Tuesday night (3/9) around 10 pm I woke up with horrible right side pain. I tried to get comfortable, reposition, walk it off...but nothing was making it go away. I finally called my Dr. and she told me to go the ER. So we showed up at the ER around midnight and they took me up to labor and delivery (scary!). They did some lab work and everything was coming back normal. They gave me IV fluids and some Tylenol (I was still refusing pain medicine at this time). They kept me overnight and sent me down to my OB's office first thing in the morning for a sonogram. The sonogram showed hydronephrosis of my right kidney, which apparently can happen during pregnancy. They said it was just the position of my uterus constricting my ureter causing increased pressure and fluid in my kidney. They sent me home with pain meds and the hope that the baby would "move" in a couple of days or weeks! RIGHT! I tried to tough it out Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I was bedridden, only able to lay on my left side, taking minimal pain medicine because I didn't want to hurt the baby. I couldn't eat or drink and by Friday afternoon, I couldn't take it anymore! I called my doctor and told her I was going back to the hospital.
We got to the hospital around 4. They hooked me up to the monitors and saw that I was having contractions! I was starting to dilate and the baby was very low. The nurse so kindly told me "your baby is lower than the lady's next door that I am inducing". NOT what you want to hear at 26 weeks. I kindly told her "PUSH HER BACK UP THERE...IT'S TOO EARLY!" They gave me a shot to stop the contractions. I was severely dehydrated and in a lot of pain which was causing the contractions. The shot they gave me made my heart race and feel terrible! They did a renal ultrasound and confirmed the hydronephrosis. They finally gave me pain medicine (Demerol) to which I had an allergic reaction. My arm swelled up and I had hives and red lines running up my veins...very scary! My blood pressure was 80/40! Once they got me settled down a little bit they transferred me to antepartum. They put me on a morphine pump and gave me some medicine to help me sleep and continued to monitor for contractions and watch the baby.
Here is a picture of me Friday night. I didn't leave this position for over a week except to waddle to the bathroom.
Saturday morning I started peeing sand and gravel...NICE! I still had NO appetite but was getting IV fluids. Chance and my mom were the best nurses ever assisting me with my constant bathroom trips and repositioning. And the "real" nurses on that unit were phenomenal. Caryl, my favorite nurse, hand quilts baby booties. They are so cute. I got to do some shopping while I was in the hospital...never miss an opportunity!
Here is a picture of me and Caryl. She was so compassionate especially when I was in pain.
I saw the Urologist that morning and we agreed to "watch it" over night and see how I was feeling the next day. I had some visitors Saturday, my dad, Karen and Sarah, Jessi and Ryan and two girls from work stopped by. I wasn't very good company, but enjoyed the visits nonetheless! Saturday night I started having contractions again so they gave me another shot to stop them.
Sunday morning the Urologist came back and told me he wanted to do an IVP "an x-ray procedure" to see what was going on with my kidneys. We were very reluctant because we didn't want any radiation to the baby. EVERYONE reassured me (even Pat who called her friend who is a retired OB/GYN) that it was very low radiation and wouldn't hurt the baby. I did the IVP (with contrast) and they got a good shot of my kidneys.
L.A. was my radiology tech and he was wonderful. Here is a picture with him.
The Urologist said he wasn't in a hurry to rush in and put a stent. There were no signs of blockage or obstruction, but there was a "kink" in my right ureter. Again, we were just going to "watch it" and see how I did. Sunday and Monday were spent trying to get my bowels back in order! Pain medicine and bed rest can really do a number on you! I had some more visitors on Monday, my dad, a couple friends from work and Kourtny. My mom went home after we saw the doctors and decided we weren't going to do anything for the time being.
Tuesday was better. I was starting to eat a little more and was able to spend some time out of bed walking and sitting up. I hadn't used the morphine since Sunday night and my pain was somewhat controlled with oral medicine. They took me off the IV fluids with strict orders to "push the fluids". Chance made sure of that! I hadn't had any contractions since Saturday night so we decided to venture home on Wednesday. Happy St. Patty's Day ! My dad, Karen and Sarah stopped by to see me off!
Here is a pic of me with my favorite nurse before I went home!
Each day since I have been home have been a little better. The pain comes less often and is less severe. I am eating a lot better and able to move around a little. Karen and Sarah kept me company Thursday afternoon while Chance went back to work. I went back to my doctor on Friday. She told me the radiology report did show a "calcification in my right kidney". I haven't seen the evidence of a stone yet, so I am hoping to pass it soon. I am going to see another Urologist early next week. I am taking minimal pain medicine and getting a little more sleep so things are looking up. Our neighbors brought us dinner last night and I actually had an appetite!
Ashlyn was a fighter through all of this! Every time they would hook her up to the monitor she would go nuts and move around like crazy. The nurse said that is a sign of a very healthy baby! Her heart rate was consistent between 130 and 150 and she was very active. She is still very low and I keep inviting her to move on up or "go play on the other side of the playground" as my dad said!
Thanks to everyone for all of the prayers, calls, cards, texts, visits and thoughts! We appreciate all of you and couldn't have made it through this scary and trying time without our family and friends! We love you very much! Hopefully next month won't be such a long post!
Here is my 6 month picture. Ashlyn is still growing and measuring a week ahead of schedule despite me losing 4 pounds! This was my first outing in almost 2 weeks (except to the hospital and doctor's office)!
