Friday, December 6, 2019, 3:30 p.m.
It was overcast but not yet raining as we drove to Union City today. Inside the building, one elevator wasn’t working so I just took the stairs, both up and down. I usually prefer the elevators because I don’t feel steady at all when climbing or descending stairs. But sometimes—like today and like at Lisa’s house—I just have to do it. But I grasp the stair rails very carefully.
The group was small today, just like last time. When I checked in, I told the medical assistant that my pain level was 4 today and better than last time, which had been 5. I then asked her if I could have a series of individual acupuncture sessions again, this time with Sophie. She checked Sophie’s schedule and said I could see her on Thursday, January 16, at 11:00 a.m. That will work.
I found my chair inside the room and settled in to wipe my ears with the alcohol swabs I had been given. I got up to throw away the swabs and their empty packets and saw on the table a supply of Ricola cough drops, bobby pins, and ponytail elastics. I decided to take a cough drop.
I noticed that a half circle of chairs had been placed at one end of the room, facing away from the rest of the group. I knew this was for those who were coming to group acupuncture for the first time. A young Asian woman came in and began speaking quietly to them, which I knew was a brief introduction to acupuncture for them. I did not recognize her and wondered if she were a new (to Kaiser) acupuncturist. I had had Jorge for the past 8 sessions of group acupuncture.
Then she began with the needle insertions. When she got to me, she asked, “Are you ready?”
I said, “Yes,” and she began working, swiftly but precisely putting the 5 needles in each ear. When she had finished with everyone, she dimmed the room lights, twice. I strained my ears, trying to hear if there was ambient music. Throughout the session, it seemed mostly quiet but I thought I heard faint sounds of music every now and then. I wondered if it was from the CD player that I had seen in the room before but just not turned up loud enough to be heard, even with my hearing aids!
I began mindful breathing and I may have fallen asleep a few times, but (if I did) the transitions between wakefulness and sleep were very smooth and imperceptible. The length of the session was exactly 35 minutes. After she removed the needles from both ears, all she said was, “You’re all done!”
Linda and Emily were both sleeping when I got out to the car. It was still overcast but getting dark. I was glad I had turned on the house lights before we left since I knew it would be dark by the time we got home. The trips to and from Union City are always good times for Linda and me to talk. Emily seems to love to hear us both talking and she also loves the music from classical radio KDFC.
Later, at home, when I checked my email, I saw that I had a message from:
CONNIE CHUCK LAC
Received:12/06/2019
Welcome to the Acupuncture Clinic at KP Union City! It was a sincere pleasure to meet you.
We hope that you had a positive visit with us, and that you continue to experience therapeutic benefits as we partner together in support of your health and healing. After every acupuncture visit, we suggest that you stay hydrated and to refrain from any strenuous activity for the rest of the day to allow your body to rest and continue to receive treatment. Should you experience any adverse issues after any of your visits, we ask that you contact our office immediately.
Please feel free to contact us if you should have any questions, concerns, and/or feedback so that we may continue to provide you with exceptional care. You may send me a secure message through kp.org. To make or change acupuncture appointments, our phone number is (510) 675-3417.
We look forward to being a part of your dedicated healthcare team, and would like to thank you for choosing Kaiser Permanente.
My Very Best,
Connie Chuck, MSTCM, L.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncturist
Kaiser Permanente Acupuncture
3553 Whipple Rd., Bldg. B, 2nd Fl.
Union City, CA 94587
(510) 675-3417
Well, now I knew her name! I tried to look up her picture on the Kaiser My Doctors Online but it wasn’t there. I presumed it was because she was new and IT had not gotten around to uploading her picture yet. Her message also confirmed something I had already figured out on my own: that the body continues to enjoy the benefits of acupuncture for the rest of the day!
