The embryo has landed.

Tuesday/ transfer day, was a good day. Which is such a relief because it can be fraught with difficulties and anxieties.

My gorgeous husband had the whole day off to join me for the transfer, to drive me to my appointments and then to look after me in the afternoon.

Firstly I had an appointment with Dr. Doug my acupuncturist at 8.15am. They came in early just so I could have acupuncture and then get to the IVF clinic in time. It was great, it helped calm my growing anxiety. A night of little sleep and the vague nerves of ‘what if’s’, it was good to just take the time to relax and breathe. After the acupuncture he massaged my legs and feet while a vibrating massage machine rested on my belly – sounds a little kooky but I guess it stimulates blood flow. I then put my feet on some little metal plates and held 2 little metal bars that hooked up to the electric pulse machine while Dr. Doug massaged my back. He assured me there was a science behind this (science fiction my husband would say), that it helped to get my chi flowing through my body. It felt good and I left feeling happy and calm.

We arrived at the IVF clinic right on time. My husband is hilarious and always makes lots of jokes, even more so at the clinic. I think it’s his way of lightening the situation and of keeping me smiling. Not everyone has a sense of humour though and that just makes things even funnier, so we giggled through the whole process.

Starting from when the nurse looked at my file – “‘oh allergic to Sulphur drugs – well no need to worry – no one will be going near you with sulphur today.’      Husband – “unless of course the embryo is the devils spawn”.   Me – “well it is from you!”    Nurse – wan smile.

Our embryo had defrosted well, we are lucky – so far they always have.

In the transfer room a different nurse tells me to disrobe form the waist down and hop up into the chair. MY husband hops up onto the chair (yes he is a child, and I wouldn’t have it any other way) The nurse looks bewildered and he tells her – “we thought we’d try swapping it around for a while” as I slap him on the arm and shoo him out of the chair.

Legs up, dignity aside. The doctor’s voice from the other side of the curtain – “knock, knock”. My husband – “who’s there?”. Luckily the doctor has a sense of humour, laughs and smiles as he sticks his head between my legs. My husband wonders if when he get down there he thinks ‘ahhh yes now I remember this patient’.

So a bit of shuffling with the ultrasound – my bladder is nice and full (tell me about it – I am dying to go to the bathroom!) so the uterus is shoved back out of view a little. Insert the catheter thingo then in shoots the embryo. It is so quick, weird, uncomfortable but SO quick. It’s amazing really.

Then back to Dr. Doug for more acupuncture. Relaxing. And just to add to the silliness of the day I need to leave the acupuncture pin in my head for 24 hours. Yes, there were lots of jokes at home that night about tv reception.

I spent the rest of the day relaxing, dozing. And the following day. I am lucky that my boss is understanding and caring.

Now I’ve been back at work for 2 days. It’s hard to concentrate and I feel tired. This waiting part is truly so difficult.

What’s going on in there??? Are you sticking in little embie?

Am I tired and a bit seedy because it’s working or is that just my brain playing little tricks?

I’d really like this to be the one – because this whole process is soooo tiring and draining.

[Via http://chasingbaby.wordpress.com]

Does Aetna Insurance have in-network Acupuncture Provider? by Dr.Arthur Fan

As a specialty of Acupuncture, Aetna acutally has NO acupuncturist network, at least in Virginia, Washington DC area.

Aetna only has one acupuncture discount rate network through ASH, say, American Specilty Health Acupuncture network. So, it means any acupuncturist has to accept a discount fee if he/she join the ASH network,if treating Aetna patient.

But, sometime, if the patient has Aetna Acupuncture benefit, Aetna may pay the acupuncture provider at a out-off network fee schedule–see, accoding to the rule, Aetna should have a acupuncturist network, then Aetna could pay the provider treating its HMO/EPO patient, but Aetna may refuse to pay,because the acupuncturist is out-of-network.

[Via http://arthuryinfan.wordpress.com]

Whole-Body Microcurrent Stimulation Methods

While most microcurrent treatments are specific to painful or dysfunctional parts of the body, sometimes it is valuable to spread the subtle currents throughout the body for general balancing and toning.  This is especially valuable when patient’s meridians are weak and the pulse is hard to read.  Here are  some methods for doing that with the Acutron system:

Here are several ways to get the microcurrent to spread out throughout the body:

1) Using microlight probes – select Probe preset #2 and place the + probe on an upper body area such as head or upper back.  Place – probe on lower extremity or feet acupoints.  Select color to match need of patient – red for increasing Yang energy, Blue for calming, Green for balancing, Violet for deeper calming, Magenta for emotional balance, etc.  I have often done this to connect GV 20 (Du 20) on the head with + probe to GV (Du) 1 with the – probe – very profound effects.

2) You can do the Voll quadrant treatment – Use uA Pad preset #1 (default is 10 Hz frequency, 50 uA, biphasic polarity), place 2 pad electrodes on the two palms of hands using Channel A, let current run for 10 minutes.  You can also do this on the two soles of feet.  Make sure they drink lots of water with this one.  Boosts all meridians at the 10 Hz.

3)  You can purchase an optional brass foot plate for patients to put their bare feet on using the red hand mass cable connection.  Then use the trigger probe with color to treat scalp acupoints or other upper body major points.  Great for neurological post stroke patients.

[Via http://drstarwynn.wordpress.com]

Self Acupressure for Lower Back Pain and Sciatica

What is Acupressure

Acupressure is an ancient Chinese medicine derived from acupuncture. Instead of using needles to stimulate certain points it utilizes the pressure of the fingers, elbows, or various devices in order to stimulate different points along the meridians to release blocked energy. When the energy flows properly our health in general is improved and we can get relief from physical aches and pains as well as psychological disturbances. We can also do self acupressure in order to help various pathologies when we don’t have time to get to a professional or when we need treatment on the spot. Below you will find a suggested treatment that can ease lower back pain and help treat sciatica.

Before you start a self-acupressure session it is important to find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted for about 20 minutes.

Self-acupressure treatment for lower back pain and sciatica:

1. At waist level, place the knuckles of both hands in your back and hold a pressure here for about 1 minute. This maneuver can be done sitting on a chair or by lying down on the ground.

2. Wrap your hands around your waist placing your thumbs in your back at about 4 finger lengths away from the spine. Once you have found this spot, apply pressure for about 1 minute.

3. Take 2 fingers and place them horizontally beneath the naval. Below these 2 fingers directly under the navel you will find your next spot. Press into this area while talking deep breaths. Work it for about 1 minute.

4. Place your knuckles half way between the base of the buttocks and the top of the hip bone about 4 fingers lengths away from the spine. Move your fingers to work the area for about 2 minutes.

5. Finish by pulling your knees in towards your chest. Hold this position for about 1 minute.

Taking time to do self acupressure can be important tool in helping you get some relief from your lower back pain and sciatica. I hope this will be helpful.

This article is for information purposes only and not intended to replace medical treatment. Those who are pregnant or that have health problems should check with their doctors or a trained professional before treating themselves.

Aromatherapy for Aches and Pains

Acupuncture for Back Pain

[Via http://1bizzybee.wordpress.com]

Femoral Artery Massage

I just came across this page on the web, Femoral Artery Massage, it’s something I’ve never heard of before in all the time I’ve been researching infertility.

Although my acupuncturist has definitely put pressure on this area but I just thought he was feeling for the pulse or something…I’ll ask him more next week.

I found it quite intersting and if I don’t get BFP this month it’s def something I’ll try next month… well it’s free and everything is worth trying is it not?!!

[Via http://infertilityandme.wordpress.com]

What is an unexpected complaint that you have consistent success in treating?

Heartbreak.  Yes, many patients come in after a relationship break-up or other big emotional letdown for acupuncture treatment.  I  see  symptoms which  include intense saddness, situational depression, and  insomnia,  One patent described feelng “numb inside” for months after his relationship ended.  Acupunture is effective because it stimulates neuotransmiters, such as serotonin which restore calm and welbeing naturally.  In the language of Chinese Medicine, the treatment helps  the individual restore a sense of “balance” helping to heal the broken heart.

[Via http://acucenter.wordpress.com]

Acupuncture Happy Hour!

I recently got a gig writing for the great music/culture/etc magazine Death + Taxes. I’ve already written a few articles that are on the website if you take the time to mosey around on it. One of the interesting ones can be found HERE, and it’s a fairly savvy way to get acupuncture on a very small budget. They have a “Happy Hour” about once a month, and it had some incredible effects on my state of mind for only $10 (it woulda been just $5 if I brought a friend!). That’s less than the price of a movie ticket, or two beers or whatever comparison you might make.

Check out the article, as I go into a bit of depth as to what the experience of acupuncture is truly about.

[Via http://starvingartistsguide.wordpress.com]

A Hidden Nature Within

As I entered the waiting room and called her name,  I was shocked by the person who stood up to greet me. She couldn’t be much beyond my thirty odd years of age. Laura* was tall, beautiful and impeccably dressed. She beamed a welcoming smile like she was seeing an old friend despite the association she had with acupuncture, an adjunct therapy as she underwent chemotherapy and radiation for one of the most aggressive types of breast cancer. Immediately upon greeting her she spoke of how acupuncture ‘was the thing that got her through the chemotherapy and radiation treatments.’ Both believers and skeptics of acupuncture alike can easily equate tremendous value to any practice that provides a person with the internal strength to face life’s greatest obstacles, equivalent in nature to Buddhist chanting of Nam-Myo-Renge-Kyo to fortify one’s resolve.

As she laid the on the table with needles emerging across the outline of her body, a needle was inserted in the mid-abdominal region, a point that influences the qi, or energy, of the entire body, and she burst into uncontrollable tears. Immediately, the apologies began to flow from her mouth, “I am so sorry. I don’t know why this is happening. It is so weird.” In the chanting of Nam-Myo-Renge-Kyo in Nichrien Buddhism, the word renge symbolizes the lotus flower, representing the simultaneity of cause and effect. With every cause, whether it is created by our thoughts, words or actions, it creates an effect that reverberates throughout the deepest levels of life. No apology necessary Laura. Just like the natural process of cause and effect that occurs throughout life, this process naturally occurs within the human body. Sometimes we keep a tight lock on the inner effects created by our thoughts and experiences. And then sometimes the conditions are just right for us to release them.

*All patients’ names have been changed.

[Via http://whenabuddhagetscancer.com]