Acupuncture. Relaxing or mild torture?

[isthismummy]

Because I'm starting to think it's the latter...

Just been for an appointment this morning. I was hoping it might help chill me out before we fly to Greece tomorrow for initial ED consultation.

It bloody hurt! My legs were throbbing. I couldn't move my body at all without shooting pains. It's still really sore an hour later! This is my third appointment. The last two left me feeling tired and ill (although not as painful as this one) My acupuncturist says it's because my body is so stressed and low that the treatment is drawing it out of me I thought acupuncture was supposed to leave you energised?

Am I missing something here? I'd love to hear other people's thoughts/experiences.

I know! I was horrified! I took time at home to Google it and could barely find anything about it at all, never mind if it was even good for fertility!

Hi as others have said I think you should try someone else. Some needles can hurt but acupuncturist should remove them and place where they don’t - unless you can cope with the pain and it’s not too bad. Your therapist is not allowed to say that you need it every week etc. Under the code of conduct they should ask you when you would like to come back. They are allowed to suggest you could try every week but they are not allowed to say you have to.

They also have a choice of needle size so should use smaller ones if they are hurting you.

Hi isthismummy it sounds like you need a different acupuncturist or save your cash! I’ve had it during all my 5 ivf cycles and only 1 cycle worked. So you could say I wasted ALOT of money having it on subsequent unsuccessful cycles but I wonder if that’s more to do with the fact that I’m basically geriatric now in fertility terms . It did relax me though and if it hurt, my acupuncturist would take the needle out and reinsert in a different spot or just leave it for that session. Accupuncture should enable you to chill out, I used to have a nap during my sessions. It’s important to feel that whatever you are doing during this time is helpful, if not it’s just more stress which definitely won’t help. It’s stressful enough! I used to get needles in my ankles, abdomen, wrists and forehead.

Good luck, I’ve seen your other thread and am really glad you are holding your nerve and going ahead. We spend our entire time massively overthinking all this! It’s good that you are questioning choices, it means you are thoughtful and sensible. Going on what you’ve said, it sounds like you are following the right path x

Acupuncture shouldn't hurt. I have it at the physio clinic in a hospital as mine is for joint and muscular pain but you should barely even feel the needles go in and I often fall asleep while having it. Sometimes you get muscle twitches and tingling and that is normal but never pain. Once it was giving me a pressure headache type pain and I told him and he tweaked the needles until it stopped.

Find a new acupuncturist and not one from one of these Chinese medicine shops. They are notorious for being crap. Try one based in a sports centre or clinic as they are more likely to have had formal training.

She never asks where you are in your cycle????? 😧

How does she know what to treat or where to pin if she has no idea if you’ve ovulated or not. Wow. Do not go back to her. She sounds like a monster!!!! Find a fertility specialist who will listen to your needs. Where abouts are you based. I’m in Manchester.