Acupuncture help.

[Izis]

I was diagnosed in Feb. with IC. The symptoms came on suddenly, the classic "one day" they were there. Since then I have suffered tremendously where every waking moment I was cognizant of the discomfort and always had to know where the next bathroom was, etc. Finally, I went to my local Acupuncturist last week. Two days later I felt pain which had never been the case before. I was one of the few percent that did not have pain with the IC. The pain was so great I could do nothing but rock and move around. I took three different pain meds, 3 baths and cancelled all my activities for 24 hrs. I would have to say the pain kept moving down and down until finally the last of the pain was right at my vagina. Then, all symptoms went away and I am not having hardly any IC symptoms. I'm urinating less, somewhat better flow and the biggest thing is that I can eat "non IC" type foods. I could be wrong but I would say that I passed a kidney stone (although I didn't see it) and that may have been aggravating my IC. Now that it's gone (so my theory goes), the IC is all but gone. Has anyone had a similar experience? I'm amazed yet don't want to get too excited yet. I have pictures to prove the IC which were taken during the distension of my bladder......the tiny pediculi and consequent pretty severe bleeding after my bladder was distended. In any case, it appears that acupuncture got things moving and now I feel 200% better than I have in months. If anyone else has had a similar experience please let me know and I wish for success with everyone.

[SharonA]

:welcome: to the ICN... :)

This is very good news for you. I hope you continue to feel better. :)

[kathdog]

I have been using acupuncture once a week for three months. I also added aloe vera pills (3 3x per day) to my collection of stuff--glucosamine w/msm (1 3xper day), quercetin (1 3x per day), fish oil (2 at night), flax oil pills (for constipation, per doctor recommendation, 3 3Xper day). All of these are taken on an empty stomach. For the first time in 1 1/2 year I feel great. I strongly feel it is the combination of these herbal remedies and the acupuncture. The last thing I added was the aloe, and once I added it there was a remarkable improvement. However, I feel the acupuncture seems to be keeping it at bay. I always have pain after treatment that dissipates over the next few days. The pain begins to start again just when I am ready for another treatment. Up until two weeks ago the pain was so bad; I was in constant pain and 75 % f the time the pain was so bad I felt like I was being tortured all the time. Also, I got rid of eating sugar or white flour products. They are a trigger for me, but it was not until I started to feel better that I could tell they really aggravated the IC . :woohoo:

[matclan]

Where do the acupuncturist put the needles? I've gone to two different ones and haven't really felt any different. Both gals can reply. I'm very interested in this

[Izis]

He put the needles in the feet, stomach and wrists. The one between my eyes was for anxiety. I went again today and there was only one on my tummy this time, 3 on each feet and 3 on the wrists (2 were for thumb arthritis though). I hope this helps. Good luck to you.

[kathdog]

First I was treated to remove heat from the liver and spleen for aprox. 2 1/2 months. Each week I had needles on my stomach, ribs, hands, wrist, lower legs, feet, and lower and upper back. The past 3 weeks I have been treated for the same, but she added heat removal for the heart. She also changed the focus to Chi deficiency rather than heat. Sometimes it seemed to help and sometimes it did not, but I stuck w/ the same person as she continually changed spots and fooled w/ the treatment. Hope this helps. Good luck! --Kathy :angel:

[kathdog]

You may want to look at the web page www.itmonline.org and then do a search for the article "Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis With Chinese Medicine" It has acupuncture points for IC. I cannot say if they work, as my treatment differed from this, but it is worth reading and passing on to an acupuncture specialist who could then consider its value.

[ngazerro]

I thought about doing acupuncture for my fibro pain. I heard it was good for that.

Kathdog,

I had cut out flour and sugar for months. It did not bother my IC, but it does bother my Fibro and I could tell the difference. This week I did really bad. We had meeting at work with dounuts/pizza. I have been eating everything!:rant:
I did quit smoking two weeks ago, so has not helped. I have been out of control. I told myself I was going to stop today and I just got from lunch and had hamburger & fries. oops! There is always tommorrow.

[icpuzzled]

I thought about doing acupuncture for my fibro pain. I heard it was good for that.

Kathdog,

I had cut out flour and sugar for months. It did not bother my IC, but it does bother my Fibro and I could tell the difference. This week I did really bad. We had meeting at work with dounuts/pizza. I have been eating everything!:rant:
I did quit smoking two weeks ago, so has not helped. I have been out of control. I told myself I was going to stop today and I just got from lunch and had hamburger & fries. oops! There is always tommorrow.

If anything you may think about doing the acupuncture to help you with quitting smoking. I had them do ear needles when I quit. It was a great help for me. The great thing about acupuncture is that they can work on many things at one time. Make sure to tell her everything that is going on. You may be surprised. I find that with my IC pain the help is not long lasting but it does help longer lasting with other things. It is nice to get that break though for my body. Some acupuncturists are better then others and it does last longer with some. I have yet to find myself someone here in Bradenton and I am still on the look. I used to have a great person when I lived in LA. Good luck.

[snowgirl]

Oh man you live in Brandenton Florida. What a nice city. I bet you are glad when all the northern snow birds head home. Brandenton is always busy when I was there and the traffic is heavy. Great city to live in I bet. VN

[ngazerro]

Hi ICpuzzled,

I am on my fourth treatment with acupuncture. I am not using it for my IC, because I have been doing great with that. I have been doing it for my fibro pain. The first treatment I felt great for a couple day. The last couple I still seem to be having alot of joint pain. I asked him about acupuncture for quiting smoking and he said that I would not need it because I have quit weeks ago. I am going to keep at it and see what happens.

Thanks

[icpuzzled]

It sounds like you found a good Acupuncturist. Fibro is the pits I am glad it's all working out for you.
Bradenton is ok I rather not be in FL right now the humidity is driving me mad. We are at the worst time of the season. I actually can't wait till the snowbirds come back because then it is cool again. As for IC Bradenton is not that good at all I haven't found any help here. I think further south is better or the east coast. Even Clearwater Tampa is better then here. I have to drive about 2- 3 hrs if I even want to find out if someone is worth it. I have not had a dr on 3 yrs. I moved to the village of the arts neighborhood. It is a live work community with galleries an Italian restaurant, that I can't eat at hhaa. There is a coffee shop and a clothing store and now my Day Spa is soon to open after 2 long stressful yrs. The stress has been the pits on my bladder and I can't wait for it to all be over. Next time your in bradenton check out the village of the arts.