Meal Plan

Here is the meal plan the nutritionist gave me...

Diet and Exercise

It has been a while since my last post, because the acupuncturist said that she couldn't do anything for me.

Now, I'm trying diet and exercise. I saw an endocrinologist and a nutritionist to find out how much I should be eating and exercising. They both agreed that I should eat 1400-1600 calories a day with at least 80 grams of that being protein. I also need to increase the intensity of my exercise, so I joined Jazzercise upon the recommendation of a work friend (Thanks, Latina!).

It has been a few months and I am down more than ten pounds. My cycle has not regulated, though. I guess I need to lose more. :(

Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Acupuncture Treatments

The ninth and tenth treatments were the same as the others, so I didn't feel the need to post the exact same thing I've posted multiple times before.

Today was my eleventh acupuncture treatment. It was the same for the first part, but then she asked me to turn over onto my stomach. She placed needles with stimulation in the center of my lower back and left them there for 10 minutes.

Since the Chinese herbs in pill form have not made progress on my menstrual cycle, she had me purchase Chinese herbs in natural form. I had to boil them twice for 30 minutes and strain the water to drink it. It the herbs stunk up my entire house and the water tasted horrible. After my husband complained about the smell, I burned three incense sticks in a row to get rid of the smell. The taste was similar to very bad, very strong, regular coffee. At my appointment the doctor said that I could add water, which helped a little.

Eighth Acupuncture Treatment

This morning's appointment was more of the same. She inserted the same needles in the stomach with electric stimulation. One needle inside each ankle, inside each elbow, inside each ear, above each knee, and on the top of my head. This time, she placed another needle on my hand above the thumb joint. There still hasn't been any progress regarding my cycle, so she placed ear seeds in the top of each ear.

Hopefully, something will happen before my appointment next Tuesday. I'm getting impatient.

Sixth and Seventh Acupuncture Treatments

Friday morning was my sixth acupuncture treatment. As usual, the stomach needles were in the same place with electric stimulation and a heat lamp. Again, she placed one needle on the inside of each ankle and one slightly to the inside of both thighs, just above the knees. This time she added one below each knee and put one inside each elbow. The one on top of my head was in the same place. She changed the herbs to Shao Fu Zhu Yu Wan and Dang Gui Wan. Hopefully, they will help get my cycle flowing.

This morning was my seventh acupuncture treatment. The stomach needles were in the same place with electric stimulation and a heat lamp. Again, she placed one needle on the inside of each ankle and one slightly to the inside of both thighs and one inside each elbow. However, this time she added two below each knee. The one on top of my head was in the same place, and she placed one inside the top of each ear.  I drifted off early in the appointment, but a clatter in the next room woke me up. The lady in that room had fallen asleep and kicked the stimulation machine onto the floor. I fear doing that and having it pull the needles out of my stomach. Ouch! After finding out that the noise woke me, she told me that one time a male patient was deeply asleep and sat straight up when she came in to take out the needles. That is another ouch, as you are not supposed to sit up with needles in your stomach. He thought that he was at home and she was an intruder. Hopefully, I never fall that deeply asleep during a treatment.

Fifth Acupuncture Treatment

Today’s visit was much like the last. The only difference in needle placement was that she placed one beneath each of my knees. She did not do a hip treatment this time. The electric pulse in my stomach was a little stronger. 

I allowed myself to relax even more and was able to meditate without thinking about the needles.

I’m still waiting on my cycle to begin. Hopefully, it will start before my appointment on Friday.

Fourth Acupuncture Treatment

This morning was my fourth acupuncture treatment. The doctor had read in my electronic medical file that I have had hip pain over the last year, so she placed needles with electric stimulation around the hip. As usual, the stomach needles were in the same place with electric stimulation and a heat lamp. Again, she placed one needle on the inside of each ankle and one slightly to the inside of both thighs, just above the knees. The one on top of my head was in the same place, and she place one inside the top of each ear. The left one left a slight blood trail down the inside of my ear, but I didn't notice until I was getting ready to leave. I drifted off toward the end of the appointment, so I have finally learned to relax through the treatments.

My next appointment is Tuesday afternoon. I'll post later that evening.

Third Acupuncture Treatment

I just had my third acupuncture treatment, and realized that I never mentioned that tongue checks are part of every appointment. The doctor checks your overall health by the color of your tongue. Previously, my tongue was a dark purple. Today, it is light pink (almost the color of my skin). Apparently, your tongue should be the color of your skin. That means I am much healthier today than I was last week. In addition to the color of my tongue, I started having stomach cramps after my previous treatment. The doctor said this was a very good sign. Since I have not had a period (sorry if this is too detailed) that was not medically induced for over a year, I think this is great!

Before the doctor came in the room to apply the needles, my body felt like it was on water when I closed my eyes. It wasn't nausea inducing, just a gentle rocking. It went away after the needles were in place for about five minutes. The electric stimulation on the stomach needles was stronger than it has been, so that was a little strange. It seems that those needles never change. However, the ones on my legs did. She placed one on the inside of each ankle and one slightly to the inside of both thighs, just above the knees. The one on top of my head was in the same place, and she place one inside the top of each ear. Since I had a long meeting before my appointment, I almost fell asleep with the needles in place. If it weren't for the rocking sensation, I would have been out before the needles went in.

I'll post again after my next appointment, Friday.

Second Acupuncture Treatment

Wednesday evening, I purchased two Chinese Herbal Medicines (as prescribed by the doctor). The recommendations were to take 8 of each (Xue Fu Zhu Yu Wan and Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan) before each meal (3 times a day). I started before dinner on Wednesday. These look like tiny black pearls and are easy to swallow.

At today's appointment, the doctor put the needles in the same place on my stomach and top of the head. She placed the needles on different spots on my legs, and added needles to my right arm and ears. The one in my right ear is the only one I felt. It felt like a pin prick that dissipated after a few minutes.

I was more relaxed today and almost fell asleep. The experience today was even better than the first one, so I could get used to this. I'll post more after my Tuesday appointment, next week.

First Acupuncture Treatment

I had my first acupuncture (I keep adding an extra "c" at the beginning) treatment this morning. I was feeling a little overwhelmed when she told me that it would take longer than I expected to get my body back in balance. Had I known eight years ago that acupuncture could improve my fertility, I would have tried it then. Unfortunately, I only found out about the benefits a few months ago. However, I am glad that I finally found this alternative.

The doctor informed me that my insurance would not cover fertility acupuncture, but said that the treatments would be the same for my headaches and lower back pain. Since the objective is to get the body in balance and functioning properly, treatment is the same for many conditions. If this fixes my ovulation issues, thyroid condition, headaches, AND lower back pain, I will be in great shape!

The appointment only took an hour, and was painless. I was expecting the needles on my stomach, but they were also placed on my calves (I'm glad I shaved!), one hand (above the thumb), the top of my head, and my sternum. I only felt the needle go in on my hand and my head. The one on my head just felt like she pulled out a hair, but subsided quickly. The prick on my hand took a few minutes to dissipate. She used electrodes to stimulate the needles in my stomach, and placed a heat lamp over that area. The 30 minutes that I had to remain still with the needles in place went by quickly. Had I not be anxious at this first appointment, I would have fallen asleep. When she removed all of the pins, she placed suction cups (similar to shot glasses) on my stomach. Those felt a little weird, but were only in place for about five minutes.

Though this will take longer than I originally expected (One blogger conceived within six weeks; it will probably take me six months to a year), I want to give it a shot. My next appointment is this Friday. My body is so out of balance, I need  two treatments a week for 5 weeks. I'll let you know what happens at my next visit.