Ouch!

So my new adventure is ACUPUNCTURE! 

I cannot believe that I am doing it because I HATE needles.  When I get shots I usually cry a little bit because I get so worked up.  And even Michael will admit that a lot of the vaccinations that we had to get before moving to China did hurt, so I am not a total over-reactor. ☺

I have been wanting to get acupuncture for a while, just to try it, but you need a medical issue.  You cannot just go in and ask the doctor to poke you with needles for no reason.  I am a relativity healthy person.  I have not even been sick once since we have moved to China.  Knock on wood!!!  So I could not think of anything to go and see the doctor for.  But then I remembered I do have one major health issue.

I have insomnia.  And I have had it for as long as I can remember.  I have never been a person who needs a lot of sleep.  I can go to bed late and get up early and not really feel tired during the day.  But I know sleep is very important.  And as I get older, I think the lack of sleep does affect me more.  And if any of you out there have sleep issues, there is nothing worse than laying in bed and wanting to go to sleep but not being able to.  It is really frustrating.

So that is the medical issue I went to my acupuncturist with....insomnia.

I am really proud of myself because I have a low pain tolerance.  I hate pain actually.  As I am sure most people do.  And if I have any ailments I am one of those people who will pop a pill faster than you can blink your eyes.  But I really wanted to try acupuncture, so I found a place to go, held my breath and hoped for the best.

The place I go to is a Chinese hospital or medical center.  The person I initially contacted speaks English.  She met me the first day with the doctor.  They asked me a few questions and the girl who spoke English said nice to meet you and walked out the door.  I have not seen her since.  

Chinese doctor's offices and hospitals are not about patient confidentiality like in the United States.   I went into a room with 4 gurneys.  Two of the gurneys had ladies on them and they were both stuck full of needles.  At this point I was getting more nervous and feeling like maybe I was not going to be able to go through with it.  But the doctor gestured me to lay down so I did.  As soon as I laid down she pulled up my shirt and started poking needles into my stomach.  I was breathing nervously now but surprisingly it did not hurt.  I felt a poke, but nothing that I could not handle.  Then she rolled up my sleeves and stuck one in my arm....ok that felt a little bit more uncomfortable.  But then she stuck one in my wrist and that is when I had to let out a little cry of pain.  It totally felt like a huge stab followed by piercing pain and then my hand went numb for a couple seconds.  OUCH!!!!  But I did not give up.  She proceeded to stick two needles in each of my shins and one in each ankle.  Those hurt a little.  She also stuck one in each temple.  Those hurt a little.  Lastly, she stuck one in the very top of my head and that was not so comfortable.  Afterward I asked Dr. Mao through google translate if that was normal and she said it was.  I asked her if I was in any danger and she said no.  She seemed competent and was kind, so I believed her that the shooting pain was normal and decided to stick with it. 

I was proud of myself.  I had made it.  Once the needles are in you just lay there for thirty minutes trying not to move.  Because if I moved I could feel the needles in my skin and it did cause a little discomfort.  But if I just laid very still I was ok.  Little did I know that half way through my thirty minutes Dr. Mao came in and twisted each of the needles.  Ouch!  But it was bearable.  

So you may be wondering is worth it?  Does it work?  Well, I have to say I am 6 sessions in out of 10 and I have never slept better.  I have not had to take any of my over the counter sleeps aids and even Michael has noticed a difference. 

I did some research before going to get acupuncture and it does seem to work for many ailments, especially for pain.  And it is becoming more and more popular in the United States for things like chronic pain, infertility, etc.... 

So I think I am a believer.

I will leave you with a couple cute pics.  My doctor specializes in acupuncture for women and therapeutic massage for baby ailments.  There were a couple kids in the other day when I was there and they just loved getting the massages.  One baby slept the whole time Dr. Mao was rubbing his tummy and arms and legs.  It was really cute.