Electrical shocks for me

The post title might sound a little awkward. But this is what I received yesterday. I went in for my usual appointment with my acupuncturist. I have been seeing her for over a year now and I am really happy with her. Especially because she has given me the Chinese wonder medicine against endometriosis.

Most of the times, I am laying there, waiting for her to come in and fall half asleep before she comes in. Usually she comes in, asks about how I am doing and about any updates. Then she measures my pulse on both sides and wants to see my tongue. She then asks whether I am feeling hot. Then she uses some disinfectant and starts to set the needles. First in my head and ears and then on my belly and legs. Then her helper comes in and pins the needles a little. I guess this is to stimulate the points where the needles are sticking. It usually doesn't really hurt. She leaves the room and I don't get to see her any more. Her helper comes in about every 10 minutes to pin the needles. After about 30 minutes, he comes back in takes the needles out and then I am free to go. I usually fall asleep during the procedure. Afterwards I feel completely relaxed.

Yesterday she suggested using electrical stimulation for the needles. It was first awkward to think about the idea of having little electro shocks. But she said, it is more effective than the needle pinching. Well, if that is the case. Bring it on!!!

Afterwards I had to turn around and she focused on my kidneys. I never had to turn around before. She set some needles for just 3 minutes. And then I was done. I wonder why she is changing her technique now. As long as it helps me, I don't mind. Anyone out there who has experiences with acupuncture? What does your acupuncturist usually do? Do they use electrical stimulating?

We just changed our health insurance to one that pays 24 treatments a year. I have been paying the acupuncture myself for the last year. Which was quite a lot. I just did a quick calculation. I went there every two weeks for about 6 months, plus during our IVFs every week for another 6 months. I guess, I have paid about $1600 to 2000 for this little luxury. Plus the costs for the herbs. But it has helped me overcome the endometriosis. And it was all worth it. Even if I didn't get a sustainable pregnancy out of this.

When I did the acupuncture while doing IVF simultaneously, we had 6 eggs to start with after the IVF retrieval. When I didn't have time to go there regularly while we did our third round of IVF, we only got 3 although we were stimulating at a much higher dose. I guess that says it all.

I am meeting the D.C. Stirrup Queens and Lori this week-end and am very excited to meet people that I have never met in person, but which have supported me more than some of my friends IRL. Have a great weekend.

Seven random things about me...

I am so excited because Hoping for a child tagged me. If I understand this correctly, I'm supposed to list seven random or unusual things about myself and then tag seven others...

Anyway, here goes.

1. I grew up on a farm with dairy cows.

2. My parents, my brother and me took our first vacation as a family in 2003 when I was 29 years old.

3. I love to watch "The Unit", "Tyra Banks Show", "Desperate Housewives", and "24"

4. I love to play Minigolf.

5. If I could choose my last supper before I die, it would be my Mom's duck with potato dumplings.

6. I love to sleep and hibernate in the winter. I can spend a whole week-end on the couch.

7. My order at Starbucks is a grande Caramel Macchiato (winter) and an iced grande Caramel Macchiato (summer).

I would like to tag Mary Ellen, Lori, Lindsay, Katie, Serenity Cam, and Yodasmistress.

This morning I had a great and long telephone conversation with my best friend. She has already two kids and they were screaming in the background. One of them is my god-child and I feel so blessed to have her and her family in my life. She is wonderful and I miss her every day and am sad that she lives so far away. We met at a party convention party and had so much fun that night and many nights after that. We have been best friends since then and spent lots of time together. We share a lot of beautiful memories of a time when we were both young and single. She wants me to move back to Europe, but that ain't happening any time soon...

Today I went in to see my acupuncturist. She is a Chinese doctor and I always feel great and relaxed after the acupuncture. Very often I fall asleep during the treatment. My husband calls her the "witch doctor" because she has given me all kinds of herbs: something to strengthen my kidneys, something when I had the first miscarriage (unfortunately too late), and a couple of months ago, she has given me the best thing ever; a Chinese medicine with which I can keep my endometriosis under control. I haven't had any problems since and am very happy about it. There was a time in my life in the last year and parts of this year where I felt there was nothing I could do to live a life free of pain. She has given me a cure that allows me to live pain-free without having to go on the pill. I can't emphasize enough how blessed I feel to have her. I told her about my FSH level of 26.6 from Monday and she said that my ovaries are overstressed and I should wait. It will regulate itself again, but I should just try naturally. Well, at this point, we don't really have a choice, do we? It sounded like she still believes that we might be able to conceive naturally - one day.

The lady from the agency called me finally back yesterday afternoon. I told her the situation and managed to squeeze us in for today at 5:30 p.m. I am very excited that we finally get to find out which information we have to get together for our home study.