advice about vitamins etc

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 11:44 am

Hi, I would like some advice about vitamins & other things please. What did you take, what did you avoid? I have read so much about what you should and shouldn't do and I know there isn't one answer but I want to do as much as I can. There was a lot of talk a while ago about Marilyn Glenville vitamins - have you used them? Did they make a difference? (are they expensive?) I have read about DH taking zinc for sperm quality, selenium, cut out caffeine, cut out chocolate, take chinese herbs etc etc and have done some of these things but still had 2 negatives this summer. I read that starwort is good for fertility - has anyone tried this supplement? Am I clutching at straws and there is nothing I can do, or do any of these things really work? And Nikola if you're reading this, I may well start eating Percy Pigs next time! Thanks Lots of love and take care all you pg ladies Kat xx [Edited by Kat on 12-Oct-03 04:58]

JackieT · Post by **JackieT** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 10:39 pm

hi kat it's me, your old cycle buddy, my DH took selenium ace{high strenght}. viramin c, and zinc, had no alcohol, and exercised 4/5 times a week. i took pregnacare, no alcohol, and i exercised 3 times a week, this was all pre treatment, in the 2WW, we carried on the same as above, except i cut out tennis and the gym, did'nt rest{much to the despair of nikola}, no bath, choccie, sex, deodorant, nuts pineapple,e.t.c. and i did keep my bum in the air for as long as possible after the ET. loads of milk and other fluids but no coke, i don't know if any of this is any good to you, but i also prayed and asked for the right thing to happen for us. we had 1 failed last year, but there was no reason as to why . i already have children from my husband, but we wanted one for ourselves and are trying for 4 years before we tried i.v.f. hopefully your time will be soon, are you starting soon? keep in touch love jackie xxx

SallyP · Post by **SallyP** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 9:54 am

Hi Kat, My first IVF failed and thankfully I got a positive on our second go. We had to have IVF as I have severe endo, and also ICSI as DH has poor sperm. This time, I didn't do any exercise but I made DH stop smoking, drinking, and we took 1g vit c, 30mg zinc, 200 mcg selenium, 250mg magnesium, vit A, 3 x evening primrose oil capsules, 200 iu vit E, vit B complex, each day. I also made DH scoff loads of Asda's brazil nuts in chocolate as they are high in selenium for his sperm! I also planted a pinky red fuschia in the west of the garden, put crystals in the west of my living room (Feng Shui), prayed and did positive affirmations every day on the 2ww (I now choose to be pregnant, This cycle of IVF has been successful, I am now pregnant) that sort of thing. I also did a Novena - although I am not a Catholic, it's a very powerful prayer, and they say it works even if you are asking for the impossible. What you do is this: Say the prayer 'May the sacred heart of Jesus be praised, adored, glorified and loved, today and every day throughout the world forever. Amen' you need to say this 6 times a day for 9 days for your prayer to be answered. So it certainly worked for me. On the 2ww I avoided sex, baths, anything strenuous. I spent 2 days in bed following embryo transfer, then drank 2 - 3 litres water per day on the 2ww. I also took folic acid for 3 months before the IVF, and took aspirin from the first day of injections through to when I tested. So I thought that at the end of it, if it didn;t work on the second time that I could not have done anything more to make it work, so just knowing I'd done my best helped as well. Best of luck and keep us updated, love Sally xxx

KirstyC · Post by **KirstyC** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 3:59 pm

Hi Kat, I went and saw a nutritionist for advice prior to out ICSI treatment and she put me on a very strict diet. (I went wheat and gluten free -due to having endo, and Dairy free due to having PCOS) She also put me on a really good multi vitamin and zinc. DH also went on selinium and zinc and stopped smoking and dramatically cut down his drinking. I also cut out Alcohol, Caffiene and fizzy drinks. We both took efamarine tablets too. Plus I took the usual folic acid tablets. I also did yoga each day before and during treatment. During the 2ww, I was signed off work and rested the whole time.I drank a pint of milk each day (so stopped being dairy free) plus 2-3 litres of water, but stopped the multi vit as it contained vitamin A. I also cut out sex and baths until the end of the first trimester. I know it sounds drastic and who knows if it made a difference.. but I am now 36 weeks pg and if I did it all again I wouldn't change anything. Hope this helps, Best of luck with everything, Love Kirsty x

Nikola · Post by **Nikola** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 4:12 pm

Kat!! Of course, I would be reading this - I'm soooo nosey I read everything! Even stuff I'm not supposed to!!! Everyone makes me laugh about the little rituals they do - Sally, I love the idea of putting crytals in the West Wing!! Now Kat, I am a catholic (albeit not practising, got thrown out for misbehaviour!) and my Great Aunt - Auntie Nora (don't laugh!!) is friends with the Pope. She recently went on a Pilgrimage to Lourdes with him and asked him to pray for me (which is all a bit ironic because I'm sure IVF must be against catholic beliefs.....but anyway!) and look what happened to me! Either that, or it was the Percy Pigs!! I still take Sanatogen Pronatal every day and I've been taking aspirin since ET. Did you try aspirin last time? I don't have any caffeine now at all (it helps that the smell of coffee sends me running to the loo!) I really really hope it works for you next time. Are you going to wait until after Christmas or will you get going before then? I'll be watching and keeping my fingers crossed for you! love nikola.xxxxxxxx

Nikola · Post by **Nikola** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 4:13 pm

Kat, forgot to say, I'll ask Auntie Nora to have a word with the top man and see if he can work his magic for you too!!! love nikola.xx

Dawn Blake · Post by **Dawn Blake** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 3:39 pm

Hiya Kat I am sure I wrote all my bits and bobs on the other side, but here they are again! Took Marilyn Glenville vits for first 3 months, together with Linseed oil, but as they are so pricey (£40 per month), have now gone on to Pro-natal vits, one a day. Also took baby aspirin from day one, and am still taking it now. Avoided caffeine, decaf tea and coffee tastes no different, and drank lots of water and fruit tea. Also had some chinese herbs, a tonic to help cleanse my liver etc (Chinese believe the liver is a vital key to infertility), and also had reflex and acupuncture once a week - lovely! Also carried around crystals (heavy man!), planted a pink fuscia in the west corner of my garden and it's still thriving now...beautiful, and Mum bought me a Buddha which also sits in the West corner of our sitting room, to bring luck and positivity! Like the others I wouldn't change a thing, however weird I might sound I am actually surprisingly normal to look at - honest!!! I really really hope it works next time round Kat, you truly deserve it and I will do a cartwheel when I see you post this side!!!! Lots of Love D x

Becky28 · Post by **Becky28** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 4:20 pm

Hi Kat, Hope you're feeling better and stronger each day - good for you for thinking positive and planning for best possible chance next time. I wanted to add a slightly different note, in that I really didn't do much different (or not as much as some other girls anyway). I really don't want to sound smug or dismissive or anything (I know I've been SO bloody lucky and believe me not a minute goes by when I don't feel grateful), but do remember a lot of this - unfortunately - is down to luck. I just don't want you beating yourself up about anything!! I hope you understand what I mean? I did cut out alcohol for stimming and 2ww, and Rob did for 2 wks before sample (and we both cut down a lot for a few months before treatment too); we'd given up smoking a year before. I took folic acid too. I still had baths, went for a wee after ET (i was bursting) and swam in the 2ww (clinic said good for relaxation and not dangerous) and I ate what I felt like eating, had sex and went to work. I did pat my tummy a lot and talk to the embies so I wasn't totally mrs scientific . . . I'm not trying to sound like some kind of hero either. I've had depression in the past and been known to get a bit obsessive about things, so was determined not to let IVF take over my whole life (yeah right, even though I thought of NOTHING else!) Hope you don't think I'm poo-pooing anything anyone else did. Who knows what I'd've done next time, and everyone should just get through this business in whatever way helps them. I don't think you are clutching at straws at all - anything that helps you feel positive is by definition worth doing. And I'll be joining Dawn cartwheeling (we might look a touch ungainly though eh Dawn?!) when you get your positive - it WILL happen. Beck xx

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 6:21 pm

Hi, Thanks to everyone and I know there isn't an easy answer but I plan to do as much as I can next time so I know I have given it my best shot. I know it's true that if it makes me feel positive then it's a good thing, and if Auntie Nora can have a word in influential ears then that's even better! Lots of love Kat xx

Nikola · Post by **Nikola** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 9:16 am

Kat, I'm sure if auntie nora can help she will, in fact she'll be cartwheeling too and she is 86!!! love nikola.xx

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