Tuesday, January 9th Jake and I celebrated 14 years since we first started dating! How cool is that?! This year, today, I had my first acupuncture appointment and loved it. I was slightly nervous about it before arriving, but also very excited to start down our new path towards fertility health. I have heard many success stories with fertility, and I could not wait to get started.

I arrived at the location, took my shoes off, and filled out some paperwork. I sat with the Acupuncturist, Nick, for about 30 minutes to discuss my life, background, goals for acupuncture, etc. Nick was very kind, down to earth, and showed a caring spirit. Through talking he expressed his desire for me to begin exercising. He encouraged me to find something I’m passionate about to help with motivating me to exercise – that was a nice perspective (rather than just telling me to work out).

Then, it was time to begin! (Yay!)

Many people have wondered – “what should I expect at an appointment.” I suppose that depends on the Acupuncturist and the specific technique they are doing or area they are focusing on at that visit. For my first visit he needed my feet, and my entire back. The room was kept at a warm temperature, so that made it comfortable. Once he came back in, he began. I cannot even begin to explain how amazed I was that I didn’t even feel the needles! I truly thought he was just tapping on my back at first, until I realized he kept doing it so it must have been the needles. Nick started with my back, placed a few there. Then he placed one on the top of my head (was nervous about this one, but again felt nothing), and one on each of my ankles.

He made sure I was comfortable, and left the room for 5-10 minutes. He returned to check on me, and then left the room for another 10 minutes (or so) to allow me to continue relaxing. Trust me when I tell you, it was relaxing. On a side note, my face always has an itch when I’m getting a massage or now, Acupuncture. (haha!) After returning again, he removed the needles and let me get up in my own time. The most I felt the needles was when he removed them – however, that still was an incredibly minor twinge.

What have I noticed since the appointment?:

I really did not expect to notice anything immediately, but I did. It is amazing how you have a symptom in your life for so long that you seem to become blind towards it. I have regularly been getting headaches/migraines again. I really am not sure why. I know gluten is a main cause, but I have eliminated that from my diet. Stress is a leading factor as well, and Jake has honed in on his skills of massage to release the stress in my shoulders/neck. I am getting adjusted at the Chiropractor regularly and taking supplements from my Nutritionist (maybe not as well as I should be) – so those have helped. I didn’t notice how foggy my mind had been until today – when it finally cleared. About an hour after leaving the appointment my head felt less foggy – like I could focus more. My energy level had increased significantly – which has been pretty low lately. I had a minor headache before the appointment, that went away. I don’t even know how to explain it, really, but I did notice those few “symptoms” going away!

What is my follow-up?:

I have my next appointment on Tuesday, January 23rd. He recommended weekly for the first month and then bi-weekly following, but with our two schedules the 23rd was the earliest I was able to get in there. With Chinese Acupuncture it is recommended to do at least 3 months in a row for fertility.

I hope this post can bring some encouragement to someone who has been contemplating Acupuncture (for whatever reason). I am excited to see what is to come with this! I have linked Nick’s page up above in you live in the Lancaster, PA area!