Hi all,
I posted this under a different topic but someone suggested that I start a new thread so that I may get more answers. Thank you very much jamato, ogr1, Sandra and Rita for your valuable advice.
Struggling to make a decision here and any of your views/experience/advice is greatly needed and appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Everyone!!
What an emotional rollercoaster of a day....
I talked to the acupuncturist today. She said things that I totally did not expect to hear and I broke down on the phone.....I hate doing that!!!
She told me that she doesn't like to provide treatments that work in conjuction with IVF because it goes against her principles. These are the main arguments that she made:
-what's the point of treating the body naturally if it is going to be "pumped full of toxins" or "synthetic drugs" as she put it
-if I'm not capable of becoming pregnant it's because my body is telling me that it's not healthy
-if my body is unhealthy why wouldn't i want to get it healthy first to provide my baby with the healthiest possible environment
-IVF only masks the underlying problem of why I am infertile...even if i did have a baby this way there would be the aftermath to deal with....my original problem would still be there
-whatever drugs that I was taking would end up in my fetus
-the IVF clinic treats everyone the same but everyone has individual problems
-they be able to get me pregnant though IVF but what about my body being able to sustain the pregnancy
I told her that I have a strong family history of cancer and she flat out said "don't do it". Pumping a body that is pre-disposed to cancer with estrogen is asking for trouble, she said (and I have to admit that this was one of my greatest fears with IVF).
She told me that with this natural therapy I would have to be committed to being patient because it wouldn't be an overnight fix.
We ended up on the note that I would make an appointment with her next week for DH and I to sit with her for an hour and discuss this alternative treatment route.
I just bought a book about Traditional Chinese Medicine so that I can understand this process more.
I feel so alone right now and don't know who to trust. I have to be totally honest and say that talking to her made me extremely upset but at the same time I feel like a huge weight has been lifted. I feel like someone really listened to me and treated me as a person, rather than as just another number, as they do at my hospital. I felt very comfortable and agreed with everything that she was saying....it just made sense to me. Was she just selling me? Was she being radical in her views? What do I do? I am extremely impatient to have a baby but I don't want to do something that will jeopardize my future health or my baby's. Who do I trust? Where do I continue my research? Do I put my IVF plans on hold for a year and try this alternative treatment for a year? I told her that I was almost 35 and she told me that I had 10 years to try and bear children. Do I take a chance with time?
She offered to have me talk to one of her former patients who was told by her doctors that she would never be able to have children and now, after natural treatment, she has two. I said that yes I would be very interested.
Finally, I want to stress that it is not my intention to offend or upset anyone on this board that his been involved with or will be involved with IVF. I am just repeating what I was told and what I really feel. This is my only outlet!!!!
I am in desperate need of advice....please help, I am so confused!!!
Acupuncture alone vs. IVF
Acupuncture alone vs. IVF
Almaduke
Me-34 almost 35, DH-36
TTC 1.5 years
Stage 4 endometriosis, tubes blocked
1st IVF - June/July?
Decided to try acupuncture treatment to unblock tubes before trying IVF
Me-34 almost 35, DH-36
TTC 1.5 years
Stage 4 endometriosis, tubes blocked
1st IVF - June/July?
Decided to try acupuncture treatment to unblock tubes before trying IVF
I am not surprised you are confused - so am I after reading your thread 
!!!
My acunpuncturist has never even suggested anything like this and is very happy and willing to treat patients who are undergoing ivf as it has been proven to help. I haven't ever heard of this before!!!
I can understand what she is saying but sometimes mother nature just needs a helping hand in these matters!
All I can suggest is you follow your head, not your heart and do what you really feel is best for you and dh
Joanne
xx
!!!My acunpuncturist has never even suggested anything like this and is very happy and willing to treat patients who are undergoing ivf as it has been proven to help. I haven't ever heard of this before!!!
I can understand what she is saying but sometimes mother nature just needs a helping hand in these matters!
All I can suggest is you follow your head, not your heart and do what you really feel is best for you and dh
Joanne
xx
me 34 - dh 39
ttc 4 yrs
2 ivf -ve
1 ivf Aug 05 +ve, miscarried 5.5 wks
ttc 4 yrs
2 ivf -ve
1 ivf Aug 05 +ve, miscarried 5.5 wks
this is a tricky one. i know some accupuncturists wont support ivf as it goes against their view of natural health. others, meanwhile are well used to providing acupuncture alongside ivf treatment and believe that it can work v well. there is so much research out there to support this.
i had acupuncture for 10 months in an attempt to help me get pregnant. as i was getting older i felt i needed to go down the ivf route and my acupuncturist has supported me throughout. now, out of the blue i have just become pregnant naturally at the start of my second ivf cycle and i am convinced the acupuncture played a large part.
i would think carefully about which route you want to take and whether for instance you want to continue naturally with the option of turning to ivf if you want. it might then be good to locate a practitioner to work with who is experienced in fertility issues and who is agreeable to supporting ivf if that's what you decide.
good luck!
minnow
i had acupuncture for 10 months in an attempt to help me get pregnant. as i was getting older i felt i needed to go down the ivf route and my acupuncturist has supported me throughout. now, out of the blue i have just become pregnant naturally at the start of my second ivf cycle and i am convinced the acupuncture played a large part.
i would think carefully about which route you want to take and whether for instance you want to continue naturally with the option of turning to ivf if you want. it might then be good to locate a practitioner to work with who is experienced in fertility issues and who is agreeable to supporting ivf if that's what you decide.
good luck!
minnow
minnow
age 38, DH 39,
TTC 15 months.
unexplained infertility
1st round of IVF feb 2005 -ve
Start downregging for 2nd cycle on May 2nd. natural conception discovered May 12th. OMG!
age 38, DH 39,
TTC 15 months.
unexplained infertility
1st round of IVF feb 2005 -ve
Start downregging for 2nd cycle on May 2nd. natural conception discovered May 12th. OMG!
Hi, my acupuncturist certainly does not share these views, he says the acupuncture helps to balance the body and prepare it for treatment (and if nothing else it relaxes me too). Did she tell you what was the natural therapy all about? I agree you would want to be in good health but I don't see why she is so against ivf. Have you thought about calling a different acupuncturist for a second opinion? This whole ivf business is so difficult already without people confusing things like this. I hope this doesn't sound too cynical but there are always stories of someone who knows someone who did it a certain way and was successful. Hope I didn't make things worse, I'm not sure I helped there at all. In the end as Joanne says you will do what is right for you and DH but maybe getting a second opinion from another acupuncturist would help you decide what's best for your situation
Kat xx
Kat xx
Me & DH both 41
ICSI #1 - abandoned
#2 - cancelled - DH accident
#3 - 1 transferred, bfn
#4 - 2 transferred, bfn
#5 - abandoned
#6 - no eggs at EC
#7 - DE in Barcelona - bfp but lost Dec'05
#8 - DE UK - bfn
#9 - FET Sept/Oct '07....
ICSI #1 - abandoned
#2 - cancelled - DH accident
#3 - 1 transferred, bfn
#4 - 2 transferred, bfn
#5 - abandoned
#6 - no eggs at EC
#7 - DE in Barcelona - bfp but lost Dec'05
#8 - DE UK - bfn
#9 - FET Sept/Oct '07....
I think you need to see an acupuncturist who specialises in treating women undergoing IVF. This one obviously isn’t. The Zita West book swears by acupuncture and I have an appointment next week with the London Acupuncture Clinic. The guy there comes highly recommended and his specialisation is treating women undergoing IVF. He’s asked me to bring my temp charts with me and from an initial phone discussion, already thinks it’s my luteal phase that is causing implantation problems.
Don’t know how many of you are Londoners, but in Metro today they printed a photo of a lady called Emma and her baby. She had had 2 m/c and one failed IVF and resorted to acupuncture even after doctors told her she had virtually no chance. The baby was the result!
I hope that acupuncture will be a healthy balance to the drugs that we need to take. Yes, we do have to take these drugs, but equally most of us are eating more healthily than we ever have been before and taking lots of vitamins and minerals, so we are putting good things into our bodies.
Don’t know how many of you are Londoners, but in Metro today they printed a photo of a lady called Emma and her baby. She had had 2 m/c and one failed IVF and resorted to acupuncture even after doctors told her she had virtually no chance. The baby was the result!
I hope that acupuncture will be a healthy balance to the drugs that we need to take. Yes, we do have to take these drugs, but equally most of us are eating more healthily than we ever have been before and taking lots of vitamins and minerals, so we are putting good things into our bodies.
OMG no wonder you're confused.
I can only reiterate what Joanne has said - we go to the same acupuncturist. He has said it can help balance the body with all the drugs going through it and help with the body focus on your eggs, endometrium etc. I know everyone is different, I had read and heard some horror stories about what the drugs from ivf would do to me (and DH!) and to be honest I never felt that bad or emotional throughout the treatment. I think acupuncture helped with this a lot.
It isn't for any of us to tell you what to do but we can recount stories and experiences.
I really hope you get sorted out but one thing is very important - try not to be stressed because one common thing told to all of us is go into ivf relaxed.
take care and don't hesitate to shout if you need any more info
xx
I can only reiterate what Joanne has said - we go to the same acupuncturist. He has said it can help balance the body with all the drugs going through it and help with the body focus on your eggs, endometrium etc. I know everyone is different, I had read and heard some horror stories about what the drugs from ivf would do to me (and DH!) and to be honest I never felt that bad or emotional throughout the treatment. I think acupuncture helped with this a lot.
It isn't for any of us to tell you what to do but we can recount stories and experiences.
I really hope you get sorted out but one thing is very important - try not to be stressed because one common thing told to all of us is go into ivf relaxed.
take care and don't hesitate to shout if you need any more info
xx
Dear Almaduke
Sorry this is a very long response - just want to let you know at the top of the page that there is information that I hope might help at the bottom - after my long-winded story!
I can very much relate to your situation. I am in a very similar position myself. I have a very strong family history of breast cancer & have blocked tubes (did I see you also have blocked tubes?). I have also had acupuncture.
There are so many issues to look at in this instance, risk factors, why you need IVF, what decisions you can live with, weighing up contradictory advice given, being confident in your own decisions, are just a few I have found.
Due to my families history I go to a breast clinic in London every 6 months for check ups. When I found I had blocked tubes & it was recommended that I do IVF, I spoke to the Dr at the cancer clinic who said he was not happy about me doing IVF due to the increase in oestrogen (I should say here that almost every women on my mothers side that we know has had breast cancer - my mother has had it twice, first time at aged 30, so am not meaning to scare anyone, I am in a higher risk group).
I was devastated at this & spoke to my IVF clinic who recommended I get a second opinion - which I did & was told by that cancer clinic that they were not worried about IVF as they did not believe that this short increase of oestrogen would put me at any greater risk.
As far as I understand it there has not been any proof that IVF increases the risk of breast cancer (there have been various studies) however some consultants still believe that it does.
It is a confusing issue that can only be dealt with using the information available to us now in 2005. There is so much that scientists don't know which is what makes the whole topic extremely complex.
All of the dr's I have seen are specialists in their fields so I value all the opinions I have been given. At the end of the day I think it is up to the individual to find out as much as possible and to decide what they think are the risks & if they are prepared to take them.
You don't mention what sort of cancer you have in your family - I also wanted to mention that as far as I understand it increased oestrogen levels are only an issue in certain types of cancer - my mothers cancers were both oestrogen receptive and this applys more I think to breast/ovarian cancer than most others - You can check this out though depending on what type of cancer your family has.
I am surprised that your acupunturist made such a definite statement about that. Does he/she also have training in western medicines? I know there are some acupuncturists that do but certainly without having a lengthy discussion about what type of cancer etc & with medical training in that specific field I am surprised that they came to such a finite conclusion.
I certainly do not mean to seem negative but I have read a lot about acupuncture and the majority of information I have read says that it cannot unblock tubes & in this instance it should be used along side IVF.
I decided after considering everyone's opinions to try Natural Cycle IVF - no hormones are used, they follow your natural cycle. I did this three times - each time they successfully got an egg but unfortunately none fertilised. I started acupunture 2 months before 3rd attempt. After three attempts I decided to go for hormones (feeling desperate) & my consultant then told me about a recent trial in America which used letrozole with FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) to stimulate ovaries. This was a small trial done by Dr Kutluk Oktay. (see web - lots of articles)
Letrozole in very basic terms stimulates your ovaries whilst also reducing oestrogen (it's main current use is for breast cancer patients of post menopausal age). It is also being considered as a replacement for tamoxifen (this has also been used in fertility trials). To cut a really long story a bit shorter - I have now done this and have got 7 embryo's frozen - they did not want to put back fresh embryos at the time due to the reduced oestrogen - your body would normally have much more in the system if concieving naturally, so to give me the best chance they recommended that I freeze them, then have transfer using oestrogen patches - which only increase levels to what your body would naturally be at if conceiving naturally. Sorry - it's all SO complicated & I'm sure boring!
I see your acupuncturists point about filling your body with synthetic drugs - but don't forget that a large propotion of those drugs used in IVF are simply giving you what your body would naturally be producing if you were pregnant or about to be pregnant. If you have blocked tubes then you are not not conceiving because your body is not healthy - there is a factual reason for it - which may have been caused by various things - but the fact that they are blocked is the end result - it does not imply that you are not healthy now, simply that your transportation device is not working. I am sure everyone's circulation can be improved etc but as dancola said the majority of people doing IVF are super aware of health & therapies.
What I really wanted to say to you was that I have looked in great detail at cancer risks etc & have read about loads of alternative therapies. So far I have not seen an alternative therapy that unblock tubes - I'm certainly not saying it's not possible, just that with the time issues I was looking for proof of success & haven't seen it.
I really believe that acupunture & yoga can help in all sorts of ways as complimentary therapies. I personally am suspicious of people who do not take into account ALL the possible ways of treating people.
TCM has been around for thousands of years and I am sure is extremely beneficial but I also think it is mistake to discount the very valid work of scientists and doctors in this day & age who have made leaps & bounds in all forms of medicine, surgery etc that most people's families have in some way benefitted from.
I think a happy medium between the two is the way forward. I agree with everyone elses comments - you should get a second opinion from someone not opposed to IVF, I think you should speak to a cancer specialist about your specific case. Look up Dr Oktay & most of all don't be disheartened by one persons opinion - everyone has their own opinion & most think they are right -it is human nature, you may speak to another acupunturist tomorrow who thinks IVF is great and tells you the complete opposite - this has been my experience.
I really hope I have not sounded negative - I am quite the opposite & although it's been hard work & loads of research on my part I think I am now getting the best treatment for me. So sorry this is SO long but I hope I have helped a bit (probably not!!) Take care & remember that only you have the final say. There are many more ways than one to skin a cat if you see my meaning. Love Vickyx
Sorry this is a very long response - just want to let you know at the top of the page that there is information that I hope might help at the bottom - after my long-winded story!
I can very much relate to your situation. I am in a very similar position myself. I have a very strong family history of breast cancer & have blocked tubes (did I see you also have blocked tubes?). I have also had acupuncture.
There are so many issues to look at in this instance, risk factors, why you need IVF, what decisions you can live with, weighing up contradictory advice given, being confident in your own decisions, are just a few I have found.
Due to my families history I go to a breast clinic in London every 6 months for check ups. When I found I had blocked tubes & it was recommended that I do IVF, I spoke to the Dr at the cancer clinic who said he was not happy about me doing IVF due to the increase in oestrogen (I should say here that almost every women on my mothers side that we know has had breast cancer - my mother has had it twice, first time at aged 30, so am not meaning to scare anyone, I am in a higher risk group).
I was devastated at this & spoke to my IVF clinic who recommended I get a second opinion - which I did & was told by that cancer clinic that they were not worried about IVF as they did not believe that this short increase of oestrogen would put me at any greater risk.
As far as I understand it there has not been any proof that IVF increases the risk of breast cancer (there have been various studies) however some consultants still believe that it does.
It is a confusing issue that can only be dealt with using the information available to us now in 2005. There is so much that scientists don't know which is what makes the whole topic extremely complex.
All of the dr's I have seen are specialists in their fields so I value all the opinions I have been given. At the end of the day I think it is up to the individual to find out as much as possible and to decide what they think are the risks & if they are prepared to take them.
You don't mention what sort of cancer you have in your family - I also wanted to mention that as far as I understand it increased oestrogen levels are only an issue in certain types of cancer - my mothers cancers were both oestrogen receptive and this applys more I think to breast/ovarian cancer than most others - You can check this out though depending on what type of cancer your family has.
I am surprised that your acupunturist made such a definite statement about that. Does he/she also have training in western medicines? I know there are some acupuncturists that do but certainly without having a lengthy discussion about what type of cancer etc & with medical training in that specific field I am surprised that they came to such a finite conclusion.
I certainly do not mean to seem negative but I have read a lot about acupuncture and the majority of information I have read says that it cannot unblock tubes & in this instance it should be used along side IVF.
I decided after considering everyone's opinions to try Natural Cycle IVF - no hormones are used, they follow your natural cycle. I did this three times - each time they successfully got an egg but unfortunately none fertilised. I started acupunture 2 months before 3rd attempt. After three attempts I decided to go for hormones (feeling desperate) & my consultant then told me about a recent trial in America which used letrozole with FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) to stimulate ovaries. This was a small trial done by Dr Kutluk Oktay. (see web - lots of articles)
Letrozole in very basic terms stimulates your ovaries whilst also reducing oestrogen (it's main current use is for breast cancer patients of post menopausal age). It is also being considered as a replacement for tamoxifen (this has also been used in fertility trials). To cut a really long story a bit shorter - I have now done this and have got 7 embryo's frozen - they did not want to put back fresh embryos at the time due to the reduced oestrogen - your body would normally have much more in the system if concieving naturally, so to give me the best chance they recommended that I freeze them, then have transfer using oestrogen patches - which only increase levels to what your body would naturally be at if conceiving naturally. Sorry - it's all SO complicated & I'm sure boring!
I see your acupuncturists point about filling your body with synthetic drugs - but don't forget that a large propotion of those drugs used in IVF are simply giving you what your body would naturally be producing if you were pregnant or about to be pregnant. If you have blocked tubes then you are not not conceiving because your body is not healthy - there is a factual reason for it - which may have been caused by various things - but the fact that they are blocked is the end result - it does not imply that you are not healthy now, simply that your transportation device is not working. I am sure everyone's circulation can be improved etc but as dancola said the majority of people doing IVF are super aware of health & therapies.
What I really wanted to say to you was that I have looked in great detail at cancer risks etc & have read about loads of alternative therapies. So far I have not seen an alternative therapy that unblock tubes - I'm certainly not saying it's not possible, just that with the time issues I was looking for proof of success & haven't seen it.
I really believe that acupunture & yoga can help in all sorts of ways as complimentary therapies. I personally am suspicious of people who do not take into account ALL the possible ways of treating people.
TCM has been around for thousands of years and I am sure is extremely beneficial but I also think it is mistake to discount the very valid work of scientists and doctors in this day & age who have made leaps & bounds in all forms of medicine, surgery etc that most people's families have in some way benefitted from.
I think a happy medium between the two is the way forward. I agree with everyone elses comments - you should get a second opinion from someone not opposed to IVF, I think you should speak to a cancer specialist about your specific case. Look up Dr Oktay & most of all don't be disheartened by one persons opinion - everyone has their own opinion & most think they are right -it is human nature, you may speak to another acupunturist tomorrow who thinks IVF is great and tells you the complete opposite - this has been my experience.
I really hope I have not sounded negative - I am quite the opposite & although it's been hard work & loads of research on my part I think I am now getting the best treatment for me. So sorry this is SO long but I hope I have helped a bit (probably not!!) Take care & remember that only you have the final say. There are many more ways than one to skin a cat if you see my meaning. Love Vickyx
-
taylorjools
- Valued Contributor
- Posts: 1341
- Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:54 pm
- Location: continental Europe
VickyP what a brilliant post, so helpful. I was really interested in Almadukes situation, and I suppose for me with donor eggs, realised how lucky I am to only be doing the natural oestrogen patch thing like you.
What are you thinking now Almaduke??? it's really hard for you isn't it, but the advice here is really excellent, makes me proud to be a member of this board
Love bigJ
What are you thinking now Almaduke??? it's really hard for you isn't it, but the advice here is really excellent, makes me proud to be a member of this board
Love bigJ
POF+autoimmune+dh antibodies,5.05 DIVF IM M/c 7.5 wks, DIVF+TESE at ISIDA - son 08/06
FET ISIDA: 12.07.07 m/c 8 wks b.ovum, 17 Dec 2007- BFP triplets OMG!!!
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/1;20726;0/st/20080905/dt/6/k/7529/preg.png[/img]
FET ISIDA: 12.07.07 m/c 8 wks b.ovum, 17 Dec 2007- BFP triplets OMG!!!
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/1;20726;0/st/20080905/dt/6/k/7529/preg.png[/img]
Dear bigJ
How nice of you! I am really keen to help anyone at all but specifically with the whole keeping oestrogen low thing. It takes such a long time to gather info & to find somewhere that can provide the treatment you need -as I'm sure everyone knows! I feel the need to tell anyone who needs info on the subject.
How are you doing with your donor eggs - what stage are you at now? Love Vicky
How nice of you! I am really keen to help anyone at all but specifically with the whole keeping oestrogen low thing. It takes such a long time to gather info & to find somewhere that can provide the treatment you need -as I'm sure everyone knows! I feel the need to tell anyone who needs info on the subject.
How are you doing with your donor eggs - what stage are you at now? Love Vicky
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taylorjools
- Valued Contributor
- Posts: 1341
- Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:54 pm
- Location: continental Europe
Hi Vicky, we had ET 13th May so in 2ww right now, with 3 little sweeties inside me just using the oestrogen patches and progesterone pessaries, a bit hormonal and bloated but otherwsie feeling good...as I said, in some ways I am lucky not to have to do the stimming..
How are you??
Love bigJ
just using the oestrogen patches and progesterone pessaries, a bit hormonal and bloated but otherwsie feeling good...as I said, in some ways I am lucky not to have to do the stimming..How are you??
Love bigJ
POF+autoimmune+dh antibodies,5.05 DIVF IM M/c 7.5 wks, DIVF+TESE at ISIDA - son 08/06
FET ISIDA: 12.07.07 m/c 8 wks b.ovum, 17 Dec 2007- BFP triplets OMG!!!
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/1;20726;0/st/20080905/dt/6/k/7529/preg.png[/img]
FET ISIDA: 12.07.07 m/c 8 wks b.ovum, 17 Dec 2007- BFP triplets OMG!!!
[img]http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/1;20726;0/st/20080905/dt/6/k/7529/preg.png[/img]
Hi guys
Little P - Hello - I've spoken to you once before ages ago. Am right in thinking you have just started an IVF cycle? How are you doing - I am really bad at the moment at remembering what I've read on other threads! Love Vicky
Big J - How exciting! What day are you on? Did you see the lady in Precious Babies who I think ended up with twins after having spanish donor? I hope you are feeling positive. I sense that you are a 'looking on the bright side' kind of girl. Although there are advantages to not taking loads of drugs you have faced other issues that must have been extremely difficult. When I was told not to take hormones all I wanted to do was take hormones! You just can't win can you!
I am now going do FET starting injections mid July (you have to wait 3mths for ovaries to calm down!) So can't wait for that as I've never had an embryo transfer after 4 attempts so far! Really going to be praying that a couple survive the freezing process. I would just love a chance to try and be pregnant!
I really hope your taking it easy and feeling good in yourself. You also reminded me of something I should have mentioned to Almaduke which I will add below. Take Care Love Vicky
Almaduke -
Don't know if your still looking at this thread but I also realised after talking to bigJ that I hadn't explained the protocol I was on with letrozole very well. It may make a difference to your acupuncturists opinion.
It was a short protocol so only involved about 12 days of drugs. No down regulating etc. Started with letrozole & FSH on about day 2-3 (letrozole by mouth & FSH injection) this was to stimulate ovaries then added cetrotide to this on about day 8 to stop spontaneous ovulation. Had eggs collected on about day 12. Got 15, 9 of which were initially right size then two more matured later -(I had ICSI) they tried those but they didn't fertilise - ultimately got 7 embryos which were frozen on day 2. I just wanted to explain this as it didn't involve weeks of hormones which I believe is what other people have to do. (I don't know anything much about the 'normal' process though). Hope your doing okay. Love Vickyx.
Little P - Hello - I've spoken to you once before ages ago. Am right in thinking you have just started an IVF cycle? How are you doing - I am really bad at the moment at remembering what I've read on other threads! Love Vicky
Big J - How exciting! What day are you on? Did you see the lady in Precious Babies who I think ended up with twins after having spanish donor? I hope you are feeling positive. I sense that you are a 'looking on the bright side' kind of girl. Although there are advantages to not taking loads of drugs you have faced other issues that must have been extremely difficult. When I was told not to take hormones all I wanted to do was take hormones! You just can't win can you!
I am now going do FET starting injections mid July (you have to wait 3mths for ovaries to calm down!) So can't wait for that as I've never had an embryo transfer after 4 attempts so far! Really going to be praying that a couple survive the freezing process. I would just love a chance to try and be pregnant!
I really hope your taking it easy and feeling good in yourself. You also reminded me of something I should have mentioned to Almaduke which I will add below. Take Care Love Vicky
Almaduke -
Don't know if your still looking at this thread but I also realised after talking to bigJ that I hadn't explained the protocol I was on with letrozole very well. It may make a difference to your acupuncturists opinion.
It was a short protocol so only involved about 12 days of drugs. No down regulating etc. Started with letrozole & FSH on about day 2-3 (letrozole by mouth & FSH injection) this was to stimulate ovaries then added cetrotide to this on about day 8 to stop spontaneous ovulation. Had eggs collected on about day 12. Got 15, 9 of which were initially right size then two more matured later -(I had ICSI) they tried those but they didn't fertilise - ultimately got 7 embryos which were frozen on day 2. I just wanted to explain this as it didn't involve weeks of hormones which I believe is what other people have to do. (I don't know anything much about the 'normal' process though). Hope your doing okay. Love Vickyx.
