I knew that my pregnancy was going to easy! I knew that something was bound to happen... something other than heartburn and headaches. I knew that I would end up with really swollen feet or aweful water retention, spider veins or super stretch marks. I knew that SOMETHING would happen. I thought that something would be something I could get over and deal with. You know, a foot massage, some stretch mark lotion, pressure socks... no problem. I didn't think in a millions years that the something that was bound to happen would be this...
Over the weekend, I noticed that the right side of my belly bigger than the left. I thought it was because that is where the baby's head was.
On Saturday when I woke up, I was laying flat on my back in bed (I know, a pregnancy no-no. It was only for a minute). I was very excited because I could finally see my uterus popping up over my pelvic bones. Its so cute :)
On Sunday, my dad, mom, and Roger (my brother) came to visit. I made them feel my uterus (its cool, ok?!)... when my mom did, it really hurt! She didn't press that hard, but I whinced.
On Monday night, I was having dreams that I was going into Preterm Labor. I was rushed to the ER (again, this is a dream) and they gave me all this medication to get the contractions to stop. I woke up in the middle of the dream.
On Tuesday I woke up feeling pressure in my uterus. It stretched all the way from my right pelvic bone to the left. I passed it off as gas pain, cause thats what it was in the past.
The pressure continued through the morning. It would become more intense in waves. A few times throughout the morning, my (wonderful) assistant mentioned to me that she thought I was "off". I just told her I hadn't slept well that night
At about 11:30 the pain became very intense. To make a long story short, the pain became so intense I started vomiting. I couldn't stand up, I couldn't even move. Next thing I know, I was on the floor of the staff room at work with four co-workers crowded around me trying to help.
I called my OB, and she asked to see me immediatly. One of my coworkers drove me over to my OB (who I just changed over to a week prior), DH was pulling in just as we got there.
She asked where the pain was, I said all the way across my uterus, but I felt it mainly on the left side. She seemed suprised. She pushed on the right side and I almost passed out from the pain. "Well, its not contractions", she said. "I'm so embarrassed", I said, "is it constipation?" "Oh no sweet heart, don't worry about that". She pulled up the ultrasound and there was baby, happy as a lark.
Next thing I know, she's on the phone with a surgeon. She described it as a possile case of accute appendicitis. She made me an appointment with the surgeon, and called the ER to tell them of my pending arrival.
WHAT?!
Yea, so off we went to the ER. We got there at 1:30... approximatly 2 hours after the onset of the pain. I called my dad, trying not to sound too hysterical. He called my mom, and they hit the road to come down asap. After we got to the hospital, DH called his mom and dad - they too left immediatly to come down.
I gave urine and blood for testing, I got poked over and over where it hurt the most. Then I started the waiting game. My mom and dad came, which made it a lot easier. The surgeon got to the hospital around 5pm. He confirmed that it looked like a case of appendicitis, and begain talking about my options. He said either way, the OR would be able to see me between 8 and 10pm.
When push came to shove, the unavoidable risk of a rupture was lifethreatening for me and the baby. Luckily, if there were to be a perfect time to have an operation, it is in the second trimester, which I am in. In the 1st trimester, there is a strong risk of birth defects. Everything is already formed in the 2nd trimester, so not as much risk. In the 3rd trimester there is the risk of preterm labor. Not so much in the 2nd trimester. Looks like considering the circumstances, it was perfect timing. So basically, there were some hypothetical risks with operation, and some unavoidable risks if we did nothing. My appendix would have eventually ruptured, and then things would have been way more complicated.
So, we opted for surgery. They moved me to a nicer room with a TV, and we all just hung out. At 8:45 they came for me, and started wheeling me away. I remember going down the hall, and entering the OR. It was very bright, and smelled very clean. It was actually incredibly comforting. I felt better in there than I had all day. They lifted me onto the table at 9:01, when it officially started. I remember them prepting me, putting some pressure stockings on my legs to help with circulation. I started joking about my leopard print underwear, saying I had made a good wardrobe choice that morning. They started hooking me up to machines, telling me that the next thing I knew, I'd be waking up in recovery. My body started getting tingley...
I'm glad I was part of the 98% of people who has no recollection of them taking out the breathing tube.
I do remember the nurse telling me that I'd still be able to wear a bikini.
The narcotic they gave me as a pain reliever must not have worn off quiet yet... I started cracking jokes left and right. Then my family came in the recovery room... my dad and mom, my MIL and FIL and DH :) It was actually a lot of fun, I had everyone cracking up. Then the narcotic started wearing off and I started feeling some serious pain. Luckily the morphean took some edge off.
They did a procedure called a laproscopey. They make a tiny incision in your belly button, where they put in a camera. There is another small incision made at the site of the operation, where they put in the tools. In order to get a good view with the camera, they pump you full of CO2, which displaces everything in its vicinity. Aparantly it is common for a nerve in the area to become aggrivated, which did for me. The nerve runs past the diaphram, up the spine and along both side of the neck. My pain is mostly under my right rib and my right shoulder/neck area. Why just the right side? Well, they had to tilt me on my left side for the operation so that my uterus would fall out of the way. This way, they could get to my appendix without having to disturb the baby. I guess the air rises, causing my right side to have the most discomfort. Yea, it is really uncomfortable.
I spent the night in the maternity recovery wing, my OB ordered that I be hooked up to the fetal monitor all night. This allowed them to watch for contractions. I also had a catheter in, which as uncomfortable as it *can* be at times, it was really nice not having to get up to pee for once :P
They checked the baby's heart beat over and over, and I also got an ultrasound before I left. I have to say, DH and I have a beautiful baby already! He/She was kicking, squirming, rolling, moving hands, practicing breathing - all the things that should be going on, are. We saw the baby's ears, nose, eyes (and retinas!). We saw the spine, ribs, leg and arm bones. We saw the abdomen, the placenta, the cord, everything! We didn't see whether it is a girl or a boy.
The ride home felt great, I've been sleeping a lot, and feeling generally comfortable. I made it through the night last night without any pain medication. This wasn't neccissarily a good thing, I woke up very stiff. The point is, I slept straight through the night!
So, I'm off of work for 2 weeks to recover. They are taking extra precautions because I'm pregnant. Sounds to me like I'm going to have a lot of knitting time. Good thing there is nothing wrong with my hands!
I'd share pictures of my little scars, but the camera is officially broken. I'm getting a new one for christmas. That may or may not happen this week. So, this may be a boring picture free blog for a little while.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!
I know one thing that I am grateful for...
