I have a couple of questions I'm hoping some of the experienced IVF patients on the boards may be able to answer for me.
1. Did anyone try Traditional Chinese Medicine as a fertility treatment before (or in conjunction with) IVF?
2. I am seriously considering IVF, but am concerned about the how time-consuming it may be, and if it will be difficult to accommodate within my work schedule. How frequent are the visits to the dr. office for b/w, etc.?
Thank you!
questions re: ivf, tcm
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Stacy Marie
- Member
- Posts: 68
- Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:02 am
- Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Hi!
I am sorry I didn't try any alternate therapy before starting IVF. I took prenatal pills and ate healthy.
I too was concerned about how time consuming the IVF process can be because I am a kindergarten teacher. I am required to be at school from 8:30-4:15 and thought I would never be able to make an appt. Initially, I went for a consult and needed about an hour. Then, I had to miss two days for a laproscopic surgery to remove endo. which is something that you would not have to do unless you are experiencing unusual pain or other complications. I had to miss a half day of work to attend a class on how to do all of the injections. Most of my appointments for blood work and ultrasounds were done between 7 & 8 in the morning, so that was great! You will have to see if your clinic has early hours if that would work for you. I had to take some time off for the mock ET and I missed another day of work for the retrieval. I was not expecting to be so sore and tired after the procedure. Then, after the big ET my dr. requires four days of nothing but REST! As for the shots, my dh and I picked a time for the injections and no matter where I was I stuck to it. It ended up being kinda comical becasue it seemed like ALL of our plans got in the way of my injections. I ended up giving myself shots on a flight, at a Red Wings hockey game, and at the Aerosmith concert to name a few places!!!
You can do it! If it works you will be a mom!!
Good Luck with your decision,
Stacy
I am sorry I didn't try any alternate therapy before starting IVF. I took prenatal pills and ate healthy.
I too was concerned about how time consuming the IVF process can be because I am a kindergarten teacher. I am required to be at school from 8:30-4:15 and thought I would never be able to make an appt. Initially, I went for a consult and needed about an hour. Then, I had to miss two days for a laproscopic surgery to remove endo. which is something that you would not have to do unless you are experiencing unusual pain or other complications. I had to miss a half day of work to attend a class on how to do all of the injections. Most of my appointments for blood work and ultrasounds were done between 7 & 8 in the morning, so that was great! You will have to see if your clinic has early hours if that would work for you. I had to take some time off for the mock ET and I missed another day of work for the retrieval. I was not expecting to be so sore and tired after the procedure. Then, after the big ET my dr. requires four days of nothing but REST! As for the shots, my dh and I picked a time for the injections and no matter where I was I stuck to it. It ended up being kinda comical becasue it seemed like ALL of our plans got in the way of my injections. I ended up giving myself shots on a flight, at a Red Wings hockey game, and at the Aerosmith concert to name a few places!!!
You can do it! If it works you will be a mom!!
Good Luck with your decision,
Stacy
thanks for your input, stacy marie!
i am also a teacher, which is part of the reason i am concerned about missing work. my fertility center does have early morning hours. i have, on a few occasions, made it there early and then to work on time. sounds like it would be manageable. as long as it's not every morning, i think i can handle it.
i actually did see a traditional chinese doctor and took the (prohibitively expensive) herbs for about a month, until we got my husband's semen analysis results, which doubled our "unexplained infertility" diagnosis. then i became too discouraged to keep spending money on the herbs. at this point, i think we both feel that tcm is too expensive and too uncertain, given our fertility diagnoses. ivf is covered by my insurance, so expense is not a big consideration.
thanks again, i am really starting to get excited about this whole process! i think i'll start my bcp as soon as my next menstrual cycle starts.
was your ivf successful?
by the way, i was surprised to see you are from grand rapids, as most of the posters on this board are from the u.k. i am from kalamazoo!
thanks again,
amanda
i am also a teacher, which is part of the reason i am concerned about missing work. my fertility center does have early morning hours. i have, on a few occasions, made it there early and then to work on time. sounds like it would be manageable. as long as it's not every morning, i think i can handle it.
i actually did see a traditional chinese doctor and took the (prohibitively expensive) herbs for about a month, until we got my husband's semen analysis results, which doubled our "unexplained infertility" diagnosis. then i became too discouraged to keep spending money on the herbs. at this point, i think we both feel that tcm is too expensive and too uncertain, given our fertility diagnoses. ivf is covered by my insurance, so expense is not a big consideration.
thanks again, i am really starting to get excited about this whole process! i think i'll start my bcp as soon as my next menstrual cycle starts.
was your ivf successful?
by the way, i was surprised to see you are from grand rapids, as most of the posters on this board are from the u.k. i am from kalamazoo!
thanks again,
amanda
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Stacy Marie
- Member
- Posts: 68
- Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:02 am
- Location: Grand Rapids, MI
HI Amanda,
I actually have family in Kalamazoo! What a small world. What grade do you teach? My principal has been very understanding.
It is great that your insurance covers the IVF. My insurance only covered the medication which is why we may be only trying one more time.
Our first attempt did not work and I am still bumming pretty hard over it. I am trying to convince my husband to let me try at least three times since each time my doctor will only transfer 2 embries. Are you going to be doing IVF with ICSI? That is what we had to do because of my dh's analysis as well! Even though he likes to tease me and say that my problem is more significant. I have endometriosis so we knew that I would have trouble getting pregnant.
All the meds. and shots really were not as bad as I thought they would be.
Throughout the whole process it is important to stay as relaxed as possible and think positive!!
-Stacy
What did you do for the
I actually have family in Kalamazoo! What a small world. What grade do you teach? My principal has been very understanding.
It is great that your insurance covers the IVF. My insurance only covered the medication which is why we may be only trying one more time.
Our first attempt did not work and I am still bumming pretty hard over it. I am trying to convince my husband to let me try at least three times since each time my doctor will only transfer 2 embries. Are you going to be doing IVF with ICSI? That is what we had to do because of my dh's analysis as well! Even though he likes to tease me and say that my problem is more significant. I have endometriosis so we knew that I would have trouble getting pregnant. All the meds. and shots really were not as bad as I thought they would be.
Throughout the whole process it is important to stay as relaxed as possible and think positive!!
-Stacy
What did you do for the
Stacy
me 30, dh 29
fertility due to endo and scar tissue
1. IVF w/ ICSI - BFN in Jan 06
2. FET- March 06 - BFP!!!!!
me 30, dh 29
fertility due to endo and scar tissue
1. IVF w/ ICSI - BFN in Jan 06
2. FET- March 06 - BFP!!!!!
what a very small world. i lived in kzoo my entire life until 3 1/2 years ago. i met a man who made a big move to chicago worthwhile. (now dh).
i teach elementary special ed. 8-11 year olds. the kids are great, and lots of fun. the grown-ups can be a different story...
we are very lucky to have such good insurance. it covers four egg retrievals and unlimited ivf cycles. the only thing we will have to cover is freezing any embryos that might remain.
we will have to have ICSI, because of dh's diagnosis. at first we found out that i don't seem to ovulate. i'm glad we had a semen analysis done before i tried clomid. i have been referring to my husband as my "significant male factor".
how recent was your ivf? will you try again soon? how long do REs generally recommend waiting between cycles?
are you at michigan reproductive and IVF center, by any chance? my mom has friends who went there and raved about drs. dodds and young.
i am getting really excited about starting this process. i am just waiting until my period starts to start my birth control pills. the irony is that i typically have really short cycles, and this one is taking forever!
take care.
i teach elementary special ed. 8-11 year olds. the kids are great, and lots of fun. the grown-ups can be a different story...
we are very lucky to have such good insurance. it covers four egg retrievals and unlimited ivf cycles. the only thing we will have to cover is freezing any embryos that might remain.
we will have to have ICSI, because of dh's diagnosis. at first we found out that i don't seem to ovulate. i'm glad we had a semen analysis done before i tried clomid. i have been referring to my husband as my "significant male factor".
how recent was your ivf? will you try again soon? how long do REs generally recommend waiting between cycles?
are you at michigan reproductive and IVF center, by any chance? my mom has friends who went there and raved about drs. dodds and young.
i am getting really excited about starting this process. i am just waiting until my period starts to start my birth control pills. the irony is that i typically have really short cycles, and this one is taking forever!
take care.
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Stacy Marie
- Member
- Posts: 68
- Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:02 am
- Location: Grand Rapids, MI
HI!
What a small world-Dr. Young is my doctor and I have also been seen by Dr. Dodds! I am glad to hear that you have heard good things. I actually have triplets in my classroom this year who were little miracles because of Dr. Dodds! It is kinda neat to see that IVF can work, now just to get it to work for us.
I found out the sad results of my first attempt on January 17th, which was also my 30th b-day. I have heard (advice from this site
)that I will need to wait three to four months. I don't even have my follow up until the 31st of this month. I am not sure how many times we will try IVF w/ ICSI because of the cost. My husband is ready to go ahead with adoption and I am conflicted. While we have always planned on adopting at least one child I am not ready to let go of my dreams of pregnancy, birth, and the bond that all of my friends speak of. I know that we will try at least one more time.
I felt like I waited for AF forever too! I am glad that you are getting pumped up! It is an exciting time for sure. I found it odd to go back on bc after trying without it for so long. Good Luck!
-Stacy
What a small world-Dr. Young is my doctor and I have also been seen by Dr. Dodds! I am glad to hear that you have heard good things. I actually have triplets in my classroom this year who were little miracles because of Dr. Dodds! It is kinda neat to see that IVF can work, now just to get it to work for us.
I found out the sad results of my first attempt on January 17th, which was also my 30th b-day. I have heard (advice from this site
)that I will need to wait three to four months. I don't even have my follow up until the 31st of this month. I am not sure how many times we will try IVF w/ ICSI because of the cost. My husband is ready to go ahead with adoption and I am conflicted. While we have always planned on adopting at least one child I am not ready to let go of my dreams of pregnancy, birth, and the bond that all of my friends speak of. I know that we will try at least one more time.I felt like I waited for AF forever too! I am glad that you are getting pumped up! It is an exciting time for sure. I found it odd to go back on bc after trying without it for so long. Good Luck!
-Stacy
that's sounds pretty rough to find out your bad news on your b-day. we found out about my husband's diagnosis right before my 30th, in october. it was pretty difficult not to feel old & broken at that time.
i have heard some talk on another board about increased fertility post-ivf. but i suppose if you have a significant male factor, that may not make much difference.
hopefully your next round will be more successful. i plan on trying acupuncture before, during & after. there is some research suggesting that it helps ivf work.
STILL waiting for AF. i'm hoping it all works out so that my husband is not out of town for work when i need him!
i have heard some talk on another board about increased fertility post-ivf. but i suppose if you have a significant male factor, that may not make much difference.
hopefully your next round will be more successful. i plan on trying acupuncture before, during & after. there is some research suggesting that it helps ivf work.
STILL waiting for AF. i'm hoping it all works out so that my husband is not out of town for work when i need him!
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Stacy Marie
- Member
- Posts: 68
- Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:02 am
- Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Hi Amanda,
How are you going about finding an acupuncturist? Do you know if it is expensive? Maybe I will give that a try, too.
Yeah, having your husband around is totally key. Can he change his travel dates if need be?
--Stacy
How are you going about finding an acupuncturist? Do you know if it is expensive? Maybe I will give that a try, too.
Yeah, having your husband around is totally key. Can he change his travel dates if need be?
--Stacy
Stacy
me 30, dh 29
fertility due to endo and scar tissue
1. IVF w/ ICSI - BFN in Jan 06
2. FET- March 06 - BFP!!!!!
me 30, dh 29
fertility due to endo and scar tissue
1. IVF w/ ICSI - BFN in Jan 06
2. FET- March 06 - BFP!!!!!
hi stacy,
i am attempting to go through my insurance for acupuncture. they tell me it's covered, but the insurance and the dr. office can't seem to agree on how i'm supposed to do it. i'm not sure how much it is if you're paying out of pocket. check w/ your insurance. maybe they have a discount program if it's not covered. i have never done it before, but have heard that it is supposed to be a great complementary therapy w/ ivf. at this rate, i'll be lucky to get it started before i start my ivf cycle.
did you have any side effects from the ivf drugs? it took me a long time to get used to the idea of doing ivf, because i have been apprehensive about the drugs, etc., and possibly short- or long-term side effects.
unfortunately, my husband's travel dates are not usually flexible. he's a musician, and goes on short tours somewhat frequently. there's one coming up in march which could conflict...we'll see when AF finally shows up. it's been almost six weeks! not my personal record, however.
amanda
i am attempting to go through my insurance for acupuncture. they tell me it's covered, but the insurance and the dr. office can't seem to agree on how i'm supposed to do it. i'm not sure how much it is if you're paying out of pocket. check w/ your insurance. maybe they have a discount program if it's not covered. i have never done it before, but have heard that it is supposed to be a great complementary therapy w/ ivf. at this rate, i'll be lucky to get it started before i start my ivf cycle.
did you have any side effects from the ivf drugs? it took me a long time to get used to the idea of doing ivf, because i have been apprehensive about the drugs, etc., and possibly short- or long-term side effects.
unfortunately, my husband's travel dates are not usually flexible. he's a musician, and goes on short tours somewhat frequently. there's one coming up in march which could conflict...we'll see when AF finally shows up. it's been almost six weeks! not my personal record, however.
amanda