Woman - Are You a Geriatric Case???
Written by Arpee on October 13, 2008 – 6:55 am -I went to see the Chiropractor - only the 2nd in the last 12 months of my 40 year-life. It was my first time to see her and she is good! She massaged my back, eased my very knotted shoulders and adjusted a lot of my bones! Crack and pop! Whoa, I feel much better!
Guess what? After NOT trying for 11 years, she had an unplanned pregnancy early this year but miscarried. She is 35 years old, 3 months pregnant again and still cracking bones. 
I asked her until when she will be able to do that (as I like her already even if it is just our first appointment and I don’t want to be passed on to the other practitioners). She said she does not know yet and will just have to wait and see…
Anyway, her doctor called her a case of “geriatric pregnancy”. Hu-wat??? Say it again… GERIATRIC PREGNANCY. If she, a 35-year old woman , is considered a geriatric pregnancy case, that means I, 40-years old, fall in that same category also (I am not pregnant though, I just wish though…)
Wow, I never thought of my case being “geriatric”. Somehow, I reserve that term to the really, really old people - all wrinkled, gray hair, slow-moving and stooping. Yes, we all go that way in the future…but meanwhile, I just never thought of myself in that way at this time.
Hmmm… the Reproductive Endocrinologists do call our cases “Advanced Maternal Age” - are they just being nice??? Or does the terminology change once they turn us over to the OB/GYNEs???
…..
When she learned that I was trying to get pregnant too, she mentioned that she had a couple of friends who had difficulty conceiving and were able to get pregnant after going through acupuncture. She specifically mentioned one who was getting periods 2x a year only and got pregnant!
I’m not easily affected by such statements but hmmm…. I’m just wondering if acupuncture is the new “just relax and you’ll get pregnant” or “if you adopt, you’ll get pregnant” statements?
…..
Now, I mentioned in my previous post that the insurance’s 1-800 number said that since I have met my Out-of -Pocket max expense for the year, that I do not have to have co-pay. Well, the Chiropractor office asked me for a co-pay since their system showed that I still need to have co-pay. I’m disappointed but I’d like to go back and continue my “therapy”, so I paid the co-pay.
I called the insurance 1-800 number again and they did confirm my original understanding. I called the Chiropractor’s office and they said they will look into it. I told them that I would like to have that settled before my next appointment because I do not want to keep paying if I do not need to (even if they will refund it).
After I confirm that my insurance does take over 100% and no copay after meeting my Out-Of-Pocket, Acupuncture is next!!!
…..
Ohhhh… all the blogging ideas coming to me when I am laying on my tummy and getting my back massaged!
Tags: advanced maternal age, chiropractor, co-pay, geriatric pregnancy, Insurance, out-of-pocket, pregnant
Posted in In Between Cycles, Insurance, Who's Taking Care of You? |
October 13th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Thanks for reading my blog! I’m looking forward to catching up on yours and getting to know you.
And I see Water from the Rock is on your reading list. It’s my *favorite* IF book! Definitely worth the time to read it!
Hope you’re having a nice day. And I did snicker a little bit at “geriatric pregnancy” though I don’t think 30 to 40 something is an old anything!
October 14th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Me too, I thought I was still young… at heart, maybe?
Well, if it is any consolation for me, one of the doctors in my current clinic thought I was still 30, instead of 40.
Oh shucks…still within the geriatric range though
October 15th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Thanks so much for answering my questions. It is so nice to get other’s ideas!
I hate that women have to be stressed about their age related to fertility!!
I did acupuncture for my first IVF and had a tough time with it. I think since I practice western medicine, it was difficult for me to participate in TCM. By the end of my 18 sessions over two months I did find it relaxing…but alas…I am not pregnant.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:30 am
Advanced Maternal Age is the term I’ve heard. Geriatric is just silly, unless you’re one of those world record 70-year-old women who gets pregnant with donor eggs.
Based on the clinical trial data, it seems like acupuncture is not just the new “relax and you’ll get pregnant.” Of course, I’ve been doing it for 4 years and no luck so far, but I still believe that it helps. Certainly it’s been good for me in other ways.
Happy ICLW!
October 21st, 2008 at 8:42 pm
I love acupuncture, it is so relaxing, it’s my weekly me time. I haven’t gotten pregnant yet, but since our issue is MFI, acu is just to help me relax. You’ll love it.
Geriatric is just rude, I’ve never heard that before. If I do I may start swinging.
ICLW
October 21st, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I tried acupuncture a while back for infertility and it was mostly a good experience. I wouldn’t rule out trying it again at some point in the future.
Michelle
ICLW
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:32 am
My friend Monica’s RE has an acupuncturist they refer any interested patient to. It is definitely more than the new “relax and you’ll get pg”.
As for terminology, I think I would have flipped at the terminology geriatric pregnancy. My OB/GYN used the terminology AMA (which, imho, is bad enough).
ICLW
October 22nd, 2008 at 8:41 am
I agree with the above…geriatric doesn’t make sense unless you’re over 60. Even then, it’s not a very nice term to use.
Thanks for reminding me I have to call the chiropracter!
(ICLW)
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Next time you’ll have to take a walker with you to clinic! (ICLW)
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Geriatric pregnancy?!?!?!?! That is horrible!
I started acu about two months ago, and while I’m not pg, it has seemed to help lower my FSH and raise my estrogen. I was a complete skeptic, but now, I must say, I’m a believer that it does help. Good luck!!!
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Geriatric? Oh lovely.
Here from ICLW.
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:13 pm
[...] post on the Geriatric Pregnancy caused a bit of a stir, [...]