I went today and met with Weiping Wang. She is an OB from China who is practicing acupuncture at Maple Glen Acupuncture. I've been doing a lot of reading on combining acupuncture with IVF and the increased success rates. In addition to being an OB she worked for a fertility clinic for 13 years so she is very familiar with the treatments which I liked. She said that I should come once a week until I start the injections, then twice a week once I am doing the injections, the day before the transfer and 3 days in a row after the transfer and once a week until I find out I am pregnant. If I do get pregnant she suggests coming twice a week until they hear the heartbeat to prevent miscarriage. I did my first session today. I wasn't sure what to expect. She put about 8 needles in my legs, 5 in my abdomen, 2 in each wrist and 2 on each side of my head. She left me there for 30 minutes while music played in the background. It was relaxing and I can see how it will help alleviate stress (which I would need even if not going through IVF)! I think part of me was a little skeptical about Chinese medicine but from all that I have read I am coming to believe in it more and more. Acupuncture is supposed to help hormonally, help the blood flow to the uterus and decrease stress. She completely understood the stress financially along with doing the treatment, to dealing with work and missed time. I felt very at ease with her and hopefully this in combination with IVF will work!
I had my IVF consult 2 weeks ago, my genetic consult last week (which wasn't really worth the time but required) and this week I have the nurse consult. Next week is the hysteroscopy on 9/3, I'll stop the birth control pill on the third and should be starting the injections within a week or so. I have to get more bloodwork because Quest apparently didn't do one of the tests because they didn't know how to code it...so they just didn't bother to do it! And they did this twice. Needless to say this boggles my mind that they just decided not to do their job, not once but twice. This will be my fourth time back to them tomorrow.
I'm trying to stay positive. I've heard success stories which is encouraging. I told work about taking time off and they were fine with it so my plan is to take the 2 weeks after the transfer to do nothing and relax!

We are moving forward with IVF. I have my IVF consult this Wednesday, the genetic consult next Thursday and the nurse consult the following Thursday. The hysteroscopy is now scheduled for Sept. 3 and our plan is to start as soon as we get the go ahead from the doctor. I am having mixed emotions. It is a financial commitment that we've had to make since our insurance does not cover it. It is difficult to know we are spending thousands of dollars without a guarantee but I know if I look back I don't want to have any regrets and think that I did not give this my all. I've had to ask myself if I am mentally prepared if it doesn't work and part of me feels I am but there is still that unknown. It will be devastating but each month that goes by that I'm not pregnant is devastating. IVF will give them a better idea of the quality of my eggs and may fill in that missing piece. The past 5 years have been a roller coaster ride, from anger to grief each month, wondering why. It's like a loss month after month when it doesn't happen. The let down doesn't get any easier. It's hard to see friends having their second and third child and we can't have one. It's hard being asked, "When are you having kids" or being asked why we don't want kids and hearing people say, "We weren't even trying". Personally I need to know that I did try and gave it my all. I want to give my body the best chance especially since this may be our only try and the investment we are making is big. I want to decrease the stress I am feeling. I may take a couple of weeks off and go from there. Please keep us in your prayers and send baby dust our way!!