Terrible Day...
 

Just feeling the need to vent a little...

I found out a little over a week ago that I am pregnant (about 8 weeks right now). I'm very excited. Last night...I started to get some really bad abdominal pains and chest pains so I left work and went to the ER.

The people at the ER were truly wonderful...I have never in all my trips there had such a completely wonderful team of people take care of me...and I am actually looking forward to getting a survey so I can give them all glowing reviews. They kept me warm, with warm blankets every 30 minutes or so and every single one of them was comforting and trying to make me feel better.

They had me get a chest xray (double shielded by tummy), I got 2 EKGs, LOTS of bloodwork, IV fluids (which means they used both my arms), and I was subjected to a 2+ hour ultrasound where I swear they checked every nook and cranny of my insides. Good news...everything looks great including my little one (who I got to see for the first time on the ultrasound complete with heart beat at about 1:30am). Bad news...I feel like I have been beaten black and blue from the inside out. It was the ultrasound, the IV site, and the blood draw sites that really did me in...the ultrasound was the worst though I think.

Basically they said it's the pregnancy hormones running crazy and causing really bad heartburn (I've NEVER had heartburn that felt like this) or could possibly be a flare up of my RSD due to the stretching and straining that's going on in my abdomen (the bloating is ridiculous...I look huge but I know I'm not showing this early). Fun stuff, huh? They told me I was right to come in though because with this sort of pain...you just don't know and need to get checked out. There were a lot of serious things that it COULD have been...so I'm glad I went in. But goodness...today I really feel like I was beaten up and left for dead in the street...and that's on top of still having the pains I went there with.

So I'm supposed to rest, wear loose clothing, and watch what I eat...then follow up with my OBGYN. Thank goodness I have the weekend off. I'm not moving off this couch for anything besides food if I can help it...

At least I have the peace of mind...knowing everything is A-Okay functionally...and that it's just the pain (as always) that's bothering me.

Thanks for being there for me to get that off my chest...just needed to let it all out...

Glad your mind is at ease :hug:

Wow Congrats!! I am so happy that everything turned out to be okay for the both of you. Sounds like a great day to hang out and watch a few good movies.

Take good care,
Tessa

Sorry you had such a rough time catra, but congratulations!! Happy to hear everything is ok as far as the baby goes! Hope you can get plenty of rest this weekend and recuperate! Happy too that the hospital staff was so great with you, it is rare and so wonderful!

Take care of yourself,
Nanc
:hug:

I know...I always dread going to the ER for anything because of fear of how I will be treated there. Best I've come to hope for is that they are generally not helpful...worst is that they are down right rude, ignore my needs related to the RSD, and accusatory. This was just so unexpected and wonderful. The nurse said she didn't know what RSD was but went and looked it up after I told her about it and she did her best for me. There really are wonderful people in the healthcare field...I've had so many bad experiences that I really treasure these great ones. And it was great...top to bottom...as far as the staff goes.

I am just so miserable today pain wise though...it's quite frustrating. I am always so proud of myself for pushing through...but today is just bad. Every breath is pain...every movement no matter how small is pain. :(

The irony is that this is true every day...but this ADDITIONAL pain on top of all the other is what is kicking me in the rear. I really want to take a hot bath...but want to wait until my boyfriend gets home from work on the off chance I have a hard time getting out of the tub. I'm having such a hard time moving that I think that could be a real problem today so I want to be safe (yet another reason I'm so frustrated...I'm used to being so independent these days and don't want to go back to not being able to do things for myself...even if it's just for a short time).

Ugh! Just a bad day...I'm allowed those every once in a while, right?

Gratz on the good news! I'm sorry you're suffering. Hopefully this is a momentary thing and won't continue through the remainder of the pregnancy. I'm glad that you were taken good care of. We're all allowed to vent and mope when we have bad days. Take it easy and feel better.

Congratulations about the baby, You are so brave to have one while suffering from this condition.:hug: I hope you are starting to feel better and if not I hope tomorrow is better.

catra, I am impressed with your er incident. I have not had the best of luck either, although the veterans hospital did a great job with me. Congrats on the little one and I hope your condition improves. Perhaps when your significant other gets home you can bounce some of your discomfort with him. Hoping all your discomfort improves catra and may your evening shadow your day with smiles.

I am so happy for you Catra! Congrats on your oncoming arrival! I hope that you have a peaceful night and a beautiful journey throughout your pregnancy. With Love, Renee.

Glad you had good treatment at the ER. Its such a toss up when I go in...usually not the best treatment.

Congratulations on your little one :yahoo:

I hope you feel better after some rest.

I hate that you’re not feeling well, but wow! Congratulations catra! How exciting! And how wonderful that you had such a nice experience at the hospital, that’s so rare. I’m glad that they at least set your mind at ease with the baby. Now if we can just make mama feel better. :hug: I hope that’s soon! Take it easy hon, Vrae

Just wanted to say thank you everyone for the kind words. I'm feeling more upbeat today...but the pain is still pretty bad (no change really). I'm very thankful for the weekend off so that I can just rest up for a few days in very loose fitting comfy clothes. It's back to work Monday morning...so we will see how that goes.

But I am VERY happy about the pregnancy and very relieved that everything is okay with the baby. I have my first appointment with the OB on Thursday...hoping maybe she will have some more ideas on what is going on with this pain and what might help with it.

Get some rest and keep us posted! :hug:

Hi,

Congrats, on the baby news. That was wonderful to hear.:hug:

That is great news!!!!With all that ,do you if it could be the meds..for the heartburn..?Mine was..The main reason I say this I felt the same way...No baby here though..lol..good luck,happy for you..Do you have other children?:hug:

I don't take any meds...I got off all of them except clonidine a couple of years ago and stopped taking the clonidine last July when I found out I was pregnant (ended in a miscarriage at 7 weeks)...and I never started taking the clonidine again because I knew we might try for kids at some point. So no meds.

The more I think about it...the more it really seems like it's just the RSD. It just feels absolutely nothing like heartburn and since everything else checked out okay I feel like that has to be it.

I'm feeling a lot better today though. It's still there and occasionally real bad...but much better than yesterday (and it got REAL bad yesterday...like scream out loud bad).

And I do not have other children...this would be my very first. Scary...but exciting too. :)

Im so excited for you catra!! Im sorry your having so much pain though. Both my SIL's had bad pain in there pelvis/stomach area during there first pregnancy's and there Dr said it was just from everything moving into place and stretching, and when they both got pregnant again last year the 1 had the same pain and went to the ER because she thought she was miscarrying again, but nope just everything going into place. I have 2 older brothers and somehow both my SIL's managed to get pregnant around the same time of each other both times. I have a 9 month old niece and a 3 month old nephew, I get to watch him everyday so its been pretty fun. And im sure your RSD isn't helping either, especially since our pain can be triggered by our hormones and yours are not normal right now and your body is now shifting and adapting for the little one your carrying. :hug:

Yep...this is why I think it's the RSD being flared up by the pregnancy. I have RSD in my whole torso, front and back, so it seems that all the moving and shifting and stretching would likely be the cause of the additional pain. Between that and just the changes going on inside (hormones and all)...I think it's kicking my RSD into overdrive.

Just a couple more days until I follow up with the OB...hoping for good news that everything looks great and is going well with the little one. I'm making up my list of questions and things I want to go over with her, including some of my concerns about the RSD.

Wanted to update...

Had my first prenatal appointment today...everything looks great with the little one! I'm feeling almost 100% back to where I was before the pains in my abdomen. The consensus is that it was an RSD flare up. We went over the plans for a dense blockade should I need a C-section (she suggested it before I even brought it up so that is comforting). Feeling very good about everything right now. Fingers crossed that things continue to go well for the next 7 months and beyond. :)

Congrats Catra!
 

We are so happy for your first baby,also remember be with rsd and pregnancy brings so many hormone changes and flare ups,make sure your ob gyn know and understand the condition 100% so they have the best approaches during the upcoming months!I only had one child she will be 21 this June,but sure is scary the first baby,also I'm glad the hospital staff treated you so well,that's definitely make your condition less uncomfortable,take all the care you need to be well and your little one too,don't be afraid,all new parents feel the same way,the different is you have rsd but that only requires more care which I'm sure dr and family will give you everyday,whenever you need to release your emotion we are all here,your child will have so many uncles/aunties ,we all be taking care of that emotional part for you,we all support each other after all that's the reason we are all here,be for each other so just let us know your concerns if we can help,have no doubts ,we all will carry you on,so don't worry and enjoy this days,might sound easy to say but a baby is always a joy and a blessing to have,God have bless you and he knows you will be the best mom,please try to enjoy and treasure those memories,later on your child will enjoy listen your stories about how you were so happy about him/her coming to your life,keep fighting now you have one more reason to keep going on,rsd will never stop your happy days,smile and enjoy as much as you can,blessings :grouphug: from Jesika /eevo

Just have to chime in!!! Congratulations!!! :).
No ER trip has ever been a good one for me.. but to have the twos of yous okay right now is worthy of celebration!!

Hope you get your extra plenty of rest and be good you two! :hug: :circlelove:

Hana

Glad everything went well at your appointment today catra and that you are feeling better :)

Nanc
:hug:

Congratulations, so happy for you glad to hear you are feeling better. Please let me know if I can help in any way

Congrats on the pregnancy, Catra !

I'm glad to her that the new severe pain/?rsd flare seems to be behind you. I'd love to hear that you have one of the famous pregnancy remission stories to tell us next :winky:

I would love to be able to tell one of those stories too! ;)

I honestly get frustrated sometimes by the lack of info out there when it comes to things like that and if I experience remission...or even if I don't...I want to document the whole thing as much as I can to try and help others.

So far no remission or anything like that...but I haven't really experienced a worsening of symptoms either (a good sign right) with the exception that the pain in my torso has increased from what it was prior to the pregnancy (but loads better than it was when I went to the ER). My stomach is already getting large so I'm assuming that increased pain and burning has a lot to do with just the fact that things are moving, stretching, and shifting. Clothes are also tighter and more form fitting in the tummy area...which is sensitive to touch so the increased burning pain makes sense with that too.

I will do my best to keep everyone posted and am keeping a journal of my experience in the hopes that at least some of the information will be helpful to someone else down the line you has RSD/CRPS.

Was just thinking of you. Hoping everything is still going well with your pregnancy.

:D

So far so good...except that I am HUGE already and I am just 12 weeks along today...I've been in maternity clothes for 2 weeks already and unless I wear VERY loose tops I definitely look pregnant. I am actually going for my 12 week ultrasound and a test today in a couple of hours.

I've been looking forward to this for a couple of weeks because my boyfriend doesn't want to announce anything until after 12 weeks once we know that everything is going well. I miscarried last year very early and he keeps thinking about that and doesn't want to announce anything just in case. Me? I want to shout from the rooftops because I am SO excited and happy...but I'm honoring his request to wait on announcing anything. That said...I am visiting my parents on May 24th and I have a cute announcement plan for them.

I will post back after my appointment today. Thanks for thinking of me. :)

Everything was perfect with the little one at my ultrasound today. I'm right on track with everything...baby was VERY active...heart rate was strong...spinal fluid was good...nothing at all to worry about. They drew some blood and those results won't be back until next week...but so far everything looks great.

:hug:I'm sorry for your discomfort...and happy for you and your little one being okay. Drink lots of fluids, eat good and healthy food and relax.:) Congrats!

Have you told anyone but us?? My sister told me after she took home tests...she couldn't wait

:yahoo:
Great news!!

Catra, so happy for you! Its time to start a new thread with a happier title !!!:-)

Last night I finally got to tell some family...my cousin and my aunt who live nearby (my parents and brother live in another state...I will tell them a week from today when I visit in person). They are VERY excited and happy for me. I plan on telling people at work now too...which will be fun I think because I work with a good group of people. It's been so hard waiting...

Agreed...my next update I will start a new thread with a happy title. :)

Very Happy for you!!

Congratulations Catra! :)

Catra, Brave one Congratulations! A Pregnant Woman is a Miracle on two feet.. One with CRPS? A Double, Triple oh heck as many times a miracle as our pain can go too..(and that's high!) Sincerest best wishes and hopes for those pregnancy hormones to give you a remission through and way way beyond your child's birth. All that being said I also hope your CRPS is a limited non spreading type. Also soonest you should ask your OB/GYN what possible effects your CRPS meds may have and get him to work with your Pain Dr to find the best mix that will help you out but have no effect on your baby...
PS Double check anything they work out with your Pharmacist as they have more immediate experience with drug interactions

Best of Luck Hun and get that Boyfriend of yours to install grab handles around that tub so you can get the relief from the tub without having to worry about either falling or turning into a prune! *LOL*

Thanks so much! Since my miscarriage last year I have actually been off ALL meds (and I was off most of them before that...was only using clonidine patches at the time). I still use a TENS for pain, tDCS, and hot baths. Other than having to swap the hot baths for slightly warm baths...all of that has gotten the all clear from my docs for continued use.

Unfortunately...my CRPS has spread to ALMOST full body...but stopped short sparing my head above the neck (my neck is affected) and my right leg...and I don't have it internally either thank goodness. I am worried about the risks of a C-section...but whatever comes I will deal with it. I have already discussed the need for a dense blockade if it comes to that.

I haven't experienced remission...but I am generally feeling pretty good these days. I still get flares and am subject to the same triggers as always...but I think I'm just hopped up on happiness and joy right now to the point where I feel great aside from the pain. And when you're happy to the point of distraction it even distracts from the pain...so that's a bonus. I just have to be careful not to let myself get careless just because I am feeling good...I am often guilty of that and have caused some flare ups in the past few weeks because I got careless.

I know there are a lot of things that I have to work out...especially when it comes to caring for the baby...but I am game for the challenge. One thing that can be said for me...I am stubborn about not letting this CRPS monster hold me back from living my life. My stubbornness got me out of the wheelchair, got me back to work full time, and it will get me through this. :)

You are truly inspiring! One day thus baby will now how much you risked and dealt with to get him/her here.

I personally have no desire to have kids(some people find that strange). I have an 8 year old nephew I love very much and that is enough for me! I am always so happy when people who really want children are able to have them!

I'm glad you got to share the news with some people now!

I just found out a friend who has been trying for years is 18 weeks pregnant with twins!

That's exciting! Congrats to your friend!

I didn't really think I wanted kids either...until we had an "oops" pregnancy while I was taking birth control last year. I ended up miscarrying very early (around 7-8 weeks)...it was a heartbreaking experience and even in the short time before the miscarriage I completely fell in love with the idea of being a mom. It was really hard to see all these people at work and just around out and about who were pregnant...and it was hard even seeing my boyfriend's nieces and nephew without thinking about how much I now wanted to be a mom now.

I'm so very happy and excited about this pregnancy and how well things are going so far. I don't kid myself and think it's going to be easy...I know it will be VERY hard taking care of a little one with all my own health issues...but we will make it through. This little one will be very loved...and that's the most important thing.

So very happy for you Catra!!! :hug: