Acupuncture

[PotatoCakes]

I had my first acupuncture appt today (to address dry eye). It was interesting. I'm not sure what I expected exactly so I can't say if it met my expectations or not. I did enjoy it and will be going back next Tuesday a.m.

First, for those unfamiliar with acupuncture, here are some basics:
- You stay clothed (unlike massages).
- It doesn't hurt. It feels like a tiny pinch in some areas, others, nothing but after the needle is in, you don't feel it.
- The needles are very tiny and rounded, unlike the needles used for shots. They also don't go all of the way in which is why they don't hurt the way the others do. You can't even see marks where I had needles and I always get marks with shots / blood draws.

I don't want to place too much hope on this, but at some point, my right eye began to water. It was clearly aqueous, not meibian (sp) but nevertheless, my right eye was definitely watering. It's a feeling I haven't had in years. My left eye, which was in worse shape before the serum drops (I don't know if one eye is better/worse than the other now) did not water.

Following the needle insertion, he left me on the heated (massage?) bed and covered with a foil blanket for about an hour. Prior to leaving the darkened room, he suggested some breathing exercises. Given my high level of stress, it took me some time to get the hang of the exercises. By the end of the session, I was so relaxed I felt like I was floating. I haven't been so relaxed for years, clearly I need to practice breathing exercises more often.

He gave me a Chinese medicine tea and some other supplements to take too. The appointment was not inexpensive but, as my husband pointed out, if it helps me, it will be worth it. My next appt will be less expensive because it will be just the treatment, without the supplements.

I'd say the rest of my day felt pretty typical (eye-wise). I have good days and bad days so I'm hesitant to credit today's pretty good day with the acupuncture despite the watering eye during the procedure.

[abbygirl]

I am very interested in hearing more about your experience with acupuncture. I finally made up my mind today to stop in an acupuncture place to talk about what they could do for me (dry eyes, stress, hormone issues) and the gal moved to another location!!! So, if I get my courage up again tomorrow I will try again!! Anything is worth trying...

[PotatoCakes]

I'll let you know how my next session goes. The acupuncturist did say that the effects are cumulative so don't expect a whole lot right away. If you have any specific questions that I didn't answer above, let me know.

one thing -- the Chinese medicine tea DOES kind of taste like dirt. It's not terrible, terrible but I'm glad the receptionist cautioned me not to use a ton of water when making it. A small amount of water means less to drink.

[Rebecca Petris]

I don't want to place too much hope on this, but at some point, my right eye began to water. It was clearly aqueous, not meibian (sp) but nevertheless, my right eye was definitely watering. It's a feeling I haven't had in years. My left eye, which was in worse shape before the serum drops (I don't know if one eye is better/worse than the other now) did not water.

That's really interesting. I'll be keen to hear how things progress for you.

You know, one of the developments I'm hoping will emerge with time is better identification of which treatment methods seem to benefit which types of people - from pharmaceutical to nutritional to acupuncture to whatever. Then some patients could spend less time in cookie cutter treatments (restasis plus lotemax plus azasite, etc) and more time refining the form of a treatment with the best hope of helping THEM.

I wonder if any Sjogrens or other severely aqueous deficient patients have been to your acupuncturist & whether they got some tearing.

[PotatoCakes]

I wonder if any Sjogrens or other severely aqueous deficient patients have been to your acupuncturist & whether they got some tearing.

That's a good question. I don't know. He said he wasn't surprised at the tearing but I don't take that to mean much.

One thing I have learned in this process, is that many traditional medical doctors are much more reluctant, or even completely uninterested, in finding a cause for dry eyes. This despite, me being fairly aggressive in the pursuit of a cause and I'm not shy talking to doctors since I grew up around them. My mom was recently talking to her eye doctor about my situation and he asked her if anyone had ever put me on a round of Prednisone. In 5+ years and well over 13 some doctors, not one has suggested Prednisone and until I went to my newest specialist, no one would test my hormone levels either -- and I asked a few doctors about it after my dad read something in a medical journal over a year ago. It took a naturopath to test my vitamin D levels and my acupuncturist wants 2 more very specific tests that none of my traditional doctors have mentioned. It's maddening.

[Rebecca Petris]

Yes, I'm with you on that, for sure. What really frustrates me with dry eye treatment (and medicine in general) is the compartmentalization. Treating eyeballs and eyelids as if they existed in a vacuum. It's really important to get people on our team - whoever they may be - who have a more comprehensive kind of competence in some way.

[y-gwair]

One thing I have learned in this process, is that many traditional medical doctors are much more reluctant, or even completely uninterested, in finding a cause for dry eyes. This despite, me being fairly aggressive in the pursuit of a cause and I'm not shy talking to doctors since I grew up around them. My mom was recently talking to her eye doctor about my situation and he asked her if anyone had ever put me on a round of Prednisone...

I agree, it's a real problem, not just for dry eyes but with managing autoimmune/inflammatory conditions more generally, there is no one who can see the big picture and specialists in one discipline don't always communicate well with those in others; it's easy to end up in one continual cycle of rheumatologist/opthalmologist/dermatologist all slightly at odds with each other.

Good luck with your acupuncture; my late father tried acupuncture for his severe trigeminal neuralgia; he thought the first course worked really well, but was disappointed when the second didn't work as well, I maintain an open mind on it.

[irish eyes]

Good luck with your acupuncture; my late father tried acupuncture for his severe trigeminal neuralgia; he thought the first course worked really well, but was disappointed when the second didn't work as well, I maintain an open mind on it.

I think it's wise to keep an open mind - I'm always cautious when I mention how acupuncture helps me.

I haven't been for treatment for some time but I used to have a few sessions throughout the year. When I felt my mood and energy levels spiralling, it was a signal to make an appointment with `my usual man'. Acupuncture didn't make my eyes any more moist but it restored a bit of vitality and I certainly felt the benefits.

I always go to the same practice; I've tried others but they lacked the range of expertise.

[PotatoCakes]

2nd Appointment

I had my second appt today. This time no tears in the right eye or left although, again, very relaxing. I'm not sure if it's hormones or a factor of the acupuncture but this time the needle insertions hurt a bit more. Again, not as much as a shot / blood draw but definitely more than the last time, specifically the ones near my eyes (the rest were fine).

Afterwards he asked me how my eyes were and the pleaser in me wanted to tell him that they felt great but I was truthful and told him that I didn't really feel any difference. He took many of the needles out but vibrated (gently, it was a bit uncomfortable but not painful) the needles that would affect my tears. After that, he removed all of the needles.

Then he applied pressure to various areas around my eyes and WOW, that definitely hurt. A lot. He used the pads of his thumbs and vibrated his thumbs a bit. I'm probably not describing the vibrating part very accurately but I'm not sure what word might be more descriptive. He said he wasn't doing it that hard (about 1/2 the pressure he might normally) but it felt really painful; I kept having to remind myself to breathe. It is possible that my sinuses are a bit inflamed as allergy season is full blown here and even though I take Flonase, I still have a tiny bit of stuffiness/runny nose. He attributed the pain to my system.

I'm going back next Tuesday. If I feel any big improvement or even a little one that might be attributable, I'll update this post.

One thing... before I meet with the acupuncturist, I meet with his assistant. His assistant asks a bunch of questions and one was how am I eating. I answered, "Well but I'm starving right now." I had eaten breakfast but my metabolism generally makes me hungry an hour or so later. He was very happy I had eaten breakfast but stressed how important it was to come in rested (I wasn't -- woke at 3am and couldn't get back to sleep) and nourished because you want the procedure (my word) to work on the problems not other issues like not enough rest or hunger. Next time I'll eat a granola bar or something on route and maybe take a sleeping pill before bed the night before if I'm too stressed to sleep well.

[mgshutterbug]

Afraid of acupuncture for eyes

I have started to go to an acupuncturist to help out with stress, trigeminal neuralgia, facial pain as result of botched neurosurgery (which is the cause of my dry eye), and pain from lyme disease. I have had about 6-7 sessions thus far. They have tremendously helped my stress level, and also have helped to a moderate degree with the pain from lyme disease. He has begun to treat me also for the facial pain, but I have not had noticeable changes with that yet. My acupuncturist has my full history, but I have not had him address the eyes yet. I will, but it's plenty scary enough having him address the facial pain and TN. Honestly, I couldn't tolerate anyone pushing/"vibrating" around my eyes. But I am hopeful I will get the courage to have my acupuncturist address the eyes as well, soon. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences. I am eagerly awaiting your updates.

[PotatoCakes]

I can definitely understand your fear in light of the facial pain you already have. If / when you do talk to your acupuncturist about your dry eye, hopefully he wouldn't consider doing anything that would cause you more pain -- or at least would tread VERY carefully, waiting for your ok before continuing. I don't have facial pain but I did notice that my acupuncturist lessened the pressure when I expressed that it hurt so much.

If you decide to go forward, definitely mention your fear. You could even say that you know someone who went to an acupuncturist and he applied a lot of pressure and you can't handle that along with the pain you already have.

[djeanwithdryeyes]

I know that acupuncture helped me GREATLY! I like the acupuncturist alot too!

I haven't posted for quite a while - just a qucik update. Been on the website, just checking the boards.

I still have bad days but I am having more good days now. It is now over 7 months since the eye surgery. When I do have a bad day, I really have a BAD one. I have noticed since the air and the ceiling fans are running, my eyes dry out quickly. But I am hanging in there! I recall that when I first came on this forum, I wasn't very hopeful but all informed me that all would get better. It has and I wish to say THANKS to everyone from the bottom of my heart!

[abbygirl]

djeanwithdryeyes,
Please share your great experience with acupuncture. What exactly did your acupuncturist do?? Did he/she treat you specifically for your dry eyes?? I just had my first session last week and she is starting off very slowly as I have lots of issues (stress in particular) besides the eye issues. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. She is also going to coach me on diet and supplements that might help....even though I have a good diet and take lots of supplements it never hurts to learn more!!
abbygirl

[PotatoCakes]

djeanwithdryeyes -
I'd like to learn more about your experience, as well. I had to cancel my 3rd appt (this week) due to a scheduling conflict but I'll go back next week.

abbygirl -
I have issues with stress too. I'm trying very hard to incorporate the breathing my acupuncturist told me to do into my life. It's really hard though, when you aren't used to doing it. Every time I have a negative thought (lots these days with all my eye issues but for other reasons too), I try to breathe like he told me too. I don't think it's helped me relax on a lasting level yet but when I do take those really deep breaths, I can feel my body release a bit of stress so I know it's worth it to keep at it. I'd love to hear your experiences as you go along. It would be interesting to compare experiences since we're both just starting out.

[abbygirl]

Thanks for the reply!! Yes, I am incorporating the breathing exercises into my everyday life too...it does seem to help. My acpuncturist only used about 6 needles in certain pressure points my first visit. Most of my appt. was discussion about stress etc. she recommended doing cupping also. I just felt very tired after my treatment. I go back Thursday for the second time. I will report back.
abbygirl