Chinese Accupuncture

[Briss]

Threebirds, thank you!

At this point I just do not know what else I could be doing, I pretty much tried everything. and gave up most of my favorite things, (chocolate is the last one left), I could do more yoga and exercise, I suppose, might go back to juicing.

Last october when I started acu I was so hopeful that it will bring some major changes. Maybe if I change my practitioner things will start improving faster. when I read about TCM I am so inspired that it can make real changes and stop the clock but then when I go to my acu doc it's like a different world

 

[Blythe]

Blythe, that's right my FS did not refer me for AMH because of cost but my GP said they do not trust AMH. Besides I did my test abroad and it said that I was supposed to do it on CD3-5 (which I did not believe was an issue but may be it was).

My DH did his SA and I will be calling my FS for results at some point. I do not expect them to be good but wanted a reference point to compare it with when we repeat it after 3 months off beer.

I know that i should not be expecting a BFP until we get DH's sperm sorted and yet I still hope every month and naturally get disappointed.

Low AMh just confirmed what I already knew really that I should not waste time and probably medicated IVF is not an answer for us and we are better off with natural IVF and even IUI if we get DH's sperm numbers up. but still it kind of hits you in a bad way. I am just so glad I have your support ladies, I do not think anyone else can understand this.

I would struggle without your words of support and encouragement....being able to off-load here keeps me sane and means i can function normally in work etc i just don't think anyone can understand the complete heartbreak of infertility unless they have gone through it too and whenever i mention it to friends i can see them glazing over....i just cant keep saying the same stuff so i don't bother anymore.

i know you were naturally inclined towards natural IVF [if you end up pursuing this route] so it just serves to support that but i totally understand your feelings towards this....Something good has to happen soon!

Back to your earlier question re acupressure points i am using randine lewis's points to tonify kidney yin pre ovulation and points to tonify Kidney yang post ovation. I use a drumstick and massage point for about 30 seconds...could do more i suppose but i fit it in before i go to work and tick it off my TTC spreadsheet [its official...I'm horridly obsessed!!]. i also do this to wake up all my meridians before i drink the chinese herbs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0WmFNmFzaE

 

[threebirds]

I know it's hard. I had been seeing a fertility acupuncturist (western but influenced by tcm) but then last Oct changed to full on TCM practitioner & found a huge difference in their approaches & really feel i am benefitting from the stronger tcm approach. But you know its about sustaining what you are doing and using the acu / yoga / meditation to relax & encourage blood flow. I also use Brenda Strong's yoga for fertility dvd. Maybe less is more. I dont know, I certainly dont have the answers but following the mc im going to stick with the tcm, more walking, a little yoga & some pampering massages Maybe we dont pamper ourselves enough x

 

[Blythe]

Just come back from acu and my doc did not needle my tummy points. He had also been going through my notes so knew i was in 2WW - he usually has no clue where i am in my cycle so i found that quite reassuring. he used different points on the inner leg [both below and above knee - i think spleen meridian] rather than outer, a couple of kidney points around ankle and a new one on my hand [triple warmer 3] and one on head which he has avoided last couple of sessions.

Briss - how are you?

 

[Briss]

Blythe, that's really interesting that he did not needle your tummy points, I agree it's reassuring I was getting almost the same points every time and definitely tummy points were needled every time.

It was actually quite nice to have a sunday for myself for a change instead of rushing for acu, by the time I was back home it was already late afternoon and day's gone. I am really enjoying this lazy sunday although still quite depressed about our prospects.

I had a couple of days without new spots coming out but then I started my herbs again from CD 1 and today got 2 bright new spots on my chin no idea whether this is at all related to herbs but looking back my acne got worse since I started acu/herbs in october. This cycle I will just do herbs and then we'll see I may try a different acu doc if I find somebody i can trust.

I liked your wake up exercises but not sure about tummy area, i'd just probably avoid shaking it that much

 

[Blythe]

in class she says to pat tummy at least 100 times [i think she says 200 in video] - i only do that prior to ovulation and really give it some. she does it in the fertility yoga classes. I did it this cycle and started bleeding again after AF had finished and it was clotty and dark and a bit stringy [like it had been stuck to the walls of my uterus for years - apologies for unpleasant mental image!!]. this is a first for me and i felt like i had had a really good clear out in hindsight [obviously at time very concerned as thought i was just having extended period and was worrying about it knocking everything else off].

it would be great if you could find a practitioner locally...my one is only 10 mins walk up the road.

 

[Briss]

it's a bit worrying to have bleeding outside your period, have you discussed it with anyone? I'd definitely mention it to FS or GP just to see what they say. I agree that getting a good clear out is great but i think this should be happening during AF.

I am thinking of going to Zita West, she is actually locally about 10-15 min walk and she is considered to be one of the best in fertility acu but I wont be able to afford more than a few sessions. still I am thinking at least it will be interesting to compare and see if she can offer something different.

 

[Blythe]

I would be really interested to hear about a visit to ZW herself. Does she do herbs too?

I have my fertility appt on weds so may mention it then. The lady that runs the fertility clinic at st George's also runs Create.... I hope I get my appt with her.

I was watching some you tube videos earlier of girls vlogging their TTC journeys.... Some doing live pregnancy tests....I can't think of anything worse! I became temporarily addicted as there appears to be quite a large TTC community on there.

 

[Briss]

just looking at the prices https://www.zitawest.com/fertility/fees/ I wonder if I should start with the initial consultation before starting acu with her

 

[Blythe]

Wouldn't that be compulsory....I hope that price includes the initial acu treatment too although its not clear.

 

[Blythe]

ZW seems cheap compared to that dr zhai woman although if I had the cash I would defo go there or dr maggie ju who is based in clapham junction. Still it would be good to walk to your sessions and I would be fascinated to hear all about it

 

[Briss]

without acu my pre o temp is just so random and really high. strange cos I am taking the herbs

 

[Blythe]

that is a bit odd...your temps are starting higher than your previous cover line! Maybe the acu and herbs combined have had a lasting positive effect on your temps - higher is better right

lets hope its a positive as anything different from a BFN cycle may well mean this could be your BFP cycle [positive thinking, positive thinking ra ra ra].

 

[Briss]

I like your positive thinking!! but I really liked my pre O temps lower, that was one of the positive changes I noticed since started acu. it improves my charts cos there is a more obvious difference between pre and post O temps. oh well, I am not being very diligent in taking my temps anyway (getting a bit tired of this after 17 cycles).

am planning to do aerobics today to improve my circulated and hopefully get good clear out so AF wont last longer than my usual 6 days.

 

[alison29]

Hi guys it's me again. I just wanted to ask was your lap and dye painful briss? I had one 5 yrs ago don't remember it being too bad. I am having one March 19 i am scared. I have had a c section since my first one and am a lot older and i feel alot mroe messed up in there. He is going to flush my tubes with water (novel thing iknow). Also really gross here but did you do anything to clean out your bowels first? I did not know before but a lot of people poop during surgery.
Whenever i check in on bnb i read what u guys are up too, stalker here. The dr told me that i was not allowed to get pregnant this cycle i almost fell off my chair from laughing. I told him that would not be aproblem as my uterus is a nuclear haulocaust zone..Seriously i haven't gotten pregnant in 4 years i doubt its gonna happen this month either.

 

[alison29]

oh and btw the way i have endo and he diagnosed that my uterus is tilted back towards my spine so if I believe in the gravity theory of helping conception i would have to lay on my stomach after bed with a pillow under my knees. oh the humiliation.

 

[Briss]

My lap and dye was not painful (under general anaesthetic) but when I woke up it was rather unpleasant and I felt dizzy whole day, then got some back/shoulder pain which I thought was usual but apparently I was placed on the table in some sort of weird position and my neck nerve got twisted hence the pain. I had to do physiotherapy for about couple of weeks. I also got UTI (was painful to pee but again I thought it was normal after surgery but apparently not) and had to take antibiotics. I did not do anything to clean out my bowels cos it's a very minor surgery. I had a tumour removed from my abdomen years ago – 3 hour lap! – for that they made me drink smth disgusting that was supposed to clear my bowels the night before op, but not for this one. I had mine on CD5 but they also insisted no sex at all this cycle otherwise they were going to cancel the surgery. I was still on my period so woke up wearing "stylish" hospital pants with a pad

actually for you it might be better to BD in rear position

 

[Briss]

ZW seems cheap compared to that dr zhai woman although if I had the cash I would defo go there or dr maggie ju who is based in clapham junction. Still it would be good to walk to your sessions and I would be fascinated to hear all about it

dr zhai's prices are also quite spectacular https://www.zhaiclinic.com/prices.aspx

also there is no guarantee you will be treated by her, it can be any TCM practitioner working in her clinic. you will pay 250 for just initial consultation and I guess 130 for every other acu session + herbs (it does not say how much they cost). My acu doc did not even charge for the initial appointment although it was about 20 min. 6 week course will be around 1,000 pounds + herbs. Am gonna try and get hubby on board. I paid less than 800 for acu + herbs for about 14 weeks.

 

[Blythe]

Crazy prices but wonderful testimonials. I see your temp is down....hopefully keep down for a few days now.

I have been taking co-codamol as my back is in pieces...i would rather not bern taking it during 2ww but I'm in agony. Ive been feeling pinching pains on and off on right hand side of uterus but my boobs are not at all sore....I've been feeling the pinching/cramping sensation since cd4 so a bit early. Ive had so many pains like it in the past so I'm not sure what it is. I hope i get pregnant soon...I'm getting bored of this obsessing....i need to obsess about something else!!

 

[alison29]

My lap and dye was not painful (under general anaesthetic) but when I woke up it was rather unpleasant and I felt dizzy whole day, then got some back/shoulder pain which I thought was usual but apparently I was placed on the table in some sort of weird position and my neck nerve got twisted hence the pain. I had to do physiotherapy for about couple of weeks. I also got UTI (was painful to pee but again I thought it was normal after surgery but apparently not) and had to take antibiotics. I did not do anything to clean out my bowels cos it's a very minor surgery. I had a tumour removed from my abdomen years ago – 3 hour lap! – for that they made me drink smth disgusting that was supposed to clear my bowels the night before op, but not for this one. I had mine on CD5 but they also insisted no sex at all this cycle otherwise they were going to cancel the surgery. I was still on my period so woke up wearing "stylish" hospital pants with a pad

actually for you it might be better to BD in rear position

Thanks for the info I am glad about the not poo thing. So did they clean anything up for you at your lap? ...That really sucks about your neck and the UTI so scary. I hate catheters yuck feels awful. I wonder why you go the uti it must be related. Last time i had one it was a female dr so i didn't feel weird about waking up in a pad (they lazered a couple cysts so they drain). I love my new dr but when i do get pg i may go back to a women just not as weird for some reason. Wow they were strick about the bd.