I've had good experiences with accupuncture. Not like with a chiropractic adjustment where i felt the results immediately, but it is insanely relaxing. If you are gonna invest in a lot of treatment, a lot of places have "group accupuncture" or "community accupuncture" which is basically where you pay for 10 minutes of the practioner's time, then do the whole chillaxin in a recliner in a room with other people. It's waaaay cheaper (like $15/visit) but you are sharing a room with other patients. Who sometimes fall asleep. And snore. YMMV

I've had acupuncture alleviate a migraine I was currently having, but it didn't seem to stop them from coming back.

Considering your pain meds don't seem to work great all the time, it definitely sounds like an option! I've never tried it, but have definitely thought about it (especially after hearing of the whole "community acupuncture" thing (though I don't think it's $15 here!))

Andi, I think it's fantastic that you're strong enough to make that decision and choose to be accountable for it. I'm happy to see you taking care of you.

I just kept thinking of all of you, imagining you being disappointed in me if I ignored the warning bells sounding, not so much about developing a dependency on the Ambien (because things happen, bodies have reactions to chemicals and that is one of the them), but for not saying anything, not asking for help. It's not like I am having physical withdrawl symptoms; but, I'm thinking about the Ambien way too damn much.

Unrelatedly, has anyone had acupuncture for anything -- I'm interested specifically in migraines, but any experience is fine -- and did it work/what did you think of it?

Needles squick me, so I've not done acupuncture, but I have had some good results from using acupressure on myself. Notably, it tremendously relieved my first bout of plantar fasciitis (would have helped more with the second and third ones, but I'm less bendy than I used to be, and couldn't reach some of the points as well). And has eased tooth ache and that ache that comes from coughing too. Damn. Much. I don't get migraines enough to test any of the points on myself, but I believe it would be worth trying if I did.

And, Andi, I am glad you are making the choices you feel are right for you. And sticking with them. That can be really hard to do.

Thank you.

I'm thinking about the Ambien way too damn much.

I get this. I'm glad you trusted us enough to share.

I just kept thinking of all of you, imagining you being disappointed in me

Speaking only for me, I wouldn't be disappointed at all. Lovingly concerned, yes. Wanting you to make the healthiest choice for you, yes.

But not disappointed.

What Steph said.

My needle phobia is legendary but I have had acupuncture many times with no problem.

My friend M is an acupuncturist who has cured pain and pestilence with her skill and focus on the whole self. Migraines are a specialty of hers. She also cures allergies and stops smoking in one or two visits. It's amazing.

I just discovered my migraine acupuncturist has moved in the same building as a bunch people I don't talk to anymore. Since they all know each other, I suspect trouble, should I go. I may have to get a recommendation.

I feel like a swimmer in the English Channel. Y'all are on the chase boat. I skip. I skim. Kinda like your head bobbing in/out of the water, hearing & not hearing conversations. But thankful for the support of the crew. Tons of hugs to everyone. To those that need it, and everyone else for supporting.

Hil, you mentioned a short while back about the great health care, I'm getting a dash of that with my new job. The funny thing was, as I was reading your posts about it, I was in the office waiting for the doctor. He was caught in traffic between the two locations. He had a morning meeting at the campus location. I even said to the appointment person that I work on campus. And yet, they scheduled me to the Orange location. @@ So over an hour wait, in a room whose computer sounded like it was defragging the hard drive, and an auto shut off light that had a time for 90 seconds. Most annoying. But then the doc said there is a test to see if I actually have the gene defect that makes me susceptible to the malignant hypothermia, rather than just highly probable to having the gene. Now let's hope the insurance company is willing to approve the cost to do the test. Kinda makes up for the 2 hour visit.

Let's see if I can keep up for a bit. The quarter is winding down, so maybe things will be calm for a few weeks. Maybe. Hopefully. Now to catch up on over 1,000 posts in Gaming.

OH! And I started the process of house hunting. Got my credit score (802), and started the pre-qualify process with the credit union. What prompted this? My car pool lane stickers expire soon. New job has 8:30am meetings. Driving 22 miles at that hour can be 90 minutes. I'm not a morning person. Goal is, if I can find a place I like that gets me closer to work, and total housing costs (mortgage, mortgage insurance, HOA fees, home insurance, etc) is LESS than my current rent, I'll do it. Otherwise, screw it.

Omnis! Good to see you here. I'm finally back on dry land and actually in LA right now. We need to get together soon!