{"id":1417,"date":"2009-12-06T20:59:17","date_gmt":"2009-12-07T02:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/?p=1417"},"modified":"2009-12-06T22:02:42","modified_gmt":"2009-12-07T04:02:42","slug":"snow-day-turned-trip-to-the-er","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/2009\/12\/06\/snow-day-turned-trip-to-the-er\/","title":{"rendered":"Snow Day Turned Trip to the ER"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Two major things happened on Friday. \u00c2\u00a0First of all, it SNOWED in Houston, something that has happened only 34 times ever in this city.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1431\" title=\"Snow Day\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/Snow-Day1.jpg\" alt=\"Snow Day\" width=\"557\" height=\"372\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/Snow-Day1.jpg 557w, https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/Snow-Day1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 557px) 100vw, 557px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As for the other part, I hadn&#8217;t really decided yet how much to share on the blog, but here goes&#8230;.all the drama, in what will likely be the longest post ever.<\/p>\n<p>Friday, I had to get up bright and early to get an ultrasound because I was seven weeks pregnant, spotting and cramping. \u00c2\u00a0Having had two prior miscarriages (one in December 2006 shortly before The Littlest Apple was conceived and another miscarriage in August of this year at 12 weeks, with resulting D &amp; C), I \u00c2\u00a0was about 99% sure I was experiencing a third miscarriage. \u00c2\u00a0The Picky Apple and I were being cautiously optimistic this time around, had not told anyone yet, and weren&#8217;t too surprised when I started spotting. \u00c2\u00a0Sure enough, my OB \u00c2\u00a0confirmed a miscarriage with an ultrasound, and I was sent home to rest and recover. \u00c2\u00a0She told me that since I had passed a little tissue already, I should expect a little more cramping but nothing major.<\/p>\n<p>As Friday went on, I was cramping so much that I couldn&#8217;t walk. \u00c2\u00a0Every time I stood up, I got dizzy. \u00c2\u00a0Every time I stood up, my hearing went away and was replaced by buzzing, and my vision got all spotty. \u00c2\u00a0Each time this happened, I immediately laid down on the bathroom floor (which was usually where I was). \u00c2\u00a0None of my OTC painkillers were helping. \u00c2\u00a0None of my prescription painkillers (left from August D &amp; C) were helping. \u00c2\u00a0But I still just thought &#8220;man, this is way worse than the other miscarriages I experienced.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Around 6:30 pm on Friday, I finally decided that I needed to call my doctor and\/or get myself to the emergency room because of the intensity of the pain. \u00c2\u00a0My OB (and the other doctors in the practice) work at a hospital in the Med Center, a good 45 minutes from our home. \u00c2\u00a0My husband spoke with the doctor on call, Dr. I, and was advised to get there ASAP, and if we couldn&#8217;t make it all the way in (keeping in mind the roads were icy and maybe closed) that we should go to the closest ER possible. \u00c2\u00a0Dr. I (who also happens to be the doctor who performed my emergency c-section 2 years ago), was concerned about an ectopic pregnancy. \u00c2\u00a0Ectopic pregnancy is one that implants itself in the fallopian tubes or ovaries, causing intense pain. \u00c2\u00a0It must be removed, and if not treated early enough, it can rupture.<\/p>\n<p>The Picky Apple summoned his parents to watch TLA, and he also called my parents to let them know what was happenning. \u00c2\u00a0Up until this point, none of our parents even knew I was pregnant, so I think they were in a bit of a shock. \u00c2\u00a0When my in-laws arrived, I was crawling backwards down the stairs, having to rest every couple of stairs so I didn&#8217;t pass out. \u00c2\u00a0I was in SO MUCH PAIN.<\/p>\n<p>We finally got in the car, and I decided we should just get down to the Med Center, so that I could be treated by doctors who at least knew my medical history. \u00c2\u00a0But I was really hoping that Dr. I (the one who performed my c-section) would still be there. \u00c2\u00a0Longest drive ever. \u00c2\u00a0Every bump and turn was excruciating, and I felt sick the whole time.<\/p>\n<p>Luckily the ER was deserted, because I was barely conscious. \u00c2\u00a0My hearing was completely muffled, and I was in a tremendous amount of pain.<\/p>\n<p>As soon as they took my vitals, it became clear that something was very very wrong. \u00c2\u00a0My blood pressure was a very low 60\/30. \u00c2\u00a0I was begging for pain medication, but they couldn&#8217;t give it to me until my blood pressure went up some.<\/p>\n<p>After the initial 60\/30 reading, they wheeled me into a room and there were immediately about 10 people around. \u00c2\u00a0I got oxygen, IV fluids, and a woman came to give an ultrasound. \u00c2\u00a0By this point, Dr. I had also been paged from upstairs.<\/p>\n<p>Longest ultrasound ever, laying there in pain, with the poking and prodding. \u00c2\u00a0And still no pain meds.<\/p>\n<p>Soon it became clear that I did have an ectopic pregnancy, and that it had ruptured. \u00c2\u00a0The pain in my abdomen was from all of the blood from the rupture. \u00c2\u00a0By this time, I was also starting to have trouble breathing, because the blood and fluids pushing on my diaphragm. \u00c2\u00a0Later, I found out that they had to drain over a liter of blood from my abdomen!<\/p>\n<p>The initial plan was to go in laproscopically, but because of an umbilical hernia surgery I had as a child, that wasn&#8217;t an option. \u00c2\u00a0Dr. I decided to go in through my c-section scar.<\/p>\n<p>Still no pain meds&#8230;it seemed that the only way I was getting relief was from anesthesia&#8230;.I have never been so happy to see an anesthesiologist in my entire life!<\/p>\n<p>The surgery went as well as could be expected. \u00c2\u00a0The ectopic pregnancy was actually right where the left fallopian tube joins up with uterus. \u00c2\u00a0Dr. I had to cut out a chunk of my uterus, and my ovary is no longer connected, but it is in-tact. \u00c2\u00a0I received 2 bags of blood during the surgery.<\/p>\n<p>So. \u00c2\u00a0Here I sit in the hospital on Sunday night. \u00c2\u00a0I spent all of yesterday on morphine. \u00c2\u00a0Today I&#8217;m on some oral pain meds that don&#8217;t make me feel as sick. \u00c2\u00a0I also received another 2 bags of blood transfusions today.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1443 aligncenter\" title=\"Bloooood!\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/Blood2.jpg\" alt=\"Bloooood!\" width=\"557\" height=\"428\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/Blood2.jpg 557w, https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/12\/Blood2-300x230.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 557px) 100vw, 557px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>My catheter has been removed, and I am supposed to start walking around some tomorrow. \u00c2\u00a0I&#8217;m not sure if I&#8217;ll be going home on Monday or Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s basically like I had another c-section (though without the resulting baby), so this could make the next few pre-Christmas weeks relatively interesting.<\/p>\n<p>Once again, I am SO THANKFUL to have my parents and in-laws nearby. \u00c2\u00a0The in-laws have been taking care of The Littlest Apple (who incidentally came down with a fever and vomiting the same night we left for the ER&#8230;.not sure how that&#8217;s going to affect my going home). \u00c2\u00a0My parents have been here at the hospital with me during the daytime, and brought food to my in-laws last night.<\/p>\n<p>And of course, The Picky Apple has been wonderful too. \u00c2\u00a0He has been sleeping on a couch-bed in my hospital room that is covered with plastic. \u00c2\u00a0The first night I was really out of it, but the thermostat in our room was on 55, and he very nearly froze. \u00c2\u00a0Poor guy!<\/p>\n<p>Anyway. \u00c2\u00a0That&#8217;s why you haven&#8217;t heard much from me lately! \u00c2\u00a0All of my Christmas-y posts are on hold for the near future! \u00c2\u00a0My apologies for the rambling nature of this post and any grammatical or spelling errors. \u00c2\u00a0I&#8217;m hoping to get back in to the swing of things soon!<\/p>\n<div class=\"linkwithin_hook\" id=\"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/2009\/12\/06\/snow-day-turned-trip-to-the-er\/\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Two major things happened on Friday. \u00c2\u00a0First of all, it SNOWED in Houston, something that has happened only 34 times ever in this city. As for the other part, I hadn&#8217;t really decided yet how much to share on the blog, but here goes&#8230;.all the drama, in what will likely be the longest post ever. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1417"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1417\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1441,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1417\/revisions\/1441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thepickyapple.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}