Well we went to my aunt and uncle's house in PA out in the freaking boonies. The girls were great during the ride there and back. DH did not charge the dvd player. So no tv. They survived. S managed to entertain herself by drawing on the windows with her foot. Yes, she was very much strapped in to her carseat. She is just that limber. K slept most of the time or tried to antagonize her sister. Me, well I have a severe sinus infection. It sucks. I get them quite frequently in the winter. I went anyway to my aunt's house. It was so nice because I am from the south and I miss hearing the "southernisms". My uncle is a fabulous cook. The thing is my dh likes my aunt and uncle much better than his own family. So he really enjoys the trip to see them too!
We didn't stay the night as I am a major Black Friday shop a holic. Even while sick as a dog I went out. I was at Penneys at 4am. I had everything done by 12 noon. I only need to buy a gift card for my sister and a Smart Jump Trampoline for S. That will really contain her energy as that child loves to jump. I swear she has Tigger blood in her. Anyway, slept all afternoon and night yesterday and slept all day today. This was not getting any better. I was getting worse, running fevers. I KNOW I needed to get on an antibiotic today and some prednisone. Called the hospital to see if my dr is on call. No. Damn. I figured that another dr that doesn't know me from a hill of beans would not call an antibiotic and prednisone for me. So off to the ER and Fast track I went. I hate hate hate going to the ER. It was ok this time though as one of K's friend's dad was the PA (B) that treated me. He just came in and said S what kinda drugs you need. I said whatever yo will give me. He said JUST KIDDING. No, we went over what my dr normally does (it sucks that she has been closed since Wednesday!). He ordered it up for me. Ten days of Omnicef and 5 days of prednisone (high dose at that). After a dose of prednisone, I am feeling a tiny bit better. The prednisone was only $1.79 on the Walmart drug list. YEAH. Omnicef was $35.00. OWWW. Hopefully I can start to feeling better to go to work on Monday. Oh yeah and B said that if I had waited till Monday it would have been really really bad as it was already bad when I came in today. The Tylenol severe sinus was doing its job with keeping the fever down when I checked in, however, by the time B saw me, I had started to run a fever again. It was only 3 hours after taking it too. So he told me to go ahead and take another dose when I got home.
I think I will ovulate on Wednesday. I started taking ovulation predictor tests yesterday. Negative yesterday and today. I really think last month when I tested on a lark that I caught the end of the ovulation because there was a second line and it was almost as dark if not as dark as the control line. So at least I know there is ovulation.
Well off to bed soon.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Cycle day 1
Well we are now officially ttc! Today is cycle day 1. I am absolutely shocked that after coming off the BCP (which was taken for endo, irregular periods, constant bleeding), I went straight into a completely freaking normal cycle!!! No bleeding in between whatsoever. WTH? Hopefully since AF arrived as scheduled that ovulation will too. I have 35 ovulation test strips just to make sure and 9 pregnancy sticks. If this period follows like before S, then it will last 6-7 days. Ovulation should occur in about 13 days for me. YEAH. I kind of feel sick about getting pregnant again and the what ifs go through my head. I am desparately worried that something bad will happen. However, I have excellent drs. Between my pcp, obgyn, and peri, I am in great hands. Something new is that I will start pregnancy off with good bp on bp meds. So maybe that will give my placenta a chance.
The thing is my time is limited. The endo specialist has said you need to get pregnant and get pregnant immediately OR have a hysterectomy. Two docs have now recommended that. So guess how easy that decision is. I worry about work. I don't have a ton of leave. I have enough with a disability program to make it last a while. Basically about 3 months. I am going to get a note for the first trimester from my pcp restricting me traveling period. I travel a lot for my job, but I want to be close to home. With S, I was on a business trip for two weeks between 6-8 weeks and had two separate episodes of bleeding. The first time I tried to take it easy and it went away after a day. A week later, I had been taking it easy staying in bed and it had been a couple of days of bleeding. Since I was out of state, I called the 24 hr nurse line and she authorized me to go to the nearest ER. They determined I had a posterior fibroid (that is now suspected adenomyosis) that was close to the cervix causing the bleeding. The ER dr wanted to admit me for observation, but I begged him to go back to the hotel. I could not miss any part of a class I was taking and missing even an hour is cause to fail you. I had waited a year for this class. He let me go home on the condition that I did no lifting, walking, stair climbing. Go to class and put my feet up the entire time. Drink plenty of fluids. Go to bed and order food in when out of class. I could NOT wait to get on a plane to go home. So because I travel on day trips and for business trips frequently, I am getting a note stating no trips period outside of my work area. I feel pretty confident she will write it. I would ask from my ob and I probably will ask him to write one too. However, my boss knows which dr is my ob. She would suspect pregnancy. I don't want anyone to know until I HAVE to tell. They gave me such a hard time last time. I hated that.
I am also going to make use of the work from home program. My boss hates it. I did it successfully for 2 1/2 years before transferring into my current position (same office). I think she may be more open to it. It helps that not a single pregnant woman within my agency has been turned down for it which sets precedence. When discussing it, she has mentioned that she hates it but for me may let me do it. In fact, my work makes fun of a computer program that we used to upload stuff to the internet. I am the only one that knows the ins and outs of it. For some reason, I really like using it. Everyone else hates it. They can't figure it out without me standing on top of them instructing them. So they have been saying yeah when she gets pregnant (I have made no secret of my desire of another one, just when is the question), they say I can do bedXXXX. Get it, bedrest. So they took bed as the first part and then the last part of the program. I also am a manager of another program. I am the only one in my agency who has access to this program and runs it. No one else knows how. The best part of it is that 90% of it can be done from any internet location. I am going to have to work on a proposal for her so that I can get that approved. It will mean doing some of the crappy jobs, but hey I would be doing it from home, so how crappy would it really be? I have to show how it will benefit her. I bought a printer awhile ago that does, copying, scanning, faxing, printing. I set up wireless as well. My printer and laptop are wireless as well. She let me work from home on OT this summer. So, I think I can get her to be on my side, I just have to figure out how I can make it look really really good for her. I do know that when I tell that I am pregnant, I am going to take her aside and say that I still want to be a productive person and willing to do whatever. She won't be able to get away with me taking several months off because of that one program I do that no one else knows how to do. So I would be willing to work part-time on that, if she would be willing to allow me to telework if I need to go on bedrest. She is getting to retire Jan 1st 2009, so maybe since she is leaving, she may have a bit of softening to her.
My boss knows about my gyn issues. She has had some as well (endo - she completely understood me taking time off for this and shoved me out the door when I was in to much pain to work, uterine cancer, etc). She also knows my time is limited. I have not mentioned to her that I was told to get pregnant and as quick as possible from 2 drs. I did tell her about the hysterectomy options. I kind of wanted to know what that was like from someone that had one. I hope that maybe she will see it as it was get pregnant now or have hysterectomy too and maybe will have her a bit more sympathetic than she was last time. I do know that she and the assistant chief are going to be pissed about negotations as I have gained a reputation as a good negotiator. I had contractors calling a couple of weeks ago because I stepped in for a coworkers negotiations. She was out of town and I stepped in. Apparently, the contractors and our project team were stunned with it. I was shocked when I heard about it. For once everyone was applauding for me being a ball buster as they put it. The contractor was trying to pull one over on us and I called them on it and then told them how the situation was going to be resolved. So the the contractor's president called the acting chief and asked how our negotiations process worked with the different negotiators? Then he asked if I was going to be on any other negotiations. LMAO when he told me. I guess that impressed the heck out of my bosses. Contractor was not happy that I would be in on future negotiations. Wait till they find out that I have been assigned as the negotiator for their new $50 million dollar project. He he he he. After these knuckleheads called, the assistant chief came over to tell me of the conversation. He said since I was such a ball buster with them that he wanted me to oversee the negotiations on their new project. He needed someone that would make the contractor tow the line and keep costs in line and the project team in line. Before, we had someone in there that basically slept through negotiations. Ever since then the assistant chief has been assigning me the tough negotiations. However, my boss (the chief) has caught wind of this and is making him start to reassign work to the other girl because she needs the experience (she has to stay awake first!). So I do bring something to the table. Oh and I have project teams wanting me on their negotiations because of what they saw in that one. I can be fair and stuff, but when I see you intentionally screwing around with us, I will not let you get away with it. This contractor put something along the lines of his proposal that the costs were too much work to document, so he was just going to charge it to us. My response when questioning them and finding this out was if it is too much to document, then it is too much work for us to pay it. Document the expenses or you don't get paid. The project manager was going to LET THEM get away with it. He started with umm, we might have a problem with this line item. WHAT? No on something like this you tell them straight. At that point I took over the negotiations (the only reason I let him lead was because I was sitting in. The new project I will lead all negotiations period. Project managers do not lead my negotiations. They are there for technical advice only) and said no it's not might, we DO have a problem with this line item. Then I finished it up with the above. The contractor was so caught off guard he had no idea what to say. Pretty much people had been letting them do what they want. So wait till they get a taste of it on the new contract. They will be justifying each and every expense. I was astounded at how much they were getting away with. Where were the people who should have been opening their mouths about this? So anyway, got off the subject here.
Pain has been very bad for the last couple of days and today. At least AF is here now and Iknow that eventually there will be an end for this in a couple of days. God willing, I won't have to do it again for 9 months. I think I may throw up when I get the BFP. I mean at least this time I have a slew of specialists. It's just I can't help it. I know when I call the OBGYN's office and say hi I would like to make an appt with Dr. E. Are you a current patient? Yes. What is the appt for? Pregnancy. Then I know I will be the talk of the office. No one that was there when I was pregnant has forgotten me. My file for me being there for the last 3 1/2 years (it does include my prior records) is TWO INCHES thick!!!
The good news I can look forward to 4d US, my hospital just got this. I think a high risk pe pregnancy would warrant one of these! My peri has a Starbucks next door to her!!!!!
The thing is my time is limited. The endo specialist has said you need to get pregnant and get pregnant immediately OR have a hysterectomy. Two docs have now recommended that. So guess how easy that decision is. I worry about work. I don't have a ton of leave. I have enough with a disability program to make it last a while. Basically about 3 months. I am going to get a note for the first trimester from my pcp restricting me traveling period. I travel a lot for my job, but I want to be close to home. With S, I was on a business trip for two weeks between 6-8 weeks and had two separate episodes of bleeding. The first time I tried to take it easy and it went away after a day. A week later, I had been taking it easy staying in bed and it had been a couple of days of bleeding. Since I was out of state, I called the 24 hr nurse line and she authorized me to go to the nearest ER. They determined I had a posterior fibroid (that is now suspected adenomyosis) that was close to the cervix causing the bleeding. The ER dr wanted to admit me for observation, but I begged him to go back to the hotel. I could not miss any part of a class I was taking and missing even an hour is cause to fail you. I had waited a year for this class. He let me go home on the condition that I did no lifting, walking, stair climbing. Go to class and put my feet up the entire time. Drink plenty of fluids. Go to bed and order food in when out of class. I could NOT wait to get on a plane to go home. So because I travel on day trips and for business trips frequently, I am getting a note stating no trips period outside of my work area. I feel pretty confident she will write it. I would ask from my ob and I probably will ask him to write one too. However, my boss knows which dr is my ob. She would suspect pregnancy. I don't want anyone to know until I HAVE to tell. They gave me such a hard time last time. I hated that.
I am also going to make use of the work from home program. My boss hates it. I did it successfully for 2 1/2 years before transferring into my current position (same office). I think she may be more open to it. It helps that not a single pregnant woman within my agency has been turned down for it which sets precedence. When discussing it, she has mentioned that she hates it but for me may let me do it. In fact, my work makes fun of a computer program that we used to upload stuff to the internet. I am the only one that knows the ins and outs of it. For some reason, I really like using it. Everyone else hates it. They can't figure it out without me standing on top of them instructing them. So they have been saying yeah when she gets pregnant (I have made no secret of my desire of another one, just when is the question), they say I can do bedXXXX. Get it, bedrest. So they took bed as the first part and then the last part of the program. I also am a manager of another program. I am the only one in my agency who has access to this program and runs it. No one else knows how. The best part of it is that 90% of it can be done from any internet location. I am going to have to work on a proposal for her so that I can get that approved. It will mean doing some of the crappy jobs, but hey I would be doing it from home, so how crappy would it really be? I have to show how it will benefit her. I bought a printer awhile ago that does, copying, scanning, faxing, printing. I set up wireless as well. My printer and laptop are wireless as well. She let me work from home on OT this summer. So, I think I can get her to be on my side, I just have to figure out how I can make it look really really good for her. I do know that when I tell that I am pregnant, I am going to take her aside and say that I still want to be a productive person and willing to do whatever. She won't be able to get away with me taking several months off because of that one program I do that no one else knows how to do. So I would be willing to work part-time on that, if she would be willing to allow me to telework if I need to go on bedrest. She is getting to retire Jan 1st 2009, so maybe since she is leaving, she may have a bit of softening to her.
My boss knows about my gyn issues. She has had some as well (endo - she completely understood me taking time off for this and shoved me out the door when I was in to much pain to work, uterine cancer, etc). She also knows my time is limited. I have not mentioned to her that I was told to get pregnant and as quick as possible from 2 drs. I did tell her about the hysterectomy options. I kind of wanted to know what that was like from someone that had one. I hope that maybe she will see it as it was get pregnant now or have hysterectomy too and maybe will have her a bit more sympathetic than she was last time. I do know that she and the assistant chief are going to be pissed about negotations as I have gained a reputation as a good negotiator. I had contractors calling a couple of weeks ago because I stepped in for a coworkers negotiations. She was out of town and I stepped in. Apparently, the contractors and our project team were stunned with it. I was shocked when I heard about it. For once everyone was applauding for me being a ball buster as they put it. The contractor was trying to pull one over on us and I called them on it and then told them how the situation was going to be resolved. So the the contractor's president called the acting chief and asked how our negotiations process worked with the different negotiators? Then he asked if I was going to be on any other negotiations. LMAO when he told me. I guess that impressed the heck out of my bosses. Contractor was not happy that I would be in on future negotiations. Wait till they find out that I have been assigned as the negotiator for their new $50 million dollar project. He he he he. After these knuckleheads called, the assistant chief came over to tell me of the conversation. He said since I was such a ball buster with them that he wanted me to oversee the negotiations on their new project. He needed someone that would make the contractor tow the line and keep costs in line and the project team in line. Before, we had someone in there that basically slept through negotiations. Ever since then the assistant chief has been assigning me the tough negotiations. However, my boss (the chief) has caught wind of this and is making him start to reassign work to the other girl because she needs the experience (she has to stay awake first!). So I do bring something to the table. Oh and I have project teams wanting me on their negotiations because of what they saw in that one. I can be fair and stuff, but when I see you intentionally screwing around with us, I will not let you get away with it. This contractor put something along the lines of his proposal that the costs were too much work to document, so he was just going to charge it to us. My response when questioning them and finding this out was if it is too much to document, then it is too much work for us to pay it. Document the expenses or you don't get paid. The project manager was going to LET THEM get away with it. He started with umm, we might have a problem with this line item. WHAT? No on something like this you tell them straight. At that point I took over the negotiations (the only reason I let him lead was because I was sitting in. The new project I will lead all negotiations period. Project managers do not lead my negotiations. They are there for technical advice only) and said no it's not might, we DO have a problem with this line item. Then I finished it up with the above. The contractor was so caught off guard he had no idea what to say. Pretty much people had been letting them do what they want. So wait till they get a taste of it on the new contract. They will be justifying each and every expense. I was astounded at how much they were getting away with. Where were the people who should have been opening their mouths about this? So anyway, got off the subject here.
Pain has been very bad for the last couple of days and today. At least AF is here now and Iknow that eventually there will be an end for this in a couple of days. God willing, I won't have to do it again for 9 months. I think I may throw up when I get the BFP. I mean at least this time I have a slew of specialists. It's just I can't help it. I know when I call the OBGYN's office and say hi I would like to make an appt with Dr. E. Are you a current patient? Yes. What is the appt for? Pregnancy. Then I know I will be the talk of the office. No one that was there when I was pregnant has forgotten me. My file for me being there for the last 3 1/2 years (it does include my prior records) is TWO INCHES thick!!!
The good news I can look forward to 4d US, my hospital just got this. I think a high risk pe pregnancy would warrant one of these! My peri has a Starbucks next door to her!!!!!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Another appt with the specialist
Hmm, not sure what to make of it. Anyway, had an appt with the endo specialist today for trigger point injections. Can I say OWWWWWW. Ok, NO ONE warned me about a big needle and an enormous syringe! All I could think was hey I have been through much worse. He asked me where dh was and I said I told him to wait in the waiting room cause he would freak when he saw those needles. The dr said that he has asked dh's if they are ok with needles only to faint on the floor, so it was good that dh chose to sit this one out, lol. I told him I got over my fear of needles by desensitizing myself when I had pe. When they come and poke you every hour for mag levels and platelets, and liver enzymes, you get over that needle fear quick. It's funny how bad I used to be. I used to pass out at the sight of them and I am a champ at them now.
He injected the first one and I let out a yelp. He said hey don't yell, you'll scare all my other patients away. Then he says just kidding! You did great. Most of my patients freak out and scream when they have the first one done. Seeing you didn't know what to expect, you really did great. I said well my pcp says I have a high pain tolerance, but I don't believe her. She said that because of my knee being torn up for so long and me saying well it hurts. She said most people would have been bawling their eyes out. My ortho said the same thing when he saw me walking without crutches a week after major knee surgery. I still don't believe them and think I am the biggest wimp I know. My endo specialist agreed with my pcp and ortho. We did the next two shots. They hurt but not as bad as the first one. He said if the pain stays away for more than 24 hours, it is myofascial pain. More trigger shots and PT will help fix it. If it lasts less than 24 hours, then it is endo and I should get pregnant immediately.
Hmm, last time he told me it wasn't a good idea. This time he is telling me that it is the best idea. Oh and he recommends hysterectomy after the baby is born. He said I should wait and put some time between delivering and having it done 4-6months because it is major surgery. However, he says that is for me and the surgeon to discuss. He said I can stay close to home and have my obgyn do it. Or he can do it and do it laproscopically. I don't know who should do it. He told me that my current obgyn is more than qualified. It would definitely be covered under insurance. I don't think he would get the endo out. Plus I have the little issue where he failed to tell me about the scarring on the operative report. If the specialist does it, it is out of network. I will probably have to pay alot. I am sure my insurance company will deny a hysterectomy out of network when there are tons of docs to do it. He said the biggest issue that I face because I am so young (who thought 33/34 would be so young??) is whether to keep the ovaries. If I keep the ovaries, it can feed the endo and make it worse. So only half the problem is solved. If I get rid of the ovaries, then I will go immediately into menopause. He said I would have to be on HRT therapy till I am 50!!!! Can I just get rid of one of my ovaries? Preferably the right one please. How about half ovarian function? Does it even work that way? He said I have an awful lot to think about and decide on. However there is time to do this. I never ever thought in a million years that I would be getting a hysterectomy. However, it needs to go after the next baby.
What I would really like to do is go to Oregon and see Dr. Redwine and Dr. Mosbrucker. Maybe after the hysterectomy and maybe for a lap. Any obgyn can do the hysterectomy. But not any surgeon can do a lap for endo. Even though I know it is right and what needs to be done and say I want this done. I think I may not be as emotionally prepared for it. I mean I have what a year to prepare? Some reason I think I am going to be devestated emotionally by it. I wish that I could reach out to other young women that have done this at my age. I don't even know why I will be upset. I just know that I will be. It just doesn't seem right to have all those problems pregnant and then this too. I think I am going to do some more research.
So how did the trigger shots work? They worked fabulous for two areas. However, the one area (the first one he hit) HURTS LIKE HELL right now. After the anesthetic wore off after about 4 hours, it hurt worse. So that one spot is endo. Right now I am still scheduled at the end of December for another round. Oh and the pregnant thing, waiting for the next round which should be in about 2 weeks. Pray we catch the egg!
He injected the first one and I let out a yelp. He said hey don't yell, you'll scare all my other patients away. Then he says just kidding! You did great. Most of my patients freak out and scream when they have the first one done. Seeing you didn't know what to expect, you really did great. I said well my pcp says I have a high pain tolerance, but I don't believe her. She said that because of my knee being torn up for so long and me saying well it hurts. She said most people would have been bawling their eyes out. My ortho said the same thing when he saw me walking without crutches a week after major knee surgery. I still don't believe them and think I am the biggest wimp I know. My endo specialist agreed with my pcp and ortho. We did the next two shots. They hurt but not as bad as the first one. He said if the pain stays away for more than 24 hours, it is myofascial pain. More trigger shots and PT will help fix it. If it lasts less than 24 hours, then it is endo and I should get pregnant immediately.
Hmm, last time he told me it wasn't a good idea. This time he is telling me that it is the best idea. Oh and he recommends hysterectomy after the baby is born. He said I should wait and put some time between delivering and having it done 4-6months because it is major surgery. However, he says that is for me and the surgeon to discuss. He said I can stay close to home and have my obgyn do it. Or he can do it and do it laproscopically. I don't know who should do it. He told me that my current obgyn is more than qualified. It would definitely be covered under insurance. I don't think he would get the endo out. Plus I have the little issue where he failed to tell me about the scarring on the operative report. If the specialist does it, it is out of network. I will probably have to pay alot. I am sure my insurance company will deny a hysterectomy out of network when there are tons of docs to do it. He said the biggest issue that I face because I am so young (who thought 33/34 would be so young??) is whether to keep the ovaries. If I keep the ovaries, it can feed the endo and make it worse. So only half the problem is solved. If I get rid of the ovaries, then I will go immediately into menopause. He said I would have to be on HRT therapy till I am 50!!!! Can I just get rid of one of my ovaries? Preferably the right one please. How about half ovarian function? Does it even work that way? He said I have an awful lot to think about and decide on. However there is time to do this. I never ever thought in a million years that I would be getting a hysterectomy. However, it needs to go after the next baby.
What I would really like to do is go to Oregon and see Dr. Redwine and Dr. Mosbrucker. Maybe after the hysterectomy and maybe for a lap. Any obgyn can do the hysterectomy. But not any surgeon can do a lap for endo. Even though I know it is right and what needs to be done and say I want this done. I think I may not be as emotionally prepared for it. I mean I have what a year to prepare? Some reason I think I am going to be devestated emotionally by it. I wish that I could reach out to other young women that have done this at my age. I don't even know why I will be upset. I just know that I will be. It just doesn't seem right to have all those problems pregnant and then this too. I think I am going to do some more research.
So how did the trigger shots work? They worked fabulous for two areas. However, the one area (the first one he hit) HURTS LIKE HELL right now. After the anesthetic wore off after about 4 hours, it hurt worse. So that one spot is endo. Right now I am still scheduled at the end of December for another round. Oh and the pregnant thing, waiting for the next round which should be in about 2 weeks. Pray we catch the egg!
Saturday, November 3, 2007
USC Beach Fire Victims
Please keep the families of the 7 students that died in the beach house fire from the University of SC and Clemson in your thoughts. It's a terrible tragedy. Anyone that knows me in real life knows that the University of SC is near and dear to me. I am an alumna of USC and can remember many times when friends and I would take off for a weekend at the beach. Something that has happened millions of times with millions of USC and Clemson students turned tragic for these students. To read the story, click this link - http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/28/beach.fire/index.html
While USC and Clemson have over a hundred years of rivalry between them, it has warmed my heart to see how both universities have come together in this tragedy. I really liked that there were 6 garnet wreaths in front of the Russell House and in the center was the lone purple and orange one for the Clemson student. Both universities are holding memorial services for all the students lost. We might fight like crazy in our rivalries, however, when it comes to it South Carolinians stick together.
The families, survivors, and the universities communities have a long road ahead.
While USC and Clemson have over a hundred years of rivalry between them, it has warmed my heart to see how both universities have come together in this tragedy. I really liked that there were 6 garnet wreaths in front of the Russell House and in the center was the lone purple and orange one for the Clemson student. Both universities are holding memorial services for all the students lost. We might fight like crazy in our rivalries, however, when it comes to it South Carolinians stick together.
The families, survivors, and the universities communities have a long road ahead.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Big chicken and high bp
Ok ok ok, my pcp was right. Aldomet totally did not work. I went up to like 160/110!!!!! HOLY CRAP. I tried adding a 3rd dose in and it didn't work. I tried adding a 4th dose in and that didn't work. I tried doubling the dose and that didn't work. So then I didn't take it all. SAME EXACT FREAKING PRESSURES. It was as if I had been taking a sugar pill. After about a month of this, I went back to my pcp. It was 152/104. She said that those pressures are completely unacceptable. We discussed several different meds (atenol, labetalol, procardia). All are class c meds. So she said since they are all class c meds. We know that procardia doesn't work for you and gives you bad headaches. If we have to pick a class c med to go with, pick one that works. So I blissfully am back on the Ziac. She is going to call my obgyn yesterday or today and talk with him and let know she changed me back. I did research and couldn't find any adverse information on Ziac and pregnancy. We discussed the possibility of IUGR. But my girls had enormous placentas. So we think that with careful watching we may be ok. One thing wierd she asked me was did I ever see the nurse practioners over there and I said never. She said never? I said no, I always see Dr. E. I never ever see the nurse practioners. Told her when I was pregnant they could not see me and did not want to see me. So I always see the dr. She said hmmm. Ok. I think in the 3 years I have been going there, I saw midwives/nurse practioners 4 times (this includes a high risk pregnancy and the aftermath of endometriosis). I saw the midwife at 5 weeks and 9 weeks when I started there. They transferred me to Dr. E. Then I saw a midwife at 17 weeks and 32 weeks when he was on vacation or at a conference. I saw Dr. E every two weeks from 10 weeks to 26 weeks. Then I saw him every week from 26 weeks to 35 weeks when I delivered. I also saw him at 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks, 3 mos post partum. Then I was in the office every couple of months for the endometriosis and the then I saw him several times for both laps. So not sure why she thought I would be seeing the nurse practioners??? I have never spoken about seeing the nurse practioners, only the doc. He's the one that I am comfortable with (well as comfortable as you can get for obgyn). Hmmm wierd.
It was very disheartening that the Aldomet didn't work. However, I knew it wouldn't. She said that her own obgyn said ziac was ok. Makes me realize that drs are human too. Sometimes I forget that. She said that when she forgets to take the ziac that it makes her feel like crap so she could only imagine how the Aldomet had been making me feel . I feel much better knowing that my bp is back under control. This will give the placenta the best possible chance.
I'm just going to stay on it until my obgyn says different. Then we'll have to discuss it. As far as the rest of the stuff. I stopped Loestrin on Thursday night last week. Lots of pain over the weekend. Slept on a heating pad all weekend. Took lortab and motrin. ugh. Af started on Monday. Very surprised that it has been light. It was always very heavy. I hope it ends soon. We decided to wait till next month to try. If I go by this, ovulation would be halloween weekend. Well I already have one baby's birthday in June. Figuring 35-36 week delivery. So we are trying for an August baby. We'll skip this month. Gives me a chance to figure out where the heck my cycle is. Pray that it works!
It was very disheartening that the Aldomet didn't work. However, I knew it wouldn't. She said that her own obgyn said ziac was ok. Makes me realize that drs are human too. Sometimes I forget that. She said that when she forgets to take the ziac that it makes her feel like crap so she could only imagine how the Aldomet had been making me feel . I feel much better knowing that my bp is back under control. This will give the placenta the best possible chance.
I'm just going to stay on it until my obgyn says different. Then we'll have to discuss it. As far as the rest of the stuff. I stopped Loestrin on Thursday night last week. Lots of pain over the weekend. Slept on a heating pad all weekend. Took lortab and motrin. ugh. Af started on Monday. Very surprised that it has been light. It was always very heavy. I hope it ends soon. We decided to wait till next month to try. If I go by this, ovulation would be halloween weekend. Well I already have one baby's birthday in June. Figuring 35-36 week delivery. So we are trying for an August baby. We'll skip this month. Gives me a chance to figure out where the heck my cycle is. Pray that it works!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Not a lot of news. ..
Well today was a bad week. I had so much pain over the weekend from just an exam! I get so irritated with health care blogs and ER nurses and DRs talk about people that come in (people with endo) just seeking drugs. I don't get it. I never got a high off of it. In fact they make want to puke and I have to take reglan with it. However, Tuesday morning I broke through on the Loestrin. By that afternoon, I swear I felt like I was in labor again. I actually had to breathe through the waves of pain. Paying attention to it. I think the specialist is right and I do have adenomyosis. Thankfully, I had some pain medication and used it. It worked well enough so I could function and not feel like I was in labor. The bleeding ended on Wedsnesday. I was going to finish the loestrin tonight, but dh will be gone when I am predicted to ovulate if everything goes perfectly. So I am delaying it by 4 days, so he can be here. Keep your fingers crossed that I don't "O" early! Other news, I bought 40 ovulation predictor and 10 early pregnancy tests yesterday. It's becoming a reality.
On one hand I want to run away screaming and on the other hand I want to take the bull by the horns and hit it head on. I am very disappointed with the aldomet. It just isn't working. It's like taking a sugar pill. My bp has gone up from 105-115/60-75 to 135-150/110!!!!!! Way too high. I even added a third dose of it. It didn't work at all. I tried going without for two days, no change in the bp. So next week I am going to put in a call to my pcp. I am hoping she will call my obgyn and let him know it isn't working. I would feel much better knowing that I had a lower bp on ziac than to let it go this high. I'm just not comfortable with it.
The refinance is going very very slowly. I am kind of po'd with the mortgage officer. I shouldn't have to call him a million times to get things done. He has only called me back ONCE when he said he was going to. I know he is busy but so am I. In addition, I told him to lock in the rate TWO WEEKS ago. He didn't and says he doesn't recall that conversation. Plus he put in that our discover card should be paid off with the refinance. He said that with a cash out refinance, that we could go to Hawaii on that money. Well that was not exactly true. One, the lawyer gets to send a check to the creditors, fine. Two, I wanted our home improvement loan and a different card with a high interest rate consolidated into the loan. So far I got the closer to agree to changing what was going to be paid off. I was so po'd when I found that out because I had asked him specifically about that. In addition, when I filled out the paperwork, I indicated I had a retirement account. However, I never had put a balance for it. Truth is, I have no idea what the balance is. However, my paystub shows the balance of what I have paid into it. Then it shows what my employer has paid into it. We don't get statements because it is self funded. It is tracked on our paychecks. Well he added those together and put it on our application! Then the bank wanted to see statements. Well we don't get statements. Supposedly they were going to accept this. If I didn't have money and so much time invested into it already I would yank it back. It's too late now. I just want to close it as soon as possible. So I have to call the bank AGAIN on Monday and find out if the retirement is ok. See if they will release what was needed for approval and give us final approval. Once that is done we can close. It will take the bank three days to close. Then we have to wait another FOUR days to fund. This should not have taken this long to do. They have been given everything the next day. I want to close as quickly as we can as fast as possible. If we close by Friday I'll be elated. I was led to believe we would have closed already. The paperwork to remove the commitment stuff and to give final approval has been with the underwriter since TUESDAY. Come on, examine, look at it, and move on!!!!!
The lawyer is still getting their stuff but assures me it will be completed by Monday or Tuesday.
Ok, so enough about that for now. The good thing is I have already received a request for how my experience has been. I plan to tell them ALL about it!
Now for a funny with my adorable 2 year old, S. She still loves her binky. I am not inclined to make her give it up when she just turned 2. I tried to take it away from her and she tried sucking on her fingers. Last night, I grabbed a beloved binky from the silverware drawer and noticed it had a small hole. This can not be good. I thought well I don't want to hunt one down, let's see if she takes it.
So we go upstairs and I go to rock her. As we are rocking, S says mama binky BROKE. I said your binky is broke? Yes S binky broke. Do you want mama to take it? No S NEEDS binky! How did your binky get broke. As plain as day, S says MAMA DID IT. Ahhhhhh. I lost it after that. It was hysterical. Yes this child of mine is as stubborn as I am. She went to sleep sucking on a broken binky. Any ideas????
On one hand I want to run away screaming and on the other hand I want to take the bull by the horns and hit it head on. I am very disappointed with the aldomet. It just isn't working. It's like taking a sugar pill. My bp has gone up from 105-115/60-75 to 135-150/110!!!!!! Way too high. I even added a third dose of it. It didn't work at all. I tried going without for two days, no change in the bp. So next week I am going to put in a call to my pcp. I am hoping she will call my obgyn and let him know it isn't working. I would feel much better knowing that I had a lower bp on ziac than to let it go this high. I'm just not comfortable with it.
The refinance is going very very slowly. I am kind of po'd with the mortgage officer. I shouldn't have to call him a million times to get things done. He has only called me back ONCE when he said he was going to. I know he is busy but so am I. In addition, I told him to lock in the rate TWO WEEKS ago. He didn't and says he doesn't recall that conversation. Plus he put in that our discover card should be paid off with the refinance. He said that with a cash out refinance, that we could go to Hawaii on that money. Well that was not exactly true. One, the lawyer gets to send a check to the creditors, fine. Two, I wanted our home improvement loan and a different card with a high interest rate consolidated into the loan. So far I got the closer to agree to changing what was going to be paid off. I was so po'd when I found that out because I had asked him specifically about that. In addition, when I filled out the paperwork, I indicated I had a retirement account. However, I never had put a balance for it. Truth is, I have no idea what the balance is. However, my paystub shows the balance of what I have paid into it. Then it shows what my employer has paid into it. We don't get statements because it is self funded. It is tracked on our paychecks. Well he added those together and put it on our application! Then the bank wanted to see statements. Well we don't get statements. Supposedly they were going to accept this. If I didn't have money and so much time invested into it already I would yank it back. It's too late now. I just want to close it as soon as possible. So I have to call the bank AGAIN on Monday and find out if the retirement is ok. See if they will release what was needed for approval and give us final approval. Once that is done we can close. It will take the bank three days to close. Then we have to wait another FOUR days to fund. This should not have taken this long to do. They have been given everything the next day. I want to close as quickly as we can as fast as possible. If we close by Friday I'll be elated. I was led to believe we would have closed already. The paperwork to remove the commitment stuff and to give final approval has been with the underwriter since TUESDAY. Come on, examine, look at it, and move on!!!!!
The lawyer is still getting their stuff but assures me it will be completed by Monday or Tuesday.
Ok, so enough about that for now. The good thing is I have already received a request for how my experience has been. I plan to tell them ALL about it!
Now for a funny with my adorable 2 year old, S. She still loves her binky. I am not inclined to make her give it up when she just turned 2. I tried to take it away from her and she tried sucking on her fingers. Last night, I grabbed a beloved binky from the silverware drawer and noticed it had a small hole. This can not be good. I thought well I don't want to hunt one down, let's see if she takes it.
So we go upstairs and I go to rock her. As we are rocking, S says mama binky BROKE. I said your binky is broke? Yes S binky broke. Do you want mama to take it? No S NEEDS binky! How did your binky get broke. As plain as day, S says MAMA DID IT. Ahhhhhh. I lost it after that. It was hysterical. Yes this child of mine is as stubborn as I am. She went to sleep sucking on a broken binky. Any ideas????
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Appt with the endometriosis/pelvic pain specialist
Well he was just full of all kinds of news for me. Some of it good, some of it bad. First the office staff were very nice. The offices were well decorated and clean. I like that. I hate going to an office that isn't clean. That is a reason for me to change. If you can't put some money into making your office space and exam rooms clean and comfortable, I don't want to be your patient. They saw me fairly quickly. The dr came in quick. He seemed nice. Spoke very quietly and calmly. Those kind of voices drive me crazy because I am a pretty loud person. I can't be quiet. It would be difficult for me to speak in a quiet voice.
My obgyn told me that my lap was negative and that he didn't see anything. Well I got the operative report and it says something very different. I am very upset with my ob for not telling me this information. I'll have to make sure that when I am pregnant that I follow up on all of my lab tests and stuff carefully. Anyway, my lap operative report stated that he saw some old scarring lateral to the adexna bilaterally most likely due to old endometriosis. This is a big change from my last lap in October 06 when he told me he saw thin filmy adhesions on the left adexna that he took down. He saw NO endometriosis at that point.
Specialist's take. I have endometriosis and possibly adenomyosis based on the lap operative reports and signs and symptoms. Like 99% sure. He said that 90% of adhesions that someone has that are for no reason are due to endometriosis. The fact that my obgyn put in the operative report that he saw scarring seals it. He said I am treating you for endometriosis. This is what it is. He asked me about the prometrium that I am on. I was told it was for breakthrough bleeding and pain. The specialist said it was counterproductive for breakthrough bleeding so that didn't sound correct. However, if my obgyn put me on it for endometriosis it was an excellent decison. ????? I told him that I intend to get pregnant within the next couple of months. He of course said it was a very bad idea. In fact, he gave me a 100% chance of having pre-eclampsia and said maybe we'll probably be seeing you at XXXXXX (meaning our local Children's hospital/NICU). He kept reiterating it was a bad idea. Yeah, been told that before. I don't believe my chances for pe are 100%. They are more likely 25-50% based on the research I have done. I do believe that my chance for PIH is 100%. My chance for bedrest is 100%. To have full blown PE, it is not 100%. He said I was 2 for 2. Great doc. Thanks. However, I see him for endometriosis.
The exam was pretty embarassing. No GOWN. WTH? I had to undress from the waist down (If I had known there would be no gown, I would have worn a really long shirt!). First he checked for a hernia. None found. Then he had me bend in all kinds of directions. Then I had to lay down and he felt my stomach while lifting my leg. That is where he found it. Apparently, I have two myofascial trigger pain points. Which is another indication of endometriosis. He marked my stomach with a marker for the trigger points. Then he did a pelvic exam. He checked my bladder, no pain. He checked the left ovary. No pain. He hit those two areas on the right, and BAM pain. In fact, my appt was Friday and I hurt all day Friday and all day on Saturday from it!!!! So the option for now because I want to get pregnant is to inject a local anesthetic into those trigger points. However, I couldn't get it done that day because I didn't have someone drive me (I wish they had told me this!). He said there was a risk of a vaso something reaction (BP bottoms out, etc). So I have an appt on Nov 12th for this. Another thing that he wanted to do but can't because I want to get pregnant is to check for adenomyosis. There are two ways to check for this. 1) is a hysterectomy. Not going to happen for me anytime soon. 2) is a MRI and then you go on norethindone (progesterone) only. He also suggested a month of Lupron which I balked at. He said well don't believe everything you read on the internet. This is the part that I did not like. My aunt used Lupron and has permanent side effects to this day from it. Yes I did read on the internet. However, I am a pretty informed person. I don't make snap decisions without checking them out. In fact, if I bring something up to my pcp, she listens to me and asks why I want to do this or that? She has told me that most of her patients read one little thing and hits on it. However, she knows that I will go and look at all the information and make an informed decision. It ticked me off that he made an assumption on me that he had no business making. See docs, you should find out why your patients are hesitant on a particular treatment, etc and NOT make assumptions. I still don't think I will do lupron. He said that 90% of his patients loved it. Only 10% had problems, but that is why he does it for only a month. Knowing my luck I would be in that 10%. The problem with lupron is it is a bandaid. It doesn't make the endo go away, ever. Once you stop it, your symptoms WILL come back. I just can't see me doing it. I just can't. If it was something that would cure endo, I would consider it. However it is a bandaid to a problem that needs to be fixed. Like my ob said about the depo-provera shot, you can't undo a shot. You can always stop taking a pill. The specialist said that the women that are on Lupron want to stay on it forever, but insurance won't let them. I also wondered about the bone loss associated with Lupron but didn't bring it up. That is another reason you can't stay on it forever. Lupron puts you in menopause. I just don't think I would tolerate it well. As for now a lap is out. YEAH. Although I know you can't leave endo in there. Eventually it will have to come out. So it is just a matter of time. He said that if I was not pregnant in 6 months, he would be willing to do one. So I'm not sure. My reviews are mixed. I was upset that he told me pregnancy was NOT a good idea. Join the club. You treat me for endo, not pregnancy doc and I didn't ask his opinion about that. He did say that the good news is if I got pregnant, endo would be in remission. YEAH and it makes his job easier. I was upset that he automatically made assumptions about me that he shouldn't have. However, he did hit on the pain right away. He was able to replicate it in the office within 5 minutes. He does know what he is talking about. I do have questions for him regarding this adenomyosis diagnosis. I do have questions about these myofacial trigger points. It may be that I just need to get to know him better. So we'll see. He did say he would do the injections if I was pregnant by the 12th. Which could be a very possible thing.
My obgyn told me that my lap was negative and that he didn't see anything. Well I got the operative report and it says something very different. I am very upset with my ob for not telling me this information. I'll have to make sure that when I am pregnant that I follow up on all of my lab tests and stuff carefully. Anyway, my lap operative report stated that he saw some old scarring lateral to the adexna bilaterally most likely due to old endometriosis. This is a big change from my last lap in October 06 when he told me he saw thin filmy adhesions on the left adexna that he took down. He saw NO endometriosis at that point.
Specialist's take. I have endometriosis and possibly adenomyosis based on the lap operative reports and signs and symptoms. Like 99% sure. He said that 90% of adhesions that someone has that are for no reason are due to endometriosis. The fact that my obgyn put in the operative report that he saw scarring seals it. He said I am treating you for endometriosis. This is what it is. He asked me about the prometrium that I am on. I was told it was for breakthrough bleeding and pain. The specialist said it was counterproductive for breakthrough bleeding so that didn't sound correct. However, if my obgyn put me on it for endometriosis it was an excellent decison. ????? I told him that I intend to get pregnant within the next couple of months. He of course said it was a very bad idea. In fact, he gave me a 100% chance of having pre-eclampsia and said maybe we'll probably be seeing you at XXXXXX (meaning our local Children's hospital/NICU). He kept reiterating it was a bad idea. Yeah, been told that before. I don't believe my chances for pe are 100%. They are more likely 25-50% based on the research I have done. I do believe that my chance for PIH is 100%. My chance for bedrest is 100%. To have full blown PE, it is not 100%. He said I was 2 for 2. Great doc. Thanks. However, I see him for endometriosis.
The exam was pretty embarassing. No GOWN. WTH? I had to undress from the waist down (If I had known there would be no gown, I would have worn a really long shirt!). First he checked for a hernia. None found. Then he had me bend in all kinds of directions. Then I had to lay down and he felt my stomach while lifting my leg. That is where he found it. Apparently, I have two myofascial trigger pain points. Which is another indication of endometriosis. He marked my stomach with a marker for the trigger points. Then he did a pelvic exam. He checked my bladder, no pain. He checked the left ovary. No pain. He hit those two areas on the right, and BAM pain. In fact, my appt was Friday and I hurt all day Friday and all day on Saturday from it!!!! So the option for now because I want to get pregnant is to inject a local anesthetic into those trigger points. However, I couldn't get it done that day because I didn't have someone drive me (I wish they had told me this!). He said there was a risk of a vaso something reaction (BP bottoms out, etc). So I have an appt on Nov 12th for this. Another thing that he wanted to do but can't because I want to get pregnant is to check for adenomyosis. There are two ways to check for this. 1) is a hysterectomy. Not going to happen for me anytime soon. 2) is a MRI and then you go on norethindone (progesterone) only. He also suggested a month of Lupron which I balked at. He said well don't believe everything you read on the internet. This is the part that I did not like. My aunt used Lupron and has permanent side effects to this day from it. Yes I did read on the internet. However, I am a pretty informed person. I don't make snap decisions without checking them out. In fact, if I bring something up to my pcp, she listens to me and asks why I want to do this or that? She has told me that most of her patients read one little thing and hits on it. However, she knows that I will go and look at all the information and make an informed decision. It ticked me off that he made an assumption on me that he had no business making. See docs, you should find out why your patients are hesitant on a particular treatment, etc and NOT make assumptions. I still don't think I will do lupron. He said that 90% of his patients loved it. Only 10% had problems, but that is why he does it for only a month. Knowing my luck I would be in that 10%. The problem with lupron is it is a bandaid. It doesn't make the endo go away, ever. Once you stop it, your symptoms WILL come back. I just can't see me doing it. I just can't. If it was something that would cure endo, I would consider it. However it is a bandaid to a problem that needs to be fixed. Like my ob said about the depo-provera shot, you can't undo a shot. You can always stop taking a pill. The specialist said that the women that are on Lupron want to stay on it forever, but insurance won't let them. I also wondered about the bone loss associated with Lupron but didn't bring it up. That is another reason you can't stay on it forever. Lupron puts you in menopause. I just don't think I would tolerate it well. As for now a lap is out. YEAH. Although I know you can't leave endo in there. Eventually it will have to come out. So it is just a matter of time. He said that if I was not pregnant in 6 months, he would be willing to do one. So I'm not sure. My reviews are mixed. I was upset that he told me pregnancy was NOT a good idea. Join the club. You treat me for endo, not pregnancy doc and I didn't ask his opinion about that. He did say that the good news is if I got pregnant, endo would be in remission. YEAH and it makes his job easier. I was upset that he automatically made assumptions about me that he shouldn't have. However, he did hit on the pain right away. He was able to replicate it in the office within 5 minutes. He does know what he is talking about. I do have questions for him regarding this adenomyosis diagnosis. I do have questions about these myofacial trigger points. It may be that I just need to get to know him better. So we'll see. He did say he would do the injections if I was pregnant by the 12th. Which could be a very possible thing.
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