Oh, Haaaiii... I'm an Acupuncturist Now

Guess what?! Well, I've been busy these last almost 5 years. :o) I decided to do my Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, and I finished the extremely intensive, fairly stressful, totally life-consuming program in December of 2019. 

I started studying for California Licensing Exam in January, but felt an incredible pull to visit friends back home in Canada before I passed and started my business here. I went into full study-mode when I got back, often questioning if I really should have left for the two weeks, instead of staying here to study.

I can now say with conviction, that I'm so glad I traveled then. Two months after I got back, just before I was scheduled to take my exam, COVID-19 hit North America hard. 

My exam was delayed, and then delayed again, and again, and even one or two more times after that. There was so much uncertainty, and then the testing sites opened up again. This time I was really going to do it! And I did. And I passed. And I eventually got the hard copy of my license. 

So now I am treating patients! My specialties are Facial or Cosmetic acupuncture and pain. (I'll tell you all about that soon.)  If you're looking for an acupuncture, gua sha, LED, or moxa treatment in the San Fernando Valley: Lake Balboa, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Reseda kind of area - hit me up! 

www.LuminousAcupuncture.com

Worm Flu - It's Real

It's been weeks of 💩 and nausea. I was feeling better for a bit in between but it's hit me again. 

I have spent the last 3 days bedridden. Dehydrated. Only eating when my stomach forced me to nibble on something. It's been horrible. No energy - for obvious reasons. And a sore bum from all of the pooping. 

I've obviously improved, otherwise I wouldn't even be writing this. Tomorrow the medicine will arrive. Something stronger than Imodium or Benadryl. 

In my phone call with Garin, he put it out there that maybe the initial dosing was too strong and we'll have to kill these ones off and try a lower dose. I hope the medicine works and that these last few weeks haven't been wasted. Okay, not wasted, because it provides valuable information, but still. 

Ugh.

Sore bum

I have had so much diarrhea in the last 24 hours that my bum is sore. 

At least 3 times in the night, 3 times today and once before I went to bed. *sigh*

Worms - 4 weeks in

I hadn't fell well all day. I was worried it was because of the naproxen I've been taking the last couple of nights, since my arthritis has been so bad that it's been hard to walk, move, and do anything really. Naproxen usually upsets my stomach after a day or two of taking it, and the symptoms are often like I feel really full or have heartburn, which is how I'd been feeling. 

We still went out for Happy Hour. I ordered two drinks, drank one, loads of water and had a few sips of the second. 

I at almost half of my meal, but by that point felt so overfull, it was gross. 

When we got home, I was lying on the couch feeling disgusting, and at the point where I wanted to barf, if it would make me feel better. I clued in that it was probably heartburn, and took some Tums and a prescription tablet - for long-term relief. It seemed to help a bit, but I was definitely worried about managing sleep!

As I was brushing my teeth, the dry heaves started and I barf in the sink a few times. Should have tried for the toilet, the drainage on the sink sucks. But, the seat was down, and I didn't want to have to clean the bathroom again today. 😸

I feel better. Still a bit queasy, but I think it was my pet worms, as I've had a lot of poops today, and none of them solid. 

Yesterday, I'd been so excited for my first solid poop in ages. Now, I'm just glad I have a clean nightie. 

Worms Day 11

Yesterday evening, the inoculation site started to get itchy and bumpy again. Not sure what's caused it, but I think tonight I might have to take some Benadryl. 

Otherwise, I was very sore yesterday, and was having trouble walking, so I guess I haven't reached the benefits stage yet. 

Worms - Into Week 2

The poop situation has 'tightened up' a bit, which is good news. I still get hella exhausted (like can't stay awake) in the early afternoon, which is leading to having trouble falling asleep. Hopefully that will sort out once we're home again. 

I haven't had crazy cramping, and the itching on my arm is basically gone. I still have mornings of nausea - and when I'm hungry, I want to vom. Eating seems to shut the worms up, so I can work with that. :o)

Worms Day 6

This morning I woke up feeling nauseated. Not sure if it's from the worms, or the 2 Naproxen I took last night because my body was vibrating with pain & discomfort. 

Really hoping to not vom, as I don't want to lose my new friends. 

Worms Day 5

I am pretty f'ing tired today. But, the worms have likely made it to my intestines at this point and are trying to get all comfy. 

On Friday or Saturday I had some phlegm when I woke up (not unusual) and I coughed and spat it out. It was kind of pink, but I didn't think that the worms would have made it to my lungs by that point. Next time, get a detailed timeline so there's no worm-spitting. 

Anyway, I'm hoping that my level of fatigue indicates that I did not spit up all of the worms. 

My arm is just a bit spotty, and kind of bruised looking. No itching today. So far.