Texas Center for Reproductive Acupuncture-Dallas

09/24/11

So Grateful for TCRA!

by dbp2011 at Citysearch

This is the first review I have ever written online. Because I feel so strongly about Emily and TCRA I felt compelled to share my story. I will try to make it brief!

My husband and I tried getting pregnant on our own with no luck and finally ended up at an infertility clinic where I was diagnosed with ‘Diminished Ovarian Reserve’. We had two IUI’s, attempted 5 rounds of IVF - several of which were cancelled due to poor response to the medications. We had one IVF pregnancy that ended in miscarriage. Doctors talked to us about donor egg or adoption and told us we had less than a 1% chance of getting pregnant on our own.

Halfway through our last round of IVF I met Emily and I started treatments with her. The IVF treatment was unsuccessful and we decided our quest was over. I had turned 39 and decided I missed the boat on motherhood. I decided to sign up for a 3-month treatment plan with Emily at TCRA. If anything, the treatments were helping my migraines so I thought, why not! I had been to a general acupuncturist, but the folk at TCRA are specialists in fertility and it was a completely different experience.

After stopping all fertility treatments, I committed to acupuncture twice a week with Emily and adopted many of the nutritional and supplemental suggestions she made. Over a 13 month time period I had 3 spontaneous pregnancies (and turned 40)! Doctors couldn’t explain it. Unfortunately two of those pregnancies ended in miscarriage, but the third pregnancy turned out to be very healthy and I am due with a healthy baby girl in one month - October 2011!

During this time, Emily was concerned that I wasn’t getting enough vitamin B and encouraged me to get tested for a thrombophilia. My doctors had never recommended this. Sure enough, my tests came back positive for the MTHFR gene mutation that is linked to recurrent miscarriage and the body’s inability to absorb B vitamins including Folic Acid (kind of important for babies!). As soon as I got pregnant again, my doctors put me on Lovenox and Folgard to protect the baby from the blood clotting disorder.

I am so grateful to Emily and TCRA. I believe we would not be having this baby without their help. I think it was all part of God’s plan to help me get healthy enough to create and carry a child through acupuncture. I believe God ordains life, but we need to do as much as we can on our end to get healthy and prepare our bodies for pregnancy. I only wish I had found Emily and TCRA earlier!

05/17/11

Try it- it really works!

by Okigirl1 at Citysearch

TCRA is a wonderful; I had read really great reviews and decided to give it a try. I really didn’t know what to expect-some weird new age atmosphere, some clinical setting? I was very pleasantly surprised. The San Antonio office is beautiful. It is very comfortable, but everyone is a complete professional and very friendly.

My first appointment was with David. He took our medical history, and thoroughly explained how their treatment works. It was an hour and a half, and by the time it was over, my husband and I were sure we were making the right decision.

I am 41, have had severe PMS symptoms, irregular periods and spotting for years. I have had several miscarriages and had trouble getting pregnant. I also have Bell ’s palsy (I woke up one day and ½ my face was paralyzed), and migraines.

While I’m not pregnant yet, TCRA has completely evened out my cycle. No more PMS, little to no spotting before my cycle, and my basal body temperatures have stabilized. I am very certain, if there is a way I am going to get pregnant, it is with their help.

They have also done wonders for my Bell’s palsy. I see Kirsten the majority of the time, and she is wonderful. When I started coming to TCRA, the left side of my face really drooped, but after coming to TCRA, you don’t even really notice it (unless it is windy outside-as Kirsten explained would happen.) They treat your whole body. I have come in with a back or neck ache, and by the time the treatment is over, it is gone.

I usually don’t take the time to write reviews, but I have to let everyone know about an amazing experience I just had at TCRA.

I have been getting severe migraines for about the last 10 years, I have been going to TCRA for almost a year, and the headaches have virtually disappeared. A few Tuesdays ago I had an appointment with Kirsten. On the way (I have a 40 min drive) my head started pounding. I got to the appointment about 20 min. early and felt like I was going to pass out. I sat by the bathroom because I was sure I was going to be ill, it was one of the worst headaches I’ve ever had in my life. Kirsten was able to squeeze me in early; I almost couldn’t walk back to the acupuncture room. Kirsten asked my symptoms and where on my head the pain was, I told her, and she said that she would make me a special shot cup of herbs, and by the time the acupuncture treatment was over, it would be gone. (In my head I said “yeah, right. Maybe it will feel a little better, but be completely gone?).

When the treatment was over, I sat up, and absolutely no more headache!!! I honestly couldn’t believe it. I called everyone I knew to let them know!

I’ve had times when I’ve come to an appointment, and Kirsten will, for example, notice that I was limping. I wouldn’t even be aware of it, I’d get up and walk-I was limping. She would, of course treat it; they are just very aware and observant of every aspect of your body. They also give you nutritional advice based on your symptoms. If you are hesitant to try acupuncture, I urge you to give TCRA a try, the staff is friendly, the needles don’t hurt, and at the end of each session you are completely relaxed, but the best part is, it really works!

05/16/11

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

by Cher Cope at Citysearch

I first heard of TCRA from a friend who gave me an article out of the paper. Her daughter was undergoing IVF and her doctor had recommended acupuncture to her, so her mother thought it might me something that could help me as well.

I initially went to TCRA because my cycles were completely out of whack. I have NEVER had a 28 day cycle (unless i was on the pill). Once my husband and I decided we wanted to start trying for a baby and I got off of the pill, each cycle would get longer and longer in duration. 35 days, 42 days, 65 days. Once i had the 82 day cycle, we decided that we needed some help. Its very hard to get pregnant when you have no idea when you ovulate.

I met with Emily and told her my story and she immediately put me at ease. After I left my consult, i sat in my car and cried because I finally felt like there was someone and something out there that could help. We started with a 3 month treatment plan that included acupunture 2x a week and herbs. I was suprised at how relaxing the treatment really was. So much so, that i actually counldn't wait for each session. After the 3month treatment plan....my cycles were definately shortening and becoming more regular. We continued with another 3 month plan and halfway through that plan i got pregnant!! WOOHOO!! Emily then treated me through my first trimester to help me with morning sickness and fatigue. I am now 16 weeks pregnant and going strong!

The day Emily released me, I cried because I just love her so much. She really helped me through an emotional time and you will not find a more calming spirit in a person. She is a gift from above. I do not have enough thank you's in the world to express my gratitude to her. It took three people to make this baby: me, my husband and Emliy!! I would recommend her to ANYONE in need of fertility or reproductive help. I cannot wait to bring the baby by to meet her!

04/04/11

Praise God

by TCRAfan1 at Citysearch

After about a year and half of trying to be pregnant, I was getting dejected and in despair living in this limboland cycle after cycle. I went to doctors for various treatments and with each failed cycle I was disillusioned with the way things were going. Being from India originally I am aware of holistic treatments where the whole body and mind are treated for a particular problem, whereas with western medicine the individual problem is treated. It wasnt possible to find a Ayurvedic or Homeopathic treatment here and that's when by God's grace I became aware of Accupuncture treatments. I called a good number of accupuncture clinics.. but the reviews posted here below me gave me the needed encouragemnt to choose TCRA. I was relieved to find they had a location in Plano and that the accupuncturist was Emily (I wanted someone to whom I can communicate clearly to)

Though I had a positive approach to trying accupuncture it is still a new and unknown thing to me, but from the very first session I noticed so many changes in me.. The first session I had 'bloackages' removes from my tummy area... everytime Emily pressed my tummy I had pain... and she found the appropriate accu point to counter that and with the next deep press of the tummy the pain was gone! Really surprised me. With the positive first session, I had little hesitation in making the decision to invest in a 2 month treatment.

The accupuncture treatments that followed under Emily's care, along with following her diet recommendations had a positive effect on my overall well being, much lesser stress and a general positivity.

Other things to keep in mind is that if you are not going for completely natural conception, then clearly understand what medications you are taking prescribed by your Ob/Gyn or your RE, so that you can communicate that clearly to Emily and then your treatments will not clash. If you are taking medications to suppress ovulation, then its no good to do accu treatment FOR ovulation. So whatver medications you are taking clearly find out what EACH ONE is supposed to do and how each medicine is supposed to affect your cycle or body. Western treatment and accupuncture can definitely go hand in hand in complete harmony..

Emily is genuinely caring. Sometimes you may want to talk things out but dont want to disclose things to people in your family and friends circle. With Emily its just you both in the circle so you can disclose EVERYTHING and talk things out.

The office (on dexter dr, plano tx) is a very clean and calming place.

Anyway, longstory short, I am now pregnant with twins during the third month of my treatment! I just finished my first trimester treatments and absolutely no morning sickness inspite of the high hormone levels that come with carrying twins.

I will defintely miss going there.... I absolutely recommend this clinic and accupuncturist... Seriously awesome!

02/15/11

Seriously awesome!

by s12B at Citysearch

I actually see them in San Antonio but Plano is my home town so I wanted to share my review here too since many of their team work in all locations!

I'm currently pregnant, but here is my whole story!

They are amazing. I wasn't a typical fertility patient - I got pregnant on my own and miscarried at 40. I started seeing them just because I wanted to feel "normal" again. And they were so supportive and helpful and really listened to my needs with no pressure to make choices about the future. I started seeing them 2 weeks after my miscarriage and soon was feeling a lot better. I got a cold - they helped me with that too! My sinuses drained 10 minutes after they put the needles in:) Then I had a gallbladder attack - they focused on helping me get through the symptoms and tests, then the surgery and then to heal fast after (I did!).

When I decided I DID want to try for a baby, they helped me and I was pregnant in 2 months. But I miscarried again, and couldn't face more so I said, "I'm done" but I guess I wasn't - ended up pregnant at 42!

I started having so many problems with sinuses, allergies, swelling and huge anxiety attacks - I called them around week 20 when things just kept getting worse. They were once again so supportive and got me in immediately - and HELPED ME! No western medicine could/or wasn't safe since I was pregnant. But now at the start of week 27 I feel so amazing and happy and pretty much have no side effects from pregnancy. I go once a week and will the rest of my pregnancy and also post partum for a while (they will help me heal faster, regain normal hormone levels, and even can help support lactation efforts!)

If you have ANY issues relating to reproductive/hormone health, are pregnant or want to be, anything - you should call them and at least talk to them. The entire team is awesome, from practitioners to office staff. They never make promises and are always honest, but also always so supportive. And look up studies about acupuncture and the success increases when used with any kind of fertility treatment.

The worst thing that might happen is you'll end up feeling better and more centered than you ever have before.

The best thing? They might help you hold a living dream in your arms one day!