Acupuncture

[Zed2003]

Well, I finally went for it - a strange experience as the Chinese dr could speak virtually no English so my initial consultation had an interpreter Trying to explain IVF was a laugh but I think they got the jist...

Apparently he thinks my pulse is slower than it should be and my tongue is too white suggesting my kidneys are not working as they should and not getting toxins oout of my body....makes sense and probably why I feel so c**p most of the time (and here I was blaming work).

So, I've booked 10 sessions and got 'medicine' to take...so here's hoping it does something.

Anybody got any GOOD stories about acupuncture???

Zoe x

[sue.m]

Hi Zoe,

I used to have weekly acupuncture sessions before concieving. I had been feeling low and anxious, so was going for general well being rather than to treat anything specific. I definitely would recommend it. I gained weight (suppose that's not going to sell it to some!) and people started to comment on how well I was looking. On one of my appointments she noticed I had a dry cough, so treated that too and the difference was amazing.

I carried on going while I was pregnant and in the later stages had huge Nan's feet , so she treated that too and at least for the drive home they were slim again! I suppose like any alternative medicine/treatment sometimes you feel or see no difference, but I think with the right practitioner it can really be affective.

I hope it's a success for you.

Sue.x

[Zed2003]

thanks Sue - OMG not wanting any more weight gain though...LOL

I'm just concerned about the lack of communication. I said I wanted treatment for hormone balance etc first as my periods were horrendous and starting to creep that way again, although I did say about fertility too (although I think it's all connected).

The only thing that worried me was that he use a heat lamp over my stomach as well and it was flaming hot (pardon the pun ). It's ok just now as my cycle just started, but after middle of the month I'd be worried (never took hot baths etc) - I don't know if this was to help with the period stuff???? Did you ever have this? I'll ask again on Saturday.

Do you think it helped you? In what way? I also want him to treat me for stress - OMG I sound a mes!!! LOL

Z x

[Zed2003]

Sue - just read you footer - do you think that's why you conceived naturally??????? I'm getting excited now..................................................................................

Z x

[sue.m]

Hi Zoe,

I definitely feel that the acupunture was a contributing factor in my concieving, my mom's convinced that it helped my labour too as I had a fairly easy time of it (if it's possible for labour to ever be easy), but of course it's only my opinion father than fact.

Like you I started out with a chinese practitioner but he barely spoke english and never really said a word to me, so I didn't have a clue what he was treating. A friend then recommended someone to me who she'd heard good things about, and I felt much more comfortable with her, firstly because she was female, and secondly because she could explain to me what she was doing.

She never used a lamp, but she did sometimes burn herbs on me, and to be honest I used to wonder what the hell I'd gotten myself into . I used to have trouble keeping a straight face at how I must have looked with my little piles of burning herbs! Anyway, positive result for me so it was all worhtwhile.....even the needles in the toes, still wince at the thought.

Speak soon,
Sue.x

[phil]

hi zoe and sue,
hope its ok for me to barge in?

i too had acupuncture while inbetween ivf treatments and conceived naturally last year. was i shocked!! my beautiful little miracle girl arrived in july. i really do believe that acupuncture and chinese medicine had a lot to do with it. my dr treated me for fertility concentrating on my liver, kidney's and uterus. i went for about 3 months, once every two weeks.
also i had horrible morning sickness and was treated for that too, which worked really well.

zoe, good luck with the treatments. they can seem a bit odd at first but stick with it.

sue i never thought about acu for nan feet, wish i had. thought mine were going to burst! still, its worth it though.

love
phil x

[SallyP]

I also saw a Chinese doctor before my IVF cycle. No herbs or lamps for me, but electric currents! I saw her for endometriosis pain and also in the run up to my cycle, and once before embryo transfer. I also had disgusting herbs I had to make tea with.

I did find it quite relaxing and not painful at all, but the tea was disgusting and stank the house out so i was not quite so diligent about drinking it every day!!

I also did lots of other things like affirmations, meditation, prayer, reflexology and Feng Shui as well as lots of vits and mins so am not sure what worked - whether it was one thing or several!!!

The main problem I had with the Chinese route was the language problem! LOL sally xxx

[Zed2003]

Thanks guys - but I'm really having second thoughts...and now that's stressing me out

1. not convinced about the lamp -I mean, what if the miracle was to happen and i got pregnant - I wouldn't know for 2 weeks, and that'd be two sessions - I didn't have hot baths before - surely a lamp would be in the same category????????????? what do you reckon? Steve says what about people in hot countries....

2. he gave me some teas to drink (Yip Phil, he says my kidneys are not functioning right) and I'm sure he said put the wee round things in hot water, but they take ages to dissolve and then taste disgusting...tried to phone tonight to clarify and the women thought I was trying to cancel my Saturday appointment so I gave up...

I believe totally in this idea, but have no confidence as the lack of communication worries me. Have paid for 10 sessions and don't know whether to just try and get my money back?



Zoe x

[phil]

hi Zoe,

i must admit i haven't heard about the lamp thing. but suspect they are trying to heat the area and increase the blood flow.

its difficult to say whether you should get a refund. if you do decide that then definately think about going somewhere for acupuncture. its got to be worth a try.

good luck with saturday, whatever you decide.

phil x

[sue.m]

What a dilemma. Like Phil I definitely think it's worth a go, but know what you mean about the language barrier, and lets face it if you have no confidence in the treatment then that could affect the outcome. Try getting a refund, if you manage it then look for another practitioner who you feel comfortable with, or see if you can get a recommendation from someone.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.
Sue.x

[Zed2003]

Thanks guys,

Well, I feel a little better - we had a good discussion (!!!- I use the term loosely...) before my last session and we've decided that for these 10 sessions at least we stop trying. He says I need to focus on me and my body first and get that sorted out first - I know he's right, but another 2 months seems like 2 months wasted - catch 22. He really went into depth asking about when I lost the baby, how many treatments etc I'd had (although I'm still not totally convinced he understands the treatments!), how many times I was pregnant etc. So, at least I have a target. Thinking of getting 2 done a week to speak up the weeks - heehee.

I have to say though, this week i have felt a little more chilled out at work, so who knows, it may actually be doing something and if it's all in my head, who cares if it does the job! Speaking of heads, he stuck 2 needles in mine last week and I didn't enjoy that!

I'll keep you all updated!!

Z x