Success with acupuncture only (after multiple IVF fails)?
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Anonymous
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21:39: How did you find the herbs to be effective? I started them a week ago, and the doctor will give me a different blend after my surge. I am just follwing directions with all of this, since I have no experience with non-Western medicine. She used electro-acupuncture today and at my last visit, based on the day of my cycle. I am glad to hear that you had such a positive experience. Good luck in January!
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Anonymous
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OP here again. Thanks for all the thoughtful responses.
23:22: That is a helpful way to think about the PGS normal embryos that did not take---it could mean that there are some good eggs still to be had. Maybe those two were genetically normal, but not robust enough to make it all the way. The TCM doctor believes that egg quality can be improved. |
Anonymous
Maybe....note the OPs thyroid issues. Also, older eggs have tougher shells. They need ICSI and assisted hatching just to get fertilized. But who knows? Maybe it'll be the ticket. |
Anonymous
21:39 here - My Chinese dx was spleen issues if I recall correctly. Even without the dx what I always experienced was constant fatigue for no apparent reason. Also, my tongue had scalloped ridges all along the sides. By the time I was finally open to taking herbs, I had probably been doing acupuncture for at least 6 months maybe more. My cycles with acu were always fine - no real issue. My luteal phase was maybe 12-13 days. No real clots during my period. I was always an early ovulator though (around day 11-12) but all the ultrasound tracking showed my follicle was mature based on size and E2 at that time. What the herbs did for me was prolong my luteal phase by about a day to a consistent 14 day LP; it made my bleeding bright bright red, and within 3 weeks, my energy level improved drastically. It was like night and day. It took maybe 2-3 months for the scalloped ridges on my tongue to finally disappear but my acu said that the tongue shows the long term health of the body and is not something that changes quickly like the pulse. I did acu throughout my pregnancy as well. The way I see it, it can only help. Best of luck to you OP and everyone else on this journey which is not for the faint of heart!!! |
Anonymous
| Is anyone able to drink the herbs without getting nauseous? |
Anonymous
| Ask for them in capsule or pill form. |
Anonymous
| Does fertility acupuncture have to be twice weekly, or is once a week beneficial? I am having a hard time getting to two appointments per week while working full time. |
Anonymous
If it's too stressful just go once a week. Usually the recommendation is twice a week for the first four to six weeks, then once a week thereafter for a few more months. I start going according to my cycle by around month three After starting ac - by that I mean once or twice before ovulation (day 5 and then maybe day 11/12 as I ovulate early) and then once around implantation time (around 8dpo). |
Anonymous
Who was your acupuncturist who diagnosed you? |
Anonymous
I went to three acupuncturists before finding one who worked based on location and specialty. I was diagnosed by a fertility acupuncturist out in the suburbs of Baltimore who I used to drive 45 mins to see on the weekends. When that became too much I found Dr. Sen Huang who practiced out of foggy bottom. Unfortunately I recently heard that he has suffered from a medical aliememt and is no longer practicing as of sometime this year. |
Anonymous
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OP here.
15:13: Thanks for sharing the days that you do acup. I will try to go once per week, and definitely on the key days in my cycle. What do people do when they travel? Just take the vitamins? I gave up on the blended herbs, due to nausea. I will ask about capsule form, but I am discouraged by it all right now. I went through so much with the meds during the four IVF rounds, that I just can't deal with feeling sick when the acupuncture is supposed to be my attempt at an easier assisted TTC process. I will keep taking the vitamins. |
Anonymous
| Barbara Mikula at Mikula Acupuncture is fabulous, sweet, and specializes in fertility acupuncture. I highly recommend her for acupuncture and Chinese medicine for fertility. My RE (Dominion) was very enthusiastic about me using acupuncture, not so much on the Chinese herbs, more because you aren't always positive what is in them and if any pesticides are used. |
Anonymous
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I am new to acupuncture, but wanted to share what I have observed over my current cycle. My issue is egg quality due to age.
I go for treatments twice a week. Each visit has many of the same points for needle insertions, and some variation based on cycle day. Some visits have electric currents from a machine. It is not painful. The ground herbs make me nauseous, but the capsule form has been fine. For the first time ever, I felt cramping on ovulation day. The TCM doctor said that it indicated a strong surge. We will see if there are any results. Today is 4dpo. No medications. |
Anonymous
| My first IVF failed, so I tried acupuncture for the second attempt (I was 35 at the time). Acupuncture started just a few days into stims. The lining I went to is experienced in tailoring acupuncture to the entire stim/transfer cycle. And my 2nd attempt was a success. I continued acupuncture through the entire pregnancy...my own superstition and because it forced me to relax and just focus on positive thoughts for the pregnancy and babies. |