Pregnancy Update
 

Just wanted to give a little update on the pregnancy (in a thread with a less negative title than "Terrible Day") and how it is/isn't affecting my RSD.

Unfortunately...I haven't experienced a full remission or anything like it. I knew there was an outside shot of remission in pregnancy but I wasn't counting on it. If I am honest though...I'm sort of grateful that I haven't experienced a full remission. It took a long time for me to learn all the coping techniques and to learn to just get used to this level of pain. If it suddenly went away and then came back full forced after the pregnancy was over...I don't know if I could cope with that. I mean...I know I COULD...I just don't know how long it would take for me to regain the function and everything afterwards and I will NEED to be functional to take care of the baby. So I am looking at this as a positive thing.

I do have to admit though that on a day to day, moment to moment basis...I feel better than I have in a long time. I still get flare ups and the pain is always worse at the end of the day...but I just don't feel as bad as normal. Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones helping me out...or it could just be that I am so frigging happy and am distracted from the pain because I am always thinking about the baby...or a combination of both. But this is genuinely the best I have felt in years.

As for the pregnancy itself...it is going very well and very smoothly right now. At my 12 week ultrasound the baby was very active and moving around a lot. So far every test for problems has come back negative...and the baby is measuring exactly the size they are supposed to be. Me on the other hand...I'm HUGE already at 14 weeks. People seriously think I'm 5-6 months along because my belly has gotten so big already...but I'm happy about the big belly and proud of it. Makes everything feel so real and makes me even more excited. Sitting on the couch, rubbing my belly...best coping mechanism for the pain I've encountered yet because it just makes me so happy.

I will try to post updates about everything and any affects the pregnancy has on my RSD...mostly because I get so very frustrated at the very small amount of information out there about what it's like to be pregnant and have RSD. I know it will be different for everyone...and each pregnancy is different too...but SOME information is better than none, right?

Hope everyone is doing well. :hug:

Hey Catra! So happy that things are progressing so nicely for you and that you are doing so well. It is nice to hear some good news for a change. Thanks for the update!

Nanc
:hug:

Hi Catra, thanks for sharing. Yes, the info benifits us all collectively, and it is so wonderful to share in this joyful time with you! Thank you! Gentle hugs to you, dad and baby! :-) wishing you wellness ~Lottie

Thanks for sharing Catra. Your pregnancy should be a happy time.
It's a positive reminder for us on here to still do everything we can
to LIVE with this! :hug:

Catra ,thank you so much for letting us know how you are doing,we are sure happy for you and your baby, gosh,times fly fast, soon we all going to be uncles and aunties , we are definitely getting old. :D
A pregnancy should be a reason for happiness, sure we are also enjoying keep the subject focus on you and the baby as well, enjoy now as much as you can,later on you will be handful with all the baby care, sure many of us want to live close to you with a helping hand.
Blessings and gentle caring hugs to both of you,from Jesika . :grouphug:

Just made me smile... :)

Just keep going, keep doing what you are, and stay happy. Endorphins are nature's painkillers, so I'm not surprised all those happy feelings are having such a positive effect!

So glad for you. You deserve a break :hug:

Bram.

Catra, thanks for the update. I'm so happy for you! It is wonderful to see you getting on with your life and being happy, not letting CRPS/RSD stop you. :)

Had a really bad flare up yesterday...the worst one I have had in months. I was on the way to work and all of a sudden my hip started burning, then it went down into my thigh, then knee, etc until it ended at my ankle. The pain spread to my left hip back in December and this has definitely been the worst flare up I've had there yet. I think it was the vibrations in the car that did it...I also hit a couple of rough patches in the road. Because of my already large belly...the seat belt sits differently and right on that area. I was a mess and only lasted 4 hours at work before I had to leave...and I was not very productive those four hours. I spent several hours sitting on the floor in my office with the space heater aimed directly at my hip...which helped just enough that I could consider driving home...which I did. I hate when I have to leave work early or call off because of the pain...but this was a REALLY bad flare up...I cried the whole drive home.

Feeling a little better this morning but it will be a rough night at work. Hopefully the drive into work doesn't kill me...

Sorry Catra! Is mass transit an option.? Or carpool with someone else who could do the driving?

Unfortunately...no. It's about an hour drive on a good day...about half of that highway. I also have very irregular hours...so it's hard to try and arrange rides for things too. I'm going to look into seeing if there's some sort of pad I could get for the seatbelt that would make it easier on me.

I'm feeling a little better now but am glad for the day off tomorrow so I can just focus on rest and recovery.