Has anyone done acupuncture and Chinese herbs for their PCOS? How did it work for you? Feelings? Suggestions?
I've had about 5 sessions and already noticing differences. I'm hoping the changes are real and not just coming from my hopes. I guess I'm curious about long-term changes. My acupuncturist says I eventually won't need the treatments, but I'm still skeptical. Has anyone had long-term success, even after treatment?
I have a session tonight, so hopefully I'll get some more information on my "progress." In the meantime, I'll fill you in on my problems and what I've done so far.
I have always had horribly irregular periods...ranging from under 14 to over 120 days between periods. They've been known to last as few as 4 and as long as 21 days. I have tried everything to track them...basal body temperatures, bodily fluids (tmi?), calendars tracking. Nothing has worked. I was on various different birth controls (at last count it was 5 different ones, none working for more than 1 year) between the ages of 15 and 23, when I finally took myself off. When I found out I had PCOS, I did a lot of research and realized the majority of medicines are, of course, not 100% effective. What turned me away was hearing about the countless negative side effects from conventional medicine and just the idea of putting chemicals into a body that is already going haywire crazy hormones.
So...about my acupuncture thus far. I have had about 5 sessions over almost 2 months. Ideally they want me going once a week, but it hasn't worked out that way. The sessions last about an hour where they talk to you about how you've been feeling, physically and mentally. My doctors have been very thorough. They insert the needles and leave you for about 30 minutes. It's actually quite relaxing. I really look forward to it. I'm also on Chinese herbs and vitamins (a daily, zinc and B complex). I don't know what exactly is helping, but I've already noticed a difference. For one, I've had my first 28-day cycle in....years! (Let's see what my acupuncturist says about that) My appetite is so much more controlled. I'm not craving specific foods as much. (this was a huge thing for me!) My energy level has increased by a lot and I'm so much more relaxed throughout the day.
I know that's a lot of information to take in. If you're looking for specifics, let me know. I'm interested in what you've read about it. And anyone else, for that matter. This is all new to me; I'd love to hear what others have gone through.
I'm doing chinese herbs and acupuncture for my PCOS. I've been doing it for about 5 weeks now. (2 times a week)
I do feel that it's working and I definitely feel better after an acupuncture session.
Right after I started the acupuncture therapy, I noticed I would get super cold easily. Now I don't get cold so easily, but my boyfriend has noticed that I feel warm to the touch. So I think it's working. My acupuncturist said that was a good sign, because it means that energy (qi) is moving around.
I also think that chinese herbs, if they're the right herbs for you, will work very quickly. I was taking an herb formulation that was causing a lot of pimples (even a cold sore!), and when my acupuncture doctor and acupuncturist noticed they immediately put me on a different herbal formulation that made the pimples go away quickly and made the cold sore go away in about half the time (and 1/3 the severity) of a "normal" cold sore. Before I went to this doctor, I was seeing a different doctor who was just giving me herbs (herbs that weren't right for me) and I was getting zero results.
I haven't had a period since late March, and I'm getting kind of nervous about not having one for so long. I've been getting super bad cramps though, so I'm hoping AF is soon.
__________________ All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia and frustration is this: Act as if it were impossible to fail. That is the talisman, the formula, the command of right about face which turns us from failure to success. -- Anonymous
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Hi Montana,
Are you taking loose herbs or in pill form? Right now I only have the money (and time) for the pills. They seem to be working great, but I'm wondering if it's worth it to switch over.
I had another great acupuncture session last night. They said my pulse felt strong and they liked my overall optimism.
I'm taking herbs in tablets now, although they started me off on a loose herb packet that I would boil in water, then drink the tincture. Then I had pills that they gave me, ground herbs in capsules.
__________________ All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia and frustration is this: Act as if it were impossible to fail. That is the talisman, the formula, the command of right about face which turns us from failure to success. -- Anonymous
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Besides the mixup with the herb combination, have you noticed a difference in effectiveness with the loose vs. pills? I'm glad they were able to find a combination that works for you.
I think the preference is loose herbs over pills (because of potency issues). However, the herb formulation I'm on now is a "patent formulation" (not Patent as in it's exclusive, but patent in that it's so common it has its own name) and I'm assuming that's the best way they have to give me the medicine I need.
I'm not sure how well it's working; for about a week now I've been getting progressively more moody, I get cramps and (TMI) my nipples have been hurting a lot too (which has never happened). I keep hoping it's AF on her way but then I also know I've had "phantom PMS" off and on for the past couple of weeks and I don't want to get my hopes up.
The acupuncture definitely makes me feel better though! I haven't felt the "woosh" yet though. I guess I'm not relaxing enough or something. My back is super-sensitive though. Plus, I feel like something's happening in my legs for a day or two after I've had acupuncture. (They put needles in my legs too)
__________________ All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia and frustration is this: Act as if it were impossible to fail. That is the talisman, the formula, the command of right about face which turns us from failure to success. -- Anonymous
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I feel like a broken record because I write the praises of acupuncture on this website every chance I get. I have always had irregular cycles ranging from 30-36 days. I never knew that it was a sign of something amiss until my husband and I started TTC last June. While everyone around me was getting pregnant I was still trying to determine when I was ovulating. I spent hundreds of $'s on the CBEFM and other home OPKS. In March 2007 on CD 37 after a dozen negative HPT's I realized something was wrong. That cycle wound up being 54 days and I was diagnosed with PCOS.
I started acupuncture twice a week on day 1 of my next cycle. That cycle wound up being 34 days, my next cycle was 31 days and my 3rd cycle with my acupuncturist was on track to be 28 days, but I got pregnant. I know the IUI I had on June 1st helped, but I believe 100% that the acupuncture is what regulated my crazy hormones. When I met my RE for the first time on May 31st, he administered an ultrasound that showed I had a follicle at 21 mm, with no fertility meds of any kind. I had the IUI the following day. I am convinced it is the treatments that got my body back on track. I am continuing to see my acupuncturist 2 a week to ensure my baby keeps growing.
I realize not every woman with PCOS is trying to get pregnant, but it is amazing how much you are affected by your menstrual cycle being off, it seeps into everything. I noticed a change in my energy level, my attitude, my circulation, and in my sleep patterns. I read one women's account on this website whose case of PCOS was not being helped by acupuncture, but after 3 months her acupuncturist told her it wasn't helping. If you find the right person they will be honest with you.
Good luck!!
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Me - 30 DH - 34 Acupuncture, Prenatals IUI - June 1, 2007 BFP - June 13, 2007 IT'S A GIRL!! EDD - Feb 22, 2008
I like what you said about everyone being affected by their menstrual cycles. I am not currently trying to get pregnant...I want to be a little more regular and am attempting to prevent a worsening of my PCOS (I'm guessing it gets worse as time goes on).
My "cycles" were the worst when I was (finally) diagnosed a few months back. I would have phantom pms all the time and would never be visited by AF. That's why this month was such a shocker. I started getting a little crampy and (tmi) breast tenderness I always associated with AF. I expected it to be another phantom AF (who would expect the acupuncture to work so quickly) and was shocked (excited) to realize it came.
Just like finding a normal doctor, you go through some trial and error with finding a good acupuncturist. I had to drop my first one becuase he wasn't as personable. I didn't feel like I could talk to him freely about what was going on with my body. The lead woman I have now is amazing. Since acupuncturists cater treatments specifically to you, it really matters what you're talking about (if that makes any sense).
In a little over a month I had my first "real" (?) 28-day cycle.
I need to follow that up with the point that I have only gone through one 4 month stint of not having AF. My cycles are normally all over the place...can go as high as 50-some days between. I never know when it'll come. This last one was different becuase when I started feeling the usual PMS problems (cramps, breast tenderness, bloating), it was actually followed by a period. For the past hundred of years (heh) they were always "phantom" symptoms.
I guess only time will tell if the acupuncture is actually working. I'm tracking my BBT and watching my cycles on a calendar. I'll keep you posted.
How often are your acupuncture appointments? Have you started herbs? I'm also doing vitamins. That might be something you want to talk to your acupuncturist about. just a suggestion.
I will be starting the herbs in a couple of days, my next accupuncture treatment is this week. it has been about 65 days since my last period. Since my last accupuncture I have had some cramps but no AF, I do however feel as though I am "leaking" all the time. Don't know what is up with that but hopefully I will get AF soon.
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It might be too early to tell, but the "wetness" feeling could be the start of ovulation. Take a look at this site: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pre...renessNFP.html
scroll to the bottom to the "Cervical Mucus" section. If you do other basic Internet searches for tracking menses, you should find some interesting stuff. Kind of cool the way our bodies work (when they're working correctly).
ABetterWay, when the acupuncture helped you with the first period, did you have worse PMS symptoms than usual?
I've been getting really tired (like, so tired I don't want to go to work, and I LOVE my job!) and really sad (weepy) lately. I've also been getting bad cramps (cramps for a week, bad cramps for the past few days now).
__________________ All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia and frustration is this: Act as if it were impossible to fail. That is the talisman, the formula, the command of right about face which turns us from failure to success. -- Anonymous
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Acupuncture 
