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Acupuncture Ladies!! Need your advice!

briehannahbriehannah member
in Trouble TTC
Hey girls, I just started going back to acupuncture (i did it last year as well). I am going to a new place, and the current guy has informed me that he feels that I have Kidney Qi Deficiency. It's not that I don't believe him, but my doc's have told me that they DO NOT want me taking any of the herbal medicines that they recommend. Which i also understand, seeing as though I am already going through some heavy duty meds during my cycles. My question is.... has anyone been told that this is what they have, and is there any other medication or supplements that I can take? I just don't know if I go see my RE with this "diagnosis", if they would acknowledge it and work with me or just laugh in my face. I would like to do something about the problem, but I don't want to go against my doc's advice. Any help?
Me: 33 DH: 32
TTC naturally since Dec 2011
TTC ART since Dec 2012

Dx: Seems to be low progestrone
Drug Cocktails since Jan 2013
List of Meds: Letrozole, Ovidrel, & Follistim, Prometrium, Endometrin
BFP #1: Feb 2013; Lost 7 days later, Chem Preg
BFP #2: June 2013; Lost 4 days later; Chem Preg
BFP #3: Sept 2013; 6 wks pg; Miscarraige with DNC in Oct 

[url=http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=UBB&utm_campaign=tickers][img]http://global.thenest.com/tickers/tt18cc6e.aspx[/img][/url]
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Re: Acupuncture Ladies!! Need your advice!

  • wishiwaspreggowishiwaspreggo member

    Hmmm... I'm a bit skeptical here.  I did a little Google search (because I'd never heard of this) and basically it's a non-specific diagnosis for malaise.  It looks like you can go on a diet to remedy the qi issues but... I wouldn't take any herbal supplements if I were you, especially if your medical-degree-holding doctors advise you not to do so.

    I do acupuncture, too, but my acupuncturist has never recommended herbal supplements for me because I'm using fertility drugs.

    Hope that helps!

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  • briehannahbriehannah member
    Yes, @wishiwaspreggo. It does help. That seems to be the main response I am getting from a lot of others too. He said that I could just do the acupuncture sessions, but that the medicine was 50% of the treatment as it relates to what we are trying to accomplish. Idk. I mean, i gusess i just wanted to see if this was relateable to a diagnosis that my regular doctors could do, adn put me on medication that they DO approve of. 
    Thanks for the advice! 
    Me: 33 DH: 32
    TTC naturally since Dec 2011
    TTC ART since Dec 2012

    Dx: Seems to be low progestrone
    Drug Cocktails since Jan 2013
    List of Meds: Letrozole, Ovidrel, & Follistim, Prometrium, Endometrin
    BFP #1: Feb 2013; Lost 7 days later, Chem Preg
    BFP #2: June 2013; Lost 4 days later; Chem Preg
    BFP #3: Sept 2013; 6 wks pg; Miscarraige with DNC in Oct 

    [url=http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=UBB&utm_campaign=tickers][img]http://global.thenest.com/tickers/tt18cc6e.aspx[/img][/url]
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  • adadeartadadeart member
    One thing to consider...I went to my acupuncturist before I started with the RE and did the herbs.  Then I went and saw the acupuncturist at my RE's office and he cautioned ever doing herbs just b/c he said China is so polluted now he really wouldnt trust anything from there.  I have no clue if this is true but definitely ask your acupuncturist where the herbs originate.
    Me:34 H:33 
    Temping since Nov 2012, off BC since July 2011
    SA: Beyond Awesome
    CD3 BW (AMH:2.7, estrogen high:106) , low progesterone 7DPO
    OB diagnosed "weak ovulation"
    IUI #1 Jan 2014- 5mg letrozole, m/c 6w3d, betas slow to decrease
    IUI #2 Mar 2014- 5mg letrozole BFN
    IVF#1 Apr/May 2014 16R/12M/8F.  Transferred 2 blasts, 3 on ice

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  • carriek565carriek565 member
    adadeart said:
    One thing to consider...I went to my acupuncturist before I started with the RE and did the herbs.  Then I went and saw the acupuncturist at my RE's office and he cautioned ever doing herbs just b/c he said China is so polluted now he really wouldnt trust anything from there.  I have no clue if this is true but definitely ask your acupuncturist where the herbs originate.
    I agree with this - my acupuncturist said there are many herbs out there that are actually terrible for your body because of where they are processed.  And as PP said, mixing fertility drugs and herbs may not be the best idea.  
    Me: 32 DH: 34
    TTC since Feb 2012
    Dx: Me: Widespread Endo & nagging Uterine Polyps. Low progesterone  DH: MFI - borderline motility and low morphology. 
    1st Hysteroscopy to remove polyp found during HSG & Saline U/S Dec '12 with OB/GYN
    RE referral and testing in June/July '13
    1st Lap & 2nd Hysteroscopy done Aug '13 to diagnose Endo and remove polpys
    6 months of Lupron to reduce amount of endo
    2nd Lap & 3rd Hysteroscopy done Feb '14 to remove remaining Endo and polyps that won't go away    
    DH:  Varicocele found; surgery to fix Jan '14
    Unmedicated IUI#1 - 3/28/14 -  BFN
    Medicated IUI#1 - Letrozole (5 days) + Follistim + Ovidrel - 4/25/14  Beta 5/12
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  • Lindsey7348Lindsey7348 member
    *siggy warning*

    My acupuncturist told me I have the same thing. I did, however, take chinese herbs and do acu sessions during my 4th round of IVF (well, FET) and it worked. It ended it m/c but I didn't not take the herbs after positive HPT. 

    He also said I have a 'cold uterus' so now I am obsessing over that. Sigh. Always something to worry about. I often wonder if any of my 'fertile' friends have any of these issues and just don't know. Grr.
    Me: 31 DH: 31
    TTC#1 since Sept. 2011
    March 2012-June 2012 - IUI's- BFN

    Sept 2012= IVF #1- 14 eggs, 9 fert, no frosties. 2 blasts 5dt=BFN
    Oct/Nov 2012= IVF #2- 20 eggs, 14 fert, no frosties. 2 blasts transferred despite mild OHSS=BFN
    Nov 2012= hubby got transferred, moving to new state, time for a break until summer!
    Feb 2013= Natural BFP!! Valentine's day surprise! 
    Mar 2013= m/c @ 7.5 weeks :(

    *New RE*
    July 2013= ER for a freeze all cycle. 21 eggs, 9 fert, freeze all day 1.
    Lab is closed in August! (Of course!) 
    Sept 2013= FET #1 - transferred 3 not so great quality day 3 embies=BFN
    Oct 2013= FET #2- transferred 4! 3 good, 1 poor= BFP! On hubby's birthday :)
    Started bleeding at 5w5d. ER trip confirms one gest sac, one yolk sac, no fetal pole. 6w u/s showed nothing. Levels drop from 4,500 to 250. 
    Nov.2013=meet with RE to discuss where to go from here.
           *Tests showed PCOS-ish. High testosterone. Start Metformin 1500 mg.
    February 2014- CLomid, IUI, Trigger. 4 juicy and ripe follies (24,25, 28 and 34!) 111 million post wash sperm count. BFFN!!!! WTH?
    March 2014- Over my RE. Year of fun for us and looking into RMANJ.
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  • JadziaDaxJadziaDax member
    I'm having a similar issue. I saw a nutritionist who put me on a strict diet and gave me some natural meds/supplements and my RE advised me against taking the meds. As soon as he told me to stop taking them, I stopped. I would research healthy foods for Kidney Qi Deficiency and start there... I figure most foods can't hurt (as long as they're not some exotic extract). 

    Me and DH: 32, TTC since 2/2012
    Dx: lean PCOS, low hormone levels, 2 CP's before seeing RE, MTHFR heterozygous
    IUI #1 with clomid and ovidrel: BFN
    IUI #2 with clomid (unresponsive), femara, ovidrel and novarel: Possible CP
    IUI #3 with femara, ovidrel and novarel: BFN
    IUI #4 with Follistim (115 iu) and ovidrel= BFN, developed OHSS, benched- 2 weeks of birth control pills
    IUI #5 with Follistim (75iu) and ovidrel= BFN........Taking a medication break for a few months
    IUI #6 with Follistim (75iu) every other day, femara and Lupron trigger= BFN
    *Taking a long break to get healthy and research/prepare for IVF*
    Goal: gain 5 lbs, gluten/dairy/soy/nut free
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    3T June Siggy Challenge- Celebrity Crush: Woody Harrelson
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  • briehannahbriehannah member
    Thank you so much Ladies! This has been such a disappointment. He basically told me at my appointment last night that he really doesn't think that acupuncture would be enough for me and that if i really want to get to the root of the problem, he strongly suggests that I fully commit myself to the acupuncture/herb combination. 
    I am not ready to jump ship from my fertility doctors quite yet, so if I have to make a decision today, I would just as well stay where I am. Even though i am not getting results there either. 
    In addition to my fertility doctors, I have to consider my thyroid problem, so a conversation with my Endo wouldn't hurt either. 
    I guess at the end of the day, we all want to grasp at any straw we can to try to make anything stick here. Oh well, onwards and hopefully upwards!
    @JadziaDax ... I have started eating pomagranate seeds recently, along with all my vitamins and Baby Aspirin. I have heard great things about Chia Seeds. The acupuncturist told me that I need to eat "blood-nourishing" foods like beef, lamb, and walnuts. He also told me to keep my Kidneys and Uterus warm with baths and heating pads. I am also trying to cut down on my caffeine intake. 
    Thanks everyone for your suggestions and advice! It really helps to talk things out with you girls! xoxo
    Me: 33 DH: 32
    TTC naturally since Dec 2011
    TTC ART since Dec 2012

    Dx: Seems to be low progestrone
    Drug Cocktails since Jan 2013
    List of Meds: Letrozole, Ovidrel, & Follistim, Prometrium, Endometrin
    BFP #1: Feb 2013; Lost 7 days later, Chem Preg
    BFP #2: June 2013; Lost 4 days later; Chem Preg
    BFP #3: Sept 2013; 6 wks pg; Miscarraige with DNC in Oct 

    [url=http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=UBB&utm_campaign=tickers][img]http://global.thenest.com/tickers/tt18cc6e.aspx[/img][/url]
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  • Lindsey7348Lindsey7348 member
    @briehannah

    Do you think you could just do acupuncture without herbs? Statistics show that success rates increase drastically in conjunction with fertility treatment. I truly feel it made a world of a difference in my cycle. 

    Good luck either way!!
    Oh and I heard goji berries are a good fertile berry too. Hard to find but Whole foods usually has them. I eat those and chia seeds in my yogurt :)
    Me: 31 DH: 31
    TTC#1 since Sept. 2011
    March 2012-June 2012 - IUI's- BFN

    Sept 2012= IVF #1- 14 eggs, 9 fert, no frosties. 2 blasts 5dt=BFN
    Oct/Nov 2012= IVF #2- 20 eggs, 14 fert, no frosties. 2 blasts transferred despite mild OHSS=BFN
    Nov 2012= hubby got transferred, moving to new state, time for a break until summer!
    Feb 2013= Natural BFP!! Valentine's day surprise! 
    Mar 2013= m/c @ 7.5 weeks :(

    *New RE*
    July 2013= ER for a freeze all cycle. 21 eggs, 9 fert, freeze all day 1.
    Lab is closed in August! (Of course!) 
    Sept 2013= FET #1 - transferred 3 not so great quality day 3 embies=BFN
    Oct 2013= FET #2- transferred 4! 3 good, 1 poor= BFP! On hubby's birthday :)
    Started bleeding at 5w5d. ER trip confirms one gest sac, one yolk sac, no fetal pole. 6w u/s showed nothing. Levels drop from 4,500 to 250. 
    Nov.2013=meet with RE to discuss where to go from here.
           *Tests showed PCOS-ish. High testosterone. Start Metformin 1500 mg.
    February 2014- CLomid, IUI, Trigger. 4 juicy and ripe follies (24,25, 28 and 34!) 111 million post wash sperm count. BFFN!!!! WTH?
    March 2014- Over my RE. Year of fun for us and looking into RMANJ.
    Report Reply
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