test blog #10

I decided to try acupuncture again. In October, I saw my nephew and niece-in-law who practice Traditional Chinese Medicine and other holistic healing methods. They encouraged me to use our small insurance benefit on more treatment, even though I can't afford to continue it past that. I purposely started in December, so I could use the acupuncture allowance for 2012, then go straight into the benefit for the 2013 calendar year, for maximum bang for my insurance buck. I definitely feel a change. I have more energy, my head is clearer (less fibro fog), and I am cooler . Like many women my age, I am always overheated. My face is usually flushed, and I have frequent and pronounced hot flashes. I always ran warm - always preferred winter to summer, rarely complain about the cold, and so on - so this age-heat thing has been pretty dreadful. And suddenly, it's 90% gone. The doctor expected immediate results and seemed frustrated that it took five or six treatments to start working. He...

While combing through old posts for a "best of wmtc 2009," I came upon my reports on my acupuncture experience. The first time I tried acupuncture , it was with a physiotherapist who was using it for deep-muscle trigger-point stimulation. The effects were good, but they were very localized - it only effected the one trigger point she stimulated. The treatment was very time-consuming and painful, and turned out to be too impractical for something as generalized as fibromyalgia. But my second experience with acupuncture was very different. I saw a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, right in my own neighbourhood. Treatments were quick, painless - and very helpful. Reading these old posts reminded me what excellent results I had. I didn't have a reduction in pain or tenderness, although the doctor thought I would eventually. But I did experience a huge increase in mental clarity and ability to concentrate. It was like having my old brain back again. (It also rem...

First I was away for a week, then my Chinese Medicine doctor is away for two weeks, then when he's back, I'm away for my annual early-April trip to New York and New Jersey. I took home extra herbs, but I won't have the full treatment with needles for a month. So I'm unintentionally conducting an experiment on the effects of my recent acupuncture therapy. Lo and behold, my symptoms are increasing. I'm experiencing a sharp increase in pain and a marked decrease in energy level. My brain is fuzzy - enough so I realize how clear it had been. It's not the worst I've ever been, but it's not great. Coincidence? It's possible, but I don't think so. Perhaps I shouldn't still be amazed by this, but I am. Now I have a new problem. When I first started these treatments, I was going weekly, using Allan's supplemental health coverage. When I ran out of coverage, I cut back to every-other week, still a stretch financially, but theoretically doable. Now,...

I am extremely happy (and somewhat amazed) to report that the Chinese medicine treatments are having a positive effect on my fibromyalgia symptoms. I have more energy, better concentration and more mental clarity, less of the "brain fog" that characterizes this condition. It's a subtle change, but noticeable. At first I thought I might be having a good day, then a good week. But the changes have lasted. It's been three weeks since I noticed the difference, and it's still here. I'm really encouraged. Now comes the tricky part. Thanks to Allan having a job with benefits (USians and others: this is extra health coverage not covered by our provincial insurance), $400 worth of treatments was reimbursed. The doctor I've been seeing has very reasonable rates, much lower than many practitioners, so for that $400, I was able to give it a decent try. Now that I've used the entire acupuncture benefit, I can't afford to go for weekly treatments, unless my emp...

Last year, I wrote about my experience trying acupuncture to treat my fibromyalgia. This was not traditional acupuncture by a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) doctor. It was done by a physiotherapist who is also trained in some acupuncture. She used a method to release the fibro "trigger points". The treatments did provide me with great symptom relief for a few days after each session. However, the treatments were quite painful and I'd be out of commission all day from the after-effects. In addition, the treatment was very localized. It only worked on the trigger points the needles touched. We did as many as I could tolerate, but I have these painful trigger points all over my body. It would be way too painful - plus enormously expensive and time-consuming - to hit each one. And, as I said, the relief was only for a few days. It wasn't practical as ongoing treatment. I tried this for a few sessions, then gave up. The supplemental health insurance we get through All...

Several people asked to hear about my recent experience with acupuncture. I was delaying, because I couldn't figure out how to write about it without going into my whole medical history, my fibromyalgia, my years of mis-diagnosis, what medications and treatments I use, and so on. I don't mind sharing any of that information, but on the other hand, I don't feel a need to write about it, either. There's a lot of health and wellness blogging, and that's great if it helps you, but it's not for me. My approach to my health is to do what I need to do, and not focus on it any more than I have to. This is not to minimize my own issues or anyone else's. I just don't want my health issues to define me. Through my writing , I've known so many people with significant, permanent disabilities who don't let their limitations define their lives. They are models for me; I strive to do the same. So here's the quickie version. I have fibromyalgia , which cause...

I mentioned here that a podiatrist said I should start wearing shoes in the house. That is, I should go back to what I did before I moved to Canada. In comments, some readers had useful suggestions about picking up a pair of cheap shoes at Payless or the like, to be worn exclusively inside. Alas, that won't work. On a follow-up visit, Ms Podiatrist explained that shoes are 50% of the treatment, and my feet should be in good, supportive running shoes, as often as possible. She showed me the x-rays and explained why - and explained what gruesome things will happen if I don't take this pain seriously. I then realized that, because I work from home five days a week, I am in slippers more often than not. (Nice, eh?) That's a lot of time of non-support. So I have to buy another pair of good running shoes, and keep them for inside the house. At least they will last a long time. Ms Podiatrist gave me a tip on a place in Mississauga that sells close-outs and last season's mode...

I had an interesting coincidence of events yesterday. Last night we watched the DVD extras on Michael Moore's "Sicko". There's a lot of good stuff: an extended interview with the great Tony Benn ; interviews with Dr. Aleida Guevara from Cuba and Dr. Marcia Angell in New York; information on HR 676 , John Conyers's and Dennis Kucinich's bill for universal health insurance; Elizabeth Warren explains how even people who pay enormous sums for health insurance and think of themselves as well protected, find themselves bankrupt when they get seriously ill. And of course, there are more heartbreaking stories of Americans who have died because they are not rich. In discussing these pieces, Allan and I agreed that real health care reform - single-payer, non-profit, universal insurance - would first require an entire overhaul of the election system. In order to take on the insurance companies, candidates would have to be free of corporate influence, but still able to...