Acupuncture

I had my first acupuncture session on June 3.  It's all done through MSTI as part of their Integrative Medicine program, and the offices are just down the hall from where the chemo and radiation is done at the hospital.

My acupuncturist's name is Alan.  He's a nice guy and sounds like he's been doing this for a long time.  He said he has about a 98% success rate when it comes to helping with hot flashes... success means they might go away completely or at least become much less intense and just little "warm flashes" instead.  I will take either.

At my first appointment we started with a full consultation.  We talked about why I was there and he asked some questions about my cancer and treatment.  He shared some of his philosophy on health and well being... "Eat well.  Move well.  Rest well," is his mantra... also drink lots of water and try to go easy on the sugar.  Like everything in life, apparently acupuncture tends to be more successful if a person is in relatively good health to begin with, so aside from the cancer (that has been removed!) I have that in my favor.  Also the fact that I've only been having hot flashes for a couple months (not very long apparently) there is a better chance of it helping me.

He gave me the cliff notes version of what acupuncture is and how it can work.  I think I'm having chemo-brain right now and can't focus enough to explain it to you.  Alan said a 9-year-old patient put it really well when she said, "So acupuncture reminds my body how it's supposed to work."  It has to do with neurological pathways and messages and getting my body back in equilibrium.  Each treatment will get me closer to the center until I'm all in balance again.

So here is what the acupuncture experience itself has been like for me.  I sit in a pretty comfortable recliner type of chair that is covered with a white sheet.  Alan reclines the chair and uses some rolled up sheets to help me be as comfortable as possible (under my hand, arm, legs, or wherever necessary).  He takes my pulse on each arm. 

Then he starts placing the needles.  They are very thin.  At my first appointment he asked if I had ever donated blood.  I said yes I had, that I actually worked at the blood center.  He said you could probably fit at least seven of the acupuncture needles into one of our blood donation needles.  The acupuncture needles are single use and each in a sealed package.  He swabs the spots where needles will go with a little alcohol first.  I've had maybe 3-4 on my left arm, 5-6 on my left leg, 4-5 on the outside of my right leg, and 2-3 on my right arm/hand.  At my second appointment he also put one on my forehead.  It doesn't hurt when he places the needles.  Sometimes there is a little sting but it goes away.  Sometimes I can't feel it at all.  Once all the needles are in, he puts some sheets over my arms and legs so I don't get cold (although last time I still felt a little cold).  He puts a heat lamp thing aimed at my feet to warm them up (it feels good!).  Then he dims the light and puts on a white noise machine. 

Funny story... at my first appointment I was laying there relaxing and could hear this water running through the pipes.  It never let up and I thought it was weird because when someone washes their hands or flushes a toilet you hear the water and after a bit it stops.  This was like a magical bathtub that never stopped draining.  It didn't really bother me, I just thought it was odd and was curious about what it really was.  Well I figured it out at the end when I realized it was this white noise machine and it was actually the sound of a babbling brook!

After I'm all set up, Alan leaves the room and my job it to just relax and not move.  He comes back to check on me after about 10 minutes.  The needles need to be in place for 30-40 minutes to get the maximum benefit.  Sometimes it seems like my muscles twitch a few times.  At first I thought I might have a really hard time sitting there for so long and turning my mind off.  When I'm home sometimes I have hard time sitting still to watch a TV show because my mind thinks about all these other things I should be doing.  Luckily at my appointments I've found that I'm able to turn everything off and relax so much that I even dozed off for a little bit.  Alan said this is great and usually leads to more success if you are completely relaxed, especially enough to fall asleep!

Once we hit the 30-40 minutes Alan comes back in and removes the needles.  This feels a little weird but isn't painful.  Then he uses another alcohol swab to wipe each spot.  And that's it.  My second appointment was in the morning after radiation (on June 9) and I was so relaxed.  I felt like I had been there for a really long time.  It didn't seem right that I still had to go to work because I hadn't even really started my day yet... I felt like my day should be over.  It was kind of weird but after I was outside I was able to accept the fact that I did have to go to work.

I have another appointment next week.  Alan said if possible, it's best to do a treatment once a week as you get started and then if/when you start seeing results you can start stretching out the time in between treatments.  I am very lucky because my insurance does cover acupuncture.  I have a copay and can do up to 20 treatments in a calendar year.

Now, the million dollar question... is it helping?  It was made clear to me I shouldn't expect the hot flashes to go away after the first treatment, that it takes a few times to get your body back in that balance where it belongs.  I do think after this second treatment it's been a bit better.  I still am getting hot flashes but not quite as often.  So, I'll keep going and see if I can really get some positive results.  I'll keep you posted!