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Was in the middle of typing up a post when sushee closed the thread! At least I didn't lose it and can now paste it here...
Re: acupuncture.
I've been going for about 12 months, and I have an acupuncturist that specialises in fertility, IVF support and miscarriage prevention. It really did nothing much for us when we were TTC naturally - it got me to ovulate naturally once (which was more than metformin, clomid or any herbs could do), but I had a pretty bad luteal phase defect at the time. We never did manage to get it to work again. If nothing else, it was immensely beneficial even if it was just for the relaxation and helping me manage my stress levels while going through all of this. The acupuncture helped me deal with so many of the side effects from the IVF drugs, and it really helped me to be able to go and talk through everything with someone each week (yeah, I know, go see a counsellor, but the one at my clinic was only available on Fridays during work hours and that was never going to work!). I also had an acupuncture treatment the evening of my transfer - and I'm absolutely convinced that it helped the little Caterpillar stick.
Chez, the technology for freezing eggs isn't really there yet. I'm sure the clinic would prefer to freeze the sperm and then use it with ICSI if it's going to be an issue. ICSI can overcome a lot of sperm defects, so I'm fairly (I'm no expert!) certain that it won't really be an issue. As sushee said, it may just be worth having a sample frozen for your own piece of mind if it's going to be cutting things close in terms of travel times.
Sparkles - great news on the ovulation thing! A friend of mine here on this forum had several clomid cycles trying to get her cycle to restart after the pill just like you... the clomid worked every time, but she did not conceive. On her second natural cycle after clomid they conceived, with absolutely ridiculous BD timing! There's always hope! Good luck.
I think you guys here will be stuck with me until I finally get over this denial thing completely! Still feels surreal, although DH and I are managing to have the odd little conversation about things now... slow progress, but progress all the same!
BW - i think even once you're past your denial you'll stay subscribed to this thread just to keep an eye on us all and make sure we're behaving without you!
i'm seriously considering acupuncture - but there's no one local that specialises in the fertility stuff, and my chiro has said he wants me to give the AC a reasonable chance before we commit to a 12 week scedule with him (he's done some of the fertility stuff, but not too much)
BW, it'd be a shame for you to go unless you want to. I reckon it's great having you here, just so we know how you are going, and selfishly, because you and BeiBei and everyone else who has success gives the rest of us hope. Just because you are no longer one of the LTTTC, I can't see any reason why you can't still contribute.
hey all
I have been brought up with natural therapies rather than drugs so i kinda just went for it..it made me feel proactive and have a little more hope, i have been to natropath and accupuncture, i noticed my hormone balcne definatly improve with accupuncture, so now we are giving it a go for hubbys sperm , no harm...it gives me a little bit of hope
BW- i hope you stick around hun and we can follow your pregnancy
thats interesting about the accupuncture with ivf i will chat to my guy about it when i go throuh it, he works alot with pregnacies
Just thought i'd quickly say that i am not anti-natural therapies at all. I would be very keen to pick up acupuncture, but financially we are having to wait a bit. Might even get me drinking that thistle tea too Holly!
I love the natural therapies. I also have a digestive tract issue related to my diabetes and sometimes i get very bloated because food stays in my stomach and doesn't move through properly. When my acupuncture lady sticks this one needle in a particualar spot within about 10 minutes my stomach releases and you can actually hear start gurgling even while she is still putting the other needles in...it is an awesome feeling. These same happens when the other end backs up I usually get home from a treatment and my bowels start working again so I am a firm advocate of natural therapy. After all the chinese have been perfecting this stuff successfully for thousands of years versus our mere 150 of modern medicine so obviously they are on the right track somewhere.
I just wish I could afford to go more often. I haven't been since March cos of lack of funds and I am really feeling the difference with bad reflux and stuff.
God, I've started something here with the nat therapies huh??!!!
Rols, Kotare and I have a little joke about the nat therapies... I'm always pushing it to anyone who'll listen!!!!
I've just had tremendous results with it all - The acupuncture, and the herbs.
To answer your question, the acupuncture feels amazing.... I have struggled for a long time in my younger years with sickness & pain related to all things TTC... acupuncture has truly been my saviour - to regulate my cycles, stop the pain, get rid of fluid retention, etc,etc.... you can feel the difference all over your body by the time the therapist has finished putting the needles in... its great.
Like BW said, even if its for the relaxation on its own.... it works!!!
I had proven results with the acupuncture & the herbs on our last IVF cycle, and after seeing Antonia last week and gaining my feeling back in my whole TTC area around my c/s scar after 9yrs of nothing... Its proven to work for me again.
I just think anything is worth trying... and this whole TTC thing does your head in so many times over - If it can offer any type of relief or aid, then I am all for it!!!
Good luck with your app tomorrow Rols all is great xxx
Theres a fantastic book I have called Fertility & Conception by Zita West - she is an FS who has her own IVf clinic in the UK, and also practices in Acupuncture & chinese herbs along with other nat therapies.... this book is available in bookshops (I got it at Dymocks).. and she goes into great detail about the bemefits of AC & nat therapies.... for all types of problems, men & women.
Definately worth owning - It was my bible through my last cycle.
Its about $40.
Speaking of acupuncture, I had my first ever session today! I have a needle phobia which I wanted to address before we start IVF, and the documented benefits were enough for me to make an appointment.
I actually found it really relaxing, we discussed all the fertility issues and other health problems (migraines and weight) and we came up with a plan for the next 6 or so weeks to try and help. My next session is booked for Friday 29th.
In other news AF has gone for another month, thank goodness!
Bec, I was originally terrified of the needles as well... Probably because we all remember the nasty nurses giving us jabs into the muscle at school - nothing gently, slow or careful about those! I started acupuncture long before I ever thought IVF was the only way... and found that with the deep breath in, deep breath out, needle goes in routine, I just didn't feel the acupuncture needles go in at all. Without even thinking about it, I did that with all my needles... and the only one I ever had real trouble with was the trigger, because there was so much more to inject!
Anyway, I'm really glad that you found the acupuncture relaxing - I think that was probably the biggest benefit I gained from it, too.
I was also happy to discover that you barely even feel subcutaneous injections... they are NOTHING like the immunisation jabs we'd remember from our youth!
Hello all,
Just wanted to say that I love my acupuncture sessions!!!
I was nervy at first too but I really feel very mellow after I have it. I take my i-pod with relaxing music mixed ready to go and lie in the dark while it does it's magic. I agree with BW, it is thearaputic to talk through your cycle and how you've been feeling. Sometimes those around me tire a little of my problems, not that it's obvious but I am pretty sure it gets to be a bore. So, it's nice to chat with my acupuncturist who is so encouraging.
cheers, sassba
Hi everyone...
I'm with Sushee.. each time I've had a BFP (naturally!)it's been when I've been sticking to my chiro schedule...so that'smy plan now...work part time...go to the chiro and see what happens?
Hope you all have a good day!
Holly it seems like you have really started something here!
I have been doing chiro for more than 12 months now, not specifically for fertility issues, be he is aware that we are TTC and have started our first IVF cycle. I too have some digestion issues which the chiro seems to have sorted out, so I am hoping that any fertility issues may have been sorted out at the same time. I have had accupuncture before, for a sports injury a few years ago, and had moderate success with it. My father had huge success with it years ago (when I was pre-school age) - he went from having to wear glasses for all close-up work and reading to not having to wear them at all, which made a huge difference to him in his work. I have seen various NPs over the years and found them to be very helpful and was even seeing one about 2 years ago for the digestion issues but didn't have any real success. I found the chiro was much better. It might be something I look into after this cycle once we have more information about what is going on with my body, because at this stage there is nothing known to be 'wrong' - all hormone levels are right etc etc. But who knows what we will find out in the next few weeks?
BW - I think you should hang around in this thread as long as you like. I think you were one of the first to welcome me when I joined BB and have found your posts to be informative and very supportive, so please don't feel like you have to leave just because you are pg!
Sushee and everyone - thanks for your advice re freezing unfert eggs and sperm. Once we have more information on Thursday we will make a decision but it is starting to look like freezing DF's sperm is the way to go. I would rather this than have the whole cycle wasted!
Rols - good luck with your FS visit today. Hopefully you will get some answers and have a plan in place soon.
Anyway, have a great day everyone. I can't believe we are onto #4 already!
Our first IVF cycle is around mid-August. DW has to go on the pill soon, then she starts the jabs of follicle stimulating stuff late July.
DW's results: All fine. Ovaries and follies all good, tubes and uterus fine, all hormone levels within range. So from her side of things it's all go. FS did comment that her uterus had a slightly unusual shape at the top between the tubes, but said it was something that wasn't uncommon and she'd seen it before. In any event it has no affect upon IVF.
My results: Third SA (from specialist this time) shows somewhat similar results to last time, but not identical. Count was down, but still over 210 million, the first two SA's were over 260 million. More interestingly, every single category they tested (volume, concentration, rapid prog. motility, prog. motility, TZI and antibodies) all tested within the normal range with the exception of morphology which is still crap at 99% head defects, 80% mid section defects, and only 14% tail defects. Amazingly, they reckon a normal morphology % is anything over 3%, so 97% can still be crap and that's normal. Can you believe that?! Thery also did a trial wash and that went well apparently with 81% of the sample being rapidly progressive.
It is so weird seeing my results and them telling me that with the exception of the morphology, I'm normal to good. Anyway, so what this means is that they have recommended IUI or IVF, as opposed to ICSI. IUI wasn't discussed by FS, so I'm assuming she doesn't want to take that route.
I am wondering a bit if we should hold off and keep trying longer, as FS did say we were still a chance for natural conception. But how long do you wait? I suppose we might as well just get on with it, and hope they get heaps of embies to freeze if cycle 1 is unsuccessful.
Hey Rols
That's a heap of info for you guys to digest...great that you have a plan...how are you feeling about it all? And DW? We're all here for you guys...best of luck
Rols- sounds like your FS appointment ws a very informative one! good luck in moving forward - just make sure you dodn't waste this cycle with DW as a natural one (it's happened more than a few times!!)
Ellie - both of us are fine. I don't know if I should be feeling something else but I'm just excited that it's happening and grateful that we have the opportunity to have a child, which 30 years ago we wouldn't have had the chance to have. I don't feel particularly hard done by, although of course envious of those who fall pregnant naurally, I just feel fine. It's pretty stupid because I stress about things such as how much my ute's gearbox is leaking or how much money we've spent on something trivial this fortnight, yet am pretty calm and accepting of the big things in life.
BW - what do you mean regarding the natural stuff? Sorry, I think I get what you're saying but I'm not really up with it all yet.
Long Term TTC & Assisted Conception - June 2007 #4
all is great xxx
acupuncture
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