Chinese Accupuncture

[gingmg]

Thanks Briss! That is exactly what it was, and I have 3 burns on my abdomen because of it! I'll let her do anything if she thinks it will help.
I'm sorry you are going through a tough time.
((((((((((Big huggs)))))))))))

 

[Briss]

gingmg, I do not think you are supposed to get burns. when doc was explaining to me how to use the box at home she warned me not to get it too close to the body so i do not get burns! particularly abdominal area, I was told not to come near it. maybe you could ask your doc about it?

 

[Blythe]

gignmg, I think this is Moxibustion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moxibustion, it can be used as a box or just as a small ball that they place on top of a needle and burn it. I had that before and I also have this box at home with the sticks but their smell is so strong that I do not use them very often. I think the main purpose is to warm the relevant parts of the body.

Blythe, I really do not think you can turn 1 mil sperm count with only accessional motility into good quality sperm in 6 weeks. It's more likely that she cant really do much in our situation. but I will continue to ask cos I do not think I will do more 1-2 months myself - just so expensive! she booked me for acu in 2 weeks right after I finish herbs and I was told that once every two weeks should be sufficient.

apparently I respond better to negative motivation when I was a little happier and hopeful I really needed something sweet to make me feel better when I am down. These days I am just so deeply depressed and hopeless that no amount of chocolate is going to change anything. not even sure how to explain this but in some sort of weird masochistic way it's almost like I am glad and it feels right when I feel hungry or deprived of chocolate which I crave terribly almost every day because that's almost the sort of pain I feel inside because I cant have a child (I do not actually feel it because it's not physical pain it's all in my head). sorry I do not think I can explain it better, I am not even sure I understand it myself. I just know there is no way I would be able to go through this if things were a little better. I guess accepting IVF is harder than I thought

ok - maybe thats me being optimistic re sperm.

have sunk to new low...MIL here this weekend and we were due to go out tonight for my birthday. i have found nothing that fits so now DH has gone out as planned minus me. i cannot even pretend to be happy.

 

[Briss]

Oh Blythe, I am sorry though I know how it feels, I hate parties (it's relatively new) cos nothing looks good on me and looking good is important for my confidence. I just cant enjoy myself when I am not happy with my look. but it's your birthday! I am sure your DH really wants you there

 

[Blythe]

Thank you briss.

 

[Briss]

don't even get me started on my MIL, it's a piece of work! my DH never told her we were going out (for over 6 years!) i mean it was not difficult she lives abroad but still. he introduced me to her only after we were married! what a terrible thing, I thought. but when I met her it became clear that if he introduced me earlier we would not have got married at all. every time she comes my DH and I end up arguing for weeks and weeks after she's gone. he is afraid to be with her on his own because she tells him really awful things about me and over time it kind of sinks in... so we argue. the first time she saw me she hinted that it would be difficult for us to have children i really want to know what she was getting at but neither me nor DH wants to ask

riverboat cruise on Thames sounds like fun! I hope you will have great time!

I am checking out your rosemary Conley club's website. looks very interesting. I think what I am doing is probably too hard core. I ate banana for breakfast and then nothing (except for tea) until 6 pm when I had a cup of chicken stock, tiny piece of chicken and a plate of greek salad - that's a lot compared to what I eat these days. I felt SO full it's unpleasant. I would really like a piece of chocolate now but instead I am drinking the nasty herbs. I did 30 min aerobics and 20 min weight lifting and walked for a few hours.

 

[Blythe]

Briss - i wonder what on earth your MIL meant by the 'children' comment....im sorry to hear you have had struggles with your MIL over the years. it sounds like a good thing that she lives overseas....its one thing giving your opinion and quite another just being plain rude....i hope when im a proper grown up i wont be like my MIL.

my DH went out this morning swimming and we were not getting on at all....so they have all gone out on the riverboat cruise and i am in the house alone....it sounds wrong but i am quite happy with this situation. Im going to go shopping and treat myself

i have just had a 3 egg omelette and although i have already had 3 teas/coffees [with sugar and milk] i am determined the rest of the day will be healthy. Im still waiting for AF to turn up and know i will feel better once it does....will obviously have to start talking to DH around ovulation time although feel like giving him a wide berth for a few weeks right now.

 

[Briss]

I have no idea what my MIL meant by the 'children' comment, it's possible she knows something about my DH's childhood that can affect us but it it's also possible that she has her fears and is trying to predict the worst, in any case it's working... she wants to visit us in May, not looking forward to that.

I am sorry you did not go to the riverboat cruise but then sometimes it's much better just to be left alone

I've been doing some calculations this morning and analysing the averages of my weight loss and it does not look that great actually. I am losing weight but very slowly about 750 grams a week. I am not going to reach my previous weight by the end of May so decided to continue through June

Blythe, 3 egg omelette sounds like a good start to dieting! Welcome to my club

 

[shiseru]

Negative beta so sad...

Shiseru, you have a very long LH and your temp is still up. maybe there is still hope it's just taking longer to implant?

Though not posting but i do follow the thread closely.

I think it's the evil progesterone keeping my af away. Bummer, beta is 1.5 and hpt negative so definitely not pregnant and no af (boo)

I told my gynae that we would have one more round of IUI followed by IVF. She said for IVF she is going to put me on growth hormones which increase the quality of the eggs. However I need to go for a breast examination first. She checked my boobs and said I have lumpy breast (my left side) while she did say it's not ideal to check now because of premenstrual period, but damn her comments got me worried!

 

[Briss]

shiseru, I am sure it's nothing to worry about. I have small cysts in my breasts, for years now. I was told not to do any breast examination after O because it just does not show a true picture and may get people worried because of what they may see while it's all goes away once your period starts. it's good that your doc is so thorough and prepares you for IVF. I hope you wont need it though. not good that progesterone is still playing games with your cycle, although you seem to have stopped it like 10 days ago.

forgot to drink my herbs last night but actually it helped me figure out my routine because there is no way I will be able to spend 1.5 hours in the morning cooking them. decided I will cook them in the evening when I get home from work, drink the first half then and leave the second half for the next morning. In the morning I will put the new lot soaking so I can cook them in the evening. this looks doable.

re weight, there has been no change for over a week now. I should probably be doing exercises every day but I am so unfit - 30 min with J fonda and my muscles are hurting for the next few days so I can barely walk

Finally hubby agreed to go to a urologist, we will have to go privately as FS would not refer us. a lady on B&B recommended a really great doc, I checked his reviews and he seems to be number one in the UK particularly for azoospermia. I am so hoping we could get some answers.

 

[Briss]

I was reading some of the reviews on Dr Zhai - not promising at all https://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=15737.40

 

[notrustyyet]

BRISS Yeah, still stalking this thread....RE exercise: One form of exercise that I discovered that is really FUN AND helps fertility (in Inconcievable, Julia indichova jumped rope 300x/day as prescribed by her TCM), but I have bad knees, so jumping rope not too fun.

I bought a rebounder, 1st one had springs, I think Needak?, and it was supposed to be good, but ended up hurting my knees/lower back, so i gave away. Then I found one with a really soft bounce, uses bungie cords instead of springs ( https://www.bellicon-usa.com/bellicon-shop/bellicon-172.html ) and that turned out to be the only piece of exercise equipment I stuck with because seriously it was SO enjoyable. It's also great for your lymphatic system, Google it....Put on headphones and get busy. Even just 15 minutes, felt great after, no knee pain. It's expensive, but my DD uses too esp in winter when kids don't go out for recess and they are having pent up energy. It's gotten regular use for a couple years so far, so it's been worth it.

 

[Briss]

Nottrusty, thank you, looks like fun but a bit expensive.

Blythe, your temp looks good and no spotting!! fingers crossed

we went to a Chinese restaurant last night and although I just had some meat with veg, am back to square one this morning. weight loss is no joke, beginning to doubt if it's even possible for me. was craving ice cream yesterday so bad. I think I am ready for some detox. found a 3 day detox programme with juices, veg broth and something totally weird - Psyllium Husk Powder & Bentonite Clay. apparently this mixture attracts toxins and drags them out. they suggest to start on Friday so you are done by Monday morning. Planning to do it next week.

 

[Blythe]

Briss -it is strange that your weight has not gone down anymore as you are eating so little. I start my group tonight and feel excited about it....they say about losing a stone in 7 weeks which would be amazing.

I have been expecting AF since sat really...there was a bit of spotting a few days back and I've had on and off AF cramping. I'm not sure what is causing the delay but I doubt very much it is anything good. I had a BFN the other day but you never know. If she does not come by tomorrow lunchtime I will test. This is my first cycle minus the powdered herbs and the Pmt has been much more pronounced.

I read those dr z reviews although I have read many more positive ones on the past. There is no denying she is a savy business woman and I would rather she was doing the Acu treatments given the costs involved. I am just really interested in the differences you feel between the powdered and raw herbs and how it goes over the next few weeks. Her unique selling point is her vast experience of concocting herbal prescriptions to help make you more fertile. Now you have that info once you are happy it is making positive changes you can find a cheaper Chinese pharmacy. Mind you a year with her prescriptions is still cheaper than a round of IVF at some private clinics in London. I worked it out around 7-8k mark. Does that sound right?

I have not rebooked at Acu place yet as feel like having a good couple of weeks off. As soon as AF starts I will be having 3x40g black cohosh per day as NoTrusty did for first 12 days of cycle. Hope it won't screw it up.

Shiseru - my boobs change quite slit throughout the month and sometimes feel very lumpy. I do hope you get the reassurance you need soon

 

[Briss]

Blythe, I am so hoping it's good news!! so exciting about you joining a slimming club, let us know how the meeting goes.

I am getting used to raw herbs. it takes more time and the taste is quite bad but my two spots are disappearing and there is no new ones – good sign. her herbs/acu come to around 7,000 a year + 4,000 for DH but there is no way I can stick with her for so long. I will see how I feel after a month and if I see improvement I may stay for another month. Hubby tasted my herbs and found them nice! I take it that he might not completely oppose the idea of Chinese medicine and maybe her herbs can improve his sperm.

I really do not understand what's going on with my weight. I thought exercises would boost my metabolic rate and eating little should make me lose weight faster but something is not right. Once I get AF I will start my detox, cant wait actually, I am so sure it will help me feel better.

 

[Blythe]

having typed out my message earlier...i went to the loo and AF had arrived. I had been having those insane little fantasies during the morning about coming home and getting a BFP...but alas....

im not at all upset though and quite excited about my class tonight and getting stuck into a diet and exercise programme...im also a bit excited about these black cohosh tablets....

 

[Briss]

Blythe, I am very sorry about AF, it looked so promising, particularly no spotting. at least you can now start slimming down properly and who knows this might be what it takes to get your BFP this cycle.

afm, still hungry, very very hungry. started counting calories trying to figure out where I am going wrong. it might be honey I can have a few spoons with my tea in the evening...

today so far: 700 calories
Large banana: 121
Carrots: 170
Miso Soup with Seaweed by Pret a Manger: 75
6 prunes: 121
50 raisins: 78
Apple: 116

Evening: 300
Honey 1 tbs: 64
Cabbage (half): 145
Carrot large: 30

 

[Blythe]

No wonder you are starving.....its so strange that the weight is not falling off....i have just been to sainsburys and brought special k, philadelphia light, rice-cakes, slim a soup.....intend to eat that, fruit and veg. The class was great....weighed in then hanging around a bit whilst others weighed in then a really cool 80s style exercise class....i was reAlly jumping around and sweating and i felt great. Ive been so scared of exercise but not now!!

What detox are you thinking of...a juice one?

 

[Briss]

Blythe, that's great, your club sounds fun. how often are you going to go? what about dieting, do they tell you how much you are supposed to eat? also, I am not sure about special k, philadelphia light, rice-cakes – are these even allowed while dieting?

still no weight loss, I am so puzzled and disappointed! a colleague said that it might be something like water retention, no idea. I was hoping that losing weight will give me something positive, so far just pure suffering and deprivation and minimal positive changes. felt like giving up this morning and going for coffee with a donut …

One of my fertility books has this 3 day detox where you drink Bentonite Clay and Psyllium Husk 2-3 times a day; fruit juices 3 times a day; veg broth in the evening and they also suggest enema but that's a bit too much for me. I asked for Monday-Tuesday off next week so may try it then.

 

[Briss]

actually, not sure if I count calories right but even if I almost starve myself I still manage somehow to consume 1,200 calories!

7 May: 1,190 calories
Large banana: 120
Carrots: 170
Miso Soup with Seaweed by Pret a Manger: 75
6 prunes: 120
50 raisins: 80
Apple: 120
Pear: 100
Honey 1 tbs: 60
Cabbage (half): 145
Carrot large: 30
Olive Oil (tbs): 120
cucumber (half): 30
tomatoes (100 gram): 20


It just gets more depressing, apparently in order to lose weight I have to consume much less calories than I thought:

you need 1656 Calories/day to maintain your weight
you need 1156 Calories/day to lose 0.5 kg per week
you need 656 Calories/day to lose 1 kg per week