Dr Sun

So after a month of distractions, procrastinations and excuses, I finally had my first Chinese Medicine visit this morning.
Much to my relief, Dr Sun spoke pretty good English although I am glad I took along a list of translated terms such as "Luteal Phase".

He did lots of tests - he looked at my eyes, my tongue, took my pulse in several places of my body, looked at my skin etc, although, surprisingly he didn't ask too many questions about my cycle. I told him about it anyway, and he pretty much shrugged my 26-28 day cycle, and my with 11-14 day Luteal Phase off as "normal."
Sure, it's not terrible, but it's not stable.

According to him, the reason we haven't fallen pregnant is because I am "internally cold."
(Although I am very "warm hearted" lol)
My body temperature is fine and normal, but he believes I have too much cold in me which is making it hard for the egg to implant/grow.

He prescribed a vast array of treatments - from herbs 3 times a day, to acupuncture every week, he put me on a TEMS machine to relax my "frozen" muscles, and gave me herb patches to wear.
I have to take herbs with hot water 3 times a day, see him once a week, and I need to exercise - ALOT!
The exercise part was a bit of a surprise.. I am by no means obese (168cm and 53kg - which makes me underweight on a BMI chart) and being a teacher, I am literally on my feet and running around a room for 5 hours everyday. But that is apparently not enough.
So it's back to daily yoga for me (which I really should be doing anyway! Maybe this will give me the kick up the bum to actually get out of bed and do it!!)

He was also very concerned about my tense shoulders and neck and believes that the tension there, combined with my lack of heat is preventing the chi from flowing through my body correctly.

He thinks it should only take 2-3 cycles to conceive so we will see!!
Fingers and toes crossed!

On the way back I popped into the chemist to buy some more Folic acid and spoke to the lovely chemist. She strongly recommended I upgrade from a normal thermometer to a BBT one - which I did, then she gave me a blank chart and explained how to chart, when to chart, how to interpret the chart etc (all of which I already knew but it was really lovely of her to care enough to take the time and to use simple Chinese to make sure I really understood it!) She also recommended I chart for 1 month then take it to a doctor for analysis. When I told her I had just been to see Dr Sun and he didn't want to see the chart I have on my I-phone she was a little baffled. She kept saying, "but the chart is the most important piece of information!? Why didnt he want to see it!?"

So, now I'm not too sure about Dr Sun.
I am due for my "friends" in the next 3 days, so I think I will stick with Dr Sun for 1 cycle and see how I am feeling. A friend has also recommended another English speaking doctor in Hsinchu, so I might give her a go after a month.

Either way, the acupuncture felt nice, my shoulders feel 100 times better, and it's just nice to know I have finally taken the first step!

And the total cost for today's visit?

Consultation : 100Nt (AU$3.30)
Acupuncture/Tems machine/herb patches:  50NT (AU$1.80)
1 weeks supply of herbs: 20NT (AU$0.80)

Total of 170NT (AU$5.90)

Even if it takes 6 months, it's not exactly going to break the bank!!