Chinese Accupuncture

[Blythe]

Irish eyes - i have been messing around with acu/herbs for one thing and another for about 8 years but for TTC for around 2 1/2 years. During that time i have tried different practitioners. I did both acu and herbs with one lot for about 4 months then dropped it, acu and herbs with another lot for about 5 months, then acu only for a few months, then herbal pills only and now i am back with acu and herbal powder again but with more frequent acu.

i have tried most other things too, vitex, black cohosh, every vitamin known to man, spells, positive thinking, honey, aspirin, teas, dietary changes, DHEA, soy isoflavines, clomid, turkey baster method, lying with legs/bum in air, crystals, coq10, fertility yoga, meditation, fertility massage, fertility qi gong, moon cup, preseed…..you get the idea.

One thing i have not tried is regular sex….i mean who the hell is doing that shit after TTC for this long

we have had many discussions on here and i would have to say from what i have read in books and from what i have been told by TCM practitioners it is the herbs that are the most effective part of the treatment. My current one [well one of them] says it is 30% acupuncture and 70% herbs….some women of course have wonderful success with only acupuncture.

This stuff has got to work for you…if you are getting stressed about the finances have it 2 x per week for 1 or 2 weeks only and then decrease to 1 per week. Briss's current practitioner started her on 1 per week and then after first month once every 2 weeks - Briss please correct me if i got that wrong.

as you are doing herbs maybe you could consider less acu sessions…

i remember starting chinese medicine and thinking it was magic medicine…its not. It can be quite slow working but very effective if you give it a chance. Make it work for you and fit into your life as you may find yourself doing it a bit longer than anticipated. They say 3 months and your cycles should be looking better. I hope very much you are one of those girls that see results quickly and that it leads to your BFP

 

[Briss]

Irish_eyes, I did not even tell my DH that I resumed acu/herbs cos he does not believe in it and thinks I am being foolish and waste money. That's because I had bad experience before and it never worked for me but this time around I am seeing a different doc and I think it's working out much better. I am sure even if you just go once a week you would still see improvement. as I said mine asked me to come once every 2 weeks and he thinks that's enough.

That's interesting that cold hands and feet mean yang deficiency, I usually have cold hands and feet but so far they did not tell me that I have any yang deficiency

kits, my aunt is so into this moon phasing thing, she would even tell me if it is the right day to get your hair cut. I am usually annoyed by this. I do think there must be something in it but I just do not think people know how to interpret it correctly. anyway, my sex drive is quite low but it's still here. the thing is usually right after O I enjoy a sort of stillness in that area, I mean I have no urges nothing is going on down there and I am quite happy to feel like that in TWW but this cycle it's different, not completely quiet so I may have a estrogenic cyst afterall.

Blythe, looks like you had a really good cycle. I am sorry about AF but at least you can see clear improvement and can face IVF now. It's so good that you did not have any "angry days", it's a big change!

afm, I had the usual points needled today, no heat lamp. he was very pleased with my chart and particularly my O date. I mentioned my left ovary pains and that it could be a cyst but he said if it was a functional cyst I would not have an ovulatory chart. That's interesting actually cos I had cysts before and yet I was clearly ovulating on the cycles they appeared. I wonder if it was another follicle that just kept on growing after the dominant one already released the egg?

we discussed my FSH and he said that the correct FSH reading should be around 200 Oestradiol so it looks like my FSH for this cycle is between 13-14, not great but it was higher before so I am hoping it's on its way down. I am getting the same herbs from CD1 and next acu in 2 weeks.

re liquorice, Dr E did not actually think liquorice does anything for your cycle or fertility. he said it's used in 70% of all Chinese herbal formulas to lessen poisonous effect of some herbs (particularly in raw form) and also to purify them. He did not think it will affect my ovulation so I guess I could try it.

 

[Briss]

completely agree with everything that Blythe said. I do believe that with TCM a lot depends on the practitioner so if it's not working out in 2-3 months consider changing your doc. You must trust in what your practitioner is doing, otherwise I do not think it's going to work.

Blythe, cant agree more re regular BD, it's particularly hard for men there is such a difference when we BD just in case sort of thing compared to when we "have to". When we had IVF DH completely refused to have any sex (which was actually needed to get his stuff refreshed) cos he thought he paid for IVF and that deal included getting him free of any obligation to BD… he was seriously disappointed. It's very different now that he is on medication but his doc said he did not test this treatment long term yet so cant guarantee this would last

 

[kits]

Still at work but I thought I'd just quickly say, my ACU won't give me any herbs until she accurately knows my temps. Last cycle doesn't count since my chart was so chaotic.

I wish she would now reading what Blythe said!

 

[Briss]

Blythe, I am being silly, I've been drinking liquorice for ages and I did not even know it! apparently it's one of the ingredients in one of my favorite Kusmi tea https://en.kusmitea.com/our-teas/herbal-tea-rooibos/be-cool.html it also has lemon verbena and peppermint. I think it's all natural and no caffeine; and tastes great but I tend to add fresh mind and nettles when I make a pot.

 

[Irish_eyes]

Ladies thanks for all the info. I am thinking that maybe best to cut it to once a week as it is causing a bit of friction between DH and I. It has always been the herbs I was interested in anyway. I went tonight and he put the needles in different areas this time. My forehead, temples, near wrists and ankle. He has also been using the heat lamp and gaving me a massage. Have any of you got a massage?

 

[Irish_eyes]

He also mentioned temps but not sure if he wanted me to actually do that.

 

[Irish_eyes]

Blythe I often say to DH that the reason we can't get pregnant is due to the lack of BD!!!!

 

[Briss]

Irish_eyes, my previous doc always gave me massage and cupping at the end of every treatment. I loved it! unfortunately the treatment itself was not going well as my cycle stayed short. this new doc does not give me any massages. it's good to do temps cos they can tell a lot by looking at your charts.

 

[Blythe]

Blythe, I am being silly, I've been drinking liquorice for ages and I did not even know it! apparently it's one of the ingredients in one of my favorite Kusmi tea https://en.kusmitea.com/our-teas/herbal-tea-rooibos/be-cool.html it also has lemon verbena and peppermint. I think it's all natural and no caffeine; and tastes great but I tend to add fresh mind and nettles when I make a pot.

Those teas look divine - i love the tins!

 

[Briss]

tins are actually very useful cos once I finish it I re-use the tin for my nettles or mate and you can place all tins on top or each other which is very handy space wise (I've accumulated so much herbs in the kitchen + vits so space is becoming an issue and it all looks quite messy). although DH thinks these teas are terribly overpriced

 

[alison29]

Briss: I have got another netflix series that is really good. It's called Bates motel. It is the prequel series to the psycho movie but it's modern. Really intriguing, the deputy sheriff is easy on the eyes you will get addicted to it by the second episode.

 

[BBbliss]

Girls I hope you are all doing well and on your way to your BFPs this thread had a really nice run of BFP so far, even I got one!!! But unfortunately for me I had a chemical pregnancy so this wasn't my time.

I'm going to take a break to detox from all the hormones and decide my next step then.

Thank you for your unconditional support, I'm really happy I had this incredible group of women to share my journey with.
You all deserve your BFPs the sooner the better

 

[Briss]

BBbliss, I am so sorry about your chemical. heart-breaking! Have you had a follow up app yet? Do they know if this is a chromosomal issue or implantation/immune issue? When I had my chemical, the clinic was actually very optimistic and said it's better than getting a bfn cos at least your body was trying to do what it's supposed to. I am so hoping you will get your sticky BFP soon, maybe even naturally there are so many stories where ladies were getting pregnant after failed IVFs. I'd definitely take it easy next 1-2 months to let your body recover before going for further treatments.

 

[Blythe]

Bbbliss. I'm so very sorry to read your news. thinking of you

 

[BBbliss]

Briss, I didn't have my app yet they are letting me decide when I'm ready to come in. I'm absolutely sure it was a chromosomal issue. I had very strong lines 7dpt. I don't believe I have any immune issues, my body has done it before and if it has anything to do with genetics I'm also blessed, my grandmothers both had 10 and 13 kids each. My cousins get pregnant one after the other. I do think it was purely a chromosomal problem and if that's the case, nature knows what the best path it is to be taken. I have my piece with that, I wouldn't want to have an unhealthy child. Thank you for your support. It's sad but there's still hope.

 

[kits]

There's always hope hun Get some rest & spend some quality time with your family.

So sorry it had to happen to you.

 

[BBbliss]

There's always hope

 

[kits]

Yep, always! It's all we got

Funnily enough, I watched the season finale of The Originals last night and the werewolf/vampire baby that was born right at the end was named Hope because it seems the witches want her dead.

On another note, I've been refraining from posting as I've been on a mini emotional roller coaster. Sorry ladies, didn't mean to be rude! With ovulation it feels like I have 2 AF's!

I love y'all


Briss, I loved your elaborate defense statement on tins I can't seem to get rid of mine, I have way too much junk, none of which fits in a tin

 

[Briss]

I woke up this morning feeling terribly sad, depressed and really scared. I was completely fine and happy (to the extent it's possible considering the circumstances) when I went to bed last night. I do not know what happened during the night, it's probably my approaching birthday, yet another year and I am still no where near… this is probably the last year when it's possible for us to try and make it happen, and it does seem unlikely we can even hope for a second child. everything just looks so hopeless today…