[ADVICE] Telling your TCM practitioner you're going assisted conception

[Marley&Me]

My TCM practitioner is against medical assisted conception. In my first appointment when I mentioned I was taking clomid in the past he definitely didn't support it. Then I told him it was for 6 months and he nearly fell off his chair
Now I am on my 7th week and still no AF or anything to even suggest AF is nearing, I am currently CD 129 and have just had enough. So i am booked in to start IUI next month and I'd like to continue TCM until then (just in case a miracle happens)

Should I tell him that I am booked in even though he is totally against it? I don't know what to say when the time comes and I don't need his services anymore. I worry he will give me 'that look' and I will feel bad for giving up on natural.

[Liz]

TCM didn't help my fertility much I ended up seeing an OB for more metformin (needed it for DS). TCM guy didn't make me feel bad, but you could tell he didn't like it, we had talked about the damage all these drugs can do to you etc. I fell pg very quickly on the metformin, and I still saw the TCM guy to help 'protect' the pregnancy with acupuncture. Is there some aspect like that you can still see him for? Acupuncture is great for all the aches and pains in pregnancy too.

[Marley&Me]

Thanks liz, I guess so. I take tea from herbs and also acupuncture. It's just costing me too much considering I could be putting the money aside for the IUI. Maybe I could go once a fortnight instead of once a week....

[diva det]

TCM has been effective in raising success rates of assisted conception.
I would definately tell your TCM practitioner and ask them to work with you. Otherwise i might be worth finding another TCM who will
I went to my TCM practitioner for 6 months and after the 6 months i rang and told him that i was going to go back to IVF again and would he support me. He agreed to, but as it turned out, I didnt need to. I had gotten pg on my own 2 days before i rang and asked him to. So TCM did work for me- just at the very last minute.
definately talk to them as you dont want something they are giving your in your TCM sessions to contradict your IUI process or meds!!
xxx

[juniper76]

If he won't work with you, I'd find someone who will. There are many acus who work with AC patients. I didn't start seeing mine until we were already doing IVF, but she has been supportive through everything we have done and has always worked with me to give my AC cycles the best chance of success.

[RhiChiChi]

^^ Agree with Juniper here. I saw a TCM pratitioner prior to IUI & IVF and he works with his patients who are doing AC. Look up L.ouis C.ali (he is in Berwick) and I know my gf used him whilst doing IVF. First cycle she fell pg. GL

[Chocaholic]

I assume you are paying him to treat you. If so, other than offer advice, he should not make you feel guilty about the choices you make. Only you can decide what is best for you and if he is not capable of supporting you, I would recommend finding someone who can.

[xXHopeXx]

I assume you are paying him to treat you. If so, other than offer advice, he should not make you feel guilty about the choices you make. Only you can decide what is best for you and if he is not capable of supporting you, I would recommend finding someone who can.

Yep that.

You can only keep trying for so long before feeling like you're wasting your money and want to try something more guaranteed to work.

I went to a naturopath who was/is very very good, and I believe he had a direct affect on the fact I fell pregnant naturally even though I wasnt taking the meds to *try* fall pregnant itms, just to help my cycles and pcos

[LionsandBears]

My acupuncturist gets a lot of his referrals from fertility specialists for couples going through IVF. I've had friends see him just before and just after a transfer. It's common to use TCM with assisted reproduction.

if you and your health practioner have opposing philosophies, then find someone else who will support you. It's not your job to keep him employed. He either helps or loses custom. I'd just go somewhere new and cancel all future appointments.

[Frangipani Lou]

In seeing K.aren P.ohlner from S.attva natural therapies. Not for ttc but it is her specialty. Shes in east brighton. She's quite nurturing and her treatments have been effective late in pg and she's ok with the naturopathic herbs etc that im taking. Her website is quite informative too and she's well known in the area.

[Lenny]

Tasha - i think you should find someone else.

If his personal beliefs are contrary to yours, then it's not going to be a great relationship. Something that i think is important with TCM. They are there to assist you in your life. You don't need to feel judged negatively by them - and certainly not like you are a disappointment to them! They have not experienced your TTC journey...who is to say what they would have done in your shoes.

Mine was happy to help.

[Marley&Me]

That is bizzare about him - my gf swears by him & told me to see him. I did for a few months but it was too exxy for us at the time. I do recall him saying to my gf I wish you had seen me prior to starting IVF but she was seeing someone else but had no luck. She actually asked the IVF clinic if they recommend someone in the TCM field & they said him - go figure??!! Well, be upfront & like the others said if he is not on the same page, there are plenty of others out there. I think F.ertile G.round around the Malvern area are good too. Best of luck!

Not entirely sure, but I remember him saying what clomid etc does to your body. He is lovely though, very funny and nice. I do like him.

Sorry tasha I'm hijaking your thread

No worries myturn, hijack away!

Tasha - i think you should find someone else.

If his personal beliefs are contrary to yours, then it's not going to be a great relationship. Something that i think is important with TCM. They are there to assist you in your life. You don't need to feel judged negatively by them - and certainly not like you are a disappointment to them! They have not experienced your TTC journey...who is to say what they would have done in your shoes.

Mine was happy to help.

I haven't actually brought it up yet, he is great and very nice. I could be wrong, but I as i mentioned above, he didn't have good things to say about clomid. I guess I'll see what happens when I bring it up....

[juniper76]

Lol, even I struggle to find any good things to say about clomid. I was one of the unlucky ones who had horrendous (but rare) s/e while taking it. Total nightmare for me!

I know my acu thinks it is very bad for the body (we happened to discuss it a couple of weeks ago), but that doesn't mean she wouldn't be supportive of a patient doing a clomid cycle. Prior treatment with clomid is usually a condition of prescribing the stronger fertility meds, so most of us have to work through that "normal" progression of treatments.

All you can do is raise the subject with him and see how he responds. If he provides the support you need, then great. If he is unsupportive, then you know you have other options.

[Marley&Me]

Juniper that sucks I was really sweaty at night and had some bad O pains, but that s about it. But it made me ovulate, 32 day cycles!!! First for me Unfortunately no baby for us though