Acupuncture for chronic radiation enteritis?

Hi @carmelas, I added your question to the Cancer: Managing Symptoms support group as well. You may also be interested in these related discussions:

- Anyone have radiation enteritis, inflammation of your small intestine?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/radiation-enteritis/
- Anybody else have GI problems with uterine cancer? What did you do?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anybody-else-have-these-problems-what-did-you-do/
I'm also tagging fellow members like @amyb5 @again2 @naturegirl5 @jeanadair123 @chrissiebee to see if they have experience with acupuncture for GI issues.

There is evidence that acupuncture and accupressure can help with relieving cancer-related nausea and vomiting. It's a treatment option offered by many major cancer centers, including at Mayo Clinic's Integrative Medicine program.

Having GI issues is exhausting, which can lead to depression. I hope the spring weather helps lift your spirits as you wait for your appointment, Daisy.

Thanks, I had the cancer in 2009 it’s all post radiation enteritis that is killing me now. I can’t eat any solid food and it has been a gradual, inexorable, painful, and horrible downhill slope.

@carmelas The post radiation enteritis sounds just awful. I have had acupuncture but it was for back pain and not for GI problems. I’m tagging @mommacandy as she is currently getting chemotherapy and receives acupuncture. She has shared that the acupuncture has greatly helped her with nausea. As @colleenyoung shared acupuncture and acupressure is offered at Mayo Clinic and other cancer care centers. I’m going to encourage you to look into trying acupuncture and after a few treatments decide if it’s helping.

Thank you, I have an appointment at the end of the month. I was in a lot of pain this weekend and I don’t know why, but I’m tired of spending so much time crumpled up in a fetal position. I feel like the treatment I received in 2009 is now killing me.

@carmelas sorry i'm just now seeing this...it routed this notification to my spam box...go figure... anyways...i was highly skeptical about acupuncture in the beginning but i was staying soooo sick i thought what the heck and i had the option to barter for the services so why not...i can't say enough how much it helped my nausea!!! and even my pain...it definitely was a blessing...now granted the acupuncturist i've been using trained overseas for i think it was 8 years and he really knows what he's doing...but even acupressure can help and its something you can have a friend or spouse do or even yourself depending...just google acupressure and there's tons of charts to show you what affects where...its not as helpful to me as the acupuncture (except with hiccups, then its the bomb) but if you can find a good well trained acupuncturist, i think you'll find some relief...

Thanks so much, I have an appointment tomorrow with the acupuncturist and I can’t wait. I hope it helps because I’m tired of being in pain almost every day and all I “eat” is yogurt and chocolate. I think I can keep chocolate down because it melts., but I’m trying to cut that out too. I just want to live without pain at this point.

it took me i think 3 visits before i started really noticing a difference and then oh my was like night and day...

Thank you so much. You give me hope.

Nobody tells you that, besides being BRUTAL when you are receiving the treatment that the radiation may be killing you fifteen years later.

good to know about the radiation...i've not faced that but my friend is currently going through it...