Getting to Know Sarah Fewtrell
When Paige asked me to write a post about my journey to becoming an acupuncturist, I felt a little scared and apprehensive as my journey to studying and becoming an acupuncturist is a deeply personal one. One I’m still learning to share openly and publicly.
To tell my story about becoming an acupuncturist I think it is important to first share a little about my earlier life. I grew up in Brisbane and spent most of my childhood dancing and performing on stage. When I left school, I studied marketing and then went on to work in marketing and advertising agencies both in Brisbane and then on the Gold Coast. During this time, to help manage the stress of a very busy lifestyle, one that often required more of me than my body was willing to give, I became constantly on the lookout for things to improve my health and wellness: I saw naturopaths, engaged a dietician and used long distance running and functional training as my form of meditation to help me cope. It was this early interest along with misdiagnosed pelvic pain and eventually the challenges I faced conceiving my son that led me to becoming an acupuncturist.
Although looking back now I know I often experienced abnormal pelvic pain with my period, that I ignored, it wasn’t until I started experiencing excruciating pain while long distance running and deep squatting and was persuaded to seek help by my group fitness trainer at the time that I eventually sort medical advice from a General Practitioner (GP). Their recommendation at the time was to have a pelvic ultrasound and some blood tests and when these came back normal the diagnosis that I was given was that the pain was most likely muscular and like some type of groin pain that men in the army get. The treatment was to avoid running and deep squats and instead take up a new form of exercise that doesn’t trigger the pain. At the time, being a woman, the diagnosis sounded very odd to me, but I was busy, so I accepted it, tried to limit the deep squats and running and instead took up hot yoga instead. The pain would still crop up from time to time and I’d also continue to pass big clots when I bleed but at the time I didn’t realise this was abnormal.
A few years went by; I was now working for myself when I started to experience first trimester pregnancy loss and eventually difficulties conceiving. Desperate to get some assistance with what I was experiencing and after some research, I decided to try acupuncture to help me heal. After six months of treatment I was amazed by acupuncture’s ability not just to improve symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle but also to make you feel better mentally and emotionally too. I was eager to share this with others and so I embarked on a degree to become an acupuncturist.
Not long after starting studying, I underwent a laparoscopy which confirmed Stage 3/4 endometriosis. Armed with what I was now learning about Chinese medicine, the female body and women’s health along with the ongoing support and guidance from a naturopath and acupuncturists I began optimising my body, my diet and lifestyle and mindset to put me in the best possible position to conceive and carry a pregnancy to full term. During the time I also undertook fertility treatments, had another laparoscopic surgery and underwent 4 months of hormone suppression until I eventually conceived my son naturally. I then used the support of an immune suppression protocol suggested by a reproductive immunology specialist along with ongoing acupuncture and herbal medicine to help carry my first pregnancy to term after 7 prior pregnancy losses. I finally had my rainbow baby.
Now as an acupuncturist and mum of a toddler, I enjoy being able to support other women to better health through my knowledge of Chinese medicine and acupuncture as well as by providing guidance and support based on my own lived experience of hormonal and menstrual cycle challenges, endometriosis, recurrent pregnancy loss and infertility and more recently pregnancy, breastfeeding and postpartum. If I am lucky enough for you to choose me to support, you on your journey to better health and/or motherhood it would be my absolute honour. I promise to always listen, ensure you feel seen and heard and to use my knowledge of Chinese medicine and acupuncture to help you achieve your health goals.
In the coming months, you may see me pop into your inbox a little more frequently as I start to share a little more about women’s health and the support acupuncture and Chinese medicine can provide. If you have a women’s health topic that is of interest to you and that you would like some information on from a Chinese medicine or acupuncture perspective reply to this email or send me an email sarahfewtrell@paigewatersacupuncture.com.au and let me know.
