[babygood1]

I go to my first accupuncture apt tomorrow...any good stories out there?

[reyna68]

Good luck! I hope it went well. I wanted to tell you that there are a ton of good stories on the FertileSoul.com website. I started seeing an accupuncturist after two failed IVF's and then we got pregnant on our own, even though the RE gave us a really low chance of being able to conceive without IVF. She even gave us the donor egg speech.

Unfortunately, I miscarried at 8 weeks. But the good news is that, as far as those things go, it was easy and quick, and there have been no lasting issues. It appears that my cycle is right back on track and everyone has given us the us the thumbs up to try again after AF comes. I definately feel like accupuncture, the herbs she gives me, and changes I've made on my own made this all possible.

Good luck!
shaorn

[mrsbyrd03]

Hi Ann! I'm going for my 3rd acupuncture appointment tomorrow, so I'm still just a newbie, but I had such an amazing first experience I thought I'd share.

It was the weirdest thing I've ever experienced. I felt completely fine when I went in there, no pains or anything, but I wanted to give it a try since I've heard such great things about it on this and other boards.

Well, after giving a brief history to the doctor, he had me lay down so he could check me out. He stood beside me, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then slowly started running his hands down my body without touching me, then started feeling my abdomen. He felt around, and found a place that REALLY HURT! (Although it didn't hurt when I went in there.....I felt fine, but he found it.)

When I told him that it was really tender, he said, "yes, I can help you. Watch this." In just seconds, he swiped alcohol down my legs and started applying the needles. He told me to keep palpating that place that hurt, and to "watch what happens." MUCH to my amazement, with each needle, it started hurting less and less. And the needles didn't hurt either! I wasn't even sure how many were in me. It was more like a tingling sensation as he applied them. Kind of like a shock from static electricity.

He put 5 needles in--3 in my left leg and 2 in my right, and then had me lay down in a dark room for 30 minutes with this infrared warming light on my tummy. I couldn't feel the needles at all, and the warming light was extremely soothing and relaxing. As weird as it sounds, I could feel a warm tingling sensation in my legs too.


Now it all may sound like a load of hooey, but what's just blowing my mind is that for the past 3 months, I've had the occasional sharp pain along my old incision area from my fibroid removal surgery last year. WITHOUT ME SAYING A WORD TO HIM ABOUT IT, that's the EXACT area that he centered in on!!!!!!!!! How weird is that?

When I went to pay, I told him how he had amazed me, and he said that he believed that I had a blockage there. That amazed me even more, because he also didn't know that I had an HSG in January, and the doctor that did it didn't get the dye all the way through my tubes. She "got it close", but never all the way through, but still told me that she felt that they were open.

Now I've had 5 failed IUIs, and my RE has no idea why, and she wants to do a lap and hysterscope after my next period to see what's going on. She thinks it's possible that I have scar tissue that has bound my tubes in place so that they can't go pick up the eggs when I ovulate.

I went in with an open mind, not really expecting anything, but I came away amazed, and believing in something that I don't understand. I'll be a TOTAL believer if I get pregnant this cycle. (completely natural) In fact, I'll be pleasantly shocked!

I never dreamed I'd be excited about going to be poked with needles. In fact, I'm taking my camera and my husband tomorrow. At my appointment on Thursday, I had about 23 needles, including one right between my eyes and one in my left ear!! I'm hoping that I have more again because that will make an AWESOME myspace default pic. HAHA! Best of luck with your appointment!

[babygood1]

things went well. the only thing I didn't like was the program they came up with 24 treatments for 2,000.
I think you really should pay as you go..any thoughts?

[mrsbyrd03]

Gosh, yeah! I think so too! At the clinic I go to, it's $60 for treatments, $125 if you're given herbs. (Which I've had a TON of pills to take!)

The $60 is for a 30 minute treatment with the infrared heating lamp. I'm free to book as many or as few sessions as I want to.

I CERTAINLY wouldn't want to pay up front!

[jessicap518]

I love my acupuncture!! I go once a week or every 6 days and I find it so relaxing....I was having some side effects from the Lupron including sore (.)(.) and heachaches and now it is almost gone...I really believe it helps relax the body and we all know that in IF...being relaxed is so important...I would not pay ahead of time though...I go session by session as many or as few as I like...hope that helps!!!

[mrsbyrd03]

Hi Jessica! Isn't it weird how relaxing it is? *L* I keep trying to explain that to family members and they just can't get past the needles part. *L* I never dreamed I'd be a convert but I am.

[babygood1]

The Md brakes it up in 4 payments...it does include heat lamp and moxa heat therapy...no hearbs...I think I will go for it..
would anyone continue it once you are pregnant?
Will insurance cover this? Anyone know or tried?
Im going again tomorrow.

[reyna68]

I also do pay-as-you-go with my accupuncturist. She's not cheap...it's $110 per 1-hour treatment (accupunture, moxa, heat lamp, belly massage, cupping, etc.) plus the cost of herbs...but she's so good that I think it's worth it. My insurance now doesn't cover it, but I've had insurance in the past that has, so it's worth looking into it.

The other thing is that after a while, you don't need to go as often. I used to go once a week, but now that my body is balanced and working better, going once every two weeks is plenty (except for after the miscarriage...then I went two weeks in a row and now I'm back to every other week). There are also things that you can do on your own in between treatments, like the belly massages, accupressure, warm foot baths, and of course, herbs, good diet, and yoga.

I would DEFINITELY recommend continuing after you get pregnant. There's nothing accupuncture can do to fix chromosomal issues, but there are lots of other reasons why you might miscarry that accupuncture can help with. Mine recommends continued treatment for the first trimester, after which she'll see if you if you develop a complication or to help induce labor.

Here's to getting our BFP's!
sharon

[missywojo]

Hi Ladies, I have been doing AP this month too. I have been going twice/week for this IVF cycle. I think that after my transfer I will go just once/week. I had never did AP before. I think it's very relaxing though. I hope after the IVF cycle, they can help me with my back, neck, and shoulder pain too.

[babygood1]

Today they also gave me a massage after wasn't sure if I should tip at this place...just didn't seem right...any thoughts?

[Czech_Girl]

I love acupuncture for many reasons - including fertility treatment. I just found out 2 days ago that I'm pregnant and I credit my success to acupuncture. I pay as I go ($60 for 30-45 min session) and my insurance reimburses me.

Best of luck!

[babygood1]

I have only gone 3 times but Im having a hard time getting past the needles...one was pulling on my arm...I guess Iam a baby. What do you do during accupunture?

[mrsbyrd03]

When I'm laying there in the dark....they have soft music playing, the heat lamp is warming my tummy, this last time they rubbed scented oils on my face and tummy and arms.......I usually get almost to sleep when they come in, but I try to lay there and visualize strong healthy eggs fertilizing and implanting! :-)

[missywojo]

I try to focus really hard on the music, otherwise I end up thinking about work.