Acupuncture?

Davie813

So I had my first appointment today.  It was interesting.  I do feel relaxed.  Of course, that could also just be exhaustion because I got up at 5:00 to get there before work.  I think I'll keep it up for a while at least--it can't hurt, and if nothing else it's an hour of me-time every week.  I've been instructed to sleep more (yes, good advice), and eat fewer raw foods.  Huh.

Just curious, for those of you who do/have done it, did you think it helped?  If so, how long was it before you saw results?

The only definite negative was that the session ended with a very relaxing scalp massage with what the acupuncturist said was peppermint oil, but I think it must have had some kind of patchouli base, because now I smell like a hamster cage.  Oh well.  Takes me back to my college days...

Radiantly

ah ha ha that is awful abut the patchouli - i hate that smell!! and i'm a 'hippy' by a lot of people's measurements. but the smell is just so strong.

anyway, i do find that it helps relax me for sure, and i know that it is very subtle but yet deep healing. it's all about allowing the energy to flow through the body and maintain balance.  i'm also told to eat not very much raw food, and nothing cold.  keep the belly warm as possible.  and as of yesterday, since i've been so bloated, she said i was having trouble digesting fats so i'm supposed to lay off the nuts.

ksgsmu

I found acupuncture relaxing.... I went after my miscarriage to see if it would help me regulate quicker etc... It didn't help me much physically but emotionally I think it helped me just lie there and breathe and relax.  I don't believe in chi etc... so from a spiritual standpoint It wasn't enlightening or anything.    What I hated though was my acupuncturist always trying to upsell me and have me buy teas, herbs etc.... My RE was clear not to do any of it while cycling so I stayed away, but she put the pressure on me hardcore that I just stopped going.

Acupuncture can't hurt.... I say if you enjoy it go for it!

Radiantly

my acupuncturist is very pure, just needles. she doesn't do herbs or massage. actually, she does do suction cup thingies sometimes if i have a lot of back pain. and that feels good.

Lesliem0901

I've only tried it once. I'm trying it again on Thursday. I'm currently reading "The Tao of Fertility" to study up on TCM.

@Davie813 - the hamster cage comment made me almost pee my pants at work. Thanks for the smiles

MelissaMiso

@ksgsmu Chi is energy and the meridians (energy channels) pretty much run through the body in the same pattern as the nervous system so try thinking of it that way.

I'm a big proponent of acupuncture. I've used it to quit smoking, reduce injury pains, and relaxation. I haven't focused on fertility yet but I'm going to my practitioner next week.

LindsayF24

I'm so glad you posted this! I just started acupuncture this cycle. I've gone 4 times so far. I started on CD 5 and am currently on CD16. 

I'm really cautiously optimistic that it's helping. I did a medicated IUI this month (Clomid + Ovidrel.) I started the acupuncture on day 3 of 5 of the Clomid. At my day 12 monitoring, I had two mature follies from my right ovary, 20.4 and 20.5. 

This was the best response I've had so far in the 5 cycles I've been on Clomid. Could be a coincidence, but could also be the acupuncture. 

Davie813

Lesliem0901 said:

I've only tried it once. I'm trying it again on Thursday. I'm currently reading "The Tao of Fertility" to study up on TCM.

@Davie813 - the hamster cage comment made me almost pee my pants at work. Thanks for the smiles

It's true, though (I think.) Patchouli oil always reminds me of the wood shavings in the pet rat I had as a kid's cage. After they hadn't been changed for a few days.

However. The acupuncturist said she wanted to work on getting rid of this cold I've had for weeks before we did anything particularly fertility focused. A few hours after the session and after taking the herbs she gave me (upsale successful, but I figured I might as well go all in), I had this violent coughing fit that kind of freaked out my coworkers, and then my cold symptoms just kind of vanished. Huh. It's probably just a coincidence, but I'm choosing to believe otherwise so I can at least get some nice placebo effect action going....

Lesliem0901

@Davie813‌ - you are just a stitch! Back in college when I was in my Grateful Dead phase, I really wanted to wear patchouli, but it literally made me want to vomit...
Glad to hear your cold went away.

fabumama

I started acupuncture in February. Got pregnant in April. I'm a believer! She also started me on Chinese herbs after a few sessions. She told me I wouldn't need more than 10 sessions and I thought she was crazy. It took almost a year the first time. But she was right! I'm still going to her through the first trimester and have faith it will see me through to a healthy pregnancy. Also, I concur that it is very relaxing. I wasn't doing fertility treatments or have any known issues but thought if there was anything natural I could do to help things along it would be worth it!

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Davie813

Awesome to see so many good experiences! I'll definitely keep it up!

Radiantly

I was a deadhead too!  saw them 5 times in the 90s just as I was ending up in high school. Actually still am....had a bunch of years where I fell off the dead train but back on it. I love belting out along with the music while on long road trips.  I get the "Deadpod" podcast, a new show (first or 2nd set) every week.

Lesliem0901 said:

@Davie813‌ - you are just a stitch! Back in college when I was in my Grateful Dead phase, I really wanted to wear patchouli, but it literally made me want to vomit... Glad to hear your cold went away.

mindaa

you might search or XP on the PG boards too, since you might find more people who have seen  results. 

I've just finished 6 months of acupuncture and I'm not KU... yet  

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Lesliem0901

@JimBobCooter - Love your tickers! And if I'm blessed with a DD, she will be named after a Dead song.

Radiantly

oh yea!  just noticed your tickers

my DH is awesome because he does not mind that i play an entire show for our drive for 5 hours to Boston every so often. and i can belt out the lyrics and he is so chill about it.  

Davie813

Lesliem0901 said:

@JimBobCooter - Love your tickers! And if I'm blessed with a DD, she will be named after a Dead song.

I just noticed the tickers, too!  Aaaww!

@Lesliem0901, the song that comes immediately to mind is "Bertha."  I'm guessing that's not it, although it would be kind of cool if it was...

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Radiantly

@Lesliem0901 I think of Cassidy!

Lesliem0901

@Davie813 - hahaha! I am not that cruel...Actually, @JimBobCooter just gave it away.

Lesliem0901

@Radiantly - I really like that name, but DH said no.

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Davie813

Lesliem0901 said:

@Davie813 - hahaha! I am not that cruel...Actually, @JimBobCooter just gave it away.

Oh, that's so pretty!  Good choice!

Lesliem0901

Thanks! Stella Blue is a close second choice. It's fun to dream.

URMySunshine77

I love when threads take new and interesting directions. My son has a name from a Dead song (though not purposefully). Just think, "Trouble ahead, trouble behind." 

I was more of a Phish fan than Dead fan in my 20's, but I do enjoy listening to some "Old and In the Way" bluegrass. Anyone else a fan?

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Lesliem0901

Quite the tangent. I also enjoy Phish and WSP. I don't know much about bluegrass but dig it when I hear it. My concert days are few and far between these days. The last big name show I saw was Paul McCartney. I can't handle the crowds now. However, outdoor local shows are enjoyable.
The CSO sounds awesome! I saw a few shows at Red Rocks. I lived in Vail in the late 90s. Good times...

Davie813

URMySunshine77 said:

I love when threads take new and interesting directions. My son has a name from a Dead song (though not purposefully). Just think, "Trouble ahead, trouble behind." 

I was more of a Phish fan than Dead fan in my 20's, but I do enjoy listening to some "Old and In the Way" bluegrass. Anyone else a fan?

Another excellent baby-naming choice! I'm loving all the names I've read about on here today!

Radiantly

I actually never really got into Phish. It was all about Jerry for me...

massiahl

I actually started acupuncture two weeks before my first IVF retrieval and continued it throughout my subsequent cycles - approximately 3x a week.  Asides for keeping me relaxed, I saw an increase in the number of eggs that I produced from one cycle to the next.  A good acupuncturist who specializes in fertility will not tell you that acupuncture is the cure for infertility but is only a supplement to what you and your physician are currently doing.  Increasing circulation in the uterus is always a good thing.  Also, the research on using acupuncture as a supportive tool in fertility treatments is sound.  I also used the teas but did not share that with my fertility doctor. It was a decision that I made for me.

After 3 IVF cycles, I am now pregnant and entered my third trimester today.  I've continued with the acupuncture throughout my pregnancy - every two weeks.  Can I tell you that acupuncture was responsible for my pregnancy?  Absolutely not.  Do I think I would have had IVF success without it?  I don't believe that I would have.  And that's what counts. 

stellasoo

(This is my first post aside from my intro post from today - I'm so excited to be able to contribute something!) 

I've been going to acupuncture once a week since December and I have noticed a difference. It wasn't anything immediate but a gradual change over several weeks. My BBT charts are looking more "normal" and more clearly bi-phasic and I have zero cramping, bloating, PMS, etc. Aside from that, it has helped with some of my lingering hypothyroidism symptoms like being cold all the time and poor digestion. I also think it has helped with stress and improved sleep. 

I used to go to acupuncture several years ago for really painful menstrual cramps. It took about 6 months of once a week appointments but it definitely helped. I went from having to take a day off work because of cramps to not having even one tiny bit of cramping. 

I say give it a try and see what happens. If you end up not liking it or not feeling like it's working then you can stop.

Kathy36799

Acupuncture worked for me!!

I am currently 35 years old and 39 weeks pregnant with my first.

We have been married 10 years and tried for 5 years to get pregnant. We were officially diagnosed 4 years ago as "unexplained infertility" as all tests came back fine. We tried 1 medicated IUI, multiple rounds of clomid, injectibles, and after all that didn't work decided to start the foster adopt process as IVF and regular adoption would be too costly for us.

As a last ditch effort before adoption I signed up for 4 months of acupuncture with a fertility acupuncturist. It helped my cycles greatly (I have 28 day cycles but ovulate late-the acupuncture helped ovulation start earlier) and my body just felt more balanced. Also did Chinese herbs. Still no pregnancy. But 3 months after my last treatment, I got pregnant! Naturally, for the first time in my life. I had never had a positive pregnancy test. I was blown away.

Was it the acupuncture that finally did it? Was it my anxiety being let go as I knew we were moving to adoption? Was it a combo of things? Who knows. I am just grateful and feel blessed that we will be parents after all this time. NEVER give up and find the path that works for you.

I read the book the infertility cure by Randine Lewis and totally recommend it. She has western and eastern education and has been through both sides of treatments for her own infertility. Very eye opening and made me see that every woman is capable of fertility - it is just finding the right combination to unlock it.  

Radiantly

Kathy36799 - oh that's great to hear. congrats!

Davie813

Congrats to everyone who's had success with acupuncture, whether that means pregnancy or generally better health, and thank you for sharing your experiences!

I went again today, and she worked on the fatigue I was experiencing last week. I felt more aware of the needles (not uncomfortable, exactly, just--aware.)  I do feel more alert.  Even if all or part of that is psychosomatic, I'll take it!

I have patchouli-head again, but I don't mind it as much.  It kind of reminds me to relax

Lesliem0901

I had my first appointment last night. She told me my biggest health issue in getting pregnant is the quality of my eggs.  She is having me stay on the 30-day fertility cleanse and wants me to add in Unda and Perfect Food. The main focus is detoxifying my liver. I'm excited to have a plan in place; not so excited about giving up cold foods and drinks.

CaraH

I am using acupuncture. It seems to make a difference in my fertility (both times I got pregnant I was using acupuncture), and definitely improves my overall health. I have rheumatoid arthritis and acupuncture greatly reduces my need for medications. I will say that I see a doctor of complementary medicine, and she definitely works WITH my Western treatments. She will even suggest I ask my Dr for specific testing or Western treatments if she suspects something specific going on that she think will respond best or faster to that approach.

URMySunshine77

I found out that my insurance is supposed to cover acupuncture, so I'm going to make an appointment this week. There is an office across the street from me. I can't wait!

Radiantly

URMySunshine77 - yay - let us know how it goes.