GP attitude to alternate therapies making me doubt myself

[AndiE]

My GP has really got my back up in regard to my conceiving a third and final baby. It's probably silly and pointless I feel this way, but she's basically done her best to tutt tutt my strong belief in the benefits of (good!) alternative therapies.

And now I feel confused about which way to go. Not good when at 38 it's not like I have tons of time on my side. I know I should just wave her off and trust myself and what I know, but my ticking biological clock almost makes inclined to go for the possibly easier medical route.

I've seen this GP for almost 4 years and have always found her excellent - she got the ball rolling back in 2007 when we were TTC without much luck. I ended up with a referrel to a FS and on Clomid. DS1 was born 11 months after I saw the GP. DS2 though was an oopsie, which sort of proved that I "can" conceive without medical help.

During both pregnancies (I had gestational diabetes with DS1) I saw an utterly brilliant acupuncturist and chinese herballist. She been a practioner for 100 years (ok, maybe 30) and specialises in fertility and pregnancy. I credit her with controlling the GD, keeping my shocking pg reflux at bay, generally helping me feel great even in the latter stages of pregnancy ... and to top it off, I gave birth both times just before my EDD and had "easy", shortish straightforward births. A fluke? Who knows ... but you can't convince me these alternative therapies didn't play a significant role in my pgs and labours.

So ... to today. We're trying to conceive bub #3. My cycle is pretty whacky and I'm not convinced my body is "behaving". I went to my GP mainly to get some BTs done to see what is going on. I thought I'd then try the acupuncture/herbs and some clean healthier living (ie/ no coffee, less sugar etc) for a few months. The GP immediately wanted to refer me to a ObGyn. That's fine ... that's not really the issue. But I made what I now consider an error of judgement, saying to her "I'm thinking of trying acupuncture and chinese herbs" for a few months first. I'm assuming that any ObGyn would lean toward a course of clomid, given that worked back in 2007.

Anyway ... did I cop a medicalised rant about acupuncture and herbs. Why "waste my money", there's "no proof" alternative therapies work, she was "probably more a counsellor than any real help", if you wait 3 or 6 months that's 3 or 6 months "less fertile" you are ... and on and on she went. Far out ... she even said if acupuncture and herbs made women pregnant then fertility specialists etc would be out of work. I sincerely wish I'd kept my mouth shut and taken the referral, to use at my discretion. The GP admitted she was ranting, but said I'd come to her to ask her medical opinion. Fair enough, I suppose.

Why do I want to try acupuncture/herbs first - maybe it does sound mad? Well, this particular practioner has an amazing success rate. She's just ... fabulous. I really trust her because I've benefitted first-hand from her "intervention". It might take a bit longer than a month or two (or 6) of clomid, but it would be "natural", if that makes sense. And to that end, if I conceive successfully I'm hoping it may lessen the chance of having a multiple birth, because given I'm already at that age where I could easily be popping multiple eggs on my own, let alone with assistance from ovulation induction drugs. While we'd love twins per se, we'd prefer just the one (universe, I hope you're listening).

So, if you've got to this point you deserve a medal. To sum it up, the choice I have is trust my gut and go with say 3-4 months of alternative therapies, then go to the ObGyn if I've had luck conceiving ... or just do the Clomid thing, which has worked for me before but also gave me mood swings and sharp unpleasant cramps which made me take sick leave. And (to my mind) increase the chance of a multiple birth.

DH and I very much want a third child (although some days the two I have drive me nuts). And that's the thing, we have 2 healthy children - clomid is "it" in terms of assisted conception if it comes to that, we don't feel the need to pursue anything else. If it's to be, then we'll have another baby, kwim.

Bah - there's nothing worse than doubting yourself when your gut tells you what you think is the right course. It's just the GP made me feel - hell she outright SAID - I wasn't serious about conceiving if I didn't go to an Ob/Gyn.

And that's why I'm still wide awake at 11pm when I should be in bed ...

[nic]

WOW! I think there are some people out there, that no matter how much evidence you give them, it just won't change their opinion or challenge them to be open to alternative therapies...which is sad really.
It sounds like you have a lot of faith in your acupuncturist and chinese herbalist. I think if you have that much faith in them, then why not go see them for 6 months or so? If Clomid is the last part of your TTC journey then how much more difference will 6 months of alternative therapy make to the result clomid may give you? It's not like you are moving on to IVF and have to get the Clomid part of it over and done with, is it? (I'm not sure what i wrote there made any sense??)
Haav you seen the ObGyn she gave you a referral to? Do you know how long it will take to get an appointment? Could you start alternative therapies while you wait?

Goodluck with it all....and don't let your normally wonderful Gp's opinion make you doubt your beliefs

[RhiChiChi]

Whilst I respect your GP has opinions about alternative therapies & lets just make it clear to say that it can go vice versa (ie: naturopath not always supporting conventional medicine) I have to say that I strongly disagree about her stance that alternative therapies do not help ttc. My GF asked when she was about to commence IVF via Monash IVF if they could recommend anyone in the alternative therapy industry to compliment the IVF & they gave her a chinese herbalist/accupuncturist contact details. Now, if the FS or the likes don't think it would help why would they pass out business cards?

My GF swears this is what helped her fall pg first round on IVF after doing IUI and the likes prior without alternative therapy support.

If I were you I would do both if you can afford it.

GL

[BellyBelly]

I did some research years ago and the WHO actually recommends/supports the use of acupuncture to treat - yes treat - some thousands of conditions.

You have to realise that traditional chinese medicine has been around for so very very long, much longer than modern medicine, and is 'competition' for modern medicine which is another reason why GPs may not recommend them. On the other hand I also know some GP acupuncturists also.

I believe in the body's ability to heal itself, modern medicine has its place, they all do. But to blatantly declare an opinion about a therapy which is proven to work, is just anti-competitive, unfounded opinion.

Give it a go!

[Yeddi]

... did I cop a medicalised rant about acupuncture and herbs. Why "waste my money", there's "no proof" alternative therapies work

Hmm, perhaps your GP should catch up on her reading. There are actually quite a few studies that show the validity of acupuncture and some herbal remedies.

[J-LO]

I was diagnosed with Ross River Virus last march. The GP said to me, "There is nothing we can do for you but support you in taking time off work. We just have to let it run its course". I decided that wasnt good enough because I had just started a new job and really needed to be there. I was lathargic, fatigued, emotional and stressed by the fact that Ross River can be in your system for months to years. I decided to give alternative medicine a go. I had many tonics and acupuncture to build up my immune system and to help with my fatigue. Long story short, I was well enough to go back to work after 3 Weeks! I continued to take tonics and have acupunture for about 3 months. 1 year later, no Ross River showed up in my bloods!

I have now just been told I have Endometriosis. After spending the last couple of days down in the dumps and crying. I have put my thinking cap on and am going to give alternative medicine a go for this while waiting for the Gyno. I have already spoken to my Nathropath/Herbalist and am booked in for my consult next week to start taking tonics to boost my fertility etc.

I guess the point of me sharing this is that even though DRs say one thing, doesnt mean there is no other avenues to try. I was in no way thinking herbs/acuptunture was going to do anything, I was proven wrong. And I am hoping that this time round, I will be just as lucky!

[kimmi]

I did some research years ago and the WHO actually recommends/supports the use of acupuncture to treat - yes treat - some thousands of conditions.

You have to realise that traditional chinese medicine has been around for so very very long, much longer than modern medicine, and is 'competition' for modern medicine which is another reason why GPs may not recommend them. On the other hand I also know some GP acupuncturists also.

This is so true.... There is bucket loads of evidence that points towards the benefits of acupuncture during IVF and TTC. Perhaps ask your practitioner for some studies (he or she will probably have access to some reputable ones) and take them to your doctor. Sometimes GP's tend to not accept alternative therapies simply because they know nothing about it.

[onthefly]

Just because someone has a medical degree doesn't mean they know everything.
Do what you feel is right for you.

[LionsandBears]

I have a GP who is supportive of alternative therapies and has even suggested non 'medical' options at times. She also admits she's not an expert at fertility but supports my efforts. So if I want a blood test for X, y or z she fills out the path slip. Not all GPs are like yours. It's still just her opinion. I get bloodtests to measure things before trying alt therapies. Did you get the path slips? If not, try another doctor.

[AndiE]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I saw my GP yesterday, so it was all pretty "fresh" last night. I can get in to see the ObGyn mid-April, but after a big chat with DH we're almost certainly going to go with our gut instinct and go back to my acupuncturist/chinese herballist. She's also a naturopath and into good 'ol commonsense. We'll try for a few months, and see how we go.

I'm still at a loss to explain why someone who's so intelligent has such a close-minded opinion, but I recognised almost immediately that she is probably on some sort of kick-back from the pharmaceutical companies. At least that's what cynical me thinks. Look, she probably does have my "best interests" in mind, but it annoyed the hell out of me to be told I "wasn't serious" about conceiving if I didn't effectively hook in and use available medical means to achieve pregnancy given my fertile years are fast coming to a close.

I know alternate therapies work - I was converted back in 2007, and I remain converted. I'm not a big believer in regrets, but if I had my time over again I think I'd steer clear of the GP. I really only wanted to get some blood tests done to see what my levels were doing (prolactin in particular, as I still BF DS2 once daily) but the GP was more than keen to pass me on to a specialist. And I didn't mention it in my earlier rant, but she refused to talk to me about ovulation (I've been keeping tabs on it) - she basically said predicting ovulation doesn't help because you never know you've ovulated until afterwards. And she told me I was being too "self-analytical" to try and pinpoint ovulation. Call me a medical dunce, but I kinda thought ovulation was rather important when your cycle is hit-and-miss.

Anyhoo, while I'm still disappointed in my GP (she may NOT be my GP after this), I'm back in "my" headspace again tonight and I know what I need to do. Thanks again for the support and replies.

[Arcadia]

Erm I think you need a new gp. Can't pinpoint ovulation until afterwards? Then I wouldn't be pregnant! AND I wouldn't have successfully controlled my fertility for over six years without contraception. Maybe she needs to get more in touch with both anecdotal and published evidence about alternative medicines.

I think acupuncture sounds like a great idea...and fwiw, why does she care if you spend money on other treatments???

Good luck with the ttc!!!