Acupuncture?!?!

[yoyo]

Just wondering if anyone has tried acupuncture for PNI? It's interesting reading some of the studies done on the effects of acupuncture upon depression in general. For some it seems to work but not others.

Any advice?

[yoyo]

Well I took the plunge and have had my first chinese medicine/scupuncture session - next one istomorrow.

It was so nice to talk to someone who actually listened and explained why I felt the way I did. As my PNI was probably triggered by a high blood loss I am having treatment to improve the performance of my blood and internal organs. After the first session and lot of herbs I felt shattered but just tired - not completely flat and 'spent' - a really nice change! The following day I felt really good, just the odd low point rather than a low day with the odd good point. I'm suffering again today but will see if I get a bit more relief after tomorrow's session. I was told that after 5 sessions I should see noticeable improvements. I thought it was worth a shot.

So far so good. Will keep you posted.

x

[yorkslass]

yes please let us know how it goes


Melx

[monica]

Hi

I had 2 sessions of acupuncture. Many of my syptoms were physical. I had this pressure sensation round my right eye, headaches, numb patches and mega stress, anxiety obsession with death and illness, however, these emotional ones seemed not as bad as they had been as I'd already started antidepressants.

The woman explained that she thought I'd got PNI after my second baby (I was fine after my first) as at 30 the hormnes start dipping. I'd also had a miscarriage not long prior to my second babe being born and she thought this had upset the balance or they'd dipped more than they would have without the pregnancies. I, too, lost a fair amount of blood during the birth, but it had otherwise been straight forward and quick.

She put needles underneath my eye and on the eye brow, the back of the head on my arms and hands (the latter were for stress). She said to take it easy afterwards. The day after I felt fantastic for the first time in months. The pressure round my eye had practically disappeared and I felt well and healthy and not particuarly anxious. I went for a second session about 2 weeks later. I ended up having to take my eldest son, who was into everything and had the TV on. I felt as if I couldn't relax properly. I went home and had to rush to get ready for a night shift at work and to top things off my partner was in a foul mood. That session didn't seem to do much for me and things seemed to go back to how they were before as far as the pressure sensation round my eye is concerned.

I haven't been back again as she suggested I return when I have symptoms to work with and generally I have been feeling much better.

I really hope it works for you.

Monica

[yoyo]

Had my second session - I've been very tired since - apparently that means it's working well. But the tiredness is just that - tiredness/shattered but not completely flat or anything. I feel more positive in myself and the physical sides of things seem to be dying down a tad - so far so good!!

[quootiepie]

ive heard of acupuncture helping, and i was thinking about giving it a go, but a have a very severe fear of needles... can you feel it happening?

and monica, if you dont mind me asking, what do you think about death? ive recently devloped a serious phobia of it, and it sends me into a panic, but i didnt link it with pni... just wondered if it was linked...

thanks x

[Veritee]

Dear Yoyo
( and quootiepie later in this post, I hope no one minds me responding 2 in 1???)

Lots of luck with your Acupuncture YoYo– it will be interesting to see if it has any effect as I am always looking for effective treatments of PNI.
They do say that with Acupuncture you feel worse before you feel better.

I had it for pain and after 2 sessions I defiantly felt much worse – and very tired - and was told that this was because it was working.

But I am afraid I took the cowards way out as the pain really was unbearable and I never went back!

I do not usually give up like this – but it was costing me so much that I could not really afford anyway ( and this is the problem with many complimentary/alternative therapies that they cost a lot, my Acupuncture was £36 a session, and way beyond the pockets of many – I am on DLA and not currently working ironically because of the pain from an accident – so I really can not afford these therapies

And I suppose this time I took the short term view – that I was not willing to pay what I could not afford for something that made me feel worse!!

But hopefully you will have more sticking power than me – so let us know how you get on

And how you feel

Veritee

Dear quootiepie

I hope you do not mind me responding?

A fear of death is just so common with PNI - that yes I have to say in my opinion it is without a doubt, linked.

I had many many symptoms in the 5 years of PNI - but one of them that was pretty consistent was a fear that I might die ( even though their was no reason that could be found that could lead to death) and a fear of dying.
( I also felt at times I had died but thats another story)

This was also linked for me with a constant feeling of dread that did not lift day and night for nearly 4 years.

I would see my potential death in everything - programmes on the TV news, films whatever, that had nothing to do with me and very unlikely to happen from accident, murder to illness would set of yet another train of thoughts about how I might be dying or might die - and the fear of this

Many women on here have talked about this feeling of dread or that a disaster is going to befall them of their family and many have had a fear that they are dying or of the possibility of dying or fear of dying itself.

In fact if you read between the lines of many posts that are about feeling unwell, or worrying that they have a serious illness - although this is not about fear of death for all with physical symptoms or worry about physical health -

actually underling this for many is the fear that they have a life threatening illness and that they may die and fear death.

So I have to say that in my opinion this fear is very much about your PNI.

In fact when you have PNI you can have a range of obsessive thoughts and fears and develop more than one phobia - so while you are suffering PNI I think you should consider the possibility that any phobias you develop or get worse during the time you are ill with PNI - are actually part of your PNI, or at least have been triggered by PNI!

The good news about this is that they should go completely once you recover from PNI - which you will.

Some phobias that are more deeply based and have been triggered by your PNI may not go totally without further treatment - but it is certain that when you no longer have PNI even more deeply seated fears will not intrude on your everyday life as I am sure this fear is for you at present.

Have you read through past posts in the forum - or done a search on fear of dying as I know that this has been discussed before - but I can not remember where


If you click ‘search ‘ on the menu bar, tell it to search for ‘death dying’ and set the number of days to search as 400 ( as I think there were some on this subject that go back sometime) and if you have a reasonable connection set the Maximum results to 200 – I am sure you will find some posts that relate to fears of death and dying.

Please keep talking here and tell us about yourself as we may be able to help

All the best

veritee

[quootiepie]

Hiya,

Thank you so much for that, i presumed i had developed a phobia of dying (and growing old) and it wasnt related, so therefore would never go... Seems theres light at the end of the tunnel...

[Veritee]

Fear of dying and growing old when you have PNi is for many related to a fear that you will not be around to look after your baby right through to adulthood.

Many of the fears and phobias women talk about when they have PNI often deep down relate to the fear that they are not adequate as a parent/mum and will somehow let that baby down in some way.

And what could let a baby down more than dying when the child is still quite young or at least not and adult.

and getting old the same - that you may not be around long enough to see your child/ren grow up and happy in their own lives.

Of course it is not the same for everyone with PNI and while worrying that you may let your child/ren down is at the route of many womens fears with PNI - it is not so for everyone

and depending on your own life experiences your fears could be for quite different reasons so only you can know what might be at the root of them.

But whatever your phobias and anxieties are about

I stand by saying that if you develop them when you have had a baby within a couple of years and you have PNI.

It is pretty certain that your phobia is one of the symptoms of PNI.

So I am sure that you will recover from this fear as you recover from PNI.

But having said this - these fears can be very frightening and just because they are part of PNI does not mean you should not talk about them here and how your fears affect you and how they make you feel??

If you want to please tell us about your fear of dying and growing old.

These fears are different for everyone - and sometimes it helps to describe what exactly frightens you and what form you fears take ie what would be your worse case scenario, what do you fear happening the most? what may your fears be triggered by?


Do not think you have to answer - of course you do not - only if it will help? all the best

veritee



All the best

Veritee

[quootiepie]

Hiya
Ive tried to think hard about my thoughts and feelings when i was in a panic about dying etc., but... i just dont know. I think i blocked out the memories of having the episodes so much, that my head gets all confused when i try and remember things... one thing i remember is just a feeling of when i am old... ie. 70+ that i would know i would be dying soon, and my life would be ending, without my say in the matter. I would see something on tv or something, and i would be enveloped in panic, true panic, and feel so so sick. Sometimes at night i would think about it aswell (and other things eg. my baby etc.) and i would shake and id have to jump up and turn the light on, and id run round like a headless chicken. Many nights i was in SebDoc (out of hours doctors) getting diazpam... i couldnt cope with anything, my head literally felt like it was going to explode... driving home, it took everthing to stop me jumping out of the car on a fast road... i was a mess. I thn wouldnt go to sleep at night, staying up until about 8am so i could go to sleep when i was very very tired and when it was light.

Since being on anti-depressents and in general, got my life abit more sorted out and stable, these feelings have gone slightly, and the panic attacks dont happen as often, or as intense. When i am feeling "normal", my fears seem almost silly and i can cope with them, and rationlise them. Im not sure why i had/have these fears... at the same time as they were at their worst, i was riddled with guilt over the abortion, i was more than scared my partner would never come back to me, i was MORE than angry at his parents... i felt i was nothing. I felt i had nothing. Now, on the other hand, ive accepted (except when im feeling low) what i did to my baby, and learnt to move on, my partner and i are 100% ok now and living together, and his parents are stewing away, far away from us. And ive been given another boost having found out im pregnant... and at the same time, these fears have dissolved abit...

Im feeling ok right now, so this post is going in a happy, posative direction... right now i feel i have everything to live for and growing old only means seeing my children growing up and having their own families...definatly a good thing. But... tomorrow, the next day or next week i know ill come crashing down and be what i was a few months ago again for a while, a few hours prehaps. Wen that happens, ill write a long post about my feelings as my brain is so odd right now, i cant remember... feelings that well, or even events sometimes, and its only when i get down again, it all comes flooding back...

Sorry for a confusing post...

Sarah x

[yoyo]

ive heard of acupuncture helping, and i was thinking about giving it a go, but a have a very severe fear of needles... can you feel it happening?

[/quote]

You can hardly feel the needles at all - I was very surprised. There's a tiny little flick and then it's in. Depending on where you end up having them you don't even have to look (I get to lay down and look at the celing whilst they are put in my abdomen and legs. It's actually quite relaxing!! Bizarre!! I definitely feel better/worse at the same time - My symptoms have switched - I feel really really tired but not to a point of depression so much. Just sleepy tired and actually sleep can help relieve it a bit rather than before when I would sleep and feel no better for it at all.

It is pricey - around here it's £42 for consultation and £29 a session a course is 10 sessions and it's recommended that it'll take 1.2 to 2 courses to get you on your feet so to speak. My acupuncturist said that if I've felt no real benefit after 5 sessions to quit the treatment and I'll get 1/2 refund but he's sure he can really help.

Apparently some GP's can get you acupuncture on the NHS, depending on the local trust. Worth a shot!!

I just got to a point where I'd try anything to help and hadn't really considered chinese medicine and acupuncture - I've got my next lot on Friday so will let you know how things go.


FEAR OF DEATH - this is definitely common with PNI - I felt this too - each time I laid down and started thinking my thoughts would go to a fear of dying (think this was to do with collapsing in hospital and feeling so terribly ill all the time, thinking I was terminally ill or something) then they would switch to wanting to die. Very distressing. I still get the odd thoughts now and then but it's contained now, more rational. It's awful though as it's so real isn't it! Keep in there - it will pass eventually. I know that's not much comfort now but it IS possible to overcome this fear.

[yoyo]

Had my third session of acupuncture today - again feel really tired but just that - tired, not depressed or really low with it. can't believe what a difference it is making to me.

I'm having lots of weird symptoms though, think it's mainly the effects of the acupuncture (get worse to get better thing) and also I'm taking myself of citalopram slowly (was on 40mg per day) this is giving me brain zaps - if you know what I mean, headaches and joint ache with really bad bloatiness - I look 3 or 4 months pregnant again!!! Perish the thought!!!!

[monica]

Hi

I hope the acupuncture is helping. It's a shame it isn't free! I think I paid £35 for the first session then £30 after.

How are you feeling now, Yoyo? any better? Have you noticed any effects?

How are you doing Quotiepie? You asked about the fear of dying. Sorry I've nothad the chance to reply recently - I've just been so busy.

To be honest with you, I've always been quite frightened of dying - more my nearest and dearest than me, but since having children I've been more concerned about me dying. Saying that prior to PNI, this had never taken over my life. When PNI hit me, it was with physical symptoms. Also we found out my eldest son was a bit anaemic and I became completely obsessed with his health and dying.

The dying thing would be on my mind all day adn night. I couldn't sleep as I was thinking about it all the time. I'd eventually drop off then wake up and immediately these thoughts would flood into my head. I think about life for my kids without me and particularly how my eldest son would cope without me ( the other was a baby) and how upset he'd be. I'd also think about how I'd cope if they died and how life wouldn't be worth living. And this is all that was on my mind for practically every waking hour (and dreams, too) for about 3 months as well as feeling physically awful, too.

For me, the anti ds have helped a lot. I'm not so obssessive now, but I still have moments when these thoughts come back, although they're not as bad and I can reason better.

I agree with Yoyo - they will pass, I'm sure. But I agree, whilst you're having these thoughts, it's a nightmare.

Monica

[yoyo]

Hi Monica

The acupuncture is going well, I am now having it each week rather than every 4 days. My energy levels have picked up - I still get the odd rubbish day but it's much easier to deal with. I just go with it knowing that that afternon or following day will be better. I'm dead tired still but not so flat with it all. Am easing self of meds which complicates things as it's hard to work through the withdrawal effects sometimes. Doing much better though - a few months back I NEVER thought I'd be saying that!!!

Quotiepie - How are you doing? Are the thoughts easing a little for you?

[cheshire]

Veritee,

When you said (sorry I can't use the quote function):

''Some phobias that are more deeply based and have been triggered by your PNI may not go totally without further treatment ''

I think that this is where I am at now. As a teenager I had severe phobic anxiety for about 3 weeks around being in a car (especially on an open road)/ bed time and water.

I'm hoping, as you suggest that with some work these will settle down again.

This posting just caught my eye because this statement rang true.

Thanks, Hopefulx