does anyone know if acupuncture will help with fatique?

8isenough
8isenough Member Posts: 16
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
I was wondering anyone tried acupuncture,or new someone?For fatigue from ov cancer.My mom has recurrent ovc,put back on chemo,it landed her back in the hospital.No food since January because of the tube.If she had energy to get up,move a bit,outside even 5 min,i think shed better her chances of beating this.Muscles are getting weaker and weaker,my poor dad is trapped in this big house by himself,He says"your mother doesn't talk to me,she wont tell me how she feels,nothing"i been flying from Florida to Boston to see my mom and dad,I'm going again Oct 5Th meet with oncologist& the pain Dr.My dad needs another person to hear and ask questions.I went w him last month,wasn't prepared.Can any one tell me anything,lend me some info on what to ask Dr's,new treatments,anything for fatigue? My Dads putting a letter together,send it to the Dr's before,to give them a heads up.He mentioned Ritalin for fatigue and Dronabinol(which he doesnt know its marijuana)they(parents)have said no to med marijuana,mom says shes not ready for that,but they are giving her morphine? it seems like a far more serious drug than pot!Especially she never touched a cigarette or drug in her life! Seems these Dr's don't like to be told how to do there job,last month my mother still nauseous almost everyday.So i asked the "palliative"care Dr about ginger? So he kind of,in so many words,as if he was a kindergarten teacher& i 1 of his children,that just discovered how to turn on and off the lights.Like ..that's so cute!!okay now run along and go play with the others!This coming from the same team of Dr's that for months my mom was sick because her tube that was put in from the blockage,kept clogging & actually pushed one of her lungs over from the fluid build up,They kept trying to give her this and that,nothing working.So my dad suggested"why don't we try putting in a bigger tube" So they did,all this fluid came out and my mom felt almost instantly better! Next day the Dr came in and said "OK,you can go home now" that was it no response to the tube or anything.My dad was B.S and said "wait a minute ,let me speak with you in the hallway"My father said the Dr kinda danced around the subject and he clearly was embarrassed.So i felt they don't like suggestions concerning how to do their job,or to give suggestions on alt therapies.Maybe because they dont get paid for that,I was told that if your Dr's wont work in CONJUNCTION with an acupuncturist,horologist or some kind of alt therapy then you should get rid of them.That seems a bit harsh,does anyone have a comment about that also?Please any info or opinions are greatly appreciated.May the Virgin Mary Mother be praised,adored and glorified throughout the whole world forever and ever.Amen. Thank you K.S

Comments

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  • 8isenough
    8isenough Member Posts: 16
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    starfish4
    Thank you so much for your reply!What a cute dog,looks like my moms is a black lab?If you dont mind me asking what stage you were?and even though she cant receive chemo will acupuncture still be helpful?Does it hurt?Thank you so so much and The very best of luck to you,God bless you (and your four legged friend too!) Thank you K.S
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member
    You have to be your own advocate!
    Good for you dad, he was paying attention! Sometimes I think the docs/nurses have so much on their plate, they don't ask enough questions and pay a attention, and so the patient or family members need to speak up. My motto is that I am my own best advocate. I ask a ton a questions, do my own reseach, and don't hesitate to speak up. I find that my doctor respects me and also is in tune to my needs. I do rely on the nursing staff too and communicate with them regularly. They can be a key to helping you get the very best care from your doctor.

    I just started going to accupuncture a few months ago and it has really helped me. I had retained some water on my legs and feet that just would not go away. Now I'm drained out, and neuropathy is also improving. I still am not a complete believer ywt, but something is working. Ihave had a lot of chemo and still have a good QOL. I would say that if your mom can find a accupunture person, it wouldn't hurt to try it.

    hugs ❤
    kathleen
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  • 8isenough
    8isenough Member Posts: 16
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Hi Seamus!
    You are same age as my mom.I am a dog lover and seasmus looks just like my moms dog,whisper.I wish she had strength to get on the computer this site would be very beneficial to her i think,in more than one way.I thank you for the info and i will go to uterine board,Thanks and God Bless you and Seamus. K.S
  • Tethys41
    Tethys41 Member Posts: 1,382 Member
    Acupuncture and more
    I received accupunture while going through chemo and still get the accupuncture. I can't say it made me feel a lot better while receiving chemo, although I hear it helps some people. I do think it helped me keep my strength up. It wasn't until I was off the chemo for awhile that I even felt the needles, and I wouldn't say they hurt.

    The thing that helped me the most with the lousy feeling was receiving high dose vitamin C IVs and nutritional IVs. These are administered by a nurse practitioner who specializes in integrative treatment, and is in conjunction with a naturopath I work with. My oncologist is against the IVs for reasons that sound pretty weak, and she still always takes every opportunity to try to disuade me from continuing. Even though I finished chemo in February, I am still on maintenance avastin for a year and still receive the integrative IVs. Vitamin B 12 injections help with energy also.

    I wish your mom well.
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    seamus
    My choco lab is named Seamus too!! He is 14months old. You were diagnosed 1c? Then proceeded to stage IV??
  • msfanciful
    msfanciful Member Posts: 559
    Hi, I don't understand the
    Hi, I don't understand the concept of acupunture and its' benefits with regard to chemo?

    I've never heard of this option being available. I do know I have began feeling a lot more like myself since I have been exercising. My breathing is better, my spirit and things don't hurt as much.

    You've peaked my curiosity and I'm going to check out this acupunture alternative to dealing with pain?
  • Hi, I don't understand the
    Hi, I don't understand the concept of acupunture and its' benefits with regard to chemo?

    I've never heard of this option being available. I do know I have began feeling a lot more like myself since I have been exercising. My breathing is better, my spirit and things don't hurt as much.

    You've peaked my curiosity and I'm going to check out this acupunture alternative to dealing with pain?

    hrmmm..
    I'm not sure how it would handle fatigue, but I've actually used it to deal with migraines and whether it was just in my head or not (no pun intended...hahaahaaahahaaa) it really helped them.

    and a friend of mine who is a doctor once told me this lil' gem...
    "just because you have an M.D. after your name doesn't mean you are smart. It just means you can memorize a lot of crap."
    ;)
  • kayandok
    kayandok Member Posts: 1,202 Member

    Hi, I don't understand the
    Hi, I don't understand the concept of acupunture and its' benefits with regard to chemo?

    I've never heard of this option being available. I do know I have began feeling a lot more like myself since I have been exercising. My breathing is better, my spirit and things don't hurt as much.

    You've peaked my curiosity and I'm going to check out this acupunture alternative to dealing with pain?

    I don't really understand
    why it works either. But, it definitely is helping me! I stopped by to get my treatment on the way home from chemo last week, and my husband claims I have never had such a good week on chemo. My doctor usues one little tiny needle, usually in my head or back of my neck. She says it releases heat/tension/stress. If I'm constipated, it is only an hour or so before my bowels start to move. (Without any laxatives.) Makes no sense to me. I figure even if it is a bunch of whooey, it is working for me, so I plan on continuing.
    k❥
  • sanam
    sanam Member Posts: 106
    kayandok said:

    I don't really understand
    why it works either. But, it definitely is helping me! I stopped by to get my treatment on the way home from chemo last week, and my husband claims I have never had such a good week on chemo. My doctor usues one little tiny needle, usually in my head or back of my neck. She says it releases heat/tension/stress. If I'm constipated, it is only an hour or so before my bowels start to move. (Without any laxatives.) Makes no sense to me. I figure even if it is a bunch of whooey, it is working for me, so I plan on continuing.
    k❥

    Hello ladies
    I used to work

    Hello ladies

    I used to work in an accupunture clinic as a dietician and every day I was seeing a lot of patients and their reponses and progression.
    I never saw any one on chemo in the clinic but I can say the response of accupunture on migrains ,joint pain and allergy was so significant.
    There were some patients who were coming for stress control and I personally find the responses so diffrent.
    Accupunture works by balancing the energy inside.It is like electericity.My language barrier doesn't let me explain the scientific terms but it circulates the energy.
    I hope it helps.
    Thanks
    hugs