Hi all! Hope your weekend was as gorgeous as mine. The weather here was mid-70s and sunny both days — couldn’t have asked for anything better. So of course, we took full advantage and took Dagny on three walks per day. In addition to all the walking, we kicked the weekend off with a visit to the Chinese medicine doctor. I have a few weekend pics for you and an update to share.
Go!
Blogiversary and vacation
So first, I’ll get the news out of the way. I’m coming up on my two-year blogiversary at the end of the month and that’s crazy. People say it all the time, but that’s because it’s true — time really does fly. A huge merci goes out to my readers for your support. I’m trying to organize a little giveaway for you because I appreciate every single email and comment you guys send me. My little blog has grown so much over the past two years and that’s all thanks to you. I will let you know if/when that comes to fruition.
Also, Tom and I are leaving on vacation next weekend so I may take a little break from the blog during that time. We’re doing a France river cruise and are really looking forward to it! I’ll be posting pics and info about that but not sure if I’ll wait until after we’re back. So yeah, just a heads up if you don’t see any new posts here over the Memorial Day week. Rest assured I’ll be back soon enough. 😉
Visit to the Chinese medicine doctor in France
Alright, now onto the weekend. First up, my first ever experience with Chinese medicine. Long story short, I’ve had a persistent knot in my back next to my right shoulder blade for years. It started as a small knot and grew into this unmanageable golf ball type of thing that is a dull pain most of the time and is getting really tiring to deal with. So after a few months of seeing a physical therapist here who provided a little relief but then told me my treatment was finished and to try acupuncture, I took him up on his suggestion and made an appointment with a local Chinese medicine doctor in my area. Five years ago I probably wouldn’t have been so open minded about this type of thing but after traditional therapies failing, I opened my eyes and mind and did some research. I figured why the heck not try — I have nothing to lose — and we showed up bright and early Saturday morning for the appointment.
The doctor was a really friendly Chinese woman who asked a bunch of questions and then examined my tongue. She spoke about meridians and pathways and energy and all kinds of things. We talked about my back and other ailments and then we got to work. She did a combo of acupuncture, acupressure, cupping, an incense type of treatment she let burn on my back (didn’t hurt at all) and a treatment with a cluster of seven needles. I alternated between laughing and yelling because some of the sensations were so bizarre. And for the record, you can definitely feel the acupuncture needles going in. Not sure how anyone finds that relaxing. This is getting long, so if anyone wants more info on my experience with Chinese medicine, I can write another post that’s more in depth.
Overall I feel like it was a success and while it’s just the next day, I have to say I can’t stop smiling and laughing when thinking about the treatment because it was just so different from anything I’ve experienced. I feel my mood is lifted and although my back is severely bruised from the cupping, my knot feels much smaller and more manageable. Probably not a coincidence. So let me know if you want to hear or see more on that.
There was a daytime carnaval in our area that brought rides and stands for churros and cotton candy (Dagny didn’t pick her head up from the ground once, just had to try to find some food) as well as colorful floats for the parade and all kinds of festivities. Here’s one whose theme was candy.
And here are two pics from one of our walks at a nature reserve near a dam in our area. Dagny was smiling the whole time and didn’t even stop long enough for me to snap a pic.
I’ve had a knot in what sounds like the same place, and mine is continuously getting worse as well. I went to the chiropractor on a pretty regular basis in the States but didn’t seem to do much either. Will you be going back for another visit? I’d love to hear a little bit more about it.
Hi Megan, yea the knots are best dealt with early on, so don’t let yours get to the point mine has gotten to. Mine is a dull ache most of the time and putting firm pressure with a tennis ball or someone else’s elbow feels strangely good and I get a little relief but nothing made it smaller. I have to say that although my back is bruised right now, I manipulated the knot with my fingers earlier and instead of it being huge and hearing the tendons grind, it’s much, MUCH smaller which I’m really surprised about. I had given up. I found the acupuncture to be really odd and I hated the sensation of her wiggling in the needled. Once they were in I felt nothing, but you feel a pinch as they go in and then in some areas (for me my hand and ankle) you feel a weird electricity/nerve as they go in deeper. I really didn’t like that. I have no idea which modality helped my back but I have a feeling it was a combo of everything. I think I will go back and just suck it up about the acupuncture. I really do believe in the mind/body connection and that our energy and thoughts and overall well-being can affect us physically, so I have no idea why I didn’t try this sooner. It cost 40 euros for the consult and first treatment (not reimbursed by the secu) and was worth it just for the experience. Definitely didn’t make me worse. And I still am smiling and laughing about it. I say go for it! (but def find someone who does Chinese medicine and not just acupuncture. Don’t know if that alone will help your knot). Let me know how it goes!
Congrats on your Blogiversary ! I am very curious about Chinese medicine. I think we should consider alternative forms of medicine and treatment when the traditional ones don’t work.