GKU and Accupuncture

[bex15]

Since I'm up with nothing to do, I've been thinking about this.

Does anyone have experience with it? If so, is it meant to be helpful for general TTC (as in non-diagnosed issues) or is it more if you know what the issue is and are trying to correct with Accupuncture?

Thanks ladies!!

[ohinvrtedworld]

getzystark ??

I looked into an acupuncturist near me who had a whole section devoted to what he does to address infertility through acupuncture -- improving blood flow to the uterus and some other things. Knowing the issue probably can help a lot but not knowing won't prevent them for having ideas for what to focus on.

[lilsneezy]

I just started going to acupuncture for IF and anxiety. I only had two sessions so far so I don't have too much experience with it. My acupuncturist hasn't made me any promises in regards to IF, she kind of takes a "let's wait and see what happens" approach. I don't have any type of chronic pain but I know acupuncture can be beneficial to someone who does. I have noticed that I've been sleeping better, especially the first couple days after a treatment. I know a lot of people who benefit from acupuncture so I'm going to continue going until I see a reason not to. At this point I'm willing to try anything!

[icedtea]

I'm a big fan of acupuncture. I went for a while for my migraines and arthritis issues. I go now for anxiety and endometriosis pain. She also has a lot of fertility experience, so I think she's been weaving that in (suggesting the CoQ10 and such).

I really have no knowledge of anything backing it up, I just know that I feel better when I go. At the very least, it's an hour that I'm doing something for myself and relaxing a bit, which I think is good for anyone.

[getzystark]

***trigger pregnancy mentioned***

Yup! I whole heartedly believe in Eastern Medicine. It's been around a hell of a lot longer and must work for some people! Western medicine has its place for sure (and I wouldn't have a job without it ) but I 100% KNOW that acupuncture is what helped us get pregnant. I mean, I came from 18 months of perfectly timed intercourse, IUIs and a zero embryo cycle of IVF. My fertility was in rough shape!

You definitely need someone very experienced in fertility issues, not someone that just knows the points to use. Nutrition is also key. A good acupuncturist will recommend diet changes and herbs and they do that for a reason. Food is one of the best ways to balance the body!

Feel free to pm me with any detailed questions or ask away here.

[icedtea]

Speaking of nutrition... The only thing I don't love about my current acupuncturist (although I'm really happy with her overall, and she's a great person) is that she's pretty open about wishing I ate meat. She was a vegetarian for a long time, but changed her mind, and now strongly feels that animal protein is necessary. Which is great...for her She's not really pushy, but it comes up.

All to say that whoever you get may have very different viewpoints, so it's sometimes a matter of finding the right person and/or compromising.

[lilsneezy]

May 12, 2016 0:03:56 GMT -5 icedtea said:

Speaking of nutrition... The only thing I don't love about my current acupuncturist (although I'm really happy with her overall, and she's a great person) is that she's pretty open about wishing I ate meat. She was a vegetarian for a long time, but changed her mind, and now strongly feels that animal protein is necessary. Which is great...for her She's not really pushy, but it comes up.

All to say that whoever you get may have very different viewpoints, so it's sometimes a matter of finding the right person and/or compromising.

My acupuncturist brought this up to me too. She wasn't pushy about it either though. Something about the ying and the yang. I told her I'd be willing to eat chicken broth and she said that's good enough!

[icedtea]

lilsneezy, another vegetarian friend had it happen too, so I see a theme I agreed to start fish oil pills and that seems to be our compromise.

[goldenlove3]

*grad warning*

I went to acupuncture for a whole year and while it wasn't enough on it's own to get me pregnant, I definitely think it helped. I noticed changes in my cycle and periods. My cycles were never bad but I started having perfect 28 day cycles with O on day 14. My periods were cleaner with no clots. I kind of wish I would have gone "all in" with herbs and stuck to a stricter diet because I always wonder if that would have done it.

Also I think it's funny about all this meat talk because my acupuncturist is a vegetarian. I didn't realize that meat was so important. She definitely brought up nutrition but I think she was happy with what my diet tried to be. Too bad we didn't stick with it to well.

[MapleMomma]

My massage therapist has been suggesting acupuncture to help me TTC. I haven't jumped the gun yet.

[bex15]

Thank you ladies! This has been helpful and sounds like it's definitely worth looking into!

[lilsneezy]

goldenlove3 My acupuncturist is a vegetarian too. She said she tried eating meat recently and couldn't do it so she doesn't push the issue with anyone. She just throws it out there because it's a part of Western medicine.

(ETA: I meant eastern medicine. Duh.)

[bex15]

getzystark, how often do you normally go? Is it weekly or just case by case?

[getzystark]

May 12, 2016 9:28:40 GMT -5 bex15 said:

getzystark , how often do you normally go? Is it weekly or just case by case?

At first, I went twice a week. She's aggressive and her heavy hitting treatment is twice weekly with supplements and herbs. LAWD OH LAWD it was expensive. And honestly I didn't do all of the herbs and kind of half did the supplements. Basically bought a month's worth of each which ended up lasting me probably a month and a half. I then ended up going off of them because we were doing IVF. When I went back to getting treatments again after IVF failed, I started back on just the supplements and only went once a week because it was all we could afford since we were planning on doing an IUI.

I had thought the entire time that the acupuncture was the MOST important part, but really she said she would rather just see me once a week or every two weeks and really work on my diet, adding in herbs if I could afford it, then the supplements (which needed to be high quality, potent ones like Metagenics $$$). I started drinking green smoothies with raw beets because I was blood deficient. It all really sounds like a scam to some people but my acupuncturist is NO JOKE. She knows what she's doing and her shit works. That is evident by the sheer volume of people she has helped (with and without an RE).

I ended up noticing a difference in my flow as well as not feeling cold as much (both symptoms of blood deficiency) and by the time we got to December, I had actually had a real life full flow period and was stoked. So those were sort of my markers for how I was experiencing changes from acupuncture that could not be altered by the RE.

[bex15]

getzystark, that is very interesting! Thank you so much for sharing that information!!

[akraus2015]

I did one session and really didn't like it. The needles made me itch, and I had a really hard time sitting still for 45 minutes. I dunno, maybe I need to give it a try...I just didn't love it like I thought I would.

[ldubhawksfan]

*****trigger warning, pregnancy mentioned*****




I did 2 months of acupuncture. It was to try to improve blood flow to my ute. My thin lining was confirmed with US from my RE. I honestly don't know if it helped exactly. The first cycle wasn't successful, the second one (while I started injects and an IUI) was. but I didn't have an US to check the thickness the first cycle. I will say that even if it didn't help with my lining, it was very relaxing and amidst a crazy amount of dr appointments that month, at least there was an hr twice a week where I could just lay, decompress, and relax. I think there is something to be said about that as well when thinking of results. I would definitely recommend trying it.

[getzystark]

May 12, 2016 12:56:54 GMT -5 akraus2015 said:

I did one session and really didn't like it. The needles made me itch, and I had a really hard time sitting still for 45 minutes. I dunno, maybe I need to give it a try...I just didn't love it like I thought I would.

I pretty much hate every minute of it. I rarely zone out or fall asleep. When I was doing more acupuncture for my back and doing moxibustion, that's when I would feel the most relaxed, but again, rarely would I go into that "trance" people talk about.

My acupuncturists knows I hate it, so she does the minimum amount of time and checks on me, if I'm still doing okay, we continue, if not, we stop.

[Deleted]

getzystark inspired me to look into it. Now I just need the funds to do it.

Im actually hoping it will help with pain management for me.

[icedtea]

May 13, 2016 23:58:49 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

getzystark inspired me to look into it. Now I just need the funds to do it.

Im actually hoping it will help with pain management for me.

I hope you're able to find someone!

[notagoddess]

I started acupuncture for infertility about a month ago. I've gone five times now and have had one full cycle under my acupuncturist's care. That cycle was very regular, but it didn't work to get me pregnant. I plan to keep it up at 1 time a week for a few months as I'm doing natural cycles and then Clomid.

It's expensive and I'm not sure if will help. But it feels good to be doing something proactive.

[notagoddess]

May 12, 2016 0:03:56 GMT -5 icedtea said:

Speaking of nutrition... The only thing I don't love about my current acupuncturist (although I'm really happy with her overall, and she's a great person) is that she's pretty open about wishing I ate meat. She was a vegetarian for a long time, but changed her mind, and now strongly feels that animal protein is necessary. Which is great...for her She's not really pushy, but it comes up.

All to say that whoever you get may have very different viewpoints, so it's sometimes a matter of finding the right person and/or compromising.

You're in RI, right? Can I PM you regarding your acupuncturist? I started going recently and it's hard to tell if I've found the right person.

[icedtea]

notagoddess, I'm not there now, but I used to be and had a great acupuncturist there. Feel free to pm me!

[ldubhawksfan]

May 13, 2016 23:58:49 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

getzystark inspired me to look into it. Now I just need the funds to do it.

Im actually hoping it will help with pain management for me.

I hope you are able to find someone! I was surprised that my insurance covered acupuncture. Not necessarily for IF, but I also have migraines, so I chose the only one that also specialized in IF that was in network, and it was covered due to both problems being addressed.

[PepperPottsJ]

May 13, 2016 23:58:49 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

getzystark inspired me to look into it. Now I just need the funds to do it.

Im actually hoping it will help with pain management for me.

Check with your health insurance, many companies cover it explicitly for pain management.

[Deleted]

May 15, 2016 18:42:13 GMT -5 PepperPottsJ said:

May 13, 2016 23:58:49 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

getzystark inspired me to look into it. Now I just need the funds to do it.

Im actually hoping it will help with pain management for me.

Check with your health insurance, many companies cover it explicitly for pain management.

Nope, zero coverage. I checked a few months ago. My prescription coverage is pretty awful too. You'd hope a company that provides mental health services would have decent insurance.

[bibliothecary]

I did it. It didn't not work. It was relaxing. Would definitely do it again.