accupuncture

[dewbert]

I have had PVCs for thirty years - all combinations.  I've got the throat and rib stuff mentioned. I've tried the drugs,  ablation, yoga, meditation, exercise, no exercise  Nothing works.  Eating makes them worse.  No question stress has an impact.  Drives me nuts!!  Sometimes I feel like I am going to collapse while just talking to someone.  About the only thing that gives me comfort, is the length of time I have had this problem.  I keep thinking that if it was going to kill me, it certainly has had time.  Just the same, I am considering trying accupuncture.  Anybody had any success with that?

[SassyLassie]

I have tried acupuncture, it really does not help me, I really do not feel a bit different after than I do before, I know lots of folks love it, but, I guess I am too nervous and fight it, when the Naturopath feels my pulses and looks at my tongue before a treatment, they always show here low energy in the heart area as well as spleen. I might try it again, maybe I will be more open to it, I have not had it for awhile, she has been out on maternity leave. I do think there is something to it, but, like anything else, it works differently on different folks.

I think the reason you all had some anxiety attacks and palps was you could have felt "trapped" and this fired off the panic, I get that way at times, but then again, it does not take much for my palps to start, ugh, I hate them.

[Yvette BG]

Oops--meant to say that it felt like my body was NOT reacting well to accupuncture...

[Yvette BG]

I've known quite a few people for whom accupuncture has really helped control stress, reduce pains of various sorts (non-cardiac), etc. My own experience with acupuncture was kind of strange. I will start by saying that I am very sensitive to medication dosages (prescribed and over-the-counter) and have to take small amounts of beta blockers, even extra strength Tylenol (non-codeine-containing type), etc. or I get very sleepy, etc. I suspect based on my cardiac history, etc. and reactions I've had to preparations (like colonoscopy prep, etc.) that I may have some degree of dysautonomia---and my husband, who is a physician/internist and has observed me in a variety of settings over the past 20+ years, agrees.

I was really stressed out with life things (caregiving for older parents, perimenopausal symptoms, heart palpitations, etc), so I decided to try accupuncture. The first session, the accupuncturist used very few needles and started the treatment quite conservatively. I felt wonderful during it and afterwards, very relaxed and pleasantly euphoric, like you feel after a large glass of wine (or two) and laughing with friends. But then a day later, I had major palpitations and had what felt like a panic attack. The only other time I had ever experienced what felt like a panic attack was after being out on an antidepressant medication, which the doctor abruptly discontinued after the first dose.

Decided to give the accupuncture another shot, thinking maybe the way I was feeling that day later was unrelated to the actual treatment. The accupuncturist this time used considerably more needles and left me alone in the treatment room with the door closed. I had palpitations, mild shortness of breath, and felt suddenly very, very cold. When I called to have her check on me, she could not hear me and I started to have that panicky feeling again.

That was my last treatment. I am not sure what was going on, but it felt like my body was reacting well to accupuncture, for whatever reasons.

My suggestion would be, give it a try if your doctor okays it, but bring someone with you to sit with you and also, to drive you home (if applicable), since a person really doesn't know how their body will react to the treatment. And if you tend to be sensitive to medication, etc., I'd ask them to start out slowly and see how your body reacts before going "full dose."

Let us know how it goes!

[CNickels77]

Hey there-

I tried accupuncture after an ablation last year.  I think it helped me relax and possible helps blood circulation.  Not sure if it will help rhythm problems but it doesn't hurt to try it.

I would suggest that you do it regularly to see the benefit.  One or two session doesn't make a huge impact...