High Risk Check-In (2/18)

[lgsdesigner]

Some of you already know, but I went to the doctor this week because I was having VERY strong contractions all weekend. They lasted about 1.5-2 hours and would not stop even if I laid on my side.
Monday they kept happening so my doctor had me come in. My cervix is still long, but is thinning a bit. They did an ultrasound too, and could see my contractions appearing on screen. Right now though—they do not consider it preterm labor yet (because he said they were just strong Braxton Hicks contractions), and just are asking me to take it easy and de-stress the best I can. The baby was also pushing really hard on my cervix with his head, so with that added pressure, it made the contractions worse.
Just glad baby is okay and we are still not on bedrest!

[lgsdesigner]

Feb 18, 2015 15:19:41 GMT -5 @lalalady54 said:

I had a terrible dream last night that I will spare you all the details about but it was essentially a dream of worst case scenarios.

@lalalady54 - I had dreams like those with each of my children, but they were stress/anxiety induced. I wouldn't worry about them too much, but they can be very alarming.

[rels09]

I am doing well this week, but I cannot believe how quickly time is flying. I will be 29 weeks on Friday, and shit hit the fan last time at between 30 and 31, so I am starting to get very anxious.

No appointments this week - I have both the MFM and the midwife next Friday, at 30 weeks exactly. My MFM is so nice and let me schedule for the same day as my midwife appointment, even though it meant she would have to do the scan herself while the techs were at lunch. We have developed such a nice rapport in our conversations (all fully clothed) that I almost feel weird about having her do the vag cam on me. I know she is a doctor and it's NBD, but it does seem weirdly awkward for some reason!

The only pain in my butt right now (almost literally) is my progesterone. A vial broke in the mail last week, and the dose we used burned like it has never burned before, so I have to call the compounding pharmacy about replacing the broken vial, and I really want them to replace the whole thing because the burning scared me. Not optimistic that they will, though...

[jerseyakl]

lgsdesigner I am sorry you are dealing with that, but glad all seems to be ok for now and you are not in bed rest.
@lalalady54 I hope DD gets better! Glad you passed your glucose test.

rels09 the burning progesterone sounds awful. Good luck (and thinking of you during this tough time and as you struggle with the related anxiety)

I went to the gestational diabetes class and started testing my blood/ following the diet. It was so much easier than I expected. However, my sugar levels have actually been significantly lower than the cutoff and the nurse was somewhat surprised I was there since I only failed one hour of the three (albeit it was 206 for the first draw). I suppose it can't hurt but I am curious to see what my doctor says. Wishful thinking maybe. Either way, glad to know what I'm working with now.

[brittneysandra]

~Glucose Test yesterday..No information on that yet. Keeping my fingers crossed
~Growth Scan.. Baby is growing perfect! Heart, lungs, kidneys everything is fab! Such a relief for growing LO.
~Will be starting stress tests after next growth scan in 4 weeks
Hmm I think thats it.

[obi]

Sorry I'm a day late!

lgsdesigner Sorry to hear about the contractions. 1-2 hrs sounds awful! I hope you're feeling better now.
@lalalady54 That's such bad timing. Maybe your husband can manage 30mins with your LO so you can take a bubble bath?
rels09 Good luck fighting the pharmacy! I've had to argue with mine over three different issues in just the past 2 weeks (never have had a single problem in 12 years with them), so I have so much sympathy for you on that one.
brittneysandra Fx crossed for good results!
@blackpearl08 So sorry to hear you're feeling that way. I hope you catch a break again and have some more carefree time.

AFM, nothing too exciting going on. My blood sugars have been trending upward pretty quickly so my endo adjusted my pump's basal settings pretty aggressively. So far it is ok, but it seems like every adjustment only lasts about 2 days. On the bright side, this is all totally normal and shows things are progressing as they should. I'd just rather be on target more often.
My blood pressure was elevated just a bit yesterday. It was still in the normal range, but I usually run low-normal so my dr said to just take it easy. Which has been difficult lately. Does anyone else feel like suddenly the world is falling apart around them? Ugh. I know I have SO much to be grateful for, so I try to focus on that. I'm finding that I just can't deal with problems the same as I was able to before.
Other than that, my health seems fine. LO's heart beat was super strong on the doppler yesterday which made me so happy.
Hope you all have a great day!

[t1green]

I missed the check in yesterday.
@lalalady54 I'm glad that your BP is stabilizing. FX that is stays that way! It sounds things are going pretty well for you!
rels09 I'm so sorry to hear about that vial breaking and the burning dosage. I hope everything gets worked out.
lgsdesigner FX that the contractions stop. No pre term labor for you lady!
brittneysandra, Sounds like things are going great on your end. I hope it stays that way!
@blackpearl08, I read about your BP issues on a different thread and I really hope that everything stabilizes really soon. I'm so sorry that you're having to go through all of that.
obi, Diabetes is stupid! I hope your BP isn't going to become an issue. This is something that I'm super paranoid about for myself. FX that won't be an issue for you.

As for me, I go to see my endo tomorrow. Two weeks after the initial appointment was schedule. I'm so pissed at him right now. I've called and left multiple messages asking him to please send me the direction to adjust my pump settings because I've been hovering around 200 for 3 weeks now. NOT GOOD!! I took matters into my own hands and adjusted my own damn settings and now I'm in the 120's. Still not ideal but it's better than it was. We're going to have a come to Jesus meeting tomorrow. I've uploaded my glucose readings, called and emailed them multiple times, explained my situation, and still haven't heard anything back. I'm hoping it's a front office issue and not him just ignoring me.

ETA:  I want to add that the reason my appointment was reschedule was because they somehow screwed up my appointment and had me down for a different office on the OPPOSITE side of town when they fucking KNOW that on Fridays he's in the office that's down the street from where I work.  So they had me down for an appointment at an office location that he wasn't even going to be at that day.  And of course when I asked about appointments that are in the office that I normally visit, they didn't have anything for two weeks.  This endo wants to see me at least once a month until I deliver.  Fucking ridiculous!  As you can probably tell, I'm fuming. 

[emu0013]

Hi lovely ladies,

I missed the check in yesterday. I am sorry to see so many of us with BP issues seeing the numbers starting to creep.

rels09, I am sorry about the vials breaking, I hope they give you new ones, I swear postal and UPS and FedEx are so rough with packages. I watched the fedex guy stand and the bottom of my steps last week and throw the box up to my front door.

As for me, so far so good, although 29W is right around the corner and that is where things went south last time. So I am super nervous. I have another growth scan scheduled for 3/10, along with my CBC blood work, glucose testing, and Rhogam shot, should be a fun appointment.

[t1green]

Feb 19, 2015 10:37:30 GMT -5 @deziniki said:

I am a bit late this week.

Things are going OK. My levels were somewhat elevated on Monday and I was thinking it was either a bout of insomnia or a cold kicking in, but I called anyway to get some advice on what I should do.

They told me to just watch my diet and be super careful but also said they might up my meds. From one day of readings?! I was a big frustrated at that but I guess we will see monday. My levels have bee fine since then.

I have regular check ups for the next two weeks and then we start the weekly non stress tests and my next growth scan will be at about 34 weeks.

Keep in mind that your glucose levels will be elevated if you're sick or stressed. I'm glad they're back in a normal range!

[frig0018]

What is it about the 29th week? :/ I have been doing okay. I think I am having a lupus flare - though the lupus is about as familiar to me as pregnancy and have been really achy and sore. The cholestasis is driving me crazy too and the itching is starting to really get to me.

I had a growth U/S this week and baby girl is still looking healthy and measuring big - 3 lbs 3 oz this week (29)- with stubby arms and legs. Only one more week of weekly doptone checks and then a (probably) final fetal echocardiogram in 2 weeks and BPPs and U/Ss for the rest of the pregnancy. They're planning to induce at 37 weeks because of the cholestasis which means less than 8 weeks left(!). We finally signed up for obedience school with the dog too - it ends the same week I'll be induced - better late than never!

[ladymack]

@lsdesigner so sorry you're going through all that. Glad that things have settled down. Hopefully you can destress!
@lalalady54 glad to hear medically things are going well. Hopefully you can get that "me time" soon.
rels09 good luck with the vial replacements
jerseyakl nice that the monitoring and diet are going well.
brittneysandra good luck with the glucose test
@blackpearl08 good luck with the growth scan. Hopefully the BP will come down with the labetolol and you can get some care free back
obi I feel like everything is falling apart as well.
t1green that sounds so frustrating. Hopefully they get their shit together
@emi0013 good luck with the next apt.
@dezinki hopefully your levels come back down and they don't increase meds.
frig0018 good luck with the obedience school. Wow 8 weeks left that must feel a little sureal

[ladymack]

Sorry I'm a day late to the party.
It's been a bit of a shitty week. My DR left for holidays for a month on Monday (he's a private practice without any back up) so that alone is causing me a little stress and anxiety. But before he left he called me to tell me he didn't think the antibiotics I was on was fighting the bladder infection I had. So he sent me to L&d to get some tests run. So 6 hrs in the hospital on Monday. Everything looks fine send me on my way with a follow up on Thursday to review results. Fast forward to Tuesday night I start having some cramping. Not contractions but mild cramps in my lower abdomen and back. So pack up and back to hospital from 10pm -4am. They don't find anything send me on my way.
So my DH and I get into a bit of an argument. Long story short he can't handle it anymore, I get it it's been a lot of stress and he's been doing everything cause I've been on Bedrest with the shortening cervix and high BP. So he's decided my mom needs to come stay with us for the next 4 weeks.
I love my mother but the thought of her being here for 4 weeks sends my BP through the roof.

I have a follow up with the hospital in 2 weeks to bridge the gap till my DR gets back.
80 days till my EDD and I haven't bought a single thing. PGAL brain is still so terrified of losing this baby.
Anyway sorry more of a rant today. Thanks for listening.

Edited cause my Cat hit save before I was done

[brittneysandra]

Thanks everyone who wished me luck on my GTT ,
I passed
feeling very relieved!

[ladymack]

Thanks @blackpearl08 it just feels like we get over one hurdle and there is another one right in front of us. I want the carefree pregnancy too!

[ladymack]

I'm sure once LO gets here I'll wish I had the time to spend the whole day in bed.
You too! It will all be worth it in the end.

[entropicepona]

Whoa, am I ever late! I'm so glad to read everyone's updates, good and not so good. This high-risk stuff is not for wimps!

I'm doing...OK. Things seem to be pretty stable this week, in terms of anxiety/blood pressure/diabetes/whatnot. Astrid has been really busy, which is pretty uncomfortable, but it's reassuring to know that she's still hanging out, happily, in there. I saw a different OB in the practice this week and there was some heart-stopping moments when she couldn't find the heartbeat, but it was resolved when wee lass punched her squarely in the Doppler.

Got a TDaP and a Rhogam shot this week. Surprisingly, I didn't react poorly to the TDaP, but my butt feels like it's packed with lead from the Rhogam. Ouch!

[obi]

Feb 19, 2015 15:58:56 GMT -5 ladymack said:

Sorry I'm a day late to the party.
It's been a bit of a shitty week. My DR left for holidays for a month on Monday (he's a private practice without any back up) so that alone is causing me a little stress and anxiety. But before he left he called me to tell me he didn't think the antibiotics I was on was fighting the bladder infection I had. So he sent me to L&d to get some tests run. So 6 hrs in the hospital on Monday. Everything looks fine send me on my way with a follow up on Thursday to review results. Fast forward to Tuesday night I start having some cramping. Not contractions but mild cramps in my lower abdomen and back. So pack up and back to hospital from 10pm -4am. They don't find anything send me on my way.
So my DH and I get into a bit of an argument. Long story short he can't handle it anymore, I get it it's been a lot of stress and he's been doing everything cause I've been on Bedrest with the shortening cervix and high BP. So he's decided my mom needs to come stay with us for the next 4 weeks.
I love my mother but the thought of her being here for 4 weeks sends my BP through the roof.

I have a follow up with the hospital in 2 weeks to bridge the gap till my DR gets back.
80 days till my EDD and I haven't bought a single thing. PGAL brain is still so terrified of losing this baby.
Anyway sorry more of a rant today. Thanks for listening.

Edited cause my Cat hit save before I was done

Creepy internet hugs to you ladymack

[t1green]

Feb 21, 2015 23:32:00 GMT -5 @lalalady54 said:

Feb 19, 2015 9:51:08 GMT -5 t1green said:

I missed the check in yesterday.
@lalalady54 I'm glad that your BP is stabilizing. FX that is stays that way! It sounds things are going pretty well for you!
rels09 I'm so sorry to hear about that vial breaking and the burning dosage. I hope everything gets worked out.
lgsdesigner FX that the contractions stop. No pre term labor for you lady!
brittneysandra, Sounds like things are going great on your end. I hope it stays that way!
@blackpearl08, I read about your BP issues on a different thread and I really hope that everything stabilizes really soon. I'm so sorry that you're having to go through all of that.
obi, Diabetes is stupid! I hope your BP isn't going to become an issue. This is something that I'm super paranoid about for myself. FX that won't be an issue for you.

As for me, I go to see my endo tomorrow. Two weeks after the initial appointment was schedule. I'm so pissed at him right now. I've called and left multiple messages asking him to please send me the direction to adjust my pump settings because I've been hovering around 200 for 3 weeks now. NOT GOOD!! I took matters into my own hands and adjusted my own damn settings and now I'm in the 120's. Still not ideal but it's better than it was. We're going to have a come to Jesus meeting tomorrow. I've uploaded my glucose readings, called and emailed them multiple times, explained my situation, and still haven't heard anything back. I'm hoping it's a front office issue and not him just ignoring me.

ETA:  I want to add that the reason my appointment was reschedule was because they somehow screwed up my appointment and had me down for a different office on the OPPOSITE side of town when they fucking KNOW that on Fridays he's in the office that's down the street from where I work.  So they had me down for an appointment at an office location that he wasn't even going to be at that day.  And of course when I asked about appointments that are in the office that I normally visit, they didn't have anything for two weeks.  This endo wants to see me at least once a month until I deliver.  Fucking ridiculous!  As you can probably tell, I'm fuming. 

How did your appointment with your endo go? I fired my first MFM with DD1 because her front office staff was terrible and one night I ended up in OB triage because I called multiple times throughout the day and paged after hours and never got a call back. I hope they pull their heads out of their asses.

It went extremely well.  As it turns out, they had a complete staff change since the last time I was there and so everyone in the front office is being trained.  He told me that it's been really rough but they're doing the best that they can.  I don't know what happened up there, but I didn't recognize a single face behind the desk when I walked in.  Even the nurse was different. 

[emu0013]

@lalalady54,

Ohh I am now terrified of the Rhogam shot, I was given 3 with DD and I barely felt them.

[emu0013]

@lalalady54,

Thanks, I hope you are right, I am at a different OB/Hospital due to our move...so FX!