Testimonial from Merri Mullennix
I have been a patient of Dr. Lin at East West Health Centers off and on for ten years. During that time she has used her great abilities with Chinese medicine to heal me from sciatica, balance my hypothyroidism, and boosted my immune system so that I seldom get colds. I have been to several acupuncturists and they absolutely do not compare with the education and instinct that Dr. Lin brings to the field of Chinese medicine. At the age of 38, after deciding to freeze my eggs for future use, I immediately began working with Dr. Lin to ensure that my eggs would not only be healthy and mature but also plentiful when I went to have the procedure.
At the time that I approached Dr. Lin to receive the fertility based treatments; I had horribly painful PMS that began to torment me on the 22 day of the month and did not stop until I started ten to twelve days later. Six months before having my eggs removed and frozen, Dr. Lin and I began my program. I got a basal thermometer, per Dr. Lin’s instructions, and began taking my temperature everyday first thing and charting it. Dr. Lin then looked at the chart and was able to see the patterns of my cycle and what needed to be changed in order to improve my reproductive health. She had me monitor my ovulation using pee sticks and when I did ovulate she guided me as to when to start using natural progesterone cream and when to stop using it. Dr. Lin also prescribed Chinese herbs to use at particular times during my cycle to ensure the consistency of it from day one to day 28. Dr. Lin treated me with acupuncture two times a month. The first 1-3 days of my cycle and right after ovulation. Consistency was extremely important in making certain that my eggs where receiving the proper hormones at the proper times for the longest follicle growth. In addition, Dr. Lin lent me a book called The Infertility Cure by Randine Lewis, Ph.D. that was a wealth of information concerning nutrition and other holistic treatments people can use to increase fertility. It is a great book and I now own my own copy.
When the time came for me to start injecting hormones to begin the retrieval process, Dr. Lin worked in conjunction with my retrieval doctor’s treatment plan to best incorporate acupuncture. Having both Eastern and Western medicine working together with me on something so important, made me feel incredibly supported and hopeful. As a result, I had the best outcome possible.
After the retrieval, the surgeon informed me that I had 35 eggs and they had successfully retrieved 32 fully mature eggs. This is generally unheard of, for most women my age they aim for 5-10 viable eggs.
I know that without Dr. Lin’s work, my numbers would not have been so successful. Her in depth knowledge of how the human body’s systems connect and function with each other, her techniques and mastery of where and how to put the acupuncture needles painlessly into her patients, her impeccable use of Chinese herbs, and her understanding that nutrition factors into any good holistic plan, have brought to me so much vitality, wellness, and hope that I know in a few years when it is finally time to get pregnant, she will be the first doctor I call to get the process started.
My husband and I want to thank Dr. Lin, Bruce and Michael
for all their time and encouragement. We believe that without
their treatments and support this would never have happened.
Dr. Lin, Bruce and Michael:
In July of 2003, my husband and I made the decision to try to
have our second child. Since there was no problems conceiving
our first child, we did not believe there would be any problems
conceiving a second time. Since I had not received a cycle since
the birth of our son a year before, we scheduled an appointment
with my Ob/GYN. She proceeded to run several blood tests, which
all came back normal. I was prescribed four cycles of Clomid,
after which time my Ob/GYN referred me to a reproductive endocrinologist.
In March of 2004, I was diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure
(POF). With this diagnosis came a less than 10% chance of conceiving
on my own. The only other option provided at the time was In
Vitro Fertilization with donor eggs. Since both my husband and
I were uncertain about the use of donor eggs, I began to research
if there were any other options to conceiving my own child.
The only other option that kept reoccurring and made sense was
Acupuncture.
In late August of 2004, I met with the staff of East-West Health
Center and began to receive Acupuncture treatments for infertility.
Dr. Lin suggested I receive two treatments a week for the first
four weeks and then one treatment a week for the next 12 weeks.
In addition, they suggested some dietary changes and prescribed
some herbs for me to take on a daily basis. By October it appeared
that I had ovulated for the first time since the birth of my
son in July of 2003, however, I never received my period, only
spotting. The same thing happened again in November. In December
it finally appeared that things might be on track for a full,
regular cycle, however, I never received my period or any spotting.
I was scheduled to see Dr. Lin in early January of 2005 for
one of my appointments. Prior to my appointment I took a home
pregnancy test. The test came back positive. While extremely
excited, I hesitantly scheduled an appointment with my Ob/GYN.
My Ob/GYN confirmed the pregnancy with a blood test and ultra
sound. Both my husband and I were excited and shocked that we
had conceived on our own.
My husband and I want to thank Dr. Lin, Bruce and Michael for
all their time and encouragement. We believe that without their
treatments and support this would never have happened.
You have given my family one of the greatest gifts – the gift
of life.
May 2008 - A Story with a Happy Ending!
My husband and I got married in 2002, since
we were both a little older we decided to try to get pregnant
right away, after a year of trying to get pregnant (unsuccessfully),
my husband and I decided to try fertility treatments. We unsuccessfully
did about 8-9 months of various treatments when we decided to
do IVF. My doctor suggested we try acupuncture in conjunction
with the treatments; she mentioned that it has been statistically
proven to have produced better results. I was quite surprised
to hear a Western medical doctor say that and having come from
a traditionally scientific family it was a little difficult
to take in but we were willing to try anything. My doctor gave
us a card for Dr. Lin. I called and made my first appointment.
I was a little uncomfortable, unsure and interested. It wasn't
the most pleasant experience the first time and I had to force
myself to relax but each time it got better and ultimately became
something that I looked forward to and a way for me to relax
and be calm.
I went fairly often for 6 weeks working with Dr. Lin and my
cycle to figure out the optimal times to do treatment. On the
day of the transfer of three embryos (which happened to be a
Saturday), Dr. Lin met me at the doctor's office and performed
a treatment. Six weeks later we had a positive pregnancy test
and 8 months later I gave birth to the most beautiful, healthy
baby boy!
About a year later, my husband and I were ready to try to have
a second baby. We were not certain how it would go the second
time around but we decided to try only acupuncture for 6 months
and then visit the fertility doctor (I already made my initial
appointment with the fertility clinic). About 4 months later,
I was feeling a little different and truthfully I had not really
followed my cycle very well for that month. We had a death in
the family at that time so it wasn't really something I was
keeping track of (only that Month). I had been visiting Dr.
Lin for about 10 weeks, I think, and pretty much doing what
she had told me as far as diet. I decided to take a pregnancy
test and was completely surprised to get a positive result.
I didn't actually believe it and when I visited my OB I was
fully expecting to hear that I was not pregnant and started
crying when the nurse practitioner told me I was pregnant! Now
I have two beautiful boys! I fully attribute this to acupuncture!
It feels good and it works!
THANK YOU, Dr. Lin!
Kimberly
I went to Dr. Lin faithfully during that time. On my
3rd time, I produced 35 eggs, which at the age of 40,
the doctor was very impressed.
My husband and
I had been married for about two years and tried to get pregnant
in speaking to my OB/GYN, she suggested that we meet with an
Infertility doctor. After speaking with the doctor, my husband
and I decided to get a second opinion, since there was a lot
of money involved. I went to a doctor many people referred me
to and both my husband and me were very impressed. My husband
and I did a few AI’s and those did not work. We came up with
the money, borrowing from my 401K, putting some on credit card
and did IVF. I was 36 at the time and produced eleven eggs.
I had three fresh embryos transferred and was able to freeze
two. I got pregnant, but had a tubal two days before my 6 week
check up. The percentage of that happening is less than 3 percent,
since we did IVF. I had to have one of my tubes removed. I picked
myself up and a few months later, tried the frozen ones. The
percentage is less than 25% when using frozen embryos. Those
did not take. I met with the doctor and he reviewed my chart
and had no reason why I shouldn’t do another IVF cycle, since
everything looked good. I used my cafeteria plan at work for
the next time and we became more in debt. This time I produced
22 eggs and had 10 embryos. I had 3 fresh embryos transferred
and froze 4. On this second try, nothing happened with the fresh
embryos. A few months later, I transferred the frozen embryos
and those did not work either. After my frozen cycle, my grandma
had passed away and it was very hard for me.
Well by this time, I was very discouraged. A lot of people had
talked about acupuncture. So in December of 2004, I started
acupuncture. Dr. Lin and Bruce met with me on my initial consultation
and explained the whole process of what acupuncture is. I stared
going 2 times a week for approximately 3 months. My doctor looked
again at my chart and everything still looked good to him, so
I tried IVF for a third time. I had heard that your chances
go up a lot with acupuncture. In May of 2005, I tried IVF for
my 3rd time. I went to Dr. Lin faithfully during that time.
On my 3rd time, I produced 35 eggs, which at the age of 40,
the doctor was very impressed. I contribute a lot of that production,
if not all, acupuncture. I also had Michael come to the doctor’s
office to do a treatment before and after my transfer.
During this whole time going to acupuncture, there were a lot
of other great benefits I received doing acupuncture. I have
bad allergies and I could tell that they were getting better;
I saw that my monthly periods were getting much better, and
I had a change in my mood, for the positive. It did not take
for a third time and I had 2 sets of 4 embryos that were frozen.
I did the first set and still did acupuncture. Those did not
take.
By now, I was emotionally and physically drained. I still did
acupuncture once a month because I loved all the other benefits
it provided. I went and got 2 other opinions from the top Infertility
doctors in the state and both doctors said there was nothing
wrong, but they would do a few blood tests to rule everything
out. After fighting with the insurance company for 4 months
to make sure they were going to pay for the blood test, since
that was going to cost about $4,000, if they didn’t pay. I found
out they were going to pay and all those tests showed nothing
wrong.
Well in February, I got enough courage to do my last 4 embroys.
I started taking medication I needed to take and shortly after
that, I got a sinus infection and was put on antibiotics and
did not want to have those meds in my body, so I stopped the
procedure and started on my next period. I started my meds again,
went in for all my tests, and started back 2 times a week for
acupuncture. The day of my transfer, it was rescheduled from
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. At that point, I was able to do acupuncture
both before and after my transfer. I couldn’t afford for Dr.
Lin to come to my doctors office, so I opted to go before my
transfer and then right after to her office. I had to wait for
a week and a half. It was the longest time and I knew for sure
I wasn’t pregnant. I went in for my pregnancy test and was very
emotional because I knew this was the last time I would see
these people and the results would be negative. I had one of
the nurses sneak a peak, the test was positive, and I kept telling
her she was wrong and it was not my test. She assured me it
was. I am currently 16 weeks pregnant, and all of my blood levels
are so much better this time and my 16 week ultrasound looks
good. My due date is December 18, 2006. Again I contribute
much of this to acupuncture.
I can not than Dr. Lin, Michael, and Bruce enough for everything
they have done.
-Julie P.
IVF has been a part of my life for the past
three years. I have been through three IVF cycles...
IVF has been a part of my life for the past
three years. I have been through three IVF cycles and am currently
pregnant with twins from my third cycle.
I started IVF in 2003 as the only option to bare my own children.
At that time I was not aware of acupuncture as a partner to
the IVF treatment. My husband and I were very lucky as our first
attempt was successful and, after implanting three embryos,
I gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
When our son was one we tried again. Our second attempt was
not successful. At that point I became aware of the claims being
made about the benefits of coupling IVF with acupuncture. I
chose not to incorporate acupuncture based on the fact that
I'd had a successful run previously with out it.
As we began our last IVF cycle I changed my mind and asked the
nurses for a recommendation on someone to see for acupuncture.
I figured that it couldn't hurt to at least try it. They recommended
Dr. Lin. I hadn't realized but I was getting started on acupuncture
treatment later than recommended. Dr. Lin was understanding
and was able to get me in several times within the three weeks
before my retrieval and transfer.
IVF can be very stressful. Acupuncture alleviated a lot of the
stress that I had felt during my previous IVF cycles. I also
believe that my acupuncture treatments contributed to the large
amount of healthy eggs we were able to retrieve. This last cycle,
in conjunction with the acupuncture treatments, was so successful
that we were able to implant just two eggs on day 5 and save
six blastocysts for freezing. Both of the eggs that were implanted
took and I am now pregnant with twins.
My morning sickness came on strong at six weeks but I've been
back for more acupuncture therapy and the nausea and headaches
have become much more manageable. I intend to continue with
acupuncture throughout this pregnancy and have faith that it
will help to bring my babies to full term.
Thank you very much Dr. Lin and Bruce,
Jennifer N.
