Had My First Acupuncture Appointment Today

[Guest LittleMissAllergy]

My first experience with acupuncture today was a good one, and I'm just wondering if anyone else has given it a shot. I'm hoping that it'll end up really helping me, has it helped anyone else? If so, what kinds of things did it help with? I'd love to hear some stories

[kenlove]

I've had great experiences with acupuncture in many places around the world.

The first time was in Hawaii. I had trouble with my shoulder for many years and my regular doctor just gave me more naprosyn. Finally a friend in honolulu said I should go see the acupucture Dr Watanabe which i agreed to try. went into the waiting room at his clinic and he walked into the room. He was blind!!! I'm thinking to myself that I must be crazy to have a blind guy stick needles in me but I did-- went 3 times in one week about 20 years agao nad have never had shoulder or rotator cup problems again!

It turns out that if you are born blind in japan you are often put into a special program to study acupuncture as your sense of touch is enhanced. I was totally amazed.

the second time was equally wierd . I was working at the barcelona olympics and went out with the chinese team to a bowling alley. While ther emy back totally gave out. The olympic team doctor did acupuncture on my back on the bench of the bowling alley in barcelona! He explain through the interpreter that he could not cure me but he could help the pain. He was right, I went from barclona to tokyo, colapased on the street and spent the next 58 days in a hopsital in Japan. Didnt have surgery although one disk was gone and two others moved in opposite directions. I was unable to walk. After 58 days of care, I could get up and get home to chicago. I've had very few problems since then thansk to the combination of drugs and acupuncture they did.

Oh at that time an MRI in Japan was $60 instead of teh $1500 it was in Chicago.

--Wish they could do something for celiac with acupuncture!

ken

My first experience with acupuncture today was a good one, and I'm just wondering if anyone else has given it a shot. I'm hoping that it'll end up really helping me, has it helped anyone else? If so, what kinds of things did it help with? I'd love to hear some stories

[jerseyangel]

I did accupuncture about a year before I was diagnosed, while I was still trying to figure out my symptoms. It didn't help my digestive issues--of course--but it did help pain that I was having in my neck. I had about a dozen sessions. I also hoped it would help with my anxiety, but again, that was related to the Celiac, and at the time it wasn't much help.

I did love the sense of peace I felt while the needles were in place, the room was darkened and the soft music was playing. I was incredibly relaxed. After the first session, I felt nauseous on the way home, but that only happened the one time.

I have often thought about going back and trying it again now that I've been gluten-free for a while.

[AllieB]

I have been doing acupunture both before and after I was diagnosed. I had two miscarriages for unknown reasons and the neonatal specialist suggested I try Traditional Chinese Medicine. The practitioner found "damp heat" in my stomach which caused "stagnation" in my reproductive organs and lower bowels.

Before I confirmed I was celiac the acupunture helped some. It was very peaceful. I confess having some answer was better than what I was getting from Western Medicine. After I got rid of the gluten completely, my stomach "heat" improved drastically. He was amazed, truly amazed.

Now when I do the acupunture after being gluten free, it really focuses on my midsection. I can feel my "chi" focusing on that area. It feels kind of like your heart beating in your stomach.

The thing that I really noticed about the acupunture is that I didn't get a single cold this winter. I'm from Minnesota, and we've had snow on the ground constantly since the second week of December. Today, March 8th, it might top 20 degrees Fahernheit, or -10 Celsuis. I have two small children, I tutor high school students, and the flu went through their school. I did not get a stuffy nose, or a sore throat. Nothing. If for no other reason, I'm an advocate because of that.

[Guest LittleMissAllergy]

These stories are great so far...I'm SO happy to hear that you've all had different forms of success...

But I'm a little worried.

I had the acupuncture yesterday, and it seemed to really help with my sleep throughout the night and with my overactive bladder, but I was really going for my severe digestive issues. When I woke up this morning, I had terribly hard stools and not much came out (I know, im so sorry, TMI!!!), which is not the issue that I usually have...do you think it could be attributed to the acupuncture? She did a lot of work on my stomach and lower mid section (I have pain in the lower mid section, beneat the navel and in the gall bladder) and she did a lot of massaging, heat, and stuck a lot of needles there. It was supposed to help my digestion, but things just seem to be all off...BUT then again it could have been something I ate yesterday. Anyone have any ideas? Sorry to throw so much info out there

[HAK1031]

If you're used to having D, you might be suprised what "normal" is. I know I was a little And as your digestion gets back on track, you might not be on a regular schedule for a while...you might have to go later on or something. I would only be worried if it's really painful or there's next to nothing coming out for several days.

[jerseyangel]

If you're used to having D, you might be suprised what "normal" is. I know I was a little And as your digestion gets back on track, you might not be on a regular schedule for a while...you might have to go later on or something. I would only be worried if it's really painful or there's next to nothing coming out for several days.

Yeah--I agree with this. It will probably take a little while to normalize, and it's true about maybe not really knowing what "normal" is. I know that I was living with the digestive problems--nausea, frequent D, nervous stomach (anxiety) for so long that I had learned to live with them. I never dreamed I had a problem with any foods, much less Celiac Disease.

Thinking back on the accupuncture, I was more fatigued for about 24 hours after a treatment. Not exhausted, but definately relaxed. Accupuncture isn't a quick fix--it takes time for the results to show up usually. I had to go 3 times a week at first, tapering down to 2 and finally to once a week.

It sounds to me like something is definately going on in there--and that is a good sign. Healing pains are common, meaning you can feel worse before you begin to feel better. I would talk to your accupuncturist at your next appointment about your symptoms. Mine always began my visits asking how I did right after and in the days following the last treatment. Your feedback to him/her is very important for them to continue to tailor your treatments.

[Guest LittleMissAllergy]

Yeah--I agree with this. It will probably take a little while to normalize, and it's true about maybe not really knowing what "normal" is. I know that I was living with the digestive problems--nausea, frequent D, nervous stomach (anxiety) for so long that I had learned to live with them. I never dreamed I had a problem with any foods, much less Celiac Disease.

Thinking back on the accupuncture, I was more fatigued for about 24 hours after a treatment. Not exhausted, but definately relaxed. Accupuncture isn't a quick fix--it takes time for the results to show up usually. I had to go 3 times a week at first, tapering down to 2 and finally to once a week.

It sounds to me like something is definately going on in there--and that is a good sign. Healing pains are common, meaning you can feel worse before you begin to feel better. I would talk to your accupuncturist at your next appointment about your symptoms. Mine always began my visits asking how I did right after and in the days following the last treatment. Your feedback to him/her is very important for them to continue to tailor your treatments.

Thanks...that makes me feel a *bit* better. I'm still kind of worried though...because I actually DON'T have frequent D, my probably is actually constipation. That's actually what I'm going to acupuncture for. I have extreme pain right below my belly button, and today it's SO much worse. Usually when I am able to go, it's not hard, it's usually very soft and unformed...which I know is an issue all in itself...but this is why I was very alarmed to have extremely hard, painful stool this morning. Today I just feel terrible. It's kind of disappointing because I thought I'd feel great the day after my treatment, but that's just not the case But your point is a very good one, sometimes things get worse before they get better, as part of the healing process. I hope this is the case, and I hope I feel better and am able to go somewhat normally tomorrow!

[jerseyangel]

Thanks...that makes me feel a *bit* better. I'm still kind of worried though...because I actually DON'T have frequent D, my probably is actually constipation. That's actually what I'm going to acupuncture for. I have extreme pain right below my belly button, and today it's SO much worse. Usually when I am able to go, it's not hard, it's usually very soft and unformed...which I know is an issue all in itself...but this is why I was very alarmed to have extremely hard, painful stool this morning. Today I just feel terrible. It's kind of disappointing because I thought I'd feel great the day after my treatment, but that's just not the case But your point is a very good one, sometimes things get worse before they get better, as part of the healing process. I hope this is the case, and I hope I feel better and am able to go somewhat normally tomorrow!

I hope so too

[sickchick]

I was going to get my MA in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine I do self-treatments DAILY I swear by it!

I am so exciteds for you I hope you get great results!

Acupuncture is VERY relaxing it's not uncommon to take about 24 hours for your body to balance out

lovelove

sickchick

[ravenwoodglass]

I had acupuncture before I was diagnosed to help deal with the pain. I have livedo reticularis, made me covered in purple blotches, these would disappear completely on the table. It astounded even the practitioner. It definately helped me a great deal.

I also found a good tummy 'remedy' for both D and C while doing some research on chinese food therapy. Sweet potatoes. Something about the form of fiber in these is very soothing and regulating. Whenever I have C now, ususally when soy sneaks in, I rush to sweet potatoes. I usuallly boil them then saute with little sugar and butter. Best tasting medicine I have ever had and for me things more smoothly the next day. Might not work for everyone but you may want to give it a try, it can't hurt.

[Guest LittleMissAllergy]

Thank you everyone for your replies....the day after my acupuncture was very rough (a LOT of GI issues and pain, more than usual), but today is going much, much better. Thank you for your support!

sickchick- that is a VERY cool thing to get an MA in...I'm currently in college at a school that practices Western Medicine and I'm so frustrated...I can't find ANYTHING to major in! May I ask where you've gone to school? Do you have a BA in alternative medicine? I'm so interested in the alternative approach to nutrition, but finding a school that has that, where you don't have to go through all of the silly biochem courses is IMPOSSIBLE.

But anyways, I was going to ask more about your knowledge of acupuncture and its results...since you seem like you know so much! Do you know much about it helping with GI issues? Digestion? Constipation? Food Allergies? Sorry to throw so many questions at you

ravenwoodglass- How ironic, I eat a sweet potato EVERY DAY!!! I bake them for about an hour and 30 minutes on 450 (I get pretty big ones, about 12-14 oz) and I eat them every night before I go to bed

[Generic]

I love acupuncture, since I had it done i haven't gotten a cold, the flu or a severe gluten reaction if I accidentally get glutened.

Little Miss Allergy- You may want to check into the school Bastyr. It is located in WA state my acupuncturist got her 2 MA's in acupuncture and nutrition there. Here is the school's website.

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