First Acupuncture

My very first acupuncture appointment was today, and it was certainly a doozy. I guess I thought to myself that I knew what to expect, that I had expected some very serious and obvious change in my lungs and congestion, and I'm having a a harder time dealing with the fact that I am not completely healed than I thought I would.

The atmosphere was amazing. I took my shoes and socks off, and I went into a room where there were 3 other patients under blankets, looking peaceful and pretty close to asleep. I knew there would be other people there, and I found myself less anxious about it than I thought I would. The reason this is done this way, is that it's been proven through studies that people heal faster when in groups, than when alone. It's the same reason chemotherapy is done in groups. Anyway, Everyone looked peaceful, and I didn't feel anxious about it, so that was good.

My acupuncturist started off by putting 4 needles in my face, about 5 -7 in both of my arms and legs, and then put a blanket over me to let me rest. The needles actually hurt more than I thought they would, and my right arm started tingling almost immediately. Putting about 20 needles into me right away was very weird, but after they were in I could hardly feel them (except for the tingling).

At first, I felt amazed. My congestion cleared up, and considering I didn't take any Advair this morning, my breathing was surprisingly nice. However, after only a few minutes, my chest began to tighten, I started to wheeze, yawn uncontrollably, my congestion came back, and on top of all that, I was feeling very, very anxious, and considering how peaceful the atmosphere was, I could not relax or calm myself down.

The acupuncturist came over and asked me how I was doing, when I explained to him how I was feeling, he put another needle in my face (not even quite in my face, but rather right on my widow's peak), as well as a couple in my wrists, and some in my feet, and more on my legs. He also gave me what he called a "Happy tack". It's a small tack he put in the cartilage near the top of my right ear that he told me I could leave in for up to a week. It's connected to my sympathetic nervous system, and should keep any other anxieties at bay.

After the extra needles and the 'happy tack', my anxiety had dissipated within the minute, and my breathing became easier. I still felt wheezy, which I found very disappointing, and I continued to feel wheezy until i came home and took my Advair, but I'm trying to remind myself that all things worth having take time. I knew there wouldn't be obvious effects immediately, but I'm still finding it hard to accept, I thought at least my lung capacity would be a little higher, but it's hanging out where it normally is. My next appointment is only 2 days away, so we'll see what other things happen.

On the bright side, it's not as if nothing happened. I had been warned about 'healing responses', which include a lot of different experiences, one being extreme exhaustion. After the appointment was over, I was feeling okay, then after about half an hour, I juts got so tired I could do almost nothing productive. I thought maybe my sleepiness was due to a lack of coffee, but even as I was filling up my pot for coffee, I was feeling an overwhelming urge to just lie down on the kitchen floor. I ended up taking a long nap before my coffee had even finished brewing, and when I woke up I was still feeling as if doing anything besides sleeping more was too overwhelming. And when I finally did manage to get up and moving, I felt confused and disoriented. I was trying to make dinner, and was just having the damndest time comprehending my recipe.

Healing responses are good, though. It shows that things are happening, and that something, somewhere, in my body is moving forward towards something healthy. So maybe I shouldn't be so concerned with not feeling as though things are improving, as long as something is happening, right? Right.

Movie Review: Forks Over Knives

I finally decided to sit down and watch this movie tonight, and I'm happy I finally found the time and motivation to do so! I've been wanting to for awhile, but with all the hype behind it, I was actually a little scared about becoming motivated to become a vegan. When you're not ready to change, but something makes you feel like you have to, it's a strange instance.




However, after contemplating a dietary change to become vegan, I decided I actually needed a push to do so, and this was certainly it.

This movie is great. There is a lot of hard evidence that protein from animals causes cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol, etc. There was a woman who participated in a study who had basically been estimated only a few months to live. A doctor told her to 'prepare herself', and she replied "You just want me to sit in my rocking chair, and wait to die?" He said yes.

She decided to go to another doctor who would help her reverse her heart problems with diet alone. She is still alive, after 20 years.

There were a few other separate cases, one where a man was taking 9 pills and 2 injections a day, a man with a cholesterol level of 344, and a woman with hyper tension and of course, the director of the documentary. All of them had amazing results (as one would expect), and I was really impressed.

There were also a few cited studies, whose numbers were so high that they left very, VERY little room for error. A few doctors researched the link between diet and adverse health effects of 800,000 Chinese men and women over 65 counties in China. The results were insane. It's probably a good thing I didn't see this movie in theaters considering how many times I gasped and kind of squeaked out "Are you kidding me?!" while throwing my hands up in the air.

This movie is very enlightening. From the case studies, to the numbers, to the sheer amount of years behind studies on how diet effects health. On top of that, how incorrect some of the people at the USDA are about how much protein is needed, and a very enlightening and surprising section about calcium, and the effects it has on osteoporosis.

As someone with a chronic condition, it certainly made me want to dive into veganism without another thought. However, if I did not have a chronic condition, I don't think I would have been so eager to do so. If you're nervous about being terrified into changing, I don't think that will happen to you, but will certainly open your eyes a bit to make you aware of what, and how, you're eating.

Certainly recommended. For those of you who have no insurance, and need to keep your ailments in check, to those of you who just want to know more about food, this is a great documentary. It was very informative, without being too in your face.

Vegetarian Check-In: Week 2

Magnificent is the only word I can think of that expresses how amazing I feel this week. As of today I have been a vegetarian for two weeks, and I am honestly surprised at how amazing and obvious the effects have been, and in such a short period of time. Admittedly, maybe it's not just the fact that I've cut meat out of my diet, but also the fact that I'm actually THINKING about my food for what seems like the first time ever. For the first time I can recall, my lungs are taking priority over everything I do, and I consider them before I eat anything, and that might also be the reason why there is such improvement. Also, there are added benefits that I didn't expect!

So, for starters, before this new diet change, on my peak flow meter (lung capacity scale), my breathing averaged around 250 liters/minute, where now after just two weeks, my readings tonight averaged at 325! There were even some mornings where I wasn't coughing or wheezing when I woke up, although that is, admittedly, quite a rarity so far. I'm also still rather congested all the time, so I'm wondering if that will go away or not. I guess that we'll have to wait for that one. However, the extra lung capacity is most impressive!

Also, I've been significantly more energetic, and my mood has improved immensely. When I'm at work, I find myself to be irritable, tired and achy for almost the entirety of my shifts, while over the last few days, I haven't felt nearly as annoyed with as many of the customers, and I don't feel like I need caffeine, and my legs are no longer hurting after standing up for just a few hours. I feel cheery, and excited and really just...full of life. Work has never been better, to be honest.

As a possible TMI effect, my breasts are doing awesomely, too! Since I was about 13 or so, I've had lots of different issues with my breasts (which I won't get into detail about now), and absolutely all of them are gone! This was certainly not something I was expecting, and it was something I've just been dealing with for the better part of a decade, and now, within two weeks, they are all gone! I have tried looking online to see if this has happened to anyone else, and I can't seem to find any reasons as to why this happened. While I'm not complaining, I certainly wouldn't mind looking into this more.

So, as it turns out, becoming a vegetarian is that best thing that has ever happened to me. I'm also very excited for all the recipes I've been trying, and looking through. To find such vast improvements over so many areas of my life from simply cutting meat out of my diet is...phenomenal. I've been so grateful, and so excited for life for what feels like the first time ever, that I can't believe it took me this long to do this. I can't wait to see how things continue to improve, and to see if I can get up to my lung capacity goal of 450! Then I would be like a normal person, with normal lungs! My eyes well up with tears of joy at the thought of it.

I'm also going in for my first acupuncture treatment soon! I will certainly be back here with all the details after it happens, and to see how my lungs (and possibly congestion) improve after my appointment.