Acupuncture - Update, had my first appointment

[mrs_metal]

Has anyone here tried acupuncture? How does it feel? does it hurt?

I've got to wait another month for blood tests for my short LP (the doctor wants me to get them done between cycle days 2 & 5 and I'm only on day 9 at the moment) and I was thinking of getting some complementary treatment in the meantime and I thought acupunture couldn't do any harm and should help me to relax a bit even if it can't do anything for my cycles.

The thing is I'm not very fond of needles, what worries me is feeling them go in, can you feel them go in?

Any advice appreciated, whether you had a good or bad experience and whether it was for fertility treatment or for anything else, cheers.

 

[Lorna]

I had acupuncture a couple of years ago for a bad knee.

TBH it didn't hurt really, I did feel the needle go in but it felt different to an injection IYKWIM.

I only had a bit of pain when he put the needle into my knee, but my knee was full of fluid so I think that was why.

Once the needles are in you can't feel anything and it actually was quite relaxing.

It's gotta be worth a shot

 

[EllieBelle]

I had accupuncture for several months previously, to help with my IBS and allergies (hayfever etc).

It is absolutely amazing and I definitely saw improvements in both my conditions, however it isnt a quick fix and will require some investment.

Ill be totally honest too, most of the points where the needles were inserted on me didnt hurt one bit, not even a scratch (they are so thin and nothing like injection type needles).......all that said a couple of the points hurt like hell (especially on my feet), but it depends on your condition and what the therapist is treating to where the needles are used - but all in all its definitely not unpleasant, and very beneficial!

I also have regular reflexology sessions and some therapists specialise in pregnancy matters. I have been having reflexology for over 10 years now and have always really enjoyed the sessions!

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions, would be happy to help

 

[mrs_metal]

Thanks Ladies, that's put my mind at rest a bit. I'll book an appointment, I guess if I hate it I don't have to go back

 

[mrs_metal]

I've booked an appointment for next monday now I'm getting worried about where they're gonna stick the needles! No way do I wanna get undressed and lie there naked looking like a beached whale while some stranger sticks needles in me!

 

[JPS]

I have just started and have had 2 sessions. Don't go to one of those Chinese herbal chains you see on the high road as I tried this first and it just seemed like they wanted your money whilst not putting time into your individual needs. They also wanted me to get light therapy, cupping and herbs as well for the mere sum of £120 a week or otherwise "It would be like trying to start a car without petrol" (Sensitive eh?!) He even asked me what menstrual means (Written it on the form you give him at the start).

I looked on the British Acupuncture Website (Registered Acupuncturist's) and emailed 6 therapists in my area. They all emailed back and I booked an appointment with the one who I felt was the most thorough.

The first appt was 2 hours where she did a thorough assessment. You feel it go in but it is not painful. The feet hurt more than anything else but still nothing like an injection. To be totally honest, I fainted with the first needle but not due to the pain, I am just a bit funny with needles and psychological traumas.... It's weird as I wasn't nervous beforehand.

The second time I did not faint and was fine with it. There are 2 types of acupuncture; 5 elements and Chinese Herbal (I think).

I'd say give it a go, since going I have spoke to people who have said it helped them a lot.

 

[EllieBelle]

Its not like that at all........ I promise!!

I remember having a lot of needles in my back....which were left in for a few mins and others put into my legs and feet - some are left in and others go in and then straight back out.

Its a real experience, but as I mentioned earlier you wont see the results immediately....takes a few sessions first!

Good luck with your appointment

 

[mrs_metal]

Thanks JPS that's good advice, I was worried the high street ones would be a bit like that so glad I didn't go to them. I found a local one that's registered with the British Acupuncture Council and she specialises in fertility so fingers crossed! I've also got some digestion and reflux problems so hopefully she'll be able to help with that as well. She's not the cheapest in the area but I figured with your health it's worth paying a little extra. I think she's a chinese herbal acupunturist and I thought I'd be more comfortable talking about fertility with a female.

Thanks Ellie Belle that's good to know, I had a horrible image in my head
If I can handle it I won't expect immediate results, also just realised the first appointment is around when I'll be ovulating so probably no changes til the following month at the earliest.

 

[mrs_metal]

Had my appointment last night and I was really pleased with it all. She was really nice and I didn't feel at all uncomfortable with her, most of the needles I didn't feel at all, a couple in the foot stung a bit but that was all.

We went through my history and all the stuff that is wrong with me, she thinks my body tries to ovulate for a week, that's why I get such bad ovulation pain for so long, and the egg is older than it should be by the time it come out and therefore no longer in good condition. That coupled with the short lp is why I haven't conceived since the m/c. Also my digestion problems are causing problems so she'll work on that too.

She's not promised any miracle cures, nor did she try and flog me any herbs. She also made sure I understood that it may take up to 3 cycles to get my body working properly due to my age (38 in a few months) but because I conceived the first month we tried properly she thinks it's very hopefull that once my cycles settle I should then conceive quite easily.

Felt really relaxed afterwards but I had to go my husbands gig that evening so a night spent in a hot sweaty pub listening to heavy metal and rock music completely wiped out the relaxation

 

[HollyHobby]

needles in the feet, ouch!

re the old egg, is this just a guess by her? I get alot of pain on the left, only since ttc may i add, and got a bfp on that side first time trying, but didnt work out - could the pain mean an egg in not good condition can still be fertilised but it's just not good enough?
Sounds like what youre describing there is what i could have written myself, plus the same sort of age.

 

[mrs_metal]

needles in the feet, ouch!

re the old egg, is this just a guess by her? I get alot of pain on the left, only since ttc may i add, and got a bfp on that side first time trying, but didnt work out - could the pain mean an egg in not good condition can still be fertilised but it's just not good enough?
Sounds like what youre describing there is what i could have written myself, plus the same sort of age.

It seemed to make sense about the long ovulation and old egg, before my m/c I'd never had ovulation pain, no way I could have missed something so painful, and I did opk's the month before we started trying and the month we did and conceived and never even a twinge. I now get ov pain for over a week and it's really bad for two days so it defintely seems logical for me. I didn't think to ask about whether the egg can be fertilised as I have a short lp so for me it probably wouldn't have time implant even if it did

About the digestion though, I get really bad heartburn, indegestion and acid reflux and all 3 are much, much better last night and today. I'm sure I'll get it back by my appointment next week but I'll enjoy it while it lasts She also said I've got to have warm meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner to help it so no more quick bowls of cereal or sandwiches for me.

 

[EllieBelle]

So glad it went well, and its all sounding positive.

I did warn you about the needles in the feet - OUCH