I haven't typed in this blog for a long time and primarily because I've been going through a physical and mental transformation with this Carlsbad Marathon training. All the days are the same and I can't complain because I've gone through some pretty interesting changes. I've lost 22 lbs since last year, donated half my large/medium sized clothes, have lots more energy to play with my kids both at home and work, and I am totally loving the attention I get from the people who've known me when I was a size 14 at 165 lbs!
The most interesting days of my marathon training are when my mileage gets to the double digits. I've never pushed myself this long and far before. I'm actually going to set a personal record for longest distance traveling by foot! 26.2 miles. I did 13.1 miles back in 2004 for the America's Finest City Half Marathon..and that was so worth it. 26.2 miles seems like a killer but I plan to do this event once in my life..and we'll see if I get bit by the bug for any future marathons. So far I am loving my Sunday long runs with my husband. It's like a date with David on these days even though we have different paces. It's just fun to see him on the same track and checking out his body language (ie. is he enjoying it? is he having a good time? is he suffering?)
According to the book, His Needs Her Needs, men's top desire in a relationship is to have a spouse who is willing to share in the same recreational activity. So far it's become a no brainer in the Miller family that we both love exercise. It'll be a sad day when neither of us has the limbs to move. We'll have to come up with another recreational activity like maybe board game competitions or something. But anyways, this marathon training has really bonded us closer together. Our marriage has become the strongest ever and I plan on maintaining this strength training :) Wow..we've come so far!
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
October 21, 2011
February 28, 2011
Going Nuts About Nutrition!
I think God is sending me to a new direction in life. My husband is a wellness nut and after several years living with him I've become nutty for nutrition, too. I'm loving it and it's giving me a deeper sense of purpose now that I'm taking care of my mom and dad who've recently been diagnosed with pre-diabetes. I'm suddenly so crazy researching about the foods that God made and their nutritional value and benefits to the human body. What degree is this?
Anyways, without hiring a registered dietition, I'm trying to figure out what staple foods to supply this kitchen with. So first site I've approached is from the Mayo Clinic. They've got tidbits of information. If these are just bits and pieces, what more does a registered dietition know that isn't already provided in this site?
Anyways, without hiring a registered dietition, I'm trying to figure out what staple foods to supply this kitchen with. So first site I've approached is from the Mayo Clinic. They've got tidbits of information. If these are just bits and pieces, what more does a registered dietition know that isn't already provided in this site?
July 16, 2010
Holter Monitor Read
My heart rate and heart palpitations ended up being normal. Here is the note from the doctor who read my Holter Monitor Read:
Normal sinus rhythm with average heart rate of 58 bpm. No pauses. Rare
PACs. Occasional isolated PVCs. Frequent diary notations predominantly
correlate with normal sinus rhythm, and occasionally correlate with PVCs.
In the end she thinks my heart palpitations are related to my increased anxiety and stress with having an extra responsibility.
Normal sinus rhythm with average heart rate of 58 bpm. No pauses. Rare
PACs. Occasional isolated PVCs. Frequent diary notations predominantly
correlate with normal sinus rhythm, and occasionally correlate with PVCs.
In the end she thinks my heart palpitations are related to my increased anxiety and stress with having an extra responsibility.
July 6, 2010
He Works Hard For The Money
I'm a little nervous about tomorrow's Holter Monitor fitting...not because of the actual monitoring process, but of the financial stress involved in paying for this service and all other health services when we're already so low in money. I feel a bit guilty for having a health problem when I shouldn't feel guilty. I appreciate that David is supporting me in paying for my health things but I really feel like it should be my responsibility to pay for my own health issues...thus work outside the house. Chloe is at that age where she could be left with someone trusted while I work for money. Now talking about money...I'm not getting enough of to pay for the basics by working at the preschool. We're living paycheck to paycheck. I'm thinking about working in marketing again to overcome this situation. I wish there were a design job for me to work that paid well...or I wish we won the lottery =). We probably should move to afford our family or that we get better financial condition.
July 1, 2010
Restoration Hard-Wear
After first acknowledging all these years of unresolved hurt from childhood, I've never imagined that I'd be one of those people that needs the benefits of a therapist to set me emotionally free. Fortunately, my therapist does not judge me from asking God to be my safe place when we practice EMDR on past distressing events from my childhood. I'm learning that EVERYONE needs a therapist to help us get closer to God, but only a few seek the help. Only Jesus is the great therapist, but I need little more than knowing that Jesus is my therapist...I need a step by step program executed in my language to guide me back to my hurts and heal them the proper way.
David and I came across a website that shares about anger and sin. I thought I'd share it to whoever reads this blog. http://www.guidetopsychology.com/anger.htm It's not entirely scientific about the anger emotion, so it's a pretty easy read. It's quite intriguing.
A note to all my friends who are reading this, I'm sorry that I haven't been the person God intended me to be in the relationship between you and I. Please give me the chance to learn to change and restore myself...let's heal together.
David and I came across a website that shares about anger and sin. I thought I'd share it to whoever reads this blog. http://www.guidetopsychology.com/anger.htm It's not entirely scientific about the anger emotion, so it's a pretty easy read. It's quite intriguing.
A note to all my friends who are reading this, I'm sorry that I haven't been the person God intended me to be in the relationship between you and I. Please give me the chance to learn to change and restore myself...let's heal together.
June 24, 2010
EMDR
Just got back from my EMDR appointment. That's some pretty heavy, yet therapeutic stuff. She goes straight to business...or so the program calls for that route. We haven't even gotten into the big trauma of my life and yet I got myself using up almost half the therapists tissue box. It's tough to face the hard feelings that come with my past. I've buried it so deep and denied that I even have them.
Here is the EMDR Therapy process
* Phase I: In the first sessions, the patient's history and an overall treatment plan are discussed. During this process the therapist identifies and clarifies potential targets for EMDR. Target refers to a disturbing issue, event, feeling, or memory for use as an initial focus for EMDR. Maladaptive beliefs are also identified.
* Phase II: Before beginning EMDR for the first time, it is recommended that the client identify a safe place, an image or memory that elicits comfortable feelings and a positive sense of self. This safe place can be used later to bring closure to an incomplete session or to help a client tolerate a particularly upsetting session.
* Phase III: In developing a target for EMDR, prior to beginning the eye movement, a snapshot image is identified that represents the target and the disturbance associated with it. Using that image is a way to help the client focus on the target, a negative cognition (NC) is identified – a negative statement about the self that feels especially true when the client focuses on the target image. A positive cognition (PC) is also identified – a positive self-statement that is preferable to the negative cognition.
* Phase IV: The therapist asks the patient to focus simultaneously on the image, the negative cognition, and the disturbing emotion or body sensation. Then the therapist usually asks the client to follow a moving object with his or her eyes; the object moves alternately from side to side so that the client's eyes also move back and forth. After a set of eye movements, the client is asked to report briefly on what has come up; this may be a thought, a feeling, a physical sensation, an image, a memory, or a change in any one of the above. In the initial instructions to the client, the therapist asks him or her to focus on this thought, and begins a new set of eye movements. Under certain conditions, however, the therapist directs the client to focus on the original target memory or on some other image, thought, feeling, fantasy, physical sensation, or memory. From time to time the therapist may query the client about her or his current level of distress. The desensitization phase ends when the SUDS (Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale) has reached 0 or 1.
* Phase V: The "Installation Phase": the therapist asks the client about the positive cognition, if it's still valid. After Phase IV, the view of the client on the event/ the initial snapshot image may have changed dramatically. Another PC may be needed. Then the client is asked to "hold together" the snapshot and the (new) PC. Also the therapist asks, "How valid does the PC feel, on a scale from 1 to 7?" New sets of eye movement are issued.
* Phase VI: The body scan: the therapist asks if anywhere in the client's body any pain, stress or discomfort is felt. If so, the client is asked to concentrate on the sore knee or whatever may arise and new sets are issued.
* Phase VII: Debriefing. The therapist gives appropriate info and support.
* Phase VIII: Re-evaluation: At the beginning of the next session, the client reviews the week, discussing any new sensations or experiences. The level of disturbance arising from the experiences targeted in the previous session is assessed. An objective of this phase is to ensure the processing of all relevant historical events.
Here is the EMDR Therapy process
* Phase I: In the first sessions, the patient's history and an overall treatment plan are discussed. During this process the therapist identifies and clarifies potential targets for EMDR. Target refers to a disturbing issue, event, feeling, or memory for use as an initial focus for EMDR. Maladaptive beliefs are also identified.
* Phase II: Before beginning EMDR for the first time, it is recommended that the client identify a safe place, an image or memory that elicits comfortable feelings and a positive sense of self. This safe place can be used later to bring closure to an incomplete session or to help a client tolerate a particularly upsetting session.
* Phase III: In developing a target for EMDR, prior to beginning the eye movement, a snapshot image is identified that represents the target and the disturbance associated with it. Using that image is a way to help the client focus on the target, a negative cognition (NC) is identified – a negative statement about the self that feels especially true when the client focuses on the target image. A positive cognition (PC) is also identified – a positive self-statement that is preferable to the negative cognition.
* Phase IV: The therapist asks the patient to focus simultaneously on the image, the negative cognition, and the disturbing emotion or body sensation. Then the therapist usually asks the client to follow a moving object with his or her eyes; the object moves alternately from side to side so that the client's eyes also move back and forth. After a set of eye movements, the client is asked to report briefly on what has come up; this may be a thought, a feeling, a physical sensation, an image, a memory, or a change in any one of the above. In the initial instructions to the client, the therapist asks him or her to focus on this thought, and begins a new set of eye movements. Under certain conditions, however, the therapist directs the client to focus on the original target memory or on some other image, thought, feeling, fantasy, physical sensation, or memory. From time to time the therapist may query the client about her or his current level of distress. The desensitization phase ends when the SUDS (Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale) has reached 0 or 1.
* Phase V: The "Installation Phase": the therapist asks the client about the positive cognition, if it's still valid. After Phase IV, the view of the client on the event/ the initial snapshot image may have changed dramatically. Another PC may be needed. Then the client is asked to "hold together" the snapshot and the (new) PC. Also the therapist asks, "How valid does the PC feel, on a scale from 1 to 7?" New sets of eye movement are issued.
* Phase VI: The body scan: the therapist asks if anywhere in the client's body any pain, stress or discomfort is felt. If so, the client is asked to concentrate on the sore knee or whatever may arise and new sets are issued.
* Phase VII: Debriefing. The therapist gives appropriate info and support.
* Phase VIII: Re-evaluation: At the beginning of the next session, the client reviews the week, discussing any new sensations or experiences. The level of disturbance arising from the experiences targeted in the previous session is assessed. An objective of this phase is to ensure the processing of all relevant historical events.
June 20, 2010
My Slow Death - or so it seems
It's been rough for me these past few weeks and I'm mostly to blame. Since Chloe's birth two months ago, I've never felt like my body and mind have gotten back to what I call normal. Obviously, the extra weight will go away in time but the concern I have is about my heart. Since I've lost so much blood (two liters just about) I've become dangerously close to a cascade of health problems related to iron-defiency. According to doc a day past surgery, the length of time to get my lost blood replaced was very critical and that problems would arise in my heart, brain, and other organs of the body the longer I waited ~ and I waited long. I was too scared to have the procedure done and had hoped to get the blood from a relative but was denied that request since my need for blood was an emergency case. The hospital gave me 2 units of blood to reach a level 8 of 10 (just enough for my body to survive), where pre-procedure I was a 6 going down to 5 (and 6 was a pretty risky level).
So anyways, two months later I'm getting heart palpitations, fatigue, and feelings of depression daily. Iron deficiency? Low thyroid levels? According to an online source, what many people don't know about iron is that it plays a key role not only in the body's oxygen transport and delivery system, but also in the regulation of metabolism. Iron is needed to synthesize vital substances such as the brain chemical, dopamine, DNA and white blood cells. Thus iron deficiency can do much more harm than merely causing anemia; it can have widespread effects — from damaging a person's ability to think to weakening their resistance to infection. This explains my frequent brain farts and poor judgment.
I'll have to take iron supplements between 6 months to a year to bring my body back to that healthy level. I most definitely will ask for a blood test to check for my ferritin concentration at this week's appointment. I can't stand feeling like I'm going to have heart failure and irreversible brain damage at the age of 32 and die tomorrow.
These are some symptoms of Iron Deficiency:
general lethargy [check]
unusual fatigue after exercise [haven't exercised yet]
pica (compulsive eating of non-food items)
pagophagia (compulsive eating of ice) [double check - I'm surprised by this symptom]
These are some signs of iron deficiency:
paleness of the skin or eyes
intestinal problems
cognitive problems such as impaired learning ability [check]
and spoon nails (thin and concave fingernails)
So anyways, two months later I'm getting heart palpitations, fatigue, and feelings of depression daily. Iron deficiency? Low thyroid levels? According to an online source, what many people don't know about iron is that it plays a key role not only in the body's oxygen transport and delivery system, but also in the regulation of metabolism. Iron is needed to synthesize vital substances such as the brain chemical, dopamine, DNA and white blood cells. Thus iron deficiency can do much more harm than merely causing anemia; it can have widespread effects — from damaging a person's ability to think to weakening their resistance to infection. This explains my frequent brain farts and poor judgment.
I'll have to take iron supplements between 6 months to a year to bring my body back to that healthy level. I most definitely will ask for a blood test to check for my ferritin concentration at this week's appointment. I can't stand feeling like I'm going to have heart failure and irreversible brain damage at the age of 32 and die tomorrow.
These are some symptoms of Iron Deficiency:
general lethargy [check]
unusual fatigue after exercise [haven't exercised yet]
pica (compulsive eating of non-food items)
pagophagia (compulsive eating of ice) [double check - I'm surprised by this symptom]
These are some signs of iron deficiency:
paleness of the skin or eyes
intestinal problems
cognitive problems such as impaired learning ability [check]
and spoon nails (thin and concave fingernails)
May 28, 2010
Mom and Me
It's amazing that having a second child has changed my strained relationship with my mom for something better. I've never needed so much help in my life and for once (per the request of my family practitioner) asking my mom for help has been the greatest experience next to that time my mom attended my award ceremony way back in second grade when I got noticed for Most Improved. That's the latest proud moment I could remember with my mom. I'm pretty sure she's had more recent proud-of-Tracy moments, but they don't stick out as loudly as that elementary school memory. Now that's been a long time for feeling noticed, accepted...and loved. Mom's glow and giddiness shows now that I've been relying on her for help since Chloe's been born, and I like it. This only means that I'm going to continually keep her by my side so that I could watch this new relationship with her unfold. There's a lot of mending to do between she and I. Though it's been over 30 years for positive change to happen between us, at least it's happening ~ and mom is still alive to re-experience what it's like to be a daughter again.
May 11, 2010
Catnaps
Catnaps are supposed to be very light, short naps during the day...and these are the types of naps I should be taking while baby Chloe is giving me 4-5 hours of sleep a night. Well, for the past 3 days, my supposed catnaps are starting from 10ish AM and ending somewhere around 1ish to 2ish PM. I'm sleeping through my lunchtime! By the time I wake up from my nap, I've got to rush some food in, wake up Chloe for her feeding time and head down the long trek to Poway to pick up Breanna from school by 3PM. Then I don't get back home until 5 or 6 pm because I've got to hang out at my mom's for about an hour and a half to calm Chloe down since she gets so worked up by the 3rd hour in the afternoon. So if I want anything to get done during my waking hours I have to get it done between the time David and Breanna leave in the morning (around 8:30ish) to 10ish AM. That's not many hours.
I wonder if I'm in denial that I have postpartum depression. I've got it bad when I just had Breanna and it started to wear away after her 1st birthday. I suspected I didn't get PD with Chloe because I started to bond with her right away in the hospital ~ something that didn't happen between Brea and I. What is going on in me?
I wonder if I'm in denial that I have postpartum depression. I've got it bad when I just had Breanna and it started to wear away after her 1st birthday. I suspected I didn't get PD with Chloe because I started to bond with her right away in the hospital ~ something that didn't happen between Brea and I. What is going on in me?
March 25, 2010
No More Than 5
Constipation is not fun, but eating more than the daily dosage of prunes to relieve constipation is even more disturbing. I learned my lesson the uncomfortable way. Just 5. Not 15 (although they can taste so delicious). Now I've lost more hours of sleep with tons of flatulence, bloating, and sometimes a number 2 now and then...but amazingly my constipation is gone! Now I just gotta wait for my overindulgence to this yummy dried plum to pass my system.
March 22, 2010
TMI: The Inside Scoop About My Poop
It's a little challenging to tell the difference whether I got constipation or that the baby's head is jamming that poop holder shut. Either way, you know I got it bad because my body odor stinks so much that I (the owner of this powerful methane gas) can't even handle it.
Oh how I wish I knew the mechanisms to all my bodily functions. I can't really describe why I got a constant headache. Baby Chloe Joyce Miller, please find your nearest exit.
Oh how I wish I knew the mechanisms to all my bodily functions. I can't really describe why I got a constant headache. Baby Chloe Joyce Miller, please find your nearest exit.
March 5, 2010
The Princess and the Pee...and Diarrhea and Vomit. Yuck!
My brain is so fried. I've slept only 2 hours last night because I heard Breanna tossing, turning, and grumbling in bed through the walls. I come to find out that the diaper I had put on her before going home from grandma's was replaced with a panty. I thought the entire time she had on a diaper. So I spent my supposed slumber time sponging down my little girl lower half and changed her into fresh clothes. Because her bed was soaking wet, she had to sleep in our bed last night, which never allows me full rest.
Now here I am at grandpa's working on a project that requires concentration and detailed skill, yet I can't focus and my brain is fried. Ugh. I hope I can sleep tonight. We'll see. David just called me and said my poor baby just threw up twice and sat on the toilet with diarrhea for ten minutes. I hope not to catch the bug...me the pregnoid.
Now here I am at grandpa's working on a project that requires concentration and detailed skill, yet I can't focus and my brain is fried. Ugh. I hope I can sleep tonight. We'll see. David just called me and said my poor baby just threw up twice and sat on the toilet with diarrhea for ten minutes. I hope not to catch the bug...me the pregnoid.
February 5, 2010
Polyhydramnios
Polyhydramnios. I hope this baby doesn't have it like Breanna (borderline) did. I'm getting huge, you guys. The most common birth defects that cause Polyhydramnios are those that hinder fetal swallowing, generally involving the gastrointestinal tract or the central nervous system. I wonder if it has anything to do with hearing loss? We will never know the true cause for Breanna's hearing loss. Well, if baby Chloe has a hearing loss too then we are prepared for it.
February 3, 2010
The Big Test Cheater
YaY! I called in for the Gestational Diabetes test results and it turned out negative, meaning I don't have it! I must have really cheated the test, though. Some sources say that the results can be skewed if the testing patient walk around during the entire test. Some other sources say to not drink any water between shots. Well, I did both. The nurse did say, however, that I could roam the hospital while I wait...so I did. But little did she know that I climbed up and down 12 flights of stairs between shots. I'm kinda wondering in retrospect what my result would be had I not exercised so much.
November 15, 2009
Chillin' with the Chills
I'm starting to feeling the chills. Hope I'm not coming down with anything annoying. I think I might have had too much fun over the weekend that I haven't given myself time to recuperate. David was feeling ill and maybe I'm catching what he got.
November 13, 2009
Eating for Two
Early on in my pregnancy I started a spreadsheet to document how well I fill my daily quota of food based on all the 5 food groups...and have been doing great for the first few weeks. Come second trimester and I take another survey and I'm running short on all food groups. Geeze...Eating can be such a chore sometimes. I wonder why?
November 8, 2009
A Break from Routines: Party, Party, Legoland!
Finally a little break from routines...and I don't feel like I've overdone it. We had lots of fun this weekend...just me and Breanna since David had to start his killer final class project.
On Saturday morning, I attended Margaret's baby shower and took a bunch of pictures and plan on completing a photo creation as a gift (it'll take about 3 hours and gotta make the time to do it).
By Saturday evening, Lori's daughter's birthday party was big hit for the little kiddos, but it was planned to be only 2 hours long and I wanted to have more fun so I spontaneously hosted the aftermath party to happen at my house! I really wanna do that again!
Sunday, after David left to work on his project, Breanna and I headed off to Legoland! My poor Breanna. Just as we got unbuckled into Legoland parking lot, she P'd in her pants. Unfortunately I didn't have any extra clothes in the CRV; she was doing so well with potty training that I didn't make time to prepare for accidents. So I spent the first half hour blowdrying her pants in the restroom and pretend it never happened. I didn't want to go all the way home or buy new clothes from a little accident.
On Saturday morning, I attended Margaret's baby shower and took a bunch of pictures and plan on completing a photo creation as a gift (it'll take about 3 hours and gotta make the time to do it).
By Saturday evening, Lori's daughter's birthday party was big hit for the little kiddos, but it was planned to be only 2 hours long and I wanted to have more fun so I spontaneously hosted the aftermath party to happen at my house! I really wanna do that again!
Sunday, after David left to work on his project, Breanna and I headed off to Legoland! My poor Breanna. Just as we got unbuckled into Legoland parking lot, she P'd in her pants. Unfortunately I didn't have any extra clothes in the CRV; she was doing so well with potty training that I didn't make time to prepare for accidents. So I spent the first half hour blowdrying her pants in the restroom and pretend it never happened. I didn't want to go all the way home or buy new clothes from a little accident.
November 6, 2009
Routine Fever
I love routines but I'm not sure I'm liking it this much. I need to get a life away from work, school & family routines. I'm looking forward to spontaneously hanging out with ladies who'd love to have a weekly devotional.
September 16, 2009
A Hint of Red
For a few days I had been wiping Breanna after a bowel movement and each time found a hint of red as I wiped. I tried to believe it was nothing the first time I saw it, but the second and third time I got concerned thinking "what if she has an infection?" How scary. I looked up the symptoms online (redness on tissue wipe, child complains at the touch, etc...) and found out that it's nothing serious. It just happens to be that Breanna has an anal fissure, which means nothing more than a bleeding crack on the anal sphincter - appearing at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock if examining it like a clock. Poor girl. To remedy the situation, last night I put A&D diaper cream which soothes and heals cracked skin...and she's all better now! Phew!
August 13, 2009
My Wild Adventure Under The ER Microscope
Once upon a time, there was DANGER...a danger so bleak and fearsome that some people were too afraid to go outside. That was the craziest Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday ever. Okay, now that I'm out of the hospital and more coherent, I am able to write about my crazy week.
As of last week I totally assumed that I wasn't pregnant because I took an at-home pregnancy test that can be taken 5 days earlier than my missed period ~ and trusted the results. What made me trust the results more was that I started having period symptoms ~ steady cramping, lower back pain, dizziness, crabbiness, emotional instability (aka weepy over anything)...
The day after the pregnancy test, I started having sharp cramps as if some invisible power was stabbing sharp, metal barbecue sticks in my abdomen. These abnormal, non-rhythmic bursts of pain that does not mimic regular menstruation symptoms happened throughout the next two days. Then I started spotting ~ a regular symptom of the onset of menstruation.
By the weekend I felt overwhelmingly exhausted and had to take naps. I thought my fatigue was from breaking my circadian sleep rhythm, and assumed my body was telling me to catch up. I am reminded by the wise sage Oogoo, that once sleep is lost, it can never be found again. I take this wisdom with solace, and a hint of shame.
On August 11 - exactly 32 days from the start of my previous menstrual cycle - I found out that I was four-weeks pregnant. My typical cycles have run from between 26 to 35 days.
That Tuesday night, things in my body went awry. I couldn't sleep. I got shivers and chills. My temperature rose to 99.1. Symptoms got worse the following morning. I couldn't move. I was so sore and achy all over. Migraines pounded in my head like a sledgehammer pounding railroad spikes. My lower abdominal region and lower back had a steady, dull pain. My fever increased like the heat of an Escondido summer noon ~ 102.9. Cute Breanna was by my side playing nurse when I woke up ~ she tucked me and her favorite toy animals tight in my blanket and spoke tender, motherly whispers to my ears. Her caressing was a sweet foreshadowing of the care I would receive in my overnight stay in the hospital.
I called a triage nurse at the Scripps Ranch clinic that I attended for all my prenatal care when I was pregnant with Breanna. Once I explained my symptoms, she told me to come into the clinic to be examined the following hour. I dangerously drove Breanna to my cousin's house (aka grandma's house) ~ my vision was blurry, my headache was pounding, my driving judgment was as dull as a mummified cat. I had tears rolling down my cheeks as I entered the clinic, and couldn't talk very well since, my head was so confused. I was an hour late for my appt, so they rescheduled me for a different, awesome doctor 20 minutes later. Based on all my symptoms, her concern for a possible ectopic pregnancy sent me to the emergency room ~ Thornton Hospital UCSD, La Jolla. (ectopic pregnancy is when the baby is growing outside the uterus and the pregnancy must be terminated -- YIKES!!) I called David to pick me up, who strode valiantly to protect my honor, buy me a 12" sub, and drive me safely to the hospital since my head was spinning like a dreidel on Channukah.
When we arrived at the Emergency Room, the doctors performed test after test. It was a learning facility and I loved how the doctors and residents looked at my "illness" from every possible viewpoint. I got a pelvic exam, cervical culture sent to the lab, urine test, blood tests, an ultrasound over my reproductive system, an ultrasound to test for appendicitis, IV bags replaced one after another (I was so dehydrated). I even got an additonal ultrasound from a hot young lusty intern. =)Dozens of doctors walked in an out of my room introducing themselves, student doctors and expert doctors examined me, I was asked questions after questions. David made sure to give the evil eye to any doctors that seemed to be spending more time checking me out than deemed necessary. And through my entire stay, all the king's nurses, and all the king's docs, couldn't figure out why I was having a high fever and abdominal pain.
They ruled out ectopic pregnancy because they saw a 3mm sac embedded in the uterus lining. The surgeons decided to keep an eye on me overnight (a very pretty blue one!) in case of appendicitis - so I couldn't eat or drink at all in case of surgery - a 24 hr fast was the result! They ruled out appendicitis and kidney and bladder infection from the abdominal ultrasound. However, they found cysts on my left ovary (a source from which pain emanated in a most unpleasant manner) but the cysts posed no threat. My white blood cell count was high due to fighting the infection. They ruled out the flu after taking a nasal culture. All these tests and they still couldn't find the root cause of my nefarious, loathsome, and mysterious temperature that persists to this very moment in time.
So they sent me home with the following instructions: take Tylenol to lower the temperature, take your prenatal vitamins, drink plenty of water for thou art dehydrated as the Sahara, and come back if symptoms get worse.
So there you have it. I find out I'm 4 weeks pregnant and get slammed with multiple ominous plagues ~ minus locusts and frogs.
I'll keep you posted on this website ~ http://babybmiller.blogspot.com/ Please pray for endurance that I can handle the 36 weeks of pain and pray that this be a healthy baby BOY. I totally feel like it's a boy. Breanna has demanded a little brother, and she always gets what she wants.
As of last week I totally assumed that I wasn't pregnant because I took an at-home pregnancy test that can be taken 5 days earlier than my missed period ~ and trusted the results. What made me trust the results more was that I started having period symptoms ~ steady cramping, lower back pain, dizziness, crabbiness, emotional instability (aka weepy over anything)...
The day after the pregnancy test, I started having sharp cramps as if some invisible power was stabbing sharp, metal barbecue sticks in my abdomen. These abnormal, non-rhythmic bursts of pain that does not mimic regular menstruation symptoms happened throughout the next two days. Then I started spotting ~ a regular symptom of the onset of menstruation.
By the weekend I felt overwhelmingly exhausted and had to take naps. I thought my fatigue was from breaking my circadian sleep rhythm, and assumed my body was telling me to catch up. I am reminded by the wise sage Oogoo, that once sleep is lost, it can never be found again. I take this wisdom with solace, and a hint of shame.
On August 11 - exactly 32 days from the start of my previous menstrual cycle - I found out that I was four-weeks pregnant. My typical cycles have run from between 26 to 35 days.
That Tuesday night, things in my body went awry. I couldn't sleep. I got shivers and chills. My temperature rose to 99.1. Symptoms got worse the following morning. I couldn't move. I was so sore and achy all over. Migraines pounded in my head like a sledgehammer pounding railroad spikes. My lower abdominal region and lower back had a steady, dull pain. My fever increased like the heat of an Escondido summer noon ~ 102.9. Cute Breanna was by my side playing nurse when I woke up ~ she tucked me and her favorite toy animals tight in my blanket and spoke tender, motherly whispers to my ears. Her caressing was a sweet foreshadowing of the care I would receive in my overnight stay in the hospital.
I called a triage nurse at the Scripps Ranch clinic that I attended for all my prenatal care when I was pregnant with Breanna. Once I explained my symptoms, she told me to come into the clinic to be examined the following hour. I dangerously drove Breanna to my cousin's house (aka grandma's house) ~ my vision was blurry, my headache was pounding, my driving judgment was as dull as a mummified cat. I had tears rolling down my cheeks as I entered the clinic, and couldn't talk very well since, my head was so confused. I was an hour late for my appt, so they rescheduled me for a different, awesome doctor 20 minutes later. Based on all my symptoms, her concern for a possible ectopic pregnancy sent me to the emergency room ~ Thornton Hospital UCSD, La Jolla. (ectopic pregnancy is when the baby is growing outside the uterus and the pregnancy must be terminated -- YIKES!!) I called David to pick me up, who strode valiantly to protect my honor, buy me a 12" sub, and drive me safely to the hospital since my head was spinning like a dreidel on Channukah.
When we arrived at the Emergency Room, the doctors performed test after test. It was a learning facility and I loved how the doctors and residents looked at my "illness" from every possible viewpoint. I got a pelvic exam, cervical culture sent to the lab, urine test, blood tests, an ultrasound over my reproductive system, an ultrasound to test for appendicitis, IV bags replaced one after another (I was so dehydrated). I even got an additonal ultrasound from a hot young lusty intern. =)Dozens of doctors walked in an out of my room introducing themselves, student doctors and expert doctors examined me, I was asked questions after questions. David made sure to give the evil eye to any doctors that seemed to be spending more time checking me out than deemed necessary. And through my entire stay, all the king's nurses, and all the king's docs, couldn't figure out why I was having a high fever and abdominal pain.
They ruled out ectopic pregnancy because they saw a 3mm sac embedded in the uterus lining. The surgeons decided to keep an eye on me overnight (a very pretty blue one!) in case of appendicitis - so I couldn't eat or drink at all in case of surgery - a 24 hr fast was the result! They ruled out appendicitis and kidney and bladder infection from the abdominal ultrasound. However, they found cysts on my left ovary (a source from which pain emanated in a most unpleasant manner) but the cysts posed no threat. My white blood cell count was high due to fighting the infection. They ruled out the flu after taking a nasal culture. All these tests and they still couldn't find the root cause of my nefarious, loathsome, and mysterious temperature that persists to this very moment in time.
So they sent me home with the following instructions: take Tylenol to lower the temperature, take your prenatal vitamins, drink plenty of water for thou art dehydrated as the Sahara, and come back if symptoms get worse.
So there you have it. I find out I'm 4 weeks pregnant and get slammed with multiple ominous plagues ~ minus locusts and frogs.
I'll keep you posted on this website ~ http://babybmiller.blogspot.com/ Please pray for endurance that I can handle the 36 weeks of pain and pray that this be a healthy baby BOY. I totally feel like it's a boy. Breanna has demanded a little brother, and she always gets what she wants.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)