Trad Chinese Medicine for IVF and women over 35

[kbat]

I am wishing you lots of luck. I too am doing some tcm, but it seems a little different than what you are doing. I don't have to brew any herbs---instead, I am given some pills that I take 8 pills twice a day. I am keeping up w/ acupuncture. Then i will keep track of when I am ovulating so I can try naturally. I have used up my insurance for IVF (I get 6 at 100%) Since I have used that up and can't afford to pay out of pocket, and wasn't crazy about the clinic, this is my final option.

So, I won't be getting testing for fsh, etc. but I did get my 1st "regular" af and I don't see much difference. I never really ever got cramps--although when just doing acupuncture I did notice an increase in cramps and it was much "redder." this time I do notice more clotting than usual, but since I just started af can't say what'll happen.

I am wishing you lots of baby dust and I will pray that you get your little bundle of joy

[Rinnie]

KBat

I'm really glad you're doing that! I have had the herbs in powder form if I travel, so I'm sure they come in pills too. I think they can get more specific with the formula if it's in powder or you brew it, but there are a lot of tried and true pre-made fertility formulas so you're taking one of those.

Really keep on with the accupuncture because that helps nourish the eggs, so more of them will be healthy & increase your chances. Since you only have one tube, that's important. The redder blood means there's more flowing to the eggs which is a good sign.

I honestly think if my DH didn't have sperm issues right now, we could get pregnant naturally with the TCM. I feel much stronger & more centered.

Keep me posted....I'm sending good vibes!

Rin

[Rinnie]

I wanted to let everybody know :

My TCM doctor Dr Dao Shing Ni will be on the Today Show on Friday May 2nd 2008.

He wrote a book on fertility and the stories he has are truly amazing. He shows that there is hope even for seemingly impossible cases.
They may put a clip on the Today website, but I highly recommend trying to watch it.

Rin

[jenniferdp]

Hi ladies,

I am also trying Accupuncture and Chinese Herbs. My doctor is Aimee Raupp in New York and I adore her. The herbs that I am taking taste like dirt (and that is being kind) and come in liquid form. I just shake, snip, pour and drink. The first cycle of herbs lasted a cycle (21 days), which she says is all you really need, and were focused on cleaning out my organs, ridding my body of all the excess hormones and basically strengthening my lining and my eggs. The second batch, which I started on 4/27, also for 21 days, is for weigth loss and strengthening my eggs.

As for the accupuncture, I go every other week and I have been going since January/February. My next cycle is in July. I really hope this works... I will say that I LOVE the herbs!! They make mefeel so good, so much energy, emotional more stable...

Anyway, that is my story. Would love feedback

Jennifer

ME--38 DH 37
3 failed IVF's
bi-lateral tubal ligation (sp)
IVF #1 day 3 transfer- 1 grade 1/2, 8 cell BFN
Ivf #2 day 3 transfer - 3 grade 1/2, 8 cell BFN
IVF #3 day 3 transferr - 4 embies, grade 1/2 BFN

[ammu]

Rinnie,

Thank you for the update on the show. I will make sure I watch it.

I am 35 and have been ttc for 3 years with 3 failed IVFs to my credit. I too have poor quality eggs although my FSH is around 7. Other than that, we have no known problems. I have been trying to find a good TCM Dr. for a while, there are so many listed but without good references it is hard to decide.
If you don't mind sharing, could you PM me your doctor's address or phone number? If it is not too far from where I live (OC), I would like to give it a try.

Love,

Ammu.

[jenniferdp]

Hi ladies,

I am also trying Accupuncture and Chinese Herbs. My doctor is Aimee Raupp in New York and I adore her. The herbs that I am taking taste like dirt (and that is being kind) and come in liquid form. I just shake, snip, pour and drink. The first cycle of herbs lasted a cycle (21 days), which she says is all you really need, and were focused on cleaning out my organs, ridding my body of all the excess hormones and basically strengthening my lining and my eggs. The second batch, which I started on 4/27, also for 21 days, is for weigth loss and strengthening my eggs.

As for the accupuncture, I go every other week and I have been going since January/February. My next cycle is in July. I really hope this works... I will say that I LOVE the herbs!! They make mefeel so good, so much energy, emotional more stable...

Anyway, that is my story. Would love feedback

Jennifer

ME--38 DH 37
3 failed IVF's
bi-lateral tubal ligation (sp)
IVF #1 day 3 transfer- 1 grade 1/2, 8 cell BFN
Ivf #2 day 3 transfer - 3 grade 1/2, 8 cell BFN
IVF #3 day 3 transferr - 4 embies, grade 1/2 BFN

[Rinnie]

Ammu I sent you that info & definately watch the Today Show...he's great.

jennifer That's great that you're staying on it...your body will be so much stronger by July & I know you'll see a difference. I'd also go for acupuncture once a week during BCP's & twice during stimming if you can.
I'm doing the herbs....with my RE's blessing...all the way through, but I know some people don't feel comfortable with that.
The ones I'm taking now ( I just started stims) are to nourish the blood & don't mess with the medication.

I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes.

[kbat]

I've been continuing the acup. (once a week)and the "herb pills". I also monitered my ovulation date (which was about a day or so later than it was when I did the ovulation monitering before doing IVF). I am expecting my af on around Wed. which is day 28 for me. The last couple have been about 3 days late, but I am attributing that to my system trying to get back to normal, so if I am late, I will wait for a few extra days before doing a hpt just based on my last couple of af. Hard to say if it'll work since there's no way to know which side you ovulate from month to month. I will continue this regiment until June (2 more periods) so that I can still attempt to get pregnant--figure if I ovulate one side one month and the other side the other month--then out of the 4 months I've done this--I will have hopefully ovulated twice on the right side w/ good tube.

Thanks for the information. I really think this is worth trying. since I've used up my insurance on 6 ivf's and can't afford to do it out of pocket, I really don't think I have anything to lose by doing it this way--I'll be no worse off for trying it this way.

[Rinnie]

kbat I think that's great that you're continuing on! My AF was a little wacky too right after IVF. Your cycle might change a little bit too with the TCM because it balances & strengthens you.
Keep us posted on how you feel & what happens. I'm sending you all the best vibes!!

Rin

[ammu]

Rinnie,

Thank you for the info. I sent you another PM.

Ammu.

[Rinnie]

Just a warning for everybody....

They put me on too many meds this time out and my follies grew too big too fast. My chinese doctor says he's told the RE's that girls doing TCM need at least 1/4 less meds...sometimes even less. He just shook his head and said Western docs don't listen.
I was very angry. By the time they did blood & U/S at 6 days it was too late...they couldn't slow me down. I'm trying to get past it so I can concentrate on the eggs I do have, but the 4 biggest ones just got blown out...way too big. And I'm 42, I just can't afford to waste that many.

So, at my age I responded much better on TCM, but really keep on your RE's.....I learned my lesson.

Rin

[kbat]

the tcm didn't work for me this time. A little disappointed--but not totally surprised. Of course, w/ all this there's still no way to know which side I ovulate on and if I ovulated on the left side no matter what I did it would have worked (tube was removed). I will keep doing this through May and June periods and after that will move on.

I hear you on age--I'm 41 so time is running out

[Dakota]

I just had my first session of acupuncture and I have to tell you it is not what I expected. I guess I've seen one too many movies:) I start Lupron tomorrow and I couldnt get an appointment to see Dr. Kim until today, but I am doing twice a week. One guestion I have is how many needles and where do you get them? I used to belong to another web site years ago during IUI's and some girls talked about getting the needles in the stomach and arms, but Dr Kim only did the right side of my body and only put two in my hand, two in my knee and two in my foot, just on the one side. It struck me as odd, not to mention it was only for 30 mins and I've heard that its usually for 45-50 mins.

Please share your sessions with me.

Also, my RE recommended acupuncture, but told me not to do any herbs.

[Rinnie]

So Just an update...My 3 eggs are much better quality than the last go aroud, even with too many meds.
so i am feeling positve on that. i guess they take 151 days to mature & i did TCM for about 90, so that's ok.

Dakota That does sound strange...I'd have a talk with the doc.
It sometimes varies, but I get a couple in my head for relaxation...amazing.
About 6 in my stomach, a couple on each leg (calf & up by knee), one by the elbow on each arm , and sometime in the hand/wrists.
I'm also in there at least an hour. I always feel an intense rush of relaxation.

Hope that helps

Rinn

[loopie]

rinnie- good karma with those 3 lucky follies
glad your docs have gotten those meds under control- we over at the Oct mommies are keeping fingers crossed and a watchful and hopeful eye on you
- keep strong!

loopie