Accupuncture??

[reflective]

Has anyone tried accupuncture for pain and fatigue during treatment?  I'm 12 weeks in and it just hit me this week.

[Forseegood]

Hi, funny you should mention this, just went to a cardiologist at Cedar's Sinai, and they were recruiting people for a huge trial they were doing in various clinics at the hospital, one being the cardiology wing....for pain pre and post op...and for other things...they have people on staff there who perform it....more and more hospitals are utilizing this, of course, as an adjunct....I've been doing acupuncture for years, and very much enjoy it for a number of reasons...only my take...it tends to lower blood pressure in some people, so if you have low blood pressure, run it by your doc first...best....

[GrandmaA]

Acupuncture is excellent, depending on the experience of the practitioner. I was getting it once a month during tx and still now 8 weeks post tx.

[Lady Lauri]

Yup, love it. My acupuncturist is the one who finally discovered 'something is wrong with your liver' on my FIRST exam with her (after years of reg. Dr.'s missing it!) She than said "and you need to eat meat!!" ( I rarely do) and had NO blood work, past records nor had ever met me!

Mine is great, treating me every day right now, thankfully 2 blocks away, and charges only 1 visit! (trying to help my hgb, labs stabilize, go up...we'll see.) but along with the tranquility of the hour there, has been very helpful for moods, headaches, and especially bronchitis. Before tx seemed to help with fatigue, but so much right now, hard to say. Course could be worse without it!

  Ironic I went there to quit smoking, (never did that treatment yet!) she discovered the bad liver, got me into Shands, works with my hep. Dr (they send her labs, info) and ......she is specially trained in treating Hep and chemo patients. Some will post it's all in your head, some are all for it, as in many things, a personal decision for you.
Me personally......years of seeing Dr.'s to no avail, no proper diagnosis.....one exam from her....she sent me straight for Hep test! Sold me.

And I am eating more meat now, LOL
                         best to you,      LL

[scratchinghead]

You might try phoning OCAM in Portland (Oriental College of Medicine). They are the ones that you get your acupuncture masters around here. These also have inexpensive treatment, but I'm just mentioning this because they might be able to say what think. I am interested too.

[Robin_Fla]

I am all for supportive alternative tx during tx. I haven't tried acupuncture but did start on a regular course of hypnotherapy prior to and during tx (I am in 39 week of SOC with Peg). My hypno was diagnosed with lupus 20+ years ago and was told that she had 3 years to live. She's still kicking and doing well. She knows her stuff, and has helped me tremendously with visualization techniques to rid my body of the virus and to help with various sx as they have cropped up.

The hardest to impact has been fatigue. I was traveling too much and when it got really bad I had to cut back, and guess what, the extra rest really helped (go figure! LOL). That plus drinking more H2O than I have in my entire life previously has helped with all the sx.

As soon as I am SVR (I am RVR at this point), I plan to continue with her for weight loss. :-) Of all the sx I have had, THAT was not one of them (and they promised! LOL).

Let us know how your acu goes. Good luck with the sx, it gets better!

Robin_Fla

[Lady Lauri]

  Never tried that, but will try ANYTHING for my only addiction, nicotine! Do the visualization and fall asleep to awesome CD's I put on Ipod, playing hours into my head :}

My Hgb dropped to 10.2 and my acup. is treating me EVERY day now, for free! Even had me go to her house this AM. she's doing the same tx as she does for all chemo and suppossed to help raise blood levels. We will see. Either way, just love her.

On the water....yep.....feel like I am part at fault for the droughts going on :}

You happen to be going to this campout near Ocala? Or know about it? I live in Ocala and wanted to at least go by and meet a few. Will try to reach Flamouse.

                RVR also, we WILL see SVR!
                                                                                       LL

[SJL]

I have been contemplating acupuncture and infra-red laser treatment. Does anyone know of either located close to Daytona Beach, FL.?

I have tried all three interferon treatments(102 wks.)-nothing, and just finished 4 wks. of Rituxin therapy for cryo. We won't know for a few weeks if this has helped or not, but I do feel better.

SJL

[scratchinghead]

Finally told ex that I was HCV positive. We had a long talk, she was really copacetic. She said she has a client that went through Interferon treatments and kicked HCV about 4-5 years ago. They told him not to take vitamins but he did anyway and he attributes that to his success of getting thru treatment and licking the virus. Don't try this at home kids. . . . . .but . . . . . .  I am focusing on the these alternative practices since I have a little time before my situation gets drastic (level 2, stage 0). She said that acupuncture re-aligns things and does a lot of deep down pathway straightening besides just helping with pain.

[scratchinghead]

I forgot to mention that she is an acupunturist practicing in Portland, Oregon. She is really succesful and all the hospitals are sending her clients.

[FloridaMouse]

Hey Lauri,

It's me, The Mouse.  The Campout in Ocala is still on!  Some of the heppers got there y esterday, most are arriving tomorrow morning.  It's at Silver River Stage Park and the address is 1425 NE 59 Avenue, Ocala, FL 34470.  We're staying over tomorrow night and checking out on Monday.  The main eating event is tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. and will consist of marinated chicken, steak, burgers, hotdogs, macaroni salad, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, pineapple upside down cake and s'mores.   Even if you only come for the day tomorrow we would LOVE to see ya there.

The meal is being prepared and served at campsite/RV site #35 ... Sparklegirl/Lyn's site.  There are other Florida heppers in cabins 2 and 3.  There is actually a hepper coming in from California and another one from Wisconsin.  Please feel free to join us.  Most are bringing a covered dish but at this point it's not a pre-requisite.

Florida Mouse
P.S.  I'll be arriving at the campground at around 8:00 a.m. or shortly thereafter tomorrow.  Check in at my cabin (#2) is not until 4:00 p.m. so you'll find me over at site 35 preparing food and hanging out.

[FloridaMouse]

Correct address for Silver River Stage Park

1425 NE 58 Ave
Ocala FL 34470

[Lady Lauri]

GREAT... I thought it was this weekend! I'll be there, tired or sick or feeling good :} ????
I'll dig up a quick dish. (estimate on how many?) Usually make a great spinach dip, but think we're not supposed to load up on spinach!
  So glad you posted :} Doing a mapquest now, it's really close to me and ...... Halloweens still up if anyone is up for a ride over tomorrow night :}.  

Whooo Hoooo, I'm getting 'out', got a 'social' to do :}
(not much get's me out of bed, let alone OUT,these days, LOL.)

                                                                                                LL

[reflective]

Thanks for your input, I'm going on Monday.  I know it works for many things, I just hope that it works for this.  I already feel like a walking pharmacy so I'm looking for something non- drug.  Now I just need to remember to conserve my energy for stuff that actually matters. I'm so used to doing 10 things at once that it's hard to slow down.  I think my body just made me stop this week- I did'nt have a choice but to listen.

[FloridaMouse]

Hey Lauri,

There's about 16 going.  Don't fret if you can't whip anything up.  Just you're being there will be AWESOME!  Looking forward to getting some Shands/Dr. Nelson pointers from ya.  I'll be going up there right after I leave the campout on Monday as my appointment is Tuesday a.m. at 8:00.

Mouse
P.S.  My real name is Missy, you  might need to know that LOL.

[scratchinghead]

whoa! A hepper get together that features SAD? (standard american diet) My baloney detector is in the red zone. All that stuff, from high insulin spiking starches to artery clogging and ammonia releasing proteins sure doesn't sound like anyone is paying attention to their problem. Such is the nature of our nature, I guess. Of course, I would be there in a heart beat if I lived near Florida just to see and talk to another heppy.

[Lady Lauri]

So walking up with a big bottle of smirnoff is out ???? LOL...Kidding! Kidding!

                                                                               LL

[scratchinghead]

Your funny!!! No, save that for the AA meeting!!!

[Robin_Fla]

Wished I knew about campout earlier, I would def liked to have made it! In fact, I'm on my way to Tally and Ft Laud this week...oh well! Maybe the next one.

Lauri - nah, you aren't responsible for the drought - I live in Atlanta and it's all ME girl! ;-)

Hope the campout is great fun and I'll try to make it next time!

Robin_Fla (er, Robin_formerly_of_Fla ;-)

[Lady Lauri]

Don't go to AA, my drinking was 'weekend' rodeo's, and got hangovers on any more than 4 drinks!
(NOW know why...duh....Hep C and liver damage, who knew?? NOT all my Dr.'s or me, LOL!)
Was going to walk up with a big bottle...filled with water :}

Robin-formally of Fl. :}

Too bad you didn't know. I knew a few weeks back, but hadn't seen the exacts on when, so glad I
caught it especially as it turned out to be 7 1/2 miles from my house!!
Was really nice! Glad I made it to meet a few. Get OUT for awhile. Fun ladies :} Even feeling like cr*p, had a good time.
Going to post on the campout post. Funny :}

I dunno about the drought......think we're all putting a real hurting on it :}

                                                                              LL