Yeah, Yeah… I’m Here
Ok, so I haven’t updated. Sorry about that. I just really don’t feel like it these days. I am unable to sleep due to back pain (and my million pillows don’t help) so I’m up around 6 each day, and then I am dead tired until I drag myself back to bed again. Anyhow, some updates…
Last Wednesday I was in horrific pain from either the Ibuprofen and/or the iron pills. I was 99% sure I was not in labor, because my uterus remained soft, but the pain was so intense I was crying on the bed wishing for an epidural. Considering I never had an epidural when I gave birth to Calista, that is some serious pain.
I was pretty scared and home alone, so I wasn’t sure what to do. I have IBS, and I was sure it was that, but it hurt so bad! The pain lasted about 3 hours.
I went about my business, but after I got hit with the pain for the third time that day, I called the peri in Seattle. They were gone for the day, so I had to call Labor & Delivery and L&D wanted me to come in. It was 8:30 pm, Calista was in bed, and Seattle is 2 hours away. I said it was a bit too far for me to go right away, so they told me to go to my local L&D.
I opted to call my local OBs office and spoke to the doctor on call, who said I could come in right away for pain management, or I could call first thing in the morning to set up an appointment. I opted to wait until the morning.
In the morning, the peri’s office called me back and was concerned about me, and asked for me to come in for an appointment. I told them I was going to be seen locally, and they felt ok about that, so I got off the phone and called my local OB.
My local OBs office offered me an appointment at 3:30 pm, but the pain was starting again and I didn’t want to wait that long. I asked for something sooner, and explained that both Seattle and the local OB suggested I go to the hospital, so perhaps I could come in a tad earlier, but they said they were too full. They said they’d have the doctor call me back.
At this point, I was reduced to tears (shocking, I know) and called the peri. My friend had offered to drive me to Seattle, so I told them I’d be there ASAP. As I was getting ready, my OB called me back and he basically told me to go to Seattle because I’m too high risk to be dealt with locally and they’d just send me to Seattle anyhow.
We got Calista to our friend’s house and off we (Skip and I) went. It took us longer than usual to get there because I had to stop at every rest stop along the way. When we got there, we were sent off to be admitted to L&D. We went through the routine — fetal and contraction monitoring, ultrasound to check the cervix, blood work, etc.
They decided that the pain was IBS (which I already knew and was feeling increasingly embarrassed for being in L&D for) and since my cervix look long and closed (3.1 cm) that they would take me off the Ibuprofen and not put me on anything else. We were discharged within a few hours.
I waited until my system was clear of turmoil before starting taking anything again. I took my first iron pill again on Sunday, and go figure, by Monday, I was in pain again. I’ve been taking them with food, Vitamic C (for absorption), increased my water intake, am taking fiber… I just can’t seem to deal with the iron for some reason.
Anyhow, I had another appointment yesterday, locally. I told him about the iron and he said once a day should be ok, so I’ll see if that helps me at all. He did the boring stuff like doppler and fundal height measurements — neither of which I asked for results since they don’t ever seem to be right anyhow. They didn’t have half my test results from the peri’s office, so that was frustrating. Then I told them I am supposed to be having an ultrasound every week to check my cervix and the babies’ fluid levels, so I had to schedule another appointment for Thursday. What a pain. At this point, I wish I just lived in Seattle and could just go to the peri — this two-office care setup is going to be a hassle, I can tell.
Now I am trying to figure out my plan for Monday’s appointment in Seattle, as Skip can’t go (too much time off work) and I can’t drive myself. I hop these next few weeks go by quickly so we can just get through all of this!
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It’s really only a few more weeks, Sommer! Hang in there – you are doing an amazing job of managing all of this. Those little boys are lucky to have you as their mom.
I couldn’t take iron tablets either Sommer, and i was dreadfully low in iron. I had to eat things with more iron, but was always shockingly low (and therefore tired), but my babies never suffered.
I couldn’t take the iron either. Have you tried taking Floradix? It’s the liquid iron and it’s natural. It’s something that is absorbed by the body better. I would try it out.
Hi Sommer, very busy here with our new arrival, but still lurking to keep up to date with your pregnancy and little ones.
I’ve always had major problems with Iron supplements, with Emelie I tried 5 different types, even one pill had me in agony, with major bowel cramps. I can’t even take multivitamins or prenatals becuase of the side effects.
Then someone suggested Floradix, its a liquid iron supplement made from real fruit and veggies, so much easier to tolerate. It tastes okay and I had no GI symptoms at all, just rapidly increasing iron levels.. this time I went from 8.1 to 10.3 in 3 weeks, a major improvement. I was taking double the dose but still no side effects, and my energy levels were much better so quickly. Wish I#d known about it years ago since I’m always borderline anaemic thanks to my GI problems.
Its available online and in health food stores, a little expensive but well worth it to keep your levels up, particularly if a C section is a possibility. I think its about $25 for a months supply, it has to be trashed after that long in the fridge anyway because it has no preservatives, but I found a 500ml bottle lasted a month anyway.
Please try it, its recommended by so many health care professionals, just a shame the OBs aren’t as up on it as some of the midwives are. Most of the other pregnant women recommending it have been told either by a midwife or a friend.
Big hugs for you too, I remember how hard a twin pregnancy was for my sister. Just keep focused on the result, those precious boys will be worth all this discomfort and misery for certain.
First off, (((hugs)))
Secondly, I would really recommend you switch your iron to Floradix. It is a liquid iron supplement that is MUCH easier on the digestive tract. You can get it at a health food store. Call me if you have any questions at all. (hugs)
Hi Sommer,
Has your doctor mentioned IM Iron depot? I was on them when the pills didn’t work (I have removed bowels due to Ulcerative Colitis) They helped immensely! No bowel issues since they were IM. It really sounds like the iron is killing your bowels! Good luck ((hugs))