Alt. Remedies TTC Successes and Failures!

AngLynn · 10-08-2007, 08:21 AM

Alternative TTC Remedies
What worked for you?
What DIDNT work for you?

Trying for a baby is a sensitive and often heartbreaking journey for many women on this forum. Some women revert to alternative fertility (or PCOS) treatments in order to become pregnant "on their own" Sometimes after many failed attempts at IVF, IUI, injectibles, and prescription fertility drugs.
There are SO many "home remedies" and rumors of different and sometimes outlandish treatments that our aunts, mothers, grandmothers have passed down to us over the years..
This is the place where all you women who have had SUCCESS in either treating your PCOS or have gotten your BFP's while on your herbal treatments!

Tell us what remedies you found successful, and what one's you DIDNT find successful here! This board is open to anyone currently taking - was successful or not successful in using alternative remedies for TTC!

Sometimes we need encouragement - knowing that someone else had a success in using the remedies that we're on right now. Your story can inspire HOPE in a frustrated mommy-to-be!
Also, if you have a friend on the boards that got pregnant using an alternative treatment, please refer them to this page and to tell us their story!!

Here are the kind things we would like to know!

1. How long were you TTC before taking your herbs?
2. What were/are you taking, and in what dosage?
3. Did you notice any changes while you were on the herbs? What did you notice, and when?
3. Did you use any other remedies that didnt work for you?
4. What outlandish remedies were suggested to you by others?
5. Do you have any pictures of your bundle of joy? Sonograms? Peesticks? We wanna seeee!

P.S. - After I get some replies, I will add a list of names, EDDs and what alternative remedy was used to conceive! Thank you very much to all who respond And babydust to all those who are stalking!

lachicarubia · 10-08-2007, 04:27 PM

AngLynn, What a great idea.
I would love to share my expereinces.

Pregnancy #2 (I already had DS#1)
1. How long were you TTC before taking your herbs?
2 years
2. What were/are you taking, and in what dosage?
1 diflucan pill, standard dose
3. Did you notice any changes while you were on the herbs? What did you notice, and when?
Didn't get AF for over a year after DS#1 was born. When she finally started coming again, AF was coming every 40 days, but after taking the diflucan the next AF arrived on CD28. I also had a day of lots of walking, so I didn’t realize that it was the diflucan that did it, I thought it was the exercise. I had 3 more 28-day AF’s, and then got my BFP.
I thought it was just a surprise BFP, I didn’t realize that I got my BFP because the Diflucan killed the yeast in my body, because it didn't happen until 4 months later. I didn’t do anything else to make sure that the yeast didn’t come back to stop the PG. Discovered at 14 weeks that it was a twin PG, but they didn’t have heartbeats, had died at 9 weeks. Had D&C.
4. Did you use any other remedies that didn’t work for you?
No.
5. What outlandish remedies were suggested to you by others?
My sister kept telling me that I had a yeast imbalance, and I needed to kill the yeast in my body, and gave me a list of herbs that kill yeast. I thought it was outlandish at the time. When I got a mild yeast infection, I skipped the herbs, and decided to go straight to the diflucan, because I knew that diflucan was effective at killing yeast. Since I didn’t get my BFP until 4 months after I took the diflucan, I thought for sure that she was nuts. When she tried to give me some yeast killing herbs after I got my BFP, I told her that she was wrong, I was already PG, and I didn’t need her herbs. Turned out, she was right all along. Why didn’t I listen to her sooner?
6. Do you have any pictures of your bundle of joy? Sonograms? Peesticks? We wanna seeee!
Here is the U/S of my twins when they were supposed to be 14 weeks, but were 9 week size, and no heartbeats.

Pregnancy #3
1. How long were you TTC before taking your herbs?
After the D&C, my doc suggested that I wait until after I had 2 AF’s and then start TTC again.
2. What were/are you taking, and in what dosage?
I had finally figured out that it was killing the yeast that helped my get my BFP with the twins, but I didn’t have an excuse to ask my doc for an Rx for diflucan, because I didn’t have any symptoms of vaginal YI. I used a Monostat 1 ovule, and then started the yeast killing herbs that my sister had tried to give me before. I took the maximum amount recommended on the bottle.
3. Did you notice any changes while you were on the herbs? What did you notice, and when?
My 2^nd AF after the D&C came on CD35. Then I took the monostat, and started the herbal yeast killing formula. My next AF came on CD 28. I had 3 more 28-day AF’s and then got my BFP with DS#2. I also took Met to prevent m/c and at 7.5 weeks, my progesterone was tested, and was 13, so I took progesterone until week 13.
4. Did you use any other remedies that didn’t work for you?
I used NPC after CD15 during 1 cycle, because I was told that I wasn’t getting PG because my progesterone was low, but still got a BFN.
5. What outlandish remedies were suggested to you by others?
Using a laser type of light on clitoris during certain cycle days (can’t remember, which days, probably same as clomid). It worked for the lady that told me about it. She learned about it from a cow fertility doc. She had suffered several m/c and was finaly able to get PG and carry to term.
6. Do you have any pictures of your bundle of joy? Sonograms? Peesticks? We wanna seeee!
Here is a pic of DS#2, he is 3 YO now.

Pregnancy #4
1. How long were you TTC before taking your herbs?
2-3 cycles
2. What were/are you taking, and in what dosage?
I took Yeast Defense, probiotics, and Candex, the max amount recommended on the bottle. I also did micro-current therapy with a zapper.
3. Did you notice any changes while you were on the herbs? What did you notice, and when?
After DS#2 was born, I stopped the herbs and the met. After a while, I started gaining weight again, but still had 28 day cycles. I finally took a weight loss supplement with Hoodia, which decreased my appetite, and I started losing weight, and then started TTC. Even though I was losing weight, I got 2-3 BFN’s, and then my Jan 06 AF come on CD 35. I started yeast defense, the herbal yeast killer supplement, and Candex. My Feb 06 AF came on CD28. Then I was Dx with hernia, had to take TTC break for surgery and recovery. Then I was Dx’d with MS, so I had to delay TTC while did heavy metal/mercury detox. I continued to take YD, and Candex, and then switched to microcurrent therapy while doing heavy metal chelation. Feb 22, 2007, when AF showed up, I stopped heavy metal chelation, and started the YD and Candex again. Started TTC with that cycle. Got my BFP on March 22, 2007
4. Did you use any other remedies that didn’t work for you?
By this time, especially after killing candida worked so well to help me get my BFP with DS#2, I had it all figured out, and went straight to candida control. No need to try anything else.
5. What outlandish remedies were suggested to you by others?
None. But I have started to share my experience getting PG using Candida control, and now people think I am the one suggesting the outlandish remedy. DOing candida control might take a few months to help you get your BFP, so don't give up until you have been doing it at full strength for at least 4 months.
6. Do you have any pictures of your bundle of joy? Sonograms? Peesticks? We wanna seeee!
Here is an U/S pic of DS #3. due Nov 29, 07.

AngLynn · 10-09-2007, 06:22 AM

Thats wonderful and yeah it might sound weird that each time you got PG you used common yeast controlling meds. You never know, it might have been what gave you your BFP! What a wonderful story and such a handsome little boy! Thank you so much

Im sure your new little sweet potatoe is going to be just as handsome!
I love success stories XD

daisy825 · 10-11-2007, 03:45 PM

Cara - I haven't had AF for about 2 months (last time I took Clomid/Provera) Now, we have decided to take the natural approach. My mother had told me about Candida and it sounds very interesting. However, if I don't have AF and don't ovulate will this help me to get it? I am currently taking Vitex, but have only been on it for about 2 weeks... and I know it takes quite a while to get in your system. Do you have any recommendations for me? I am open to anything at this point.

ccarlso · 10-13-2007, 12:02 AM

Here are the kind things we would like to know!

1. How long were you TTC before taking your herbs?

I was TTC for about six monts before I started taking herbs and seeing an acupuncturist. Since I had irregular cycles, I knew that something wasn't right.

2. What were/are you taking, and in what dosage?

The first acupuncturist that I went to gave me two sets of herbs that were in the form on pills. I took three of each three times a day. I don't remember what they were called. The second acupunturist gave me a tincture, which is a liquid, so I'm not sure what was in it. I took one drop three times a day.

My acpuncturist also told me to make some dietary changes. The only one I actually followed was not consuming any dairy products.

3. Did you notice any changes while you were on the herbs? What did you notice, and when?

No - not really. The only change I noticed was in my last cycle, which was the one I ovulated on. I was taking my temps every day, and I finally noticed a more steady pattern in my temps. I was taking the herbs for about four months before I ovulated.

3. Did you use any other remedies that didnt work for you?

Yes - the first acupuncturist I went to did not help me at all. I was seeing her for a year and she kept saying that it takes time and to be patient. There were no significant changes in my cycle with her. She was very inexperienced and spent little time with me. I eventually started seeing a different herbalist who prescribed me raw teas, which I had to cook, and they tasted disgusting! She couldn't get the formula correct either, and when I went to my current acupuncturist, she said to stop the herbs.

I also went to a fertility clinic, where they diagnosed me with PCOS. My doctor first gave me Clomid for three months, with no success. Then she gave me Metformin, for another three. Again, didn't work and just made me nauseous. When that didn't work, she wanted to give me Clomid and Metformin, which made me nervous because I thought that was too many chemicals to be putting into my body. So I stopped treatment at that point.

4. What outlandish remedies were suggested to you by others?

My husband is Mexican, and I went to see a woman in Mexico who specializes in infertility using natural methods. She made me "flush out" my system with some liquid I had to bring back from Mexico. It did not do anything at all for me.

5. Do you have any pictures of your bundle of joy? Sonograms? Peesticks? We wanna seeee!

Sorry - no pics. I haven't had a sonogram or an ultrasound yet. My EDD is 5/28/08. My doctor said I would have to wait until I'm 10 weeks.

I am so glad I decided to wait and try natural methods. My advice is that for those of you who aren't happy with your acupuncturist, doctor, etc, find a new one! I wish everyone good luck and lots of patience!

lachicarubia · 10-13-2007, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daisy825

Cara - I haven't had AF for about 2 months (last time I took Clomid/Provera) Now, we have decided to take the natural approach. My mother had told me about Candida and it sounds very interesting. However, if I don't have AF and don't ovulate will this help me to get it? I am currently taking Vitex, but have only been on it for about 2 weeks... and I know it takes quite a while to get in your system. Do you have any recommendations for me? I am open to anything at this point.

Hi Jenni,

I have a friend who stopped getting AF in 1992. She was on BCPs for a few years, then stopped about 9 years ago. She has started taking the Yeast defense, she started getting light AF2-3 day cycles, and then added the Candida Yeast management. And she has started getting regular length, regular flow AFs every 60 days. So the more she did to kill the yeast, the better her AF flow has become. Since she had not had a natural for so long before starting the candida control, it might take her body a while to get back to normal.
So it is possible that doing candida control can help get AF started again, and the more you do to kill the yeast, the more effective the results will be. Anything that kills yeast will help: diflucan, monostat, probiotics, herbs (like YD), or enzymes (like CYM). I even suspect that vitex has some yeast killing properties.
What are you thinking about trying?

flipflops24/7 · 01-11-2008, 01:26 AM

This is a great thread! I hope more people respond!

Pale Pink Aura · 01-12-2008, 01:11 AM

I conceived my little boy naturally after having IVF for DD. I hadn't responded to Clomid (well, actually, I did for the first month, but miscarried, then never responded again). I overstimulated with the injectables, so had to go to IVF, then overstimulated with that, but eventually ended up with a BFP and a darling little girl.

With DS I decided to give the natural way a go first. I initially saw an acupuncturist, with no improvements. I was referred to another acupuncturist who did craniosacral therapy and I started to ovulate (although very haphazardly). I was put onto natural progesterone cream (0.5ml of 4% cream twice daily) for days 14 - 26 of my cycle, vitex, chromium and zinc supplements and one other thing that I'm trying to research again atm (I can't believe I've forgotten what it was). I was told to up my protein levels and make sure I ate some with each meal (and eat low GI). I was also diagnosed coeliac and cut gluten from my diet. Because I had so many different treatments it is a bit difficult to say exactly what worked, but I think they all helped to some degree. I think the natural progesterone cream was by far the best thing and I'm still taking it now. I did need extra progesterone though to support an actual pregnancy. I conceived a bub after about a year on natural therapies (bear with me, my exact timing is a little hazy in my mind now), but I lost that one very early on from low progesterone levels. It seems that I've never produced progesterone myself ever, even when I've ovulated, which is all a bit weird. Still, progesterone cream is enough for me to conceive, then as soon as I get a BFP I need to start with the bid 400mg progesterone pessaries (so I really recommend that cysters get their progesterone levels tested asap when they get a BFP).

Now I have acne, but my cycles are *pretty* good (28 days long, which is amazing, but my af goes for a bit long and I often spot until day 14, so not perfect yet). The only other thing I'm taking now is a multivitamin, but obviously I need a little something else so I'm back researching again now to see what would be the best thing for me.