Bye RE, Real World & Quandry
RE's seem to vary on how long they follow their patients. My RE keeps patients through 1st trimester and I am officially 13 weeks and 6 days. (woohoo) We had a sweet farewell and this week's appointment was with my OB. She is planning to see me every 2 or 3 weeks, but I won't have another ultrasound (unless I have MORE issues pop up) until 5/24. She said we will measure cervix and see if the placenta has moved down any then and if not, I will go back to weekly ultrasounds.
For now, she said I MUST listen to my body. (I felt her out about an end to bed rest..LOL) She said that contractions=laying down on my side...end of story. (used to be flat on back, but 2nd trimester, has to be on side) So, all I need is for the contractions to stop & I can be up! BUT, she said I have to be very very careful...If I APPEAR to stop contracting, I must pay attention and get down ASAP if I start again, because they could quickly become out of control.
My placenta is still RIGHT behind my cervix...so contractions...or any cervical irritation would threaten our baby. OBVIOUSLY that means NO HANKY PANKY STILL!!!! I know the baby is totally worth it, but for the record, I may go crazy!! LOL She gave the same "not even a dirty thought" speech that our RE did.
She is keeping me on Progesterone til 36 weeks...hoping it will help w/pre-term labor which is always a factor for me.
So current issues: contractions, occasional bleeding, placenta not in a good spot, MAJOR migraines & some other bizarre headaches....plus an unpleasant issue mentioned later
Neurologist determined I have swelling in my occipital lobes, which was helped by some injections into my scalp. Looks like I need them every few weeks. Fun. At 24 weeks, I have to have an MRI done because he's worried I might have an aneurysm or something that would burst during delivery (because of the bizarre headache changes I've had in addition to my normal 24/7 migraine, which is a result of a head injury). I'd prefer to avoid an MRI, but DH isn't open to us taking that chance, when a C-section would easily spare my life. Does he think I'd want to go through all this and not LIVE to hold my baby?!? LOL GOOD GRIEF! If I believed there really was a concern, I'd be all for the MRI, but I think my neurologist is just being overly cautious.
Then, the piece de resistance is that I have to have a sigmoidoscopy (like a partial colonoscopy) because of bleeding that started before pregnancy...GRRR. They don't want to do conscious sedation since I'm pregnant, so it looks like I will do it without pain meds. That is good fun. LOL Doc wants it done next week or before week 18. I am SO NOT COMFORTABLE with this idea...as a person who is having contractions 24/7, I should mention that PAIN increases contractions...and they want to put me in pain...before my baby is viable. I am WRESTLING with this one big time!! My OB wants me to have pain meds (because of the increased contractions)...and the GI doc does not because I'm pregnant...go figure. The GI doc is the one doing the procedure, so he trumps my OB. What in the heck do I do? I don't want to do it, but both of them went on & on about why it is so important.
So, more bed rest...it will be 6 weeks on Monday. I'm dying to go to church. People from church visit (even though we live over an hour away), but it is not the same...I need to be nourished and restored there!! I'm hoping I can go soon. Shoot..they can just lay me down in the back..WAIT...I know! They can lower me through the ceiling on a stretcher!!! LOL No, they'd need a crane for that. LOL
Thank you so much for your prayers! I am happy to do anything God asks of me to get this baby here safe and sound!! (Even if it IS 6 more months of bed rest!) :-)
For now, she said I MUST listen to my body. (I felt her out about an end to bed rest..LOL) She said that contractions=laying down on my side...end of story. (used to be flat on back, but 2nd trimester, has to be on side) So, all I need is for the contractions to stop & I can be up! BUT, she said I have to be very very careful...If I APPEAR to stop contracting, I must pay attention and get down ASAP if I start again, because they could quickly become out of control.
My placenta is still RIGHT behind my cervix...so contractions...or any cervical irritation would threaten our baby. OBVIOUSLY that means NO HANKY PANKY STILL!!!! I know the baby is totally worth it, but for the record, I may go crazy!! LOL She gave the same "not even a dirty thought" speech that our RE did.
She is keeping me on Progesterone til 36 weeks...hoping it will help w/pre-term labor which is always a factor for me.
So current issues: contractions, occasional bleeding, placenta not in a good spot, MAJOR migraines & some other bizarre headaches....plus an unpleasant issue mentioned later
Neurologist determined I have swelling in my occipital lobes, which was helped by some injections into my scalp. Looks like I need them every few weeks. Fun. At 24 weeks, I have to have an MRI done because he's worried I might have an aneurysm or something that would burst during delivery (because of the bizarre headache changes I've had in addition to my normal 24/7 migraine, which is a result of a head injury). I'd prefer to avoid an MRI, but DH isn't open to us taking that chance, when a C-section would easily spare my life. Does he think I'd want to go through all this and not LIVE to hold my baby?!? LOL GOOD GRIEF! If I believed there really was a concern, I'd be all for the MRI, but I think my neurologist is just being overly cautious.
Then, the piece de resistance is that I have to have a sigmoidoscopy (like a partial colonoscopy) because of bleeding that started before pregnancy...GRRR. They don't want to do conscious sedation since I'm pregnant, so it looks like I will do it without pain meds. That is good fun. LOL Doc wants it done next week or before week 18. I am SO NOT COMFORTABLE with this idea...as a person who is having contractions 24/7, I should mention that PAIN increases contractions...and they want to put me in pain...before my baby is viable. I am WRESTLING with this one big time!! My OB wants me to have pain meds (because of the increased contractions)...and the GI doc does not because I'm pregnant...go figure. The GI doc is the one doing the procedure, so he trumps my OB. What in the heck do I do? I don't want to do it, but both of them went on & on about why it is so important.
So, more bed rest...it will be 6 weeks on Monday. I'm dying to go to church. People from church visit (even though we live over an hour away), but it is not the same...I need to be nourished and restored there!! I'm hoping I can go soon. Shoot..they can just lay me down in the back..WAIT...I know! They can lower me through the ceiling on a stretcher!!! LOL No, they'd need a crane for that. LOL
Thank you so much for your prayers! I am happy to do anything God asks of me to get this baby here safe and sound!! (Even if it IS 6 more months of bed rest!) :-)
Replies
Wow! You are going through a lot! My doctor is talking about bedrest for me at 20 weeks. I\'m 10 weeks and 2 days now. I\'m dreading that part but will do whatever it takes to help my babies. So while on bedrest, have you been keeping busy with other things?
I wish I could say I am reading & expanding my mind...but during the day I have mostly been battling insurance stuff...coordinating doctors\' appointments for our 3 yr old (& me), doing imaginative play or games with her that I can do laying down and just praying up a storm. :-) Even my brain has atrophied!! LOL You are in my prayers!!
wow you do have a lot going on!
As much as you think your neurologist might be playing it safe, I would probably feel better going ahead with the MRI. Especially if he is concerned about and aneurysm-last thing you need to do is stroke out while in labor-then you might be no good for that baby anyway! Not trying to make a joke, but that\'s how it sounded lol.
Also, ew on the sigmoidoscopy-is there no way they can wait a bit longer, until you reach viability? Maybe hopefully it\'s just hemerroids (sp?).
All joking aside, you are coping amazingly well, I\'d be going bonkers right now. I think the only thing that WOULDN\'T be driving me crazy was the sex thing-I\'m still lacking in interest in that department, much to my husband\'s chagrin.
Keep taking care of yourself and that baby-now I\'m off for a 12hr day, ugh.
I give you a world of credit. Talk about strength. You are amazing. Know you are in my prayers for a fast and safe sigmoid and MRI And for baby to arrive in you arms safe. And of course for continued strength Big Hug
My word what a lot to be dealing with. It must be tricky to know which expert to follow. God speed and God bless. Thinking of you
I agree with amberetta, just do whatever testing you are told to do that is beneficial to your health:) Better safe than sorry. Hope you are feeling as good as you can feel on solitary confinement:) xoxoxo
What tough decisions all around I hope they can find answers and soon you can be vertical ;-)
Lowering you into church on a stretcher would be the best. It would be like a church \"miracle\"..... I would love to see that. We could have angels sing while that happens. Keep up your sense of humor. Good luck.
Wow you make my little worries seem like NOTHING! And you get through it all with such a positive outlook! Sneding you a prayer that all your tests and what not are not painful and that you and baby stay safe. Yay for a,most 14 weeks! You\'ll be on to your 2nd trimester!!!!
It is amazing what Mommies who truly want to be mommies endure for their children. I knew someone who called her son \"pain\" due to all of the things she went through to get him here. Her heart stopped during delivery and has not been right since but, all she wanted was a baby.
Anyway, I\'m here to pass the time with you if you need me. I\'m just at home hiding from the world these days.
Hugs, Love & Rainbows!!!
N.
wow I\'m sorry you have so much stressful stuff going on. Like you said though, it\'s all worth it for the baby! Is there any way they can wait until you\'re farther along to do the colonoscopy?? That does sound pretty dangerous. And as far as church goes, at least people care enough to travel so far to see you! Maybe see if they can arrange for a few to come at once, along with your preacher/pastor/priest (sorry not sure which church you belong to!) and hold some kind of mini-service in your home? It\'s not the same, but it\'s better than nothing, right? I dunno, just throwing ideas out there! I hope all goes well if you end up having to have the colonoscopy! Keep hangin in there, you\'re doing great so far!
-Allison
Amberetta, I was scheduled for the sigmoid at 24 weeks too (along w/MRI) but my OB said we can only do it from 15-18 weeks because, after that, the baby is too big and smashes all the parts they need to see. They have ruled out hemorrhoids. What an embarrassing test to have to do though! lol
Thank you ladies for all your prayers and encouragement! I hope I don\'t sound like I\'m complaining or miserable...I\'m not at all. I\'m CONFLICTED about the sigmoid, but very blessed to have good doctors taking care of me...and SO SO SO blessed to have our little baby growing strong & healthy.
I\'m so sorry to hear you are having all these problems. Glad to hear your chruch is there for you..and I know what you mean by missing out. My church makes CD\'s and even posts on line so maybe they can do that for you. Funny how much we need God when we are subject to bedrest! Hope it all works out for you! xoxo
Congratulations making it through your 1st trimester. I will be praying that you and your lil\' one make are safe and healthy!
Ack, what a mess! I\'m so sorry, I pray all of this brings you a healthy baby. Lol about the stretcher through the ceiling reference, at least you\'ve been able to hang onto your sense of humor.