Thursday, September 25, 2014

Return of the unexpected

Its been awhile since I've been here. Life has been a blur since I last posted. I really am trying to be a less shitty blog owner. Maybe that's my thing. Maybe I am supposed to post once a year, and be done. I just don't know how so many mom bloggers do it. Especially the ones with full time jobs on top of being a parent! I can barely find time to brush my hair, let alone write up an entire blog post every week! But...I am here. I at least wanted to make sure to finish my series of unexpected events from this summer. So, sit back and settle in. This last part is a doozy!

The month in between my missed surgery and my new surgery date was hard. Harder than before. I could hardly stand while I was at work. I was constantly doubled over in pain. I had hard times getting out of bed because it hurt so bad.

The Monday before my surgery (August 18th) I went to the hospital to do my lab workup. They took my blood, weighed me, etc. The next night was my last night at work before I was scheduled to go on leave again. My surgery was set for Thursday and that was all I could think about that night at work. I spent most of the night sitting in personnel and crying. But I knew the pain was almost over.

The next day, which was the day prior to my surgery, I was off. I started my leave that day. I spent the morning in bed. My cell phone was broken at the time but I wasn't expecting any phone calls. I got a letter in the mail that day from my doctors office. It said;

"Please contact our office immediately in regards to your upcoming surgery."

I was certain it was something to do with my insurance as their was talk about it not covering the surgery previously. I felt like shit. But I had to call. The conversation went something like this;

Them: good afternoon, Ottumwa OB.
Me: yeah...hi...I just got a letter in the mail saying I need to call immediately.
Them: OK what is your name?
Me: Bethany B----
Them: OK yep, Traci wanted to speak with you please hold.
*on hold*
Them: Hi this is nurse Traci, is this Bethany?
Me:...yes
Them: well Bethany we are going to have to cancel your surgery tomorrow. Your lab results came back....and...you're pregnant, Bethany.
Me:.......*uncontrollable laughter*
Them:......

So needless to say, I was in complete shock! After thinking for so long I was unable to have more kids and then BAM when I least expected it! Since I am terrible at keeping up with my blog this is obviously pretty well old news. I am now 6 months pregnant with my 3rd little boy :) he is due April 22nd. His name is Finn :)

I am really going to try so much harder to keep up with this blog over this year. Forgive me if I am not around much in spring. I think I have a pretty valid reason not to be though. I am not super fashion blogging mommy extraordinare. But I will try :)

May the force be with you all.

The unexpected strikes back

After two weeks of torture, I finally had my OB appointment. After going through the whole rigmarole, he too thought endometriosis. The only sure way to diagnose the condition is by doing a diagnostic laparoscopy. He also asked if I would like to be put on fertility medication, but I declined because the father of my boys and I were no longer in a relationship. We were still "seeing" each other occasionally, but neither of us were interested in a domestic relationship with the other anymore. I'm sure that sounds terrible, but it is what it is. We were exclusively seeing each other and no one else. We just didn't want to be in a relationship. Other than coparenting, we barely saw each other. Anyway, I don't feel the need to go any further with that. It'll make sense why I did later.

Moving on, the surgery was set for July 21st, and again being the hypochondriac I am, I was nervous. I took two weeks leave from work for the surgery which was a headache in itself. My sister was my ride to and from surgery as I couldn't drive myself. The day of my surgery, she was in a very minor car accident. Minor as in she was OK. Her car was totaled though. I was unable to find another way to my surgery so I had to reschedule.

They couldn't get me back in until August 21st. Now I was faced with another month of pain, with no answers. It was very upsetting.

To be continued.. Again

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Expect the unexpected

I had every intention to really step up my blogging game during the month of August. However, due to such an insane month, I had no time to visit my blog.

Let's get personal

In early July, I started having some severe pain...like period cramps, only nowhere near that time and a billion times worse. It was so bad I had to leave work early and go to the ER. Upon examination, the ER doctor said it looks and sounds like I might have endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a painful, chronic disease that affects at least 6.3 million women and girls in the U.S. It occurs when tissue like that which lines the uterus is found outside the uterus -- usually in the abdomen on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and ligaments that support the uterus.This misplaced tissue develops into growths or lesions which respond to the menstrual cycle in the same way that the tissue of the uterine lining does: each month the tissue builds up, breaks down, and sheds. Menstrual blood flows from the uterus and out of the body through the vagina, but the blood and tissue shed from endometrial growths has no way of leaving the body. This results in internal bleeding, breakdown of the blood and tissue from the lesions, and inflammation -- and can cause pain, infertility, scar tissue formation, adhesions, and bowel problems.

So...I guess you could say that was some pretty scary news. However, since the diagnosis needed conformation from my OB, I tried not to stress until that appointment. I wasn't able to be seen by my OB for two weeks which is bad for me as I am a hypochondriac and a big time Googler of symptoms. Trying not to stress really didn't work for me. With google, everything did start making sense. Going a little bit further back to July 2011, 2 months after having my youngest son, I received the implanon birth control. I had NOTHING but problems with it. Due to that and wanting to have another child with my partner, we decided to remove it in July 2012. After two years of trying for baby #3, I was now facing the diagnosis of endometriosis, which as stated above can cause infertility. I was heartbroken.

To be continued.