Needles & Radish Seeds

Today I had my very first acupuncture appointment and because it was the first session, and required the consultation appointment, it took nearly two hours! Oh My!

I found myself an acupuncturist who works within a midwife clinic, and knew of my condition when I called. Two scores - she's familiar with vulvodynia and with the womans body.

The appointment consisted of intaking my medical history (vulvodynia, painful periods, anxiety) and then with the acupuncture. She walked through everything explaining how everything worked, and moved throughout the body.

I had about 8 needles today. That's all I could handle. 1 in my left hand, 1 on my right thumb, two on my right wrist, 1 on my left ankle, 2 on my left lower leg/ankle, and 1 on my thumb --- oh and the one on my head to help me relax (along with a mask and some lavender oil)

I wont lie, they hurt. They aren't supposed to be painful persay, but they do cause some sensations. A few of them hurt and she readjusted them to hurt less.

They all reacted a little different... the only in my left leg made me cry. First because it hurt like hell, but then it stopped hurting and suddenly I was crying because I felt emotional, not because I was in pain.

The cool thing about acupuncture, or Traditional Chinese Medicine, is that they do have a point related to vaginal pain. That's cool because to me, Western Medicine is having a hard time getting it's act together about how to treat this condition, mean while the Chinese have identified a specific point on your body that can help overcome that pain.

My other fun fact from my appointment, the therapist noted that Western Culture normalises pain with periods, but that's not really normal. Apparently in Chinese culture pain with periods is a bad thing, and normal is just acknowledging the need to maybe wear a pad/tampon. I'm going to blame the pharmaceutical business on that one... I wouldn't own aleeve if it wasn't so I could survive the first day of my period.

At the end of my appoinment she put some taped some radish seeds onto my ear to help with my anxiety and improve the functioning of my liver (I think). Kinda cool, but they hurt and were uncomfortable. My ears were screaming at me, so I took them of. Maybe I'll try it another time.

Accupuncture for Vulvuodynia?

Has anyone tried acupuncture?

My mother is endearing and one to try alternatives when life through a curve ball. She's the one who encouraged me to check out a naturopath when the western doctors failed (thank you) and she's the one who suggests weird options and treatments (she is by no chance a hipster or woman of the free, she's pretty conventional young woman).

I've called around looking for an acupuncturist. I've left a few messages and waiting to hear back. Anyone had any luck?

Here's some articles/blogs I've been reading about the topic.

Vulval Pain Society

Acupuncture Today

http://biohormonesinc.com/fitness/vulvodynia-accupuncture/


and a few others I can't find...

Summer 2014 Reading List

I've struggled with vulvodynia for over 3 years, and about 2 years ago, I bought this massive stack of 'doctor recommended' books to read.

Have I read any? maybe.

So, here's my list of books I need to read, and understand, and maybe try. Here's to the road of recovery!

1. When the Body Says No by Gabor Mate - linking emotions and disease, 'the physiological connections between stress and health' - my therapist has this book on her shelf, so should ve good, right?
2. Heal Pelvic Pain by Amy Stein - focusing on lifestyle changes to help ease pain - I'm skeptical of this book. 
3. The V Book: A Doctors Guid to Complete Vulvovaginal Health by Elizabeth Stewart - let's talk a great foundational book. 
4. The Vulvodynia Survival Guide: How to Overcome Vaginal Symptoms & Enjoy an Active LifeStyle by Howard Glazer and Gae Rodke - maybe?
5. When Sex Hurts: A woman's guide to banishing sexual pain by Andre Goldstein, Caroline Pukall and Irwin Goldstein - 'provides the tools to stop hurting and start healing' - from reading other blogs Dr. Goldstein is an 'expert' in this field, hopefully he has something to bring to the table to talk to my doctors about. 
6. A Womans Guide to Overcoming Sexual Fear & Pain by Aurelie Jones Goodwin and Marc E Agronin - this is a workbook, that I started many years ago and should really look at again
7. Getting the Sex You Want: shed your inhibitions and reach new heights of passion together by Tammy Nelson - about improving sexual communication with your partner - my partner will be away all summer... this may be challenging. 
8. Guide to Getting it On by Paul Joannides
9. The Sexually Confident Wife by Shannon Ethridge - I think this is in the list because I think it would be some great information for when sex doesn't hurt, or how to be comfortable with sex. 
10. The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman - Amazon suggested this to me after I ordered all of the above. Not being able to have sex is hard on any relationship, so make it work. 

Do you have any suggestions? Anything I'm missing? What worked or didn't?