Have I missed something?

Why do things happen when they do? Everything happens for a reason, right? So is someone trying to tell me something? What have I missed?

That weird doctor's appointment the other day--the 'urgent' one? It lead to a very odd phone call just yesterday from a nurse with whom I'm not familiar. She referenced "my infection" as though I should know what she was talking about... imagine my surprise, as I was under the impression that nothing was wrong?

Anyway, we got it all sorted out... but I guess there's a bit of an infection brewing, ahem, *down there* that I wasn't yet aware of... so a seven-day treatment should clear that little issue up. I wonder if that's what's causing this pain? I didn't have my wits about me to think to ASK the ever-so-confusing nurse...

Truth be told, I was already entering into a completely different tailspin of my own. That variety of infection was one of the first indicators that something had gone terribly wrong with my first pregnancy... I know it's probably silly, but I can't HELP but think back to those November days--and to wonder just what sort of path I'm about to venture down this time around.

Yesterday at Target, I could have sworn there was a lady FOLLOWING me around talking to her son. I only noticed because his name was Brody, and she started or ended nearly every sentence by saying his name... today, I hear the name again, see it written... it's like I can't escape.

I realize we chose a popular, up-and-coming name for our sweet boy... but why does it come in shifts like this? Why does it come as I'm approaching this daunting time of year? Why does it seem to arrive on the wings of nerve-wracking (for me, anyway) medical situations? Why?

How do I escape?




(P.S., I should note, I'm well aware that I KNOW a couple of you with Brody's of your own, and that is OK--I don't want to discourage you from sharing things about your Brody's with me, don't want to make you feel badly... it's not that... it's just... weird... how things like the Target situation seem to come about.)

More test results...

Well crap. More blood work came up this morning online--my iron levels are low, signifying anemia. Funny thing is, they're just *barely* low! My hemoglobin value was 11.3gm/dl., and standard range starts at 11.4gm/dl. My hematocrit value was 34%, and standard range starts at 36%.

Because iron pills are notorious for making you feel like ca-ca, I'm going to ask my OB when she calls if perhaps she'll let me make an attempt at raising them with my diet. Maybe even just for a week or so, to see if it's possible?? If she isn't comfy with the idea, I certainly won't push it, but I truly feel like it's worth asking.

Still no word on the GD Challenge--though I'm positive she was waiting for the results of my other tests, to avoid making multiple calls.

Cross your fingers and toes today that I don't have to go in for the three-hour! Please!

Just an update...

I'm just popping in to let everyone know I'm still alive over here. I really appreciate the comments you've all left for me. It's comforting to read stories about similar experiences and what-not, and it's also comforting to know that I'm not the only one who thinks I need a new OB. For a while there, I wasn't really sure if I could be confident that I wasn't just being hormonal or if she really is a nut job...

I've been doing some thinking, doing some research, and really trying to "tune in" to my body and figure out what it's telling me. As of today, I haven't heard it say much... figures.

Anyway, I WILL be pursuing the change in OB's, though it'll be someone else located within the same four walls of my giant, mega-clinic of an HMO. There is a chance my current OB will be the one who shows up for my delivery, as they're on permanent rotation, and that will be awkward, but I don't figure I'll care much when all I want is for someone to "get this baby out!"

Where'd She Go??

Oh, oh! Here I am, over here! See me??

Yea, ok, that was dorky. But really, I'm here. I guess I got a bit carried away with myself and somehow managed to um, forget? to update my blog. Woops!

Anyway, just wanted to let everyone know I had my 16-week appointment on Thursday. All is well, essentially, but I'm really not so sure how I feel about my current OB. I'll explain why, but if you're going to read it, you have to promise me you won't panic. I'm not panicking, and therefore, you can't either.

I went in for my appointment, weighed in... gained three pounds. (That's five-ish, now, all together) They took my blood pressure. 119/60. Nurse left, OB came in and asked how I'm feeling, if I had any questions, etc., etc. I did have a question, and our conversation went something like this:

Me: "I'm still having some cramping. Is that normal?"
OB: (Eyes wide) "You are?! Where? How often? What does it feel like? Show me where you get the cramps."
Me: (Getting nervous) "It's irregular. Sometimes none at all, sometimes once or twice during the day? It feels like period cramps (sorry guys!) and never lasts very long."
OB: "Do you notice it goes away if you drink a lot of water?"
Me: "No?"
OB: "You do realize, you've got weeks to go before your baby could be... viable."

Now let's stop for a second and think about this. I'm more than a little miffed at her choice in how to handle this situation. First of all, why in heaven's name would you use the "V" word with your patient... your patient who is at the appointment alone, who has suffered a relatively late loss not so long ago... why would you SAY that? Second, I'm a little tired of her snarky attitude. She's sort of... well... "w"itchy! Clearly her time is more valuable than mine, and I'm "just another patient" who will pay for her fancy sports car... ugh. Third, seriously? Did this happen to me? Couldn't she just be nice?

Ok... rant aside... she got this information from me, and then proceeded to do nothing about it. She told me over and over again that cramps (which I've come to learn feel just like early labor--who knew?!) just "shouldn't happen" when you're pregnant. Funny thing is, everything I read says exactly the opposite. There's a whole lot of moving and growing going on in there, and really, the logical portion of my brain things this is ALL normal. Mind you, this OB has never had a kid of her own.

So anyway, I left my appointment feeling relatively calm and ok with what she had said, but then the more I thought about it, the more upset I got. Partially, I'm upset because what if something IS wrong? Or what if this is a sign that something is about to go wrong? The rest of me got more and more upset at Mrs. OB's bedside manner. Or lack thereof.

I made it home, sat on the couch for an hour or so, Googling "pre-term labor" and what not, and was feeling pretty ok. Until my mom called... and then I lost it. I cried like a big baby about how freaked out I was. (Note, I'm ok now.) She helped me do a little more research, found more and more about how normal the cramping and what-not can be, etc., etc.

For now, my plan is to document the times and places where these little "episodes" happen. What I'm doing, if I've eaten or had enough water, so on and so forth. If I begin to notice any sort of a pattern or an increase in frequency, then we'll panic.

I think I'll also be shopping for a new OB. Too bad I'm trapped at the same practice... stupid HMO's.