Acupuncture...

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JC F
JC F Member Posts: 74
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I've seen a few people mention that they had acupuncture treatments for saliva issues. Some people got it during rads and chemo and some afterwards. I was wanting to know if this helped with the saliva issues or not. If it did help, how many sessions did it take before you started seeing results? Do you have to continue treatments for it to keep working or did you stop after a certain amount and it continued to work after you stopped? I'm five months out of tx and having a difficult time adapting to the extreme dry-mouth. I have four different sprays and three different gels but none of them work very well. I take salagen pills but am not seeing much improvement after six weeks of them. Would like feedback on the acupuncture or anything else you might suggest. Thanks...

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  • Moki
    Moki Member Posts: 53
    #2
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    Acupuncture

    It worked for me: I started 2 weeks after radiation. I did 5 sessions within 2 weeks to see if the treatment was working; I did improve 10% so I continued once/week for another 4 sessions. It improved more to the point where I do not need to wake up in the middle of the night and sip water and when I wake up my mouth is pretty moist. I still need to drink more especially when I am tired, but it does not bother me.

    Hope it is going to work for you as well. 

  • MrsBD
    MrsBD Member Posts: 615 Member
    #3
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    Acupuncture

    A big yes from me! I had acupuncture, radiation, chemo during the same time period. Acupuncture not only helped preserve my salivary gland function, I believe that it's the reason I never lost my sense of taste. It also helped immensely with some of the queasiness. About five minutes into the second session, I felt saliva flow into my mouth. It has not been as dramatic since,  but I am able to eat normally with just a little need for water. My acupuncturist recommended once a week sessions, later going to every other week, then none. The saliva should not go away later, but I'd continue them until you feel the radiation effects are lessening. I hope it works for you!

  • Sailor123
    Sailor123 Member Posts: 97
    #4
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    Hi JC F:
    I had also heard

    Hi JC F:

    I had also heard that accupuncture could promote saliva production.  I am willing to try anything.  I had my first treatment on Thursday.  The practitioner I saw said to have six treatments and we will know by then if it worked.  He said it depends how much radiation damaged the glands and there is no way to know that.  I'm hoping for a miracle.  Will keep you posted. I will be getting treatment weekly.

  • fishmanpa
    fishmanpa Member Posts: 1,227 Member
    #5
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    Keeping an open mind

    My surgeon suggested acupuncture for chronic pain and saliva production. I had my first session last Tuesday. He asked a lot of questions both from a medical and psychological standpoint, explained the basics and did the first treatment. He said the first few treatments would be basically "tuning up" my body, getting things in line etc. He used 7 needles. one at the base of my sternum, one on each side of my stomach, one on each thigh and one on each foot where the ankle meets the leg. Felt no pain at all. I was on a table relaxed and he left the room. Next thing I knew he was back in the room and I had been there for 30 minutes! I was out!

    I can honestly say, I feel better! I went in there having not taken any pain meds for two days (wanted nothing to mask anything). I was in extreme pain and spasms in my neck and walked out relaxed and pain free. In fact, I've only taken 4 Tramadol since the treatment and 2 doses of ibuprofen. Normally, I'm taking 50-150mg of Tramadol a day and at least one dose of ibuprofen. Also, I realized I wasn't having a sip of water with every bite of food. Call me crazy, but I think this is going to help!

    I have an appointment on the 27th for the next tune up. I will add that this therapist treats many cancer patients and is a survivor himself. I'll keep you all posted. It's not cheap (insurance doesn't cover it) but worth every penny if it makes a positive difference.

    Positive thoughts and prayers.

    "T"

     

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #6
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    Acupuncture

     

    I did Acupuncture but to try and help my Jaw to open and to help with saliva. The Jaw only got worse but the saliva glands work a little better, not sure if it was from the Acupuncture or just time.

     

    Hondo

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