Chinese Accupuncture

[alison29]

Hi tt4..what do you have done at chiropractor? What types of herbs to you take? It sounds like you are getting some great results. Do keep posting on this thread so we know when u get your bfp

 

[Briss]

Blythe, I hope you are doing well. How's your weight loss? This week looks a little better than last week. but I skipped a couple of dinners and replaced them with chocolate/grapes to reduce calories. probably not the best for eggies. grapes are a lot of calories but somehow my body deals with grapes better than chocolate. even if I have more grapes in calories than chocolate I lose weight better. My Monday-Tuesday fasting days are so hard. Monday as actually OK because I usually feel guilty and properly motivated after indulgent weekend but Tuesday is so super hard. I still keep to 500 calories and feel like a hero by Wednesday. The rest of the week it's between 1,000-1,200. Been very busy and tired at work, doing late nights again so could not do any aerobics this week. Hoping I can do some tonight though.

TTC4+yrs. welcome! TCM has not worked for me but it's nice to know it's working for other people. I still believe in TCM because I have seen so many women over the years managing to improve their cycles. I guess it's just not for everyone. 10 years is just too hard, I feel for you. what treatments have you tried? did you have good quality embryos with IVF?


alison, best of luck with femara. I have not tried it so would be interested to know how it goes. fasting could of course make anyone angry  but somehow I think it's hormones in this case.

Vonn, just saw this recipe and thought of you. I have not tried it myself but all ingredients looks good https://www.ideadigezt.com/miraculous-thyroid-drink/

I perfectly understand how depressing these appointments can be. I have had a fair share on mine, just the other day I went to a follow up app at a clinic where I had my 3rd IVF and ended up bleeding internally after EC. The doctor was super nice and not defensive at all about what happened but she was quite clear that they would not recommend any more treatments for me as risks outweigh the benefits (obviously I did not tell her that I've already had 2 ECs after my disaster at their clinic) and also tried to have the donor egg conversation which I just had to interrupt there and then. I was lucky it was a female and they are more careful in what they say than men doctors. In the end she said my next options can be (i) natural IVF/IMSI (this is exactly what I am doing anyway but nice to know a specialist agrees with my way of thinking), or (ii) long protocol, which I have actually been considering for a while. I think we will carry on with natural IVF for a few more months and then try long protocol.

afm, am losing my sleep again, I have another business trip coming up and the dates could not be worse, it's again that time of the month where I am supposed to do scans and be ready for EC. How will I ever get out of this trip I have no idea, if I mention Munich one more time I think people will just lose their patience and take me off the deal.

my relatives keep annoying me through my mum, they badly want to see my father's grandchild and keep calling my mum with various "helpful" suggestions. They are so naïve, the other day they suggested that I should try IVF, My mum has my strict instructions not to discuss my situation with anyone under any circumstances so she had to patently endure their talk about how IVF can improve my chances without responding. why could not they just leave me alone! I have enough to deal with besides their annoyance

Gor response from another clinic in Munich which I liked very much (prices in particular) and the fact that they are very happy with natural IVF (I do not hear any enthusiasm usually about natural IVF from IVF clinics) but the problem is they discontinued IMSI, they decided it's not improving their pregnancy rates. The doc I saw the other day actually also said IMSI makes no difference in stimulated cycles when you have many eggs and ICSI has the same results. But IMSI makes a lot of difference in a natural cycle where you only get one egg. a bit disappointed.

I also approached a Spanish clinic, most ladies who went to Spain for IVF seem really impressed with their advanced IVF technology compared to the UK but I feel Spanish clinics in general are not keen on natural IVF and they are more expensive than Czech of German clinics.

 

[alison29]

Could you get the scans in what ever city you have to go to?

 

[Briss]

it's in Africa, I have no idea even how to begin asking about scans/bloods and not sure how safe it is ...

 

[TTC4+yrs]

Yes, 10 years of waiting and hoping have been awful but I am now in a good place with it all (I think). Our FS wants us to do IVF but financially I am not ready for that and not to mention emotionally. What if it didn't work?? The hardest is watching everyone get pregnant so easily - my sister who has PCOS and her hubby who has low count and mobility tried for 4 months and she is now pregnant.

I have no idea what herbs I am actually taking, I am a bit scared to know because it could be some weird stuff that would freak me out...lol

My eggs are great, tubes both clear, no endo and hubbys sperm post wash for our iui's was always over 200 million with 86% - 88% mobility - the FS was baffled as to why they didnt take.

Our TCM Doctor said that I could be getting pregnant each month but my immune system may be attacking fertilized egg. He said I have a liver and spleen deficiency and blood stagnation with a cold uterus. I have changed my diet as per his recommendations as well so I am hoping that all these changes will help.

We were NTNP for about 4 years, then starting looking into everything. I have taken clomid for 6 months, temping, timing, LOTS of iui's... I have had the dye test and the surgery they do to see what is going on and it always comes back fine.

I am just going to keep on trying, at least that part is fun

 

[Briss]

TTC4+yrs, I agree with your TCM doc re immune system. have you done immune profile testing like NK cells etc? this might be an answer to your problems. re your DH's sperm – really impressive! there is a good book – is your body baby friendly about immune stuff it helps to understand these things better.

 

[TTC4+yrs]

TTC4+yrs, I agree with your TCM doc re immune system. have you done immune profile testing like NK cells etc? this might be an answer to your problems. re your DH's sperm – really impressive! there is a good book – is your body baby friendly about immune stuff it helps to understand these things better.

I have had the food blood test done and it turns out I can basicaly eat bananas and lentils ...lol... I have 3 pages of food intolerances which I have been eating on a rotation diet to see what ones affect me.

I havent done any immune testing but I will be sure to bring this up on Tuesday. Yes, his sperm count was unbelievable! He was feeling pretty manly after he heard those numbers, it was quite funny and cute.

I will check out that book too, you can never be too educated about your body and trying to conceive. I am an open book on the subject as I feel too many people are suffering in silence.

Thanks for that info

 

[Blythe]

Briss - hi i have been really trying but really failing. I find it so difficult not to eat when its this cold. I am back to pre xmas/illness weight and know only a few days of controlled eating would = results but i simply cannot motivate myself. I have been moving more etc....talking of which i see that all the old Jane Fonda videos are being released in UK on DVD -

https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/esmagazine/the-crush-jane-fonda-9978457.html

i have been working lots too and just find it so difficult to get a proper exercise routine in place....

i was interested to read what you said about IMSI....

its so difficult to juggle your work commitments with your plans....is bowing out of this deal an option or will it effect you moving forward with other deals? its a very tricky situation...

TTC4+yrs - Hi and welcome to the thread unexplained infertility is really upsetting.....its sometimes easier when there is something you can try to 'fix' but the unknown is really difficult to deal with. I am doing Acu every week but no longer taking the herbs.....however, i really do believe that they are so much more important and effective [for many] than the acu. It sounds like you have a fab doctor that really listens -= 2 hours - wow! i am impressed....just having that alone will make a difference to how the treatment feels....i have found so few people in the field of fertility that really listen.

 

[Vonn]

alison--I have been dealing with acne forever. Meaning since I was about 10, although it's now very isolated to around either ov or AF time. For the last ten years I wish I would have looked deeper into the hormonal imbalance that was causing it. Instead, I let my dermatologist have me on a very low dose of an antibiotic for years and years. I always asked if this was okay and was told it was fine. Combine that with bcp and no acne. It's hard to resist those results. But, look up what antibiotics and bcp can do & bingo, candida.

I'd suggest trying to get to the bottom of the hormonal issue causing the acne. That may provide answers for your fertility questions, too.

TTC4+--Welcome to the thread! I'll be so curious to see how the acu & herbs can help you. One book that connects with all that is The Infertility Cure, so if you are intrigued this book may provide more insights. I agree with Briss that NK cells & other immune issues like anti-sperm antibodies should be looked at, too. A book I found helpful was Making Babies. One of the authors suggests testing for a whole host of infections. Apparently some of that has gone out of favor, but he gives compelling anecdotes. Like about the couple that kept passing e.coli back and forth to one another, with no symptoms. Once the e.coli was treated they got pregnant right away. I hope you can get some answers. There must be something specific happening for this to have been an issue for so long.

Hi Blythe & Briss! Have you ladies seen Jane Fonda lately? She looks amazing. I'm sure she's had a ton of work done, but it hasn't made her look totally weird, and her figure is fantastic.

 

[Briss]

Blythe, it's great that you are still progressing with weight loss despite freezing cold. I can barely stay outside. I am hoping to see some progress this week as well. it looks like I get a bit of weight loss after the 2 fasting days and then I just need to try to keep this up for the rest of week but it claims up a little.

Vonn, i can't recall the name but there is some medication you can take together with antibiotics to avoid candida. you also need to eat some kind of probiotic to restore your digestive system, antibiotics kill everything bad or good. I got my acne in early 30s during the first year of my work in the City, I thought it was stress related but since I started charting I could see it's around AF/O so it must be hormonal. I was given some lotion with antibiotic to help and it did help but as soon as I stop it the acne was back so I did not see any point in this treatment. sometimes it disappears and I do not get any outbreaks for months but I got it back in November and it's just doesn't go away. basically the only treatment I have is using various moisturisers that are suited for acne prone skin like: la roche posay (Effaclar) or Avene. I mean it's quite depressing I should really be using something for my wrinkles and age related rather than things like have the opposite effect cos they all tend to dry the skin - hence the ageing comes sooner. but i feel like I am getting new blemishes even by looking at anti ageing products cos they all have some oils/fats in them.

https://www.laroche-posay.co.uk/product-treatments/Effaclar/EFFACLAR-DUO-p9670.aspx

https://www.avene.co.uk/90-of-Acne-Sufferers-Have-Never-Found-An-Effective-Treatment

TTC4+, I think food intolerances/allergies can be a sign of immune problems. Immunes testing is quite expensive but it might be worth doing in your case. I know there is treatment that you can do in a natural cycle so if you follow that treatment you may not even need IVF.

afm, couldn't do any aerobics yesterday I was too upset, I was trying so hard to avoid my pregnant friends but they got me yesterday, both of them on the same day! I saw their bumps, leant that one is having a boy and the other's twins are causing all sorts of mischief, how nice I was holding on fine but run away as soon as I could and broke down in tears on my way home. this is just too much

things at work have been quite bad, I am not doing a good job cos I am too busy talking to various clinics and researching. I want to have a few other options if things do not work out in Munich. unfortunately IMSI is rare these days, it was "fashionable" a while ago but now does not seem that common. I still believe for natural IVF it would improve the chances. I find it hard to communicate with our Munich clinic because if you send your results or questions after noon they will only respond the next day and it's hard to arrange scans/blood to be all done in the morning.

I run out of excesses to take time off work, don't even know how I am going to manage next cycle. I can't ask to take me off this deal cos it's the only deal I am running at the moment.

 

[Blythe]

Briss - I always look away when ever i see a bump so i understand it being too much yesterday. Your own bump is coming, i know it!

It must be very stressful juggling IVF timings and work commitments. You mentioned an upcoming trip to Egypt and that it will be when you need to be cycle monitoring.....will this not make the decision for you with regard to your next cycle?

 

[Briss]

the trip is currently planned for 4-6 Feb which is days 7-9 when I am supposed to do scans/bloods. if I manage to come back from the trip early on 6 feb then i may still be able to have a scan on day 9. though the Munich clinic wanted me to do a scan on day 7. but then all these date are still not certain I may get AF later or sooner and my trip dates may shift so it's difficult to plan. but I do not see I can go if that means missing an important scan and missing the cycle as a result. I already decided that IVF takes priority but I am just scared how to bring this up at work (not IVF but the fact I can't go)

one of the pregnant friends sent me a follow up email saying how sorry she is that things are so unfair for me and sending me good wished, I feel so guilty. I do like her and feel sorry to lose her and it's not her fault she got pregnant but I just can't have that kind of reminders and negativity in my life, I am way too fragile for this. I want her out of my life until I am pregnant such a terrible thing to say ...

this week on average I lost 0.7 kg! Much more than I expected so I am pleased.

 

[nobump]

Briss/Blythe congrats on the weight loss.

Briss, your work situation seems complicated... is taking a sabbatical an option for you?

TT4yrs, welcome.

Aurao, it is always the case, I am happy my AF was early this month, as it brings next months earlier so hopefully not have it when we are on our hols. Is there another facility that your clinic can use while it is closed? Seems odd they don't have a backup.

All, I have been reading but not posting, been wiped out by heavy AF... ACU was good on Saturday, he gave me some 'secret' herbs.. Yaunnan Biayao, to take them for 3 days... started to take them.. but google searches seem to bring up treatment for dogs or horses not humans!!! Got gynae appt on Monday to see about heavy periods.... hopefully will get some help..

 

[Briss]

nobump, i hope you can sort your heavy periods. very strange herbs but then if they help it does not really matter

i could ask for a sabbatical if i knew there is a time limit as to how long it will take to get pregnant. otherwise, sabbatical will buy me 3-4 months tops and 3-4 ivf cycles may just not be enough to get pregnant so i will back to square one on my return to work. also sabbaticals are not paid so i will be losing my income. basically all i need is 3-4 days off a month and be in London for scans/bloods. it's not that much to ask but it's never certain as to the dates.

am coming down with something, so upsetting

 

[Blythe]

Briss - i suppose your planning around the next cycle will all depend on when CD1 comes....i have dots all over my calendar and diary from counting days and plotting and planning.

I understand you being scared about telling work that you may not be able to attend something, or may have to cut a trip short but you have decided upon your priorities. I think your work are very lucky to have you...you have really been through it these last couple of years in particular and you have not broken down [i know you have really but in terms of work they know nothing] and you have kept working consistently and working hard...you got a pay rise and promotion. The fact you are so very well researched on TTC and the fact you may spend a fair amount of your working day dealing with TTC is neither here nor there. You are smart and kickarse and that means you have done that and your work. If you have to tell them you are dealing with medical issues and that due to the nature of it it has to take priority. You will find something to say that works for you and who cares what they think...you certainly wont give a monkeys once you are on your maternity leave - thats for sure.

At the first sign of coming down with something i have lemon juice, hot water and manuka honey...if that does not work, i then stuff myself full of paracetamol.

nobump - so sorry to hear you have been wiped out. what are your AFs like? my own are much lighter than they used to be - 3 of days of medium flow red bleed which then tapers off. I used to have to wear super max tampons and towels for the first two days and nights...

i really hope the new herbs do something for you....

 

[nobump]

Blythe, my AF used to be 3 days bleeding and then stop when I was younger, when I got together with DH I went back on the pill for a few years, then stopped to TTC, think they were normal when I first stopped the pill but for the last 3 or 4 I bleed for 5 to 7 days and spot for a few more, sometimes longer.. I need to double up, super tampon and pads... can bleed through super tampons in a matter of hours so need to double up... the heavy bleeding can appear at any time, thought things were easing on Thursday, was light in the morning, then was hit by super pain and heavy bleeding... it is exhausting, getting bloods checked on Thursday, may need to go back on iron tablets... ended up on them last year after first failed IVF.. I have fibroids, so think this is what causes me to have lots of thick lining as the surface area is greater.. but op to remove fibroids is risky...

Briss, I agree with Blythe, if a sabbatical is not an option then can you go to your HR department and explain you have a medical issue an may need to take time off at short notice for appointments, you can go into as much/little detail as you want with them, and they are not allowed to share info with your manager, they can just back you up if you need to take time out.

 

[smurfy]

Hi briss

Agree with the other people here, the stress of working around work I am sure is not giving you any health benefits in terms of successful outcome for IVF, if anything it could be making it worse. I can understand trying to not rock the boat at work I am Head of finance so also not easy to get out of important dates, if after this cycle of IVF it does not work I am going to go to HR and inform them and to be honest your boss does not even need to know the details. I wish you all the best and really feel for you juggling it all. I think for this cycle I can get just about manage with the appointments as should be 2 weeks before our qtr end but if I get any delays it may cause some issues.

Good luck x

 

[Briss]

ladies, thank you. it means a lot to me to be able to share it with people who understand!

I realised a few years ago that HR are not there to protect employees' interests, they are actually protecting the partners from employees so I am very careful in talking to HR because while I know they are not supposed to share info with the bosses, they still do. when I had that bleeding after IVF it were actually the partners who insisted I talk to HR and I am sure they were hoping to get some info cos I was as vague as I possibly could with them. I think they decided in the end that I had an abortion I did not care but a secretary once mentioned something like "after your D&C" and when I was just standing there looking at her in a state of shock she tried to correct herself. basically people talk and come up with all sort of things.

I am properly ill can't talk can't swallow temperature is awful. I am not going to work tomorrow which is just making things so much more difficult for me

 

[Blythe]

nobump - of thats tuff...i would imagine such heavy blood loss would leave you feeling exhausted. I used to take floridax which is a nicer way to taking iron and minus the rubbish and uncomfortable side effects of tablets.

Briss - i hope you can shake the illness soon But until then put your feet up and watch some old films.

AFM - am about to finish the last sweets from a huge bag of mint chocolates - those green hard boiled sweets with choc bit in middle. I actually feel sick and have headache but cannot stop. How awful that i sometimes am completely unable to control my own hands. Will be back on it tomorrow

 

[nobump]

Briss that doesn't sound good that people are talking behind backs... maybe a few days off will do you good.

Blythe it won't hurt to go off piste for a night. Enjoy!