Jen
Registered: 06/27/06
Posts: 12
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Reply with quote | #1 |
I am interested in hearing success stories of using acupuncture for fertility. I realize this site is new but does anyone have anything to share?
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Jen |
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RedDish
Registered: 06/27/06
Posts: 15
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Reply with quote | #2 |
I've been seeing an acupuncturist for a year now on a weekly basis. I started after trying to get pregnant naturally for a year with no luck. (I'm 36) I sort of found him by lottery and then discovered he hadn't been practicing for long. Since everyone has to start somewhere, I decided to stay with him anyways. He asked if I minded him discussing my issues with his former instructor and at one time we met with her in person, which I appreciated. What was interesting was that after a plethora of questions, With herbs, needles, and moxi, he's corrected my ravenous hunger pains, dramatically decreased menstrual pains, cleared up my cold hands and feet and my constant yeast-like infections, as well as a few other annoying conditions. But no baby. How long should I keep going? I was hoping it would only take a few months to get things balanced. In the mean time, I'm working on emotional issues and reducing stress (thanks to Anji) and will be doing IUI again this week. Welcome everyone! I look forward to your posts.
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Jen
Registered: 06/27/06
Posts: 12
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Reply with quote | #3 |
Thanks for sharing! How many cycles of IUI have you done? Good Luck with this round!!!! I am 33 and DH is 44. We are TTC #1 for me after a vasectomy reversal. Has anyone heard of acupuncture for men for fertility?
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Jen |
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RedDish
Registered: 06/27/06
Posts: 15
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Reply with quote | #4 |
Hi Jen. It looks like it's just you and me right now though I am sure this place will be hoppin' in no time. This will be my second try at IUI. I was surprised at how simple the procedure was but the fertility drugs are a whole different issue. My doctor said I was ovulating just fine so I could choose if I wanted to use Clomid or not. Though my acupuncturist advised against it, I wanted to increase my chances. I felt fine when I took the Clomid challenge test, but the second time was very different. I was dizzy, nauseous, and devoid of energy, and very moody. This time I will do the IUI without drugs...just my Chinese herbs. My acupuncturist gave me a book: The Infertility Cure : The Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babies by Randine Lewis PhD. It was very good to read but I felt it was a bit too involved for the average person to do alone. It gave some interesting suggestions and even touched on acupuncture for men. My husbands tests have all come back quite good so we've just been focused on me. Have you done any testing since the reversal (besides the sperm test, of course.)
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Jen
Registered: 06/27/06
Posts: 12
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Reply with quote | #5 |
RedDish- We have not done any further testing other than the SA. If we don't get pregnant this month, I will go for an HSG to see if my tubes are open. I have that book so I need to review it and look for acupuncture for men. I don't know if DH would be open to it or not. Good luck with the IUI. It is too bad that the Clomid made you sick. That can't be good! Do you have any of the CD's from the Anji online store? I was thinking of buying one or two. I am going to wait for my TWW to be over and then decide which one I need. I was wondering how others liked them. I hope more woman find their way here. It is a wonderful resource.
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Jen |
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RedDish
Registered: 06/27/06
Posts: 15
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Reply with quote | #6 |
I had two blue lines this morning so I did IUI today. Often it is done two days in a row but I asked my doctor how much my chances are improved by doing the insemination twice and he said only 20-30%. I decided it wasn't worth doing the second time. I had an HSG in January. It wasn't nearly as awful as I had heard it would be, but it was a bit awkward. The ultrasound, on the other hand, was extremely painful when done with a full bladder. (Apparently the bladder makes a nice viewing window) I am using the "Natural Cycle" Imagery and Meditation CD from Anji. It is quite nice and relaxing. Jennifer's voice is soothing. It's nice to just listen and let someone else take the lead inside of my head. Jen, are you doing acupuncture treatments?
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Jen
Registered: 06/27/06
Posts: 12
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Reply with quote | #7 |
Oh Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am not doing acupuncture now but am considering it. I will have a HSG in a couple weeks if I don't get a BFP. I am glad to hear it was not as bad as you expected. I hope it is like that for me, too. I am 11DPO today! I am pretty crazed right now. It can be so stressful. I need to work on not letting it get to me so much! Here is to your BFP!!!!
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Jen |
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RedDish
Registered: 06/27/06
Posts: 15
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Reply with quote | #8 |
Ah geez! You're getting close. I think the anxiety and counting and waiting, and hoping, and thinking about it all is just so stressful! It's got to be doing us harm. Every person I've talked to that finally got a BFP naturally said they just forgot about everything and got busy doing something else. But how can I just forget about something I want so much?
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Jen
Registered: 06/27/06
Posts: 12
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Reply with quote | #9 |
I SO agree with you and I am struggling with keeping my inner peace during the TWW. Mine just ended except is was longer than TW! AF came today at 17 DPO. I just ordered the Meditations for a Fertile Soul CD to use this month. I am going to work on taking a step back this month. Easier said than done!!! When is the end of your TWW? I hope this works for you !!!  Be well!
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Jen |
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RedDish
Registered: 06/27/06
Posts: 15
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Reply with quote | #10 |
Hi Jen! I'm sorry to hear about your visit from AF.  When I was young and irresponsible it felt like I was always praying for her visit but now it feels like such a curse. I've got five more days to wait, and I've made a rule with myself to not do any HPT's until I reach the last day of my cycle. otherwise it just adds to the insanity. I made the decision yesterday to stop doing acupuncture for a while. I think it has done a lot of good for me, (no matter how bad the herbs taste). My last final complaint (besides IF) was cleared up last week. I'm seriously thinking of doing some weekly phone consultations with J. Bloome (Do I sound like I'm advertising for Anji?) instead. Yesterday I hit a big bump while I was listening to my natural cycle CD. I just couldn't convince myself that I could be holding an embryo anymore. It was like I was fine and positive one day and the next day it was just all wrong. It seems like I've been feeling this way during my last week every month. I don't know what this means. I feel like crying about it right now, which suggests PMS, furthering my belief I am not PG. Maybe it's time for me to take this subject to another thread. Ha ha ha! Should you and I resume this conversation under a new title? Be extra gentle with yourself today while your system renews itself.
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Jen
Registered: 06/27/06
Posts: 12
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Reply with quote | #11 |
Hi Red Dish! I don't know how to resume this conversation under a new title but if you tell me where to go, I am there! I SO know what you mean re your emotions. This last cycle I had NO physical symptoms of AF but I was an emotional wreck for a couple of weeks. I was getting weepy at the smallest things. I too was convinced that I was not going to get pregnant. I think that was my coping mechanism, trying to avoid the disappointment. Then from 13DPO-17DPO, I was an up and down mess. It is a rough road. I feel more centered now and ready for the new opportunity to conceive. Do you have the Fertile Soul CD, too? Do you like one more than the other? I can't wait to get mine. I have decided not to pursue acupuncture at this time. I don't want to start focusing too much energy on not being able to get pregnant. I am going to wait a bit. I go for an HCG next Tuesday and DH has an SA on the 14th. I will be anxious to hear your experience if you do the phone conferences with J. Bloom. It sounds like it will be inspirational. I hope these next five days go by fast for you! I'd love to see you get your BFP!!!!!!
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Jen |
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RedDish
Registered: 06/27/06
Posts: 15
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Reply with quote | #12 |
Jen... Today I had my last acupuncture treatment for a while. I was pleased to find out my bad symptoms (damp heat) have not returned and my acupuncturist says I am doing very well. I told him I wanted to take time off so that I could work with J Bloome for a while and he said it was an excellent idea. He really respects Dr. Randine so naturally he thinks J must be great too. He gave me a couple weeks worth of herbs and told me he'd call me next week some time to make sure they are working for me. I guess after a whole year of treatment, I get special attention like that.  At that, I am switching us over to Mind-body for Fertility under the topic of "Coping..." (Since we seem to be alone here right now, we had just as well spread out a bit.) See ya there.
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Elle
Registered: 08/05/06
Posts: 2
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Reply with quote | #13 |
Hello -
New member here. I too have tried acupuncture, not just for fertility, but also for general anxiety and stress. My hubby and I decided to have a baby about 2 years ago, and I got preggo right away. Unfortunately, I had a M/C around week 8. Since I had gotten pregnant so quickly the first time, I didn't expect to have trouble on the 2nd try, but my cycles were messed up and I was extremely depressed after my loss. I didn't share my pregnancy or my loss with anyone except my hubby. Not one friend or relative knew. I think this repression of emotion (as well as the general stress of life/money/work) is what ultimately led me to have a full blown panic attack (thought I was having a heart attack/couldn't breath/ended up in the ER/was afraid to be alone/felt nauseous and hungover all the time /thought I had a brain tumor and was going to die, etc.). After almost a year of feeling tired, dizzy, sick, depressed, numb - you name it - and feeling no relief under the care of standard practitioners who wanted to medicate me, I sought the help of an acupuncturist. My honest belief is that he changed my life. My very first cycle on acupuncture - I had been irregular since I was 16, and more irregular after my M/C - came on day 28. I was pregnant within 2 months. And my anxiety has diminished tremendously. Unfortunately, my pregnancy was ectopic, and I lost my baby #2. It took me a few months to heal after the ectopic (problems at the incision site), during which time I did take a break from acupuncture, but only for financial reasons. I have finally healed and plan to return to acupuncture next week with very high hopes of getting and staying pregnant. I have continued to monitor my temps since the ectopic, and have absolutely noticed a difference (more irregular temp pattern) while on a break from the needles. Everyone is different and responds in a unique way to treatment, but like I said, I believe my acupuncturist saved me and I am looking forward to going back. |
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RedDish
Registered: 06/27/06
Posts: 15
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Reply with quote | #14 |
Hello Elle! Wow! You've been through the wringer while riding a roller-coaster. But it sounds like you are keeping positive. I understand how the needles are supposed to work but I felt like the herbs were what really made a difference in my treatments. Were you taking herbs as well? How often were you having the needle treatments? Did you continue to have treatments when you were recovering from loss #2? We are glad you've joined us here!
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