Awesome Acupuncture

Although I am still feeling the effects of my bathroom sleeping experience, I am in a significantly better mental and physical state today. While my massage yesterday is definitely a piece of the improvement, another HUGE aspect is that I had acupuncture today. I tend to look forward to my acupuncture anyway (I see my acupuncturist every two weeks), but today was phenomenal.

Two weeks ago, Sarah (my acupuncturist at Langford Chiropractic) used cups on me for the first time. Essentially, she created a vacuum seal in a cluster of places on my back. It made me feel significantly better. I was sincerely hoping that she might want to use those again today, particularly because the cups did wonders for the tension in my upper back. While I might get cups in two weeks, Sarah decided to stick (pun intended) with acupuncture today. She did "shake up" my treatment, though. She also had to wait to use electrical stimulation on the needles until half-way through my session (she had another patient "hooked up" when I started my treatment).

The different needle placement certainly grabbed my body's attention. She placed a four or five needles down the center of my torso. She also insert needles in my right ear and in a few spots on my legs and hands. Even before Sarah hooked up the electricity, I could feel energy moving in my body. While I often experience that to a small degree, today was radically different. I had not felt this level of energy movement for years. The moment that truly stunned me is that when Sarah did bring the electrical equipment into the room, I thought she hooked me up with it "on." As soon as she connected the electrodes to the needles in my left leg, I could feel the electricity jumping between them and through my leg. But, Sarah had NOT turned on the electricity yet. The energy I was feeling was the natural energy of my body.

I am positive that much of the reason for this heightened success is that I have been doing yoga frequently with my Wii Fit. When I had this experience before during acupuncture (in 2005), I was doing daily yoga. Thus, the fact that I had such a similar experience in 2009 at the first acupuncture session after I have begun to get into a yoga routine again seems like much more than coincidence. Even though the yoga on Wii Fit is simply a series of poses, probably chosen more for the stretching, it is clear to me that I am much more in tune with my body. The excitement of this experience has me looking forward to doing even more yoga and working my way back to doing Kundalini Yoga once again (as well as the Wii Fit). Although I know that I need the Western drug that help to offset the conditions of my narcolepsy, I am thrilled that I continue to use non-Western techniques to manage the disease. Acupuncture is an important part of my routine. It truly makes a major difference in the quality of my life.

Wonders of Wii

I have loved video games my entire life. Growing up in the 70s and 80s, I experienced first hand the arrival of home video games. I also fall into the primary age group to have "lived" the hey-day of the video arcade. My summer before ninth grade, I spent hours nearly every day in the local arcade. While part of me regrets those lost hours, another still longs for the sheer joy of honing my skills at Galaga and Tempest.

Although I have own a couple of game systems as an adult (a Super Nintendo and a few "plug in" consoles that hold 5-20 games), my wife and I have purposely avoided purchasing any of the ever improving systems during the last 15 years. The primary reason truly is my inability to stay sane when I have a game system. Certainly, I chafe at the idea that I am incapable of remaining grounded when there is a game to "beat," but I also know that the decision has been a wise one.

Given my narcolepsy, I shudder to think the state I might be in today if we had purchased a Game Cube or an X-Box. Heck, I have even avoided computer-based games for the same reason. I have no doubt that Worlds of Warcraft would have stolen hours of sleep for weeks on end. In fact, I would be willing to bet that gaming easily might have masked the depth and extent of my excessive daytime sleepiness for at least four or five more years.

The irony is that I am writing this the day after I purchased a Wii system - with my wife's permission and approval. I might be a risk-taker at times, but I am not an idiot. While I do worry that we could eventually acquire a game or two that might tempt me into a few "all-nighters," I am more confident about my maturity and decision-making. The reality is that I know what happens when I push, and more often than not, I am unwilling to sacrifice the next two or three days simply to "enjoy" a little friviolity. Let's hope I am still saying that next month and next year.

We decided to get the Wii because I am struggling horribly to work exercise into my routine. I feel like I am finally beginning to learn how to balance home and work and me. That in itself is a massive accomplishment for me. But, I also know that I will be healthier, happier, and more complete if I can find even a modicum of fitness. Enter the Wii. My wife and I spent Saturday night with my sister and her husband. They have had a Wii for awhile, but this was our first couples "Wii night." Everyone had a blast playing a wide variety of games, but at the end of the evening I got a chance to try Wii Fit and the Balance Board. Not only did I find it fun, but I also realized that it could easily be a missing step in getting back into some type of exercise groove.

The beauty of Wii Fit is that I don't have to GO anywhere. My narcolepsy makes me so wiped out at times that the idea of driving to a gym, or even running to the lake a mile from our house, is simply not an option. I worry that I will exhaust myself. If I do that and then need to drive home, I risk my safety and that of others. If I do it and am now a mile from my house, I am foolish enough (and male enough) that I will still try to run home. Then, I will get sick. It happened repeatedly last summer with ultimate and with yardwork.

Instead of risking those things, I can now plug in my Wii and do some yoga and light conditioning work in front of my TV. It also "feels" like a game with vocal support from the etrainer. The Wii can't be my only exercise, but it is a perfect place to start. I would love to pretend that I am capable of pushing myself to establish a workout routine on my own, but I am not. I have nearly forty-one years of failure as evidence. I do best, in terms of fitness, when I am part of something. The Wii tracks my progress for me. And, the fat little Mii, that is ME, provides its own motivation. I know this is going to help me.

I feel blessed to have a wife who supports me so much that she is willing to change her mind about getting a Wii. I also am proud that I bought the Wii last night and have already used it twice to "workout." That is two more workouts than I have done in months. Pretty good for less than 24 hours. Still, it is not lost on me that while I am starting strong, I have done that before to taper to nothing within days. I believe this will be different, though. I need this and the exercise will take the place of some of my other recreation. Building up my strength slowly will also prevent my system from crashing. That is also a good thing (and a chance from the past).

Faithful Fatigue

When I got out of bed this morning (I hesitate to call the experience "waking up"), I was convinced that day four would be far worse than day three. The extreme effort of feeding three cats left me exhausted for the next hour. I eventually stumbled to the living room and promptly slept for the next hour and a half. Finally, I forced myself to shower around 10 AM. My wife and daughter had dental appointments at 11 AM. I didn't fall asleep in the lounge and did hang in through the other errands. Lunch was good too.

Then, at acupuncture, I was convinced I would fall asleep. I often hover in a near sleep state, but was positive that my body would simply give out today without the stimulants. Interestingly, I found my energy growing throughout the forty minutes that the needles were in me. Some of that might have been the electricity surging into the four needles in my lower legs, but that is not something new. I have been functional enough the rest of the day that I wonder if I have turned a corner on the withdrawal aspect. Certainly, tomorrow will be what it will be, but it is fascinating to ponder how all of this is impacting my body. I also must admit that part of me wishes I could stop the stimulants and just have an acupuncture treatment each morning. Of course that would be impossible, unless my amazing wife wants to spend two years learning how to be an acupuncturists on top of being the best medical writer and editor that I know (or that most, if not all, of the doctors who work with her know as well). The chiropractic appointment after the acupuncture also seemed to help.

That being said, it is incredible to realize how sleepy I truly am. Narcolepsy truly is a stunning condition. I know that my Xyrem doses knock me out at night. I get as good a sleep as I can most nights. That means that even with a chemically induced sleep, something is so out of whack that I remain exhausted for a majority of every day. It is humbling to be this dependent on drugs, but it is also good to understand what my body can and cannot do. As I continue to learn more about my condition, it will be fascinating to see where I will go and what life will bring me. Perhaps I will some day be one of those incredible PWNs who does not take stimulants, a person who is comfortable doing what his body allows rather than one who pushes himself to the extreme.

It will be cool to see what tomorrow brings. I need to go to the dentist at 10:30 AM. We also have a few more errands to run. Plus, we need to go to Mass at 4 PM. My daughter is singing in the pre-Mass caroling. I hope that I have a little more energy than I have had the past few days. At the same time, whatever I can muster will be just fine. I have no delusion that I will miraculously "recover." I also know that if I am even more wiped out, I will simply accept that. I have no ability to control the situation. It will also be good to recognize what five days without stimulants is like. That way, I will have more insight for the next medication holiday, which I hope will be similar in length. Who knows, I might even be able to do it during my spring break. I definitely am hoping that I can take a break for at least a week during the summer of 2009.

Better Before Beginning

I have arrived! The morning was insane because I didn't pack last night. I tested both my wife's and my daughter's patience. Somehow, I only forgot two things, and my wife was kind enough to go home for them before she drove into work. My in-service at work was good, but it wouldn't end! My wife called my cell twice before calling the school to have someone come get me. I had to walk past my boss as he was starting an announcement because I knew that I needed to get going. While my wife was more than a little irritated, I didn't completely goof up her day. My flight was fine and ridiculously fast. I am far more conscious of the "speed" of air travel after this flight. I have driven to Milwaukee many times. It is nearly impossible to get here in less than 6 hours without grossly violating the speed limit. We landed less than 45 minutes after we took off. That is wild!

I rode to the hotel on its shuttle. There were three airline employees in the van, two other people and me. I think the woman in the van is one of the people I have "talked" to a few times on the Narcolepsy Network forums. The man is one of our presenters. After checking in, I unpacked in my room then figured I would go hang out in the lobby to see if I would fine anyone I know. I checked in for the conference and sat down to check email and blog. Soon, people were arriving in droves. The energy and enthusiasm electrified the air with each passing moment. It is clear that attendees to this conference genuinely care for one another. I could feel my own excitement growing and I didn't know anyone.

Soon, I was approached by another attendee. He and I chatted for quite a while. This is his third conference. As a 63 year old PWN, he has lived much of his life with this disease, but for the last ten years he has given up Western medical treatments. He doesn't like pills. I think that is incredible. We discussed acupuncture, chiropractic and dietary issues. It was amazing. Truly, that one conversation would make this trip worthwhile, yet the conference hasn't even started yet! I knew this thing would be better than I imagined, but even knowing that I am still stunned.

I can't wait for my Minnesota friends to arrive, but I am also excited to meet some of the folks with whom I have interacted online. As the nice gentleman and I were talking, another PWN started giving him a hard time. Turns out this second PWN and I have traded messages in the Facebook group. He immediately mentioned another person from the Facebook group and said, "we were just talking about you." This is incredible. And, as I was typing this, the Minnesota car arrived! Hooray!

I know this weekend will blow my mind. It already is. This might be the first time I am honestly excited about having narcolepsy. Having it means I have a connection with these wonderfully cool people. MUCH more to follow.

Mighty MOONS

I just got back from my second MOONS meeting (I figure I can't count the Planning Meeting/suburban shopping nightmare). Even though I knew it would be better than I was expecting, the experience blew me away again. The group interacted even more and is clearly beginning to connect on deeper levels. In fact, the meeting devolved at the end into a series of small conversations which was beautiful to see. Lots of people were having "A-ha" moments throughout the room. The weirdest part is that we never got to the featured speaker. A member of MOONS was going to tell her story, focusing specifically on her pregnancy. But, I think even she would say that things went great. Actually, she is excited to have two more months to use for further development of her material.

Dr. Rogers opened the meeting with a plug for the Narcolepsy Network National Conference being held in Milwaukee, WI from October 3 to October 5. Since I am already registered to go, I brought my flier for it and was able to give it to a wonderful woman sitting next to me. She is now in her 80s, but didn't learn about her narcolepsy until she was 60. She spent most of her life battling this disease and didn't even know it. That is incredible. I was also thrilled to see that a number of the other MOONS folks are considering the conference or are already planning to go.

Dr. Rogers then made an earnest pitch for assistance. She and Charlie, the narcoleptic who has been helping her, know that they can't do this alone. In fact, both of them felt under prepared for this meeting simply because life in general can move too fast. I did find out that the "planning meeting" in July did happen. Dr. Rogers and one other person made it. Turns out I was in the right place, but either got there after they left or before they arrived. The good part is that lots of people are excited to help now. We do have a planning meeting scheduled for three weeks from now. I plan to go and brave shopping madness again. This time, I will work to arrive early and stay until someone shows up. We also set a new date for the next large group meeting. We didn't know it at the time, but we will listen in November to a group member speak about her life with narcolepsy and her pregnancy (that of course is the tabled speaker from today's meeting).

What got us "off track" was some incredible information from Dr. Rogers about tracking your own medical records. It is a good idea to have your own set no matter what your health is like, but it is imperative for people with chronic conditions. By doing so, you can catch errors and be able to clarify your condition for new doctors. Many of us had input as we moved through the material. I have kept my own records for the past four years, but I learned tons of new things to include. I also got to plug (a couple of times) acupuncture and my favorite chiropractic clinic in the whole world - Langford Chiropractic! Apparently, Dr. Rogers has been taking an acupuncture course and realized that Chinese medicine has treatments for narcolepsy, but discuss it as chronic fatigue syndrome. I shared my experiences as did others.

Once again, though, the best part of the meeting was chatting with others at the end of it. Two of my former students were there, and it was great to connect with Charlie again. I wrote a note to Dr. Rogers offering my assistance. Slowly, some people trickled out, but a group of us stayed until nearly 1 PM. Then, we decided to go get food together. We ate across the street and continued sharing stories and insights until nearly 3 PM. As I said earlier, I knew the day would exceed my expectations, but even in my wildest dreams, I never saw myself at lunch with five other narcoleptics (and one spouse and one baby). I only have to wait three weeks for the planning meeting. AND, it is only four weeks until the conference in Milwaukee. If lunch with five other narcoleptics is this cool, my brain reels with the possibilities of having a meal with two hundred narcoleptics.

I also feel great today because I know that I can help. I have no plans to try to do everything, but I certainly will be an asset and benefot myself and others. Just talking to the older woman and her husband today, I gave them some new ideas. I also provided some insights to another woman whose husband has narcolepsy. With school starting well and feeling managable, my wife getting her new job, and me working to stay balance, I am filled with joy at the potential for a good year ahead. I certainly know that my narcolepsy and fatigue will not go away, but I am more hopeful than ever that I can take each day as it comes and appreciate the upside, rather than dwelling on the mishaps.

Mindful Meditation

I still want yoga to become a habit, but I also know that I need other ways to relax myself. My psychiatrist showed me a fantastic breathing exercise that I can do in two to three minutes and certainly some of my yoga exercises can be done for a brief centering routine. Still, I know I need something more substantial. I also realized yesterday that I have it! The Benson-Henry Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital specializes in Mind Body Medicine. A few months ago, I bought 3 of their CDs. While I had listened to parts of them, I had not "used" them until yesterday. While waiting for my massage, I put on my iPod and enjoyed track one of Creating a New "Now" by Ann Webster. It is fantastic and helped me relax muscles that were in terrible knots (the massage ALSO helped).

Even more exciting, though, was that it finally dawned on me that my teaching schedule for this next year has two perfect windows built into it that will allow me to meditate with Dr. Webster's CD or the others. I can do it DAILY if I want. Best of all, my internal reaction to that insight was joy, rather the guilt I likely would have felt even a year ago. My contract requires me to have a prep and four class periods. These windows are not a part of that. I will certainly choose to use them at times to do work for my school, but the key word there is "choose." That time is mine, and using it in whatever way is best for me - mentally, physically, emotionally - will be glorious. In the past, I know I would have forbidden myself from even considering using a time period like that for meditation. Now, I am looking forward to doing that. It is in moments like these that I think, "maybe I can overcome my hang ups." Of course, I know that the journey to do that will only take my lifetime.

Being aware of what is going on within me and living in the present are my two biggest goals for this next school year. By using these windows in my school day wisely (for correcting AND fulfillment), I will make it much more likely that my "schedule" blocks will work and be effective. All of this simply continues to build my enthusiasm for the coming school year. Hooray!

Alchemical Allusions

My students for this next year are reading Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist as their summer reading. I just finished re-reading it myself and am deeply struck by how appropriate it is to my own journey. Santiago faces inordinate challenges as he pursues his Personal Legend. At the same time, he is constantly reminded that "all the universe conspires in helping...to achieve it" (Coehlo 22). It is a beautiful paradox and underscores for me the mystery of my condition. I know that narcolepsy is one of the largest burdens I have ever faced, yet without it I doubt that I would have even achieved the mental stability I have of late. It is that balance that is allowing me to be an even better teacher and father and friend.

I also love the idea that there is a Language of the World - one that speaks to us all through omens and the natural world. Santiago sees things everywhere simply by being patient and watching. I know that much of my life has been serendipitous. Often, I am making decisions based on intuition and insight rather than logic and facts. I also know that when I trust those deep emotions, I am rewarded with great joy. Far too often, my logical and analytical mind either gets me into trouble or wraps me in so many knots that the tention is unbearable. Perhaps the best example of all is my narcolepsy. When I am teaching (or passionately engaged in conversation) I am rarely aware of my fatigue, but when I am alone with my thoughts (letting my brain process and re-process everything), my exhaustion can be extreme. Coelho does a remarkable job of vividly capturing the realities of how so many of us lose sight of our Personal Legend. How many times have I worried and wondered about my ability to "teach" because the narcolepsy makes me so tired? Yet, I know (in my heart and soul) that NOTHING fills me up like teaching. It IS my Personal Legend.

Of course, I also feel like I am still on the journey to achieve my Personal Legend. I am a good teacher, but I also know that I can be better. I can't be perfect, but I can be more aware of my students' needs. I can also be more focused on how I teach, making tangible progress for each student an achievable goal. One of the keys is to realize my strengths and my weaknesses. Another is to know that I am finite and limited. I can't do everything (let alone do it well), but I can work toward mastering specific skills with a limited group of students. Returning to our Grade 9 curriculum and working part-time are definitely steps in the proper direction.

Perhaps my favorite thing about The Alchemist, though, is that Santiago - who is so adept at understanding omens - still manages to fail on a regular basis. The idea that we (as individuals, groups, societies) can constantly succeed, or win, or whatever, is such a Western fallacy! The reality is that life is a struggle, and we do fall down, and thankfully we can get up again. In fact we rise even faster when we open ourselves to the love of those around us and particularly to the love of our God. It amazes me that The Alchemist manages to be a deeply spiritual (and religious - in my opinion) book without overtly promoting any faith or offending any faith - please realize that I say that as a Catholic Christian and have no idea if the book offends Jews or Muslims or some other faith. As far as I can tell, it is a book about deeply held beliefs that honors a multitude of traditions and gives a true sense of tolerance.

Like Santiago, I have always been drawn to the idea of omens and signs. I do try to watch the world around me to see what it says. I also feel the power of the desert and the ocean. I have spent more time near the ocean than I have in any desert, but both resonate within my core. My favorite novel, Moby Dick (yes, I am actually that dorky), has an amazing line in Chapter 23 - "It is in landlessness alone resides the highest truth." I think Melville felt what Coelho felt. We are most alive when we are cast out into the world. What is safe is wonderful, but risk allows us the chance to become truly alive, to find our Personal Legend. Narcolepsy is my desert/ocean in many ways. Talk about being "unshored," I feel like I am drifting alone much of the time. Yet, within that emptiness, there is power and strength. I can't be who my logical brain tells me I should be, but I can become who I am supposed to be by trusting my heart and my Personal Legend.

And, I did yoga for a second day in a row - yea, me!

Swell Start

A day proves nothing, but I need to acknowledge that I managed to do some yoga, exercise a little, work, enjoy my daughter, and even start periodic breathing exercises. Things need to become habitual, but it is a good start. Some of those things took place with a horrid headache. While I am not thrilled that my head hurts, I am pleased that I did not let it derail things.

I performed the yoga this morning, after feeding the cats. I only did the "warm-up," but I did it! I also could feel it helping. We will see how things move forward, but I am hopeful. I practice Kundalini Yoga (there is an online course which is supposed to be free) which focuses on spine energy and breathing. When I did it regularly in the spring and summer of 2005, it helped me tremendously, especially when I was doing it and receiving acupuncture treatments. I am hopeful I will see some similar results by restarting it (and I am once again seeing an acupuncturist too!). One of the greatest benefits is that Kundalini helps with the endocrine system and balancing the brain hemispherically.

My exercise came in an unexpected way. My daughter asked me a couple of days ago if we could go to the local tennis court and the hit ball a little. She has not shown an interest in tennis before, but I was certainly game. It turns out that she is pretty good, especially for her first day. I ran more than I had planned, but we both had fun. I need to find a pattern for my strengthening exercises too, yet how can I not celebrate having a great afternoon with my daughter. I had considered trying to "bow out" because my headache was so intense before we left, but I had promised her that we would do it. I also know that the temperatures in Saint Paul will only climb over the next few days. If I "had" to do it, I figured today was the best bet. We will see if her interest continues. Still, I must remember that doing physical things with my daughter will certainly help me to build physical strength.

The final element of the day is that I managed to do all of this, while finding time to do a little work and to rest. The challenge remains for me to be "content" with what I accomplish versus frustrated by what I left "undone." That is where I need to keep using this blog and self talk and my friends and family. All of those things constantly remind me that I am a good person. Opening myself to that will continue to make me whole. I also must remember that one (or two or one hundred) "bad" days don't mean that I have failed. They are simply less.

Helping Hands

Today, July 1, felt like my first day of summer. Not only was the mercury climbing into that uncomfortable range of high 80s (I may be Minnesotan, but uncomfortable heat can't be anything less than 88 degree - unlike many Minnesotans who balk at 80), but also I actually had a fairly relaxed day. Granted, I still had WAY too much on my internal check list (of which only a couple of items got ticked), but I did things for me today. I did that and still spent time with my daughter, provided support for my wife and even had lunch with a dear friend. Days like this make me remember that the concept of "balance" is not just a concept. It actually happens some days - I can NEVER count on it taking place, but everybody has good luck some time.

The aspect of today that grounded it so well was more time at Langford Chiropractic. I know that I rave about them often, but the entire staff is a huge piece of my coping. I continue to utilize the tremendous skills of my acupuncturist. In fact I saw her on Monday - that would be the 15 minute late appointment. She not only managed to get me in, but she also got me out on time. I'm late, but still got the full treatment and left with my day back on track. The best thing is that my acupuncturist managed to hit perfect spots for my high stress and low energy.

Today, I received equally impressive treatment from my massage therapist and my chiropractor. As I have written before, my muscles live in a constant state of tension. They have always been this way, but I know that my stimulants have made them much worse. Because of that I have an ocean of sympathy for my massage therapist. Incredibly, she is usually able to get most of my muscles to release. More impressively, she does that without "hurting" me. Do I experience pain? Of course, but even when she is working on the worst muscles, I know that the pressure she applies will allow the muscle to heal. Her strength is phenomenal. I was particularly worried today, though, because I wondered if we would ever move past my face. The two weeks of MITY took such a toll on me that even my jaw muscles were still clenched. Eventually, the massage progressed to my shoulders. Again, I wondered if my neck and shoulders would consume the rest of my hour. Fortunately, she did what she could (and it was fantastic improvement) and then worked on my back. She had actually joked that she would spend time "chiseling at it." Sadly, that is usually the case. I am blessed that she can do so much to remove tons of toxins from my muscles. I certainly left the room in a vastly improved state.

My chiropractor also managed to make exponential improves in my physical state. She is one of the clinic's owners and has amazing insights into how to improve someone's health. We often joke about the state of my back, especially because she knows that my massage therapist is unbelievable strong. Even my chiropractor was stunned today by how tight everything remained. Still, she worked out quite a few subluxations, even one in my neck that I didn't think she would get. Perhaps the best thing, though, is that I know she cares about my health, particularly in ways that only a handful of physicians have shown me. I realize that managed care limits what MDs can do, but I usually spend less time with my chiropractor than I do with them. Again, I often leave Langford Chiropractic grateful to have such excellent care providers.

Even the office staff brightens my day on a consistent basis. Since I am there every other week, most of the desk and financial staff know me. I am always greeted with a smile and am often asked about my daughter and my day. The entire clinic honestly feels like home. I know all of that is important to me because it is hard for me to ask for help. Without that comfort, I might not be getting acupuncture every other week and using massage and chiropractic work done every three to four weeks. Those three things likely do more for my "balance" than anything else in my life. They are the primary way that I am good to me.

Taking care of myself needs to remain a top priority. I wrote yesterday of prioritizing my life. My psyche is not good at acknowledging this, but I need to be my top priority. I am not good to even my wife and daughter if I am not emotionally and psychologically healthy. Certainly, I will continue to be as physically healthy as I can be too, but that situation is stacked against me. These non-Western approaches are fantastic tools in my maintenance of me. I must begin to reconnect with yoga (and exercise) because it bookends the acupuncture beautifully. When I was doing yoga and acupuncture together, my energy and spirit both reached wonderful heights. Until then, I will continue my trek to the Highland Park neighbor in Saint Paul to visit my favorite medical clinic!

Needles are My Friend

Every other Monday, my heart skips a beat. No, not another health woe. Instead, it is excitement. I spend 30 minutes on those Mondays appreciating ancient wisdom. The friendly needles provide me relief, relaxation, energy and peace - all a result of trusting my acupuncturist. I started using acupuncture in March of 2005. That was one of my lowest points in this journey. I had started the 2004-2005 school year with my energy of old, but that quickly evaporated and took my hope with it. By December I was missing a least a day a week, often two. When my principal called me in and told me, "we had a problem," I knew something was horribly wrong. Wisely, I chose to take a medical leave of absence. It was during that trimester of not working that I finally began to dig into my mental attitude around all of this. Given that I am still on that journey, the process remains slow, but the time off gave me the place to start.

The best two discovers that I made during my leave were yoga's impact on me and the power of acupuncture. In combination I found places of peace and fulfillment within myself that astonished me. The yoga lasted until the next fall when my stress of the school day and my undiagnosed narcolepsy eventually led me to forgo attempting it. I have yet to re-establish a routine for it, but it is a top priority goal as I work towards building a healthy schedule and structure for my life. The acupuncture disappeared more quickly in 2005. The problem is that it worked.

I began by seeing my acupuncturist twice a week. She had energy moving within my body almost immediately. I distinctly remember feeling currents running amid the needles as she inserted them. With each new needle, the energy had more room to play. By the time she left the room, I could feel energy ready to burst from me as laughter. It was incredible. Soon, though, she realized that I needed an herbalist's touch too. She sent me to another practitioner within her clinic. His approach was to treat my back, rather than my front. Although the experience no longer felt the same - no more lightning races within my body - the results were even more drastic. As we moved into summer, my energy remained strong and my sinuses were the best they had been in years. I know it was a combination of his herbal teas and precise needle placement, but I was thrilled to go to acupuncture each week.

I started teaching again that summer, which provided a wonderful "test." Due to the hours of the summer program, I couldn't get acupuncture for two weeks. I missed it, but I still felt strong at the end. My practitioner and I were both thrilled. We stretched the next appointment out three weeks and saw similar improvement. We both thought a month would be the best test of all. He made me a huge batch of my herbal tea, and we scheduled an appointment to hit the window of time between a major family trip and my school trip to Scotland. We also thought that the idea of once a month would be perfect for the school year.

Then, the bottom fell out of everything. On my family trip, I caught a cold making my sinuses a mess. My ENT actually put me on an antibiotic when I returned to Minnesota. The bigger blow came in a letter from my health care provider. Apparently, acupuncture was only covered for twelve visits TOTAL (as in your lifetime), unless you needed more to get "better." Since I had improved, I was obviously better and would not be able to have my visits covered any more. The letter also clearly stated that "maintenance treatments are not a covered item." While it was not the first, nor the last, disappointment in my medical odyssey, it made no sense to me. I was going to an acupuncturist that cost a fraction of a doctor visit, not to mention the antibiotic costs that would come with more sinus infections, but I couldn't see him any more because I was better and maintenance treatment is not covered (even when it saves money). Brilliant!

I considered trying to appeal, but the bureaucratic nightmare proved too daunting. Plus, I was leave soon for Scotland, and the depression this setback trigged sapped even more energy. As a result, I didn't see another acupuncturist until last fall. In my mind I always knew I needed it, but we switched medical plans in January of 2006. I decided to trust my new primary doctor and let him look for the roots of all of my medical issues. I certainly don't regret that, but I kept putting off the acupuncture because I didn't want to introduce a new variable into the bizarreness of my health. Finally last spring, I made the decision that I was done playing games with Western medicine and resolved to figure out how to get acupuncture again. I also knew that massage and chiropractic care would assist me.

Of course, I didn't stop dancing with Western medicine, but that's okay because we finally figured out the narcolepsy. Proudly, though, I didn't give up on finding an acupuncturist either. I started at my chiropractic clinic (Langford Chiropractic in Saint Paul, MN) in July of 2007. What an amazing place! My massage therapist is amazing, and my chiropractor specializes in sports medicine. Both are incredible at what they do. The other big draw for me, though, was that all three chiropractors were working on their acupuncture licenses. Once they had those, my health care provider would possibly pay for my treatments. As pleased as I was with my other services at Langford, though, I decided not to wait for the chiropractors to get their credentials done. My wife and I agreed that I should simply start acupuncture in September.

Immediately, I knew I had found the right person. My acupuncturist clearly works to understand who I am and treat every aspect of my condition. She sees what is happening with me in a far more holistic way, taking a genuine interest in everything that is happening with me. Once again, I know that I am starting to heal in many ways due to the wisdom of an ancient culture. Needles placed in key spots make a massive difference for me. The other amazing aspect of my treatment is the use of electricity to stimulate key needles. Today was tremendous. The electrodes were placed on needles in my legs, and I could still feel their impact as I drove home. While both my sinuses and my narcolepsy benefit the most from acupuncture, it also has had a major impact on my knees getting stronger and keeping my dyshidrotic eczema in check. I wound up being treated once a week for much of the end of 2007, but we had to cutback to every other week due to financial constraints. I may get to increase my treatments again, though, because Langford Chiropractic tried billing my provider for the acupuncture. It is being covered now that the doctors have their official acupuncture documentation.

I honestly relish the hour I get to spend in acupuncture every other Monday. While the idea of using needles to treat pain and illness unnerves many of us in the West, we need to remember that this approach predates ALL of our own medical practices. The techniques have worked for thousands of years. I hope more people do try it. I had physical therapy today, and my therapist balked at the idea of having needles put in him. He worried that his own phobia about needles would eliminate any benefit the acupuncture would bring. I can't say, but I do know that even when I do open my eyes and see some needles in front of my eyes, I barely even register them. I am too relaxed and centered to let anything bother me. Obviously, I write this blog for me, but if you have happened upon it because you are narcoleptic or are suffering in some way, I hope you will consider acupuncture. It is the BEST medicine I have encounter in my long and tortuous (not torturous, although it has felt that way too) journey.