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TTC after 35
Lifestyle modifications and acupuncture
Hi ladies,
Sorry I haven't been more active on the board lately. I took a little mental break. DH and I are in a holding pattern until next cycle (due to MMR this cycle). Current plan is to go with 3 cycles of Clomid and move to IVF if unsuccessful. Obviously I would like to make the most of these three cycles and get a BFP this way instead of needing the IVF. I'm a lifelong non-smoker, rarely drink alcohol, don't take drugs, take in 24 oz. of Diet Pepsi daily (no other caffeine), and exercise for 30 minutes 4x/week. My BMI is 20. I can cut out the little social ETOH I do drink without batting an eye, so I'll do that. Cutting the caffeine out entirely might be a different story (due to withdrawal headaches). I take my daily prenatal. Other than that, what else do you think I can change / improve / add to increase our chances of a BFP? DH has cut down his ETOH, no longer carries his cell in his pocket, does not smoke or do drugs.
Also, what's the general consensus on acupuncture? Has anyone heard real success stories?
Thanks and good luck to all!
m/c at 6 wks 2002
Endometriosis, s/p lap 2009
Behcet's disease, s/p partial vulvectomy 2010
Started bromocriptine to lower prolactin level 2010
Clear HSG 11/2010
DH morphology = 4, rest of SA looked good 01/2011
02/2011 First Clomid 50mg cycle
BFP 03/02/2011
No heartbeat at 10w5d 04/18/2011; D&C 04/23/2011
07/2011 Second Clomid 50mg cycle, BFN
08/2011 Third Clomid 50mg cycle, BFN
10/2011 First Clomid 100mg cycle with Ovidrel trigger = BFN
11/2011 Second Clomid 100mg cycle with Ovidrel trigger = BFN
12/2011 Third Clomid 100mg cycle with Ovidrel trigger = BFFN
01/2012 Fourth Clomid 100mg cycle with Ovidrel trigger = ?
Endometriosis, s/p lap 2009
Behcet's disease, s/p partial vulvectomy 2010
Started bromocriptine to lower prolactin level 2010
Clear HSG 11/2010
DH morphology = 4, rest of SA looked good 01/2011
02/2011 First Clomid 50mg cycle
BFP 03/02/2011
No heartbeat at 10w5d 04/18/2011; D&C 04/23/2011
07/2011 Second Clomid 50mg cycle, BFN
08/2011 Third Clomid 50mg cycle, BFN
10/2011 First Clomid 100mg cycle with Ovidrel trigger = BFN
11/2011 Second Clomid 100mg cycle with Ovidrel trigger = BFN
12/2011 Third Clomid 100mg cycle with Ovidrel trigger = BFFN
01/2012 Fourth Clomid 100mg cycle with Ovidrel trigger = ?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Lifestyle modifications and acupuncture
If you read my newest post a few lines down, you'll see that my RE has recommended cutting out caffeine entirely. I had a cup this morning since I got no sleep but am going to try to go cold turkey tomorrow (i.e. decaf). The headaches will be awful but if it ups chances at all I figure it's worth it. She's also got me taking 75mg/day of the supplement DHEA (which she advised before she even had a dx for my issue), but that's something to definitely run by your doctor, not do on your own because you may not need it. She also strongly approved the idea of accupuncture. I don't have any full success stories to share, but I can say that a friend of mine discovered a few years ago when she started TTC that she had actually gone through early menopause without realizing it; she did accupuncture and actually did conceive (which unfortunately ended in miscarriage, but the fact that conception occurred at all was nothing short of miraculous).
Overall though you sound like you're in terrific shape!! One thing to know about Clomid is that it *can* thin your lining (seems like a lot of people have this experience, myself included). If it does, or if you have other side effects you can't stand, rather than do a second Clomid cycle you might want to ask your doctor about Femara (letrozole). Here's hoping the IUI process works for you!
lhcooper...I saw that about the caffeine. That's what got me to thinking more about it. The thought of giving up my beloved Diet Pepsi makes me really unhappy, but if you really think it will help, I will go for it. I better do it on a weekend though, or my patients are not going to like me very much
Thank you so much for the rest of your advice!
Anyone else heard anything good / bad re: acupuncture?
Endometriosis, s/p lap 2009
Behcet's disease, s/p partial vulvectomy 2010
Started bromocriptine to lower prolactin level 2010
Clear HSG 11/2010
DH morphology = 4, rest of SA looked good 01/2011
02/2011 First Clomid 50mg cycle
BFP 03/02/2011
No heartbeat at 10w5d 04/18/2011; D&C 04/23/2011
07/2011 Second Clomid 50mg cycle, BFN
08/2011 Third Clomid 50mg cycle, BFN
10/2011 First Clomid 100mg cycle with Ovidrel trigger = BFN
11/2011 Second Clomid 100mg cycle with Ovidrel trigger = BFN
12/2011 Third Clomid 100mg cycle with Ovidrel trigger = BFFN
01/2012 Fourth Clomid 100mg cycle with Ovidrel trigger = ?
I can't promise it will help and I know for sure that I'm not going to like me very much! But my RE did say that caffeine is known to affect fertility, so...bring on the headaches, I guess....And I understand--I used to be diehard Diet Pepsi drinker myself (that stuff is great; I was a big fan of the vanilla one in particular). I managed to give it up (and my 2nd cup of morning coffee) a while back, so I'm hoping that giving up just one (but strong) cup now won't be too terrible.
I just think everyone is so different, it's hard to make suggestions accross the board.
My 38 year old friend got pregnant w/o treatment after trying for six cycles. She and her husband were average weight, still drank coffee and occ. alcohol. And then plenty of younger women have trouble and do everything "perfect".
I personally gave up artificial sweeteners totally this past fall. I drink one 8 oz cup of coffee a day. I have to, I work 12 hour days. And some night shifts.
I do drink beer-wine usually 2 times (two beers/wine at a time) a week. I cut back from CD1-O this cycle but that was more due to calories.
I now buy organic milk and veggies. Working on finding organic meat in my area.
I have been doing acupunture since late Nov but don't notice a huge difference just yet.
DS born via unplanned C-section at 40w6d
It's so stressful to feel like you're doing everything "right" but still no BFP. I really limit the artificial sweeteners too, totally avoid HFCS, eat some organic fruits / veggies...but I really don't want to become obsessed about all of this. Sometimes I think by paying such attention to these things, I'm causing myself more stress and doing more harm than good. I'm a healthy person...why can't my ovaries just pop out some eggs for Pete's sake?!?!
Endometriosis, s/p lap 2009
Behcet's disease, s/p partial vulvectomy 2010
Started bromocriptine to lower prolactin level 2010
Clear HSG 11/2010
DH morphology = 4, rest of SA looked good 01/2011
02/2011 First Clomid 50mg cycle
BFP 03/02/2011
No heartbeat at 10w5d 04/18/2011; D&C 04/23/2011
07/2011 Second Clomid 50mg cycle, BFN
08/2011 Third Clomid 50mg cycle, BFN
10/2011 First Clomid 100mg cycle with Ovidrel trigger = BFN
11/2011 Second Clomid 100mg cycle with Ovidrel trigger = BFN
12/2011 Third Clomid 100mg cycle with Ovidrel trigger = BFFN
01/2012 Fourth Clomid 100mg cycle with Ovidrel trigger = ?
"It's so stressful to feel like you're doing everything "right" but still no BFP. I really limit the artificial sweeteners too, totally avoid HFCS, eat some organic fruits / veggies...but I really don't want to become obsessed about all of this. Sometimes I think by paying such attention to these things, I'm causing myself more stress and doing more harm than good. I'm a healthy person...why can't my ovaries just pop out some eggs for Pete's sake?!?! "
I couldn't agree more KZ...especially the last part! I tried acupuncture but it wasn't relaxing for me to have needles stuck in me. I'm currently doing yoga and weekly fertility massage. I'm not convinced it does much, but at least I feel like I'm doing what I can.
OMG this is exactly how I've always felt about what acupuncture would be like for me. I've signed up for it in desperation but I guess we'll see what I think after next Monday's session.
Pix, do you do a particular kind of yoga? I do mostly power flow but during all this IUI-am-I-pregnant-stuff I have been avoiding serious twists.
I don't think accupuncture is going to help me much with what I have going on, but I think it can help improve egg quality, though my TCM Dr. tells me that it may take 3 months for this effect to take hold. As for other things-- I would defintely avoid artificial sweeters more than I would caffeine. 24oz of Diet Pepsi is 72 mg of caffeine, which is really not much, it is less than my double espresso latte I have once a day in the AM. I don't think there is much evidence that a small amount of daily caffeine does anything to harm fertility.
Once chemical I really try to avoid is BPA. (Full disclosure-- I am a biologist-- though hopefully I don't come across as a raving lunatic) I once saw a research talk that really freaked me out about the stuff. Basically, a researcher was studying chromosomal nondisjuction issues in mouse eggs during meiosis. All the sudden her control mice were having the same chromosome problems as the experimental mice. It turns out that all the mice were ingesting BPA from the plastic of their cages as the plastic was breaking down, and this chemical was likely the reason the control mice began to produce bad eggs. (here is a link to the paper on the subject: https://www.cell.com/current-biology/retrieve/pii/S0960982203001891)
So, I don't eat canned food (or at least I choose canned foods that are from BPA free cans/containers). I try to not eat/drink out of plastic as much as I can. And I for sure stay away from microwavable fast foods that have that nasty plastic liner. I haven't figured out how to protect myself from the BPA in thermal paper, but if I handled them all day, I would consider gloves. Also, soda cans have BPA, so best to avoid those too--but I don't really drink soda. And on another note, I generally try to eat organic foods as much as possible.
IVF #1 ET 1 d3 embryo 10/30/11 BFP
3 Embryos frozen (1 d5, 2 d6)
DS born 07/29/12
FET #1 ET 1 d5 embryo 02/10/15 BFN
FET #2 1 d6 embryo didn't survive thaw, transferred last d6. CP
I read your post with interest because I have been trying to "improve my lifestyle" for TTC ( and it wouldn't hurt to lose 15 pounds before my 20 year hs reunion
I am trying to cut back on caffeine (decaf tastes the same to me, but someone else had mentioned that the decaf is more full of chemicals than the regular, :sigh:). I do cardio 3 days a week, weights twice a week, play tennis 1-2 times a week. Like I said, I need to lose some weight- it sure did creep up on me since I was on the Clomid, not sure if there is a direct correlation there or not. However, I pretty much eat like crap- lots of meat, sugar, not enough vegetables and whole grains.
I have been going to the acupunturist since the beginning of November and unfortunately don't see much of a difference. If anything, I'm a little bummed about the whole thing since I haven't ovulated (FF begs to differ) and am now on day 55. So, no period since Thanksgiving- super. . . all this for a treatment that is completely out of pocket- yay.
Acupuncture has been a godsend for me.
It has completely regulated my hormone levels. I got kicked out of a midwifery practice to an RE because when they tested my hormones they were seriously out of whack. About two months later ... picture perfect fsh/estradial. Of course I have no way of knowing for sure that it was the acupuncture, but I hadn't changed anything else and the RE hadn't given me any medication or anything. The more obvious change has been that I used to have headaches one or two days a week, sometimes migraines. I started the acupuncture in August, and haven't had a headache since September.
In terms of other stuff, no caffeine or artificial sweetners for me. I take my pre-natal and try to eat lots of green leafy veggies. I still drink a bit, but stop each month around 7 dpo until the next cycle begins. I exercise a 2-5 times a week and am a healthy (though not my ideal) weight.
http://oi62.tinypic.com/2w73hq9.jpg
I tried acupuncture but it wasn't relaxing for me to have needles stuck in me. I'm currently doing yoga and weekly fertility massage. I'm not convinced it does much, but at least I feel like I'm doing what I can.
Pixie - I'm not sure how to quote... I see you have a weekly fertility massage. I've been wondering what these consiste of. I'm currently on my 3rd IUI with injectibles, I should have back to back IUI's Thursday and Friday this week. I've been wondering if the fertility massage would help. You're the first one I've heard mention it.
For me, the fertility massage seems a lot like a regular massage but more focused on hips and lower back. Some ankle and feet, too. I haven't been doing it that long. I also had one acupuncture session. I avoid caffeine, refined sugar, soy, dairy, hormone-supplemented chicken, pesticides, red meat, gluton, and alcohol. But FWIW it's kind of gotten me nowhere. Today I talked to my RE about DHEA and CoQ10. Mostly I need to get back to the gym. I haven't moved since I started stimming and I feel like a slug (and apparently so do my ovaries) sigh.