Chinese Accupuncture

[melly2]

Melly, thanks for the update, much appreciated. great news on sperm count! some positive movement. what's your DH taking? My DH also has low testosterone, he takes Tribulis. I also gave him some chinese herbs that were supposed to improve his numbers but cant really say whether they worked. He is trying to build some muscle which should also help increase T levels. I am due to see our FS next week, she will probably ask him to repeat his SA. do not even know what to expect.

Alison, I've heard good stories about clomid improving sperm count but our FS would not refer hubby to urologist and I think you need a urologist to prescribe clomid. I so agree about fruit/veg. I just ate some fruit and hot drinks all day today; at dinner i had a starter and a few bites of beef with beens, skipped potatoes and desert. hopefully, am still on track.

Hi Briss,
My hubby is taking FertiiltyAid for men, acupuncture, Qc10, Omega. His urologist prescribed Clomid, which he is on, however, his testosterone has not increased yet, so they upped his dosage this week. If that does not work, then they will go to HCG injections in May. He has to see a special urologist since he had testicular cancer before, and now he's operating with one testicle, which is most likely the main culprit to his issues. However, like your husband, he has low testosterone, which is the main cause. I've heard really good things about the HCG injections and mixed results on Clomid. The Clomid doesn't appear to be helping my husband much, so we're thinking about moving to the HCG injections next month. Though his count has went up, as his doctor said, it's still not near good enough. We need ideally 10 million just for IUI.

 

[alison29]

Wow that really sucks about your dr. Its a bit different with the insurance company i have. Sounds good about your diet...I did good with dinner last night (salade) but then had triscuits with peanut butter later so BAd.

Afm CD2 Surprise! I did not have much hope this cycle hardly any bding but their is always the what if thoughts, but as you know i have been at this for so long what ever.

My friend at work had bad news at her ultrasound today she was "9 weeks" but i am guessing she had missed miscarriage don't know though just got a text. Wow that is just gutting. I don't know what is worse to never get pregnant at all or too be pregnant and have a miscarriage and not even know about it for a few weeks. She was not sick which was sort of strange/worrisome.

Where you at shiseru?? Hi blythe! and melly2.

 

[MalaMae]

Hi girls! Missed you!
Read all of your posts. I don't have much to report.
Have been dealing with family issues and in 1.5 week lost 6.6 lb (eating only 1 per day, I lost my appetite).
I'm not doing any temping, OPKs, saliva etc. Absolutely nothing! I have no idea when I will ovulate or ovulated ) we actually finally enjoy random BD and it feels great!
We are not thinking of IUI or IVF at all. I'm letting go and I feel so much more better

Malamae - how are you? Have you been BDing every 3 days? Are you feeling liberated from all the temping and opking? I hope you are well

OMG! It's amazing to feel free of everything!!! And the BD is 100 times better now )))
Due to family issues I can't really think of ttc, anyway.

 

[Briss]

Melly, thanks for the list, my dh is on a pretty much the same except for clomid. i really want him to try clomid. I also read that clomid does not work for everyone. maybe the HCG injections would work better for your DH. do you know if they have any side effects?

MalaMay, it's great to hear that you are doing well!

afm, so hungry! constantly hungry. again had tea and fruit and miso soup, no food. worked until 10 pm. after yesterday's dinner, my weight went back up so i guess the only way to lose weight is not eat...

 

[Blythe]

Hi girls! Missed you!
Read all of your posts. I don't have much to report.
Have been dealing with family issues and in 1.5 week lost 6.6 lb (eating only 1 per day, I lost my appetite).
I'm not doing any temping, OPKs, saliva etc. Absolutely nothing! I have no idea when I will ovulate or ovulated ) we actually finally enjoy random BD and it feels great!
We are not thinking of IUI or IVF at all. I'm letting go and I feel so much more better

Malamae - how are you? Have you been BDing every 3 days? Are you feeling liberated from all the temping and opking? I hope you are well

OMG! It's amazing to feel free of everything!!! And the BD is 100 times better now )))
Due to family issues I can't really think of ttc, anyway.

Lovely to hear from you I'm sorry you are having family issues you sound like you have been set free....and good news about the BD I think if we stopped TTC there would be no BD at all!!

 

[Blythe]

Wow that really sucks about your dr. Its a bit different with the insurance company i have. Sounds good about your diet...I did good with dinner last night (salade) but then had triscuits with peanut butter later so BAd.

Afm CD2 Surprise! I did not have much hope this cycle hardly any bding but their is always the what if thoughts, but as you know i have been at this for so long what ever.

My friend at work had bad news at her ultrasound today she was "9 weeks" but i am guessing she had missed miscarriage don't know though just got a text. Wow that is just gutting. I don't know what is worse to never get pregnant at all or too be pregnant and have a miscarriage and not even know about it for a few weeks. She was not sick which was sort of strange/worrisome.

Where you at shiseru?? Hi blythe! and melly2.

Hello love Sorry AF got you I can hardly imagine getting a bfp but I must hold onto the belief that it will happen i certain it will happen for all of us but we just have to keep going on. sometimes when I'm feeling blue I just say words like positive, fertile, pregnant, happy etc and my brain switches gear...it's simple but does seen to work for me (for a while at least).

I'm so sorry about your friend....that must be heartbreaking. A colleague's wife had a MMC before Christmas but she is now 10 weeks pregnant again. They paid for an early scan to get some reassurance. I hope your friend will be ok. A terrible thing to he through.

 

[Blythe]

Shiseru - your temps look wonderful. How are you?

 

[Blythe]

Melly, thanks for the list, my dh is on a pretty much the same except for clomid. i really want him to try clomid. I also read that clomid does not work for everyone. maybe the HCG injections would work better for your DH. do you know if they have any side effects?

MalaMay, it's great to hear that you are doing well!

afm, so hungry! constantly hungry. again had tea and fruit and miso soup, no food. worked until 10 pm. after yesterday's dinner, my weight went back up so i guess the only way to lose weight is not eat...

Briss - you are on a starvation diet as it is. This is not sustainable, particularly working the hours you do. Are you finding it difficult to concentrate? Please start eating food again and just cut the sugar. The weight will come off but not so quickly. No food=reduced fertility. Sorry to be blunt but I worry when I see your posts about lack of food.

 

[Briss]

Blythe, surprisingly, my concentration is not affected I just feel hungry most of the time but bananas really help here for the first time in years I went below 55 kg mark this morning. (I know 55 may seem like not a huge weight but I am rather small and light boned so for me it's a lot) two weeks off chocolate and bad sugars!! I am so pleased with this but it does not help reduce weight, it's just not enough and I found it morally difficult to deprive myself of this one thing i crave the most without getting any benefit. When I see my weight slowly but gradually getting down it helps me stay on track. it's really hard to motivate myself I almost gave up after a week when I did not see any progress. also my DH still insists on running for 10 hours so there is no chance of me getting pregnant this cycle I may as well use it to get into a more pleasing shape so I stop hate myself so much. Unfortunately there is nothing positive for me out there at the moment that i can enjoy or look forward to, if I manage to get my weight down to what it was before I was 30 it may stop me from getting into depression... sorry to sound so negative, am not in a good place right now

 

[Blythe]

Blythe, surprisingly, my concentration is not affected I just feel hungry most of the time but bananas really help here for the first time in years I went below 55 kg mark this morning. (I know 55 may seem like not a huge weight but I am rather small and light boned so for me it's a lot) two weeks off chocolate and bad sugars!! I am so pleased with this but it does not help reduce weight, it's just not enough and I found it morally difficult to deprive myself of this one thing i crave the most without getting any benefit. When I see my weight slowly but gradually getting down it helps me stay on track. it's really hard to motivate myself I almost gave up after a week when I did not see any progress. also my DH still insists on running for 10 hours so there is no chance of me getting pregnant this cycle I may as well use it to get into a more pleasing shape so I stop hate myself so much. Unfortunately there is nothing positive for me out there at the moment that i can enjoy or look forward to, if I manage to get my weight down to what it was before I was 30 it may stop me from getting into depression... sorry to sound so negative, am not in a good place right now

I'm replying from the changing room in tk maxx and I totally understand. Was about to buy an oversized shapeless top and then thought a few weeks of discipline and I can fit in my old stuff or go buy something new. It was so baggy that I held it out near my tummy and thought I could also wear when pregnant. I'm putting it back!!

 

[Briss]

I love tkmax! most of my bags, shoes and underwear come from there. I cant buy oversized things cos they just make me look round like a ball on legs I went to topshop the other day but did not venture to try anything yet, another 2 weeks and I might be able to do that. I can see my weight changing in kg but I cant see it on my body, clothes is still very very tight. until I can wear my old trousers I do not think I will be going out shopping, it'll just depress me. just did 30 min aerobics and off to mountain biking with a friend. had a latte, 3 eggs and fruit. been crying non-stop today. I should have let my DH go to china and miss ovulation cos with all this running he is no use to me anyway... so hopeless

 

[Blythe]

oh Briss - please don't cry I cannot believe that your DH does not listen to your concerns re the excessive exercising...although my bet is he has. i suppose he did start the exercising to build testosterone to help with his sperm count. he probably thought the mad running routine would help and now he is being told that it isn't. i suspect there is a bit of male pride at work here....i think he will change his routine soon enough.

your comment re ball on legs made me laugh a lot...recently i have been likening myself to an old character played by Les Dawson...he played a gossipy old woman...she was a ball on [hairy] legs. I will look very much like that character soon if i dont pull my finger out.

I'm embarrassed to say that i have bitten my nails quite badly since i was a child. they have always looked so appalling that i would hold my paper on the tube with them bent over so no-one could see. the other week i was thinking about how very disciplined [obsessed] i have been with TTC and the daily supplements, the avoidance of excessive caffeine, booze, ice cream and exercise etc and thought if only i could apply that to my nails. Well i treated myself to some 'Nail Envy' which is very expensive in boots and now my nails have grown and now im quite proud of them. The skin around them is still picked at but generally i feel i have triumphed. I feel happy when i look at them. Now i need to do that with my body....i know that getting a stone off would make me feel terrific and being able to wear my old clothes and make some new ones in a size 10/12 would be amazing. It would certainly divert my attention away from the misery of LTTTC.

I hope you have a great afternoon....london comes alive in the summer

 

[Blythe]

i forgot to mention....Earlier today i went to a different chinese herbalist...the one that is in the market. He has raw herbs and charges £5 per bag...well he charges £6 per bag [1 x per day] but i said the other guy who he has taken over from charges £5 so he will go with that. I still have some tablets im taking so will finish this cycle before deciding what to do. I had a quick 10 min massage with him and the treatment area is behind a curtain and was quite frankly very messy and a bit grubby really....I would not have been surprised to see a well fingered porn mag stuck to underside of the bed but the massage itself was nice enough.....the chinese doc said my hands felt cold indicating deficient kidney yang and bad circulation. Honestly, i had exactly the same prognosis when i first started with the acu and herbs back in december. How long does it take to actually do anything or maybe the treatment i have been receiving is just completely ineffective.

i know of another acu/herbs place in streatham which is a bus ride away and i may check that out soon and see how much they charge for herbs as i know they do the raw ones.

 

[Briss]

I do not care for my nails but I have a thing for hair. When I am stressed (which is all the time) I play with them to the point that they break in the end for many years I was not able to grow hair and every time I go to a hairdresser they cant understand what's wrong with my cut and what an idiot did my hair before I cant really explain that it's me so i change my hair dressers very often. It affects my look cos long hair really suit me. as soon as I managed to get my body back, that would be my next point of improvement.

We did not go mountain biking just did normal bikes - so much easier!

I went to my physiotherapist on friday and she showed me how wrong my posture is and basically one of my shoulders is so much lower than the other one, I never really saw it. quite upsetting. she showed what my posture is supposed to be and I have to say i have no idea how I can make my body keep it all the time, i could not even keep it for a few minutes. she showed me a few exercised so determined to do them every day

Blythe, are you sure his raw herbs are of good quality? do you know who his suppliers are?

People are noticing that my acne got better.

 

[shiseru]

Hello ladies, though not posting but am following closely on this thread.

Briss, I am sorry to hear that you have some argument with your DH. Things are getting a little too stressful for you both in regard to TTC. BIG HUGS! My DH and I had argument during TTC as I wanted him to stop smoking, no hot shower and cut down coffee. These seriously affected the relationship so we both sat down and have a good talk about it. Good to hear about your weight loss, keep it up! 28 days of leaves wow, i would love to use these leaves for IVF!

melly2, do not take these SA results too seriously. My friend's DH tested twice and results were lousy but she conceived 5x, 3 losses (1 being mid term loss) and now she has 2 boys. I am surprised your doctor would want at least 10 million for IUI. During the IUI session we had 4 millon count, good motility and were told that was great. I read an article it said anything more than 5 million is unlikely to up the chances for IUI. I guess individual doctor has their own thinking.

Blythe, I love your temp! Lots of crap food (LOL love that too). And hope you have a great time in London! I used to bite my nails when I am nervous, i do so nowadays too. Love my hair for sure, I was a hairstylist for 7 years, then i moved on to something more desk bound, it was a huge switch.

Alison, sorry about your af, and about your friend's mc. It is really devastating when one suffered losses. Absolutely agree about what is worse to never get pregnant at all or to be pregnant and have a miscarriage, i think both SUCKS!

MalaMae, glad to hear that bd has become so much fun without the stress of having to BD because of wanting a baby. I hope your family issue settles soon.

AFM, i am DPO 12 today. I stopped charting (chicken out, i am too scare to know my BBT) after I went for my progesterone CD21 blood test last week Thursday. My level was 54ish 7DPO. It was a good number - I did ovulate. On mediated cycles, doctor wants to see at least 15, and 10 on non medicated cycles for ovulation.

I was told to go back this Friday (16DPO) for BT provided if no af, but anyway I have booked the appt with the doctor on that day as well, in case if results is negative i can start the next round immediately. My DH and I will go dating in the afternoon after all the BT and consultation. It is either gonna be a celebration (if it's positive). If not, we will drown our sorrow over a couple of glasses of wine...

 

[Blythe]

I do not care for my nails but I have a thing for hair. When I am stressed (which is all the time) I play with them to the point that they break in the end for many years I was not able to grow hair and every time I go to a hairdresser they cant understand what's wrong with my cut and what an idiot did my hair before I cant really explain that it's me so i change my hair dressers very often. It affects my look cos long hair really suit me. as soon as I managed to get my body back, that would be my next point of improvement.

We did not go mountain biking just did normal bikes - so much easier!

I went to my physiotherapist on friday and she showed me how wrong my posture is and basically one of my shoulders is so much lower than the other one, I never really saw it. quite upsetting. she showed what my posture is supposed to be and I have to say i have no idea how I can make my body keep it all the time, i could not even keep it for a few minutes. she showed me a few exercised so determined to do them every day

Blythe, are you sure his raw herbs are of good quality? do you know who his suppliers are?

People are noticing that my acne got better.

its amazing that we can walk around for years with bad posture and not really notice it. i roll my shoulders forwards which probably does not help with my back. once you start consciously changing things it becomes second nature after a while. Its good that you have been given some exercises to do...once you have done them for a week you will do them without thinking about it.

i got a list of the herbs i had been on from the acu doc yesterday as follows:

huang qi
bai shao
chi shao
chuan qiong
shou di
dang gui
ji xue teng
sang ji sheng
du zhong
yi mu cao
gan cao
ghi zhi
dan shen

my temps have gone through the roof today but i came down with a fever yesterday and felt ghastly all day/night. a BFN earlier today but no surprise. With my first pregnancy my boobs hurt ALOT from about 6dpo...i know each pregnancy is different but i always grab my boobs in the 2ww and if they dont hurt i pretty much know im out for that month.

last week i got depressed about this stupid TTC business and thought if i did not get my BFP this cycle i would treat myself on my birthday by making an appt with CREAT health clinic. But im going to hold off a while longer and do the black cohosh next cycle...always have to have a plan or else i risk complete breakdown

i dont think i will return to the chinese medicine guy in the market as his little clinic was just too dirty. it is a part of a chain...the ones you see on every high street but still, who knows where the herbs have come from or how they have been stored. i am thinking about having powdered herbs again but i will have to ask them to give me larger dosages as really the 3/4 months i was taking them made no difference at all to any aspect of my health.

 

[Blythe]

Hello ladies, though not posting but am following closely on this thread.

Briss, I am sorry to hear that you have some argument with your DH. Things are getting a little too stressful for you both in regard to TTC. BIG HUGS! My DH and I had argument during TTC as I wanted him to stop smoking, no hot shower and cut down coffee. These seriously affected the relationship so we both sat down and have a good talk about it. Good to hear about your weight loss, keep it up! 28 days of leaves wow, i would love to use these leaves for IVF!

melly2, do not take these SA results too seriously. My friend's DH tested twice and results were lousy but she conceived 5x, 3 losses (1 being mid term loss) and now she has 2 boys. I am surprised your doctor would want at least 10 million for IUI. During the IUI session we had 4 millon count, good motility and were told that was great. I read an article it said anything more than 5 million is unlikely to up the chances for IUI. I guess individual doctor has their own thinking.

Blythe, I love your temp! Lots of crap food (LOL love that too). And hope you have a great time in London! I used to bite my nails when I am nervous, i do so nowadays too. Love my hair for sure, I was a hairstylist for 7 years, then i moved on to something more desk bound, it was a huge switch.

Alison, sorry about your af, and about your friend's mc. It is really devastating when one suffered losses. Absolutely agree about what is worse to never get pregnant at all or to be pregnant and have a miscarriage, i think both SUCKS!

MalaMae, glad to hear that bd has become so much fun without the stress of having to BD because of wanting a baby. I hope your family issue settles soon.

AFM, i am DPO 12 today. I stopped charting (chicken out, i am too scare to know my BBT) after I went for my progesterone CD21 blood test last week Thursday. My level was 54ish 7DPO. It was a good number - I did ovulate. On mediated cycles, doctor wants to see at least 15, and 10 on non medicated cycles for ovulation.

I was told to go back this Friday (16DPO) for BT provided if no af, but anyway I have booked the appt with the doctor on that day as well, in case if results is negative i can start the next round immediately. My DH and I will go dating in the afternoon after all the BT and consultation. It is either gonna be a celebration (if it's positive). If not, we will drown our sorrow over a couple of glasses of wine...

Shiseru - i have everything crossed for you. such a nerve wracking time. your cycle is already longer than your last isn't it.

i love that you plan to have a date with your DH in the afternoon i sincerely hope you will be celebrating

 

[Blythe]

I do not care for my nails but I have a thing for hair. When I am stressed (which is all the time) I play with them to the point that they break in the end for many years I was not able to grow hair and every time I go to a hairdresser they cant understand what's wrong with my cut and what an idiot did my hair before I cant really explain that it's me so i change my hair dressers very often. It affects my look cos long hair really suit me. as soon as I managed to get my body back, that would be my next point of improvement.

We did not go mountain biking just did normal bikes - so much easier!

I went to my physiotherapist on friday and she showed me how wrong my posture is and basically one of my shoulders is so much lower than the other one, I never really saw it. quite upsetting. she showed what my posture is supposed to be and I have to say i have no idea how I can make my body keep it all the time, i could not even keep it for a few minutes. she showed me a few exercised so determined to do them every day

Blythe, are you sure his raw herbs are of good quality? do you know who his suppliers are?

People are noticing that my acne got better.

its amazing that we can walk around for years with bad posture and not really notice it. i roll my shoulders forwards which probably does not help with my back. once you start consciously changing things it becomes second nature after a while. Its good that you have been given some exercises to do...once you have done them for a week you will do them without thinking about it.

i got a list of the herbs i had been on from the acu doc yesterday as follows:

huang qi
bai shao
chi shao
chuan qiong
shou di
dang gui
ji xue teng
sang ji sheng
du zhong
yi mu cao
gan cao
ghi zhi
dan shen

my temps have gone through the roof today but i came down with a fever yesterday and felt ghastly all day/night. a BFN earlier today but no surprise. With my first pregnancy my boobs hurt ALOT from about 6dpo...i know each pregnancy is different but i always grab my boobs in the 2ww and if they dont hurt i pretty much know im out for that month.

last week i got depressed about this stupid TTC business and thought if i did not get my BFP this cycle i would treat myself on my birthday by making an appt with CREAT health clinic. But im going to hold off a while longer and do the black cohosh next cycle...always have to have a plan or else i risk complete breakdown

i dont think i will return to the chinese medicine guy in the market as his little clinic was just too dirty. it is a part of a chain...the ones you see on every high street but still, who knows where the herbs have come from or how they have been stored. i am thinking about having powdered herbs again but i will have to ask them to give me larger dosages as really the 3/4 months i was taking them made no difference at all to any aspect of my health.

i have just been involved in a webinar on work/life balance and apparently it takes 2 or 3 weeks to make a habit routine......

so only a week to go and chocolate will be a distant memory for you

 

[Briss]

yesterday, I nearly gave up, was so close! I felt like I cant go on until I have a piece of something sweet. not even sure how I managed to stay on track, my weight is slightly up this morning. My hunger is actually reducing, I am noticing that I can live on less food if I put my mind to it. overall, still pretty hard. clothes is still very very tight…

 

[alison29]

Briss Awesome about you hunger reducing and the herbs...I don't know how long it takes but i would say 3-6 months they say that about all the natural supplements..

Stomach flu made it's way thru house this past couple of weeks dh is the last to succum and it better not be next week when I O..

Fingers crossed for you shiseru!

I don't think i even ovulated last cycle i was thinking my temps were up they used to be in the 96 range in lututeal phase but now that i am on pregnitude I tempted this morning and it was 97.8. I am on clomid again 3-7 and ovaboost (seems like more for less money then the pregnitude). So fingers crossed ..

There was a Psychic fair just by my house saturday i was dying to go to this weekend want to go next time with my friend who had the mc she was going through the awful medicated process this weekend so could do it.