy, tons of antioxidants. I don't think you can go wrong with that, but I haven't read too much about it.

 

[Blythe]

Alison. I managed one day caffeine free. I love my cup if tea too much.....I have stopped my jug of black coffee in the morning though which I guess is something but I have milk and sugar in my tea which is not do great!

I don't drink it throughout day just 2 before midday. I don't think that is going to cause my an issue so not too concerned. I am making healthy changes elsewhere and , for me, it's about making changes that can be sustained long term so so r baddies will stay but I hope most will go

 

[Blythe]

Vonn - there are few things more frustrating than losing a whole post...yes it does happen from time to time and i try to copy my longer posts prior to posting just in case.

I was looking at your chart...what is your acupuncturist trying to address...in western terms? i know you mentioned before some spotting? What supplements are you taking? Have you had day 21 bloods taken to check your progesterone levels?

i have had intermittent issues with spotting and went through stage of obsessing about progesterone issues...i tried creams etc but nothing worked. It did resolve itself although i have had a lot of spotting in recent cycles but i have been on fertility meds of one kind or another for about 5 months of this year so i guess that may explain that!! Don't get too hung up about the spotting though as i see plenty of women on FF with spotting and BFPs.

 

[Briss]

Vonn, your previous chart shows a problem with LP. I think this might be your main issue, 8 days is just not enough for implantation cos it may take a week for the embryo to travel down the tube to the uterus. Did your acu doc mention any kidney yang deficiency? It would be great if they could help extend your LP so you wont have to take progesterone.

I've lost a few long posts with lots of info and did not really have it in me to type it all up all over again so I usually write my posts elsewhere and then just copy/paste them here.

afm, Presentation's done and dusted! so relieved!! I did not do too bad either so am double relieved. although there were a couple of moments where I was about to lose my voice… Had an upsetting moment this morning when I realised that my favourite suit, that I usually wear on special occasions cos it makes me look just right and gives me a bit of confidence, does not really fit me well. had to urgently resort to sliming tights and it worked I managed to fit in and was looking well at the presentation.

I wanted to start my IVF next cycle but the doc from reprofit sounded so negative about our chances that I am really put off. She was basically saying that with the IVF failures I've had we have very low chances with natural IVF and should do mild stims. mainly cos we may not get the egg and even if we do it may not fertilise so the more eggs we can get the better but It does not make any sense to me cos the only time we had a viable embryo was when I had natural IVf. To me it seemed really clear that stim just do not work and nothing can suppress my LH levels they will keep rising no matter what and the whole maturation process will be compromised. I did explain that to her previously a couple of times, I do not understand why she does not agree with my way of thinking on this? I really do not want to do stims because after two failed IVFs I am sure we will get zero fertilisation again regardless of how many eggs we will get. My body can produce good quality eggs if it let be. I would insist on natural IVF but when she sounds so negative about our chances I am really not sure I want to cycle with them anymore. Don't know what to think

re weight, a bit of progress here but it is tough so I can barely manage to stay within 900-950 calories. am eating disproportionate amount of radishes and cucumbers in the evenings. Am off to a business trip next week and you wont believe this but the client is a manufacturer of sweet things and various confectionaries. That's going to be tough!

 

[Vonn]

Briss--glad the presentation is over and that its went well! What a relief! I have a big event at my work on Monday that I am working long hours to prepare for. Looking forward to it and to it being over!

Sorry to hear about the bad dr conversation. I think you would regret not trusting your gut. You may not be a dr but no dr knows your body and unique situation like you do. I understand the concern of wNting the dr to be totally on board with the plan, though. Tough call.

AFM, I totally have luteal phase issues. Before going on progesterone they were btwn 8-11 days long. Now, it's usually longer. The 2 months before this short one LPs were 12 days long. This aren't real consistent, though, obviously.

Acu put me on new tincture tonight, rather than the herbs. She wasn't happy about the short LP & wants to try something new. Had crazy buzzing feeling with the needle in my head tonight. It freaked me out a little!

 

[Vonn]

Going back the ACV, have any of you tested your ph level? My dr told me to but I bought defective test strips so have to order others.

Blythe--my acu is treating pain-related thyroid symptoms (gut stuff and morning headaches and tension from jaw-clenching) and infertility. The low progesterone and general hormonal imbalance could all come from the thyroid, or all of the above could be caused by some other issue that has thrown everything out of whack. My dr is trying to sort thru it all. Slow process...

I'm on a number of things not necessarily for fertility, but which are also taken for fertility. Zinc, selenium, b comlplex, coq10, dhea. May ask to increase dosage of some of these to improve fertility. Progesterone, of course.

I hope your strong cycle ends with a BFP!!! I haven't had any sex drive for years. It's so sad. I feel terrible about it, esp because we are newly weds, got married on March 29!

Alison--what are u going to take as a t3 booster? Just curious.

 

[nobump]

Briss glad your presentation went well. Yeah to skinny tights!

Tend to use my phone more than laptop so post never that long. But frustrating when you lose them.

Getting some bloods done today to recheck fsh etc... I am day 2 started spotting on Wednesday but not nuch. So difficult to get appointment with nurse for bloods got to book in advance. ...

I am currently doing acu and herbs. But think will stop herbs after this 5 week block. The tea taste vile.

 

[Briss]

nobump, I hope your bloods come back fine. Do your estrogen together with FSH it helps to understand the result. Some of the herbs I had to take tasted so bad and smelled just awful it was really hard but I still think wheat grass juice was the worst because the aftertaste stayed with me for a few hours after I had each shot. I still feel like puking every time I think about it.

Blythe, I have been thinking about what you said re vitamins/pregnacare and decided to ditch my pregnacare conception. I replaced it with solgar and it's not really that more expensive but they also have good levels of vitamins E and B12 so I do not need to buy that additionally. I am now taking Female Multiple Tablets before O (https://www.solgar.co.uk/SolgarProducts/Female-Multiple-Tablets.htm) and Prenatal Nutrients Tablets after O (https://www.solgar.co.uk/SolgarProducts/Prenatal-Nutrients-Tablets.htm)

Vonn, best of luck with your event on Monday! I hope it goes well. what you said about "regretting not trusting my gut" is so true, I've been there so many times, relying on doctors and going against my gut feeling only to be proved right but usually with unfortunately consequences. I also had a chat with DH and he did not seem very opposed of the idea of stims but then it was not him who was taking all the hormones… I do feel my body will perform better if let alone. Anyway, thanks, you are giving me confidence to insist on my opinion.

I had my head and face needled in the past, felt really strange. One acu doc was trying to cure my acne which got worse on her herbs and I was getting lots of needles in my face but in the end the only thing that really helped was quitting her herbs.

I really hope she can sort out your LP, possibly that's all you need to achieve pregnancy.

interestingly your temp is higher during your AF, could there be any excess heat issues?

I used to be obsessed about my ph levels and alkalising. My CA 125 – it's a cancer marker came positive and I went through a lot of stress before I was told it's false alarm but during that time I read a lot on cancers and realised that quitting sugar and generally alkalising your body is a good way to prevent cancerous sells developing. Sugary stuff is one of the most acidic things you can eat actually. I got some urine and saliva strips and was checking my ph levels every few hours for several days and I noticed that my acidity levels are usually higher in the morning but then during the day it goes down and most of the day I am completely alkaline. Also, I am not convinces urine is the best place to check your ph levels because your blood for example will stay alkaline no matter what. basically your body will do what it must to maintain the normal ph levels. My conclusion was that we just need to cut down on sugar, make sure we drink alkaline stuff like lemon water or mate tea and eat our greens, that's basically enough to help your body maintain ph levels.

 

[Blythe]

Briss - many thanks for links to the solgar products. I will stock up on these once i have finished the odds and ends i have already.

I'm glad the presentation went well - well done!

i agree with Vonn re trusting your gut. I am no medic but i am so in tune with my body now and feel i know what is bad for me.....i remember calling the IVF clinic 3 times to beg them to do an earlier egg collection as i felt my body changing but they said no......I totally feel i would have done better if my eggs had not been blitzed with all those drugs for so long.

i have a new favourite food to report on!!!!! it is the totally unsociable sauerkraut - and this one is simple delicious. Its super good for you, low in calories and high frequency too i am having it with everything in place of sauces/dressings and to make dry food a bit more palatable.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Biona-Orga...TF8&qid=1414759667&sr=8-1&keywords=sauerkraut

Vonn - i used to and still do a lot of jaw clenching. Some years ago my dentist made me a shield i was meant to wear every night during sleep. I gave it up after a month or two. I carry so much tension in my face and i really try to relax it....this is one of my favourite youtube videos...this guy is great [not sure if there is a part one to this]:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AirxmTk9cpc

i look forward to hearing about positive changes to your cycle....hopefully you should see them within 6 months of doing both the acu and herbs.

How much DHEA are you taking? I was taking the micronised one but have ditched it now as i had hair loss.

 

[Briss]

Blythe, I love Sauerkraut!! although I did not know it was called like that, not even sure how to pronounce it I just call it sour cabbage… you can actually buy fresh one (although not sure how fresh it is) in Polish/Russian shops, there is one in Queensway

 

[alison29]

Blythe that is great that you did one day I am have not gone all free yet. I think will try tuesday. Yes good to be rid of the coffee. I love tea with sweetner and milk too.

Vonn have you tried wearing a mouth guard at night? This has helped me immensley. I ordered it online for a bout 89 $ its custom fit and has saved me from daily headache and jawpain.

BRiss: Yay for the presentation! I just bought some slimming underwear for a couple of my holiday dresses can't wait to see the difference. Good job on the veggies at night. I binged on halloween candy the other night.

 

[Nikki1979]

Hi everyone , can I join in?

I am 35 and have been ttc number 2 for the from Feb last year. Have managed to get pregnant twice but lost the babies really early. I read so many good things so decided to try acupuncture from this cycle. I have done 3 sessions so far ( I go weekly and apart from the boredom of lying still for 30 mins, I like it.)

The lady who is doing my treatments said that I have symptoms of a cold uterus and that could be causing implantation problems. She gave me some pills to take ( You Gui Wan) but I am a bit hesitant to take them in the tww ( I am 7/8dpo) today. Some sites say not to be taken during pregnancy so not sure what to do. I don't mind taking in the follicular phase though.

Good luck to everyone and lots of baby

 

[Vonn]

Thanks, everyone, for the questions and suggestions! I'll see if I can remember them all.

Blythe--I am on only small dose of 10 mg of DHEA. Since I had hair loss from low thyroid, I don't think I its happened from DHEA. Testosterone is not high, although DHEA number is not where my dr wants. I'll have to ask her about it. Are u still feeling good about your cycle?

Alison--to get my insurance to cover acu, I have to have some pain to treat. So, it worked out that I was having a recurrence of headaches and gut pain. I do have a mouth guard and I hate it, so I don't use it. Probably didn't give it enough time, but then headaches went away (only to come back when I started going to acu).

BTW Alison-jaw clenching causing headaches, esp ones u wake with but then go away, are a low thyroid symptom. Add it to your list, if you haven't, in case u need to fight for more attention on this in future.

Briss--my temps usually drop the day of or the next morning, depending on how early/late in day AF starts. This months start was weird. And now 4 days in a row of same temp. That's weird too. How's the diet going?

Caffeine--I drink a cup of black tea, fertilitea from Making Babie book, in morning every day. Occasionally Ill have a soda. I eat amost no chocolate. I used to have a cup of coffee and a diet soda every day--killer headaches when I quit.

 

[Blythe]

Nikki - hi You Gui Wan support Kidney Yang. I used to take this post ovulation up till AF to support a potential pregnancy/progesterone during 2WW. Your practitioner should be able to provide you with reassurance about whether it is ok for you to take post ovulation though.

Vonn - i was just happy that i ovulated at the same time i got my EWCM as usually that comes days before my positive opk which can be frustrating and confusing. Having gone through 4 years of doing this i have no expectations that this cycle will be any different to the others but you never know!!

Briss - We have some decent polish delis around here too although i have not ventured into one yet. anyhow, this is of interest on the pickled food front:
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/f...in-late-thirties/story-fneuz8zj-1226782588462

 

[Vonn]

Nikki--yes, join us! I hope your issue is one that acu can address. I enjoy talking with my acu dr & dozing off once the needles are in. The needling itself is a little uncomfortable because she wiggles them around.

Some of these ladies aren't currently doing acu, but they know a lot about it and about just about everything else TTC!

I know you also have a thyroid issue from another thread. I hope that is being optimally treated. It can cause infertility & miscarriage. Hypothyroidmom blog/website is good for learning about this. Do you have lab numbers for TSH, free t4, and free t3? All are vital to knowing where u stand.

I hope we all get well & get BFPs soon, so we can stop needing to be experts on all this stuff! It's exhausting!

 

[Jazzbird]

Nikki - hi I'm a qualified acupuncturist. You absolutely can take some forms of you gui wan in pregnancy - there are slight formula variations so suspect the sites you visited probably don't include the exact ingredients you are taking. I would always talk any concerns over with your practitioner. You Gui Wan is a fantastic formula for infertility. In fact I was taking it one of the months I got pregnant

I'm sure your acu has already advised you wrap up warm and don't walk around without socks on! Also avoid swimming. Hot water bottle in your lower back for 20 minutes in 2 ww is good for cold uterus as is putting your feet in warm water every night for 10 minutes. Avoid cold and raw foods too. Eat plenty of soups and stews, particularly butternut squash, sweet potato etc.

Hello to everyone else. Still reading and praying for you all, esp Briss and Blythe xxx

 

[Briss]

Ladies,I am so hungry... its only 6 pm and I've already reached 800 calories. Last night I was going mad from food cravings. Stuffing myself with cauliflower.

 

[Blythe]

Jazzbird - xx

Briss - I have consumed red wine, 2 huge servings of shepards pie and almost entire large circle bowl of quality street even the crappy toffees I don't like. I feel awful - stick with the cauliflower you will feel triumphant in the morning....I will feel sick and fat! But back on it tomorrow!!!

 

[Briss]

jazzbird, so nice to hear from you! I hope all is well.

Blythe, interesting article, am definitely going to that place tomorrow for some sour cabbage can't stay away from putting things into my mouth, already over 1,000 calories... only 10 pm looking through my photos I made in Greece last year after I lost weight for inspiration but hunger is really getting to me. besides TMI I did not poo for 2 days, not great

am watching "red lights" about people with psychic powers and charlatans, interesting but makes me uneasy.

 

[Briss]

Nikki, welcome! I am very sorry about your losses. have you done any immune checks or any other investigation? Jazzbird is our in-house expert of TCM. I have done acu and herbs with 4 different practitioners but somehow I did not see the result I wanted so I am taking a break for the moment while I am considering our next step.

alison, in the end I decided to keep coffee because black one does not have any calories and I do need something good to keep me going, can't deprive myself of everything at once. but I will definitely stop before our next IVF.

Vonn, I love your temp last few days, it's so steady! I think steady temp is a very positive sign. are you going to take progesterone this cycle? well done in quitting diet soda, they are the worst I think and so addictive. I never liked them myself (I can't stand cold drinks) but I saw how women struggled to quit their diet colas and the like.

Blythe, in the end I went slightly overboard on grapes last night but not too much, overall below 1100 calories. still, it's not enough to for me to lose weight but probably enough not to put any on. I have not lost anything in the last two days but probably due to constipation. I even had that detox evening tea that has laxative effect but it did not work (always worked before) so will be sticking to lactulose today, it's so sweet probably lots of calories

ladies on Reprofit thread were giving me hard time yesterday so I was even thinking whether Reprofit is the right place for me. I know a lot of women from the UK go there for donors so most women on the thread are DE IVFers but not everyone and I am certainly sticking with my own eggs so it was really upsetting that even after I politely but quite firmly stated that we are going with OE for personally reasons (without going into detail though as I do not want to upset anyone who goes with DE, I can imagine it was not an easy decision so I am keeping my opinions to myself really on that one) but they went on and on virtually trying to persuade me to give up??? it's like no one believes I have a chance, I was so distressed reading their "kindly meant" suggestions on how to "move on" but actually was this close to jumping off my balcony. I know that genes are not important for some women but to me it's everything. Luckily the moderator intervene and asked everyone to stop the discussion as I made my choice very clear. Am now thinking whether Reprofit is good for me? They are not very optimistic about natural IVF, and I am so scared to go abroad for EC after what happened to me at one of the best London clinics! I was even thinking of going back to Create but money wise it's just too expensive.