Hello again! So I decided that knowledge really can be power and went on the hunt for what lies ahead on my path in life, mainly the c-section. I've always heard stories of how other women tend to prefer c-sections over vaginal births supposedly because it's not as painful and there's supposed to be a quicker recovery. So I hadn't really been bugged when I was told that I was going to undergo a c-section due to my vasa previa.
However, here recently, curiosity got the better of me and I looked up what different medical sites were saying about everything involved in a c-section. OMG! It was enlightening to say the least. I did start to feel a bit more nervous about it which is never a good thing. How could a third or more women in the United States prefer to undergo major abdominal surgery with a recovery time of anywhere between 4 to 8 weeks depending on the individual and where you're doing your research at? This just did not make sense to me. I say this keeping in mind that I inadvertently gave birth the first time around pretty much naturally (no epidural/spinal tap and only enough pain medication to take the edge off until after the birth itself).
I posted that question as a status update shortly thereafter. One of my cousins was the only one to really respond with a bit of a warning about not laughing and heaven help me if I sneezed (or something to that effect) in the first few weeks of recovery because the pain/sensation was a very unique experience. SO not helping me at that point. Gratefully, I have a dear friend, ex-classmate and co-worker that just gave birth to a lovely daughter by c-section who was generous enough to share her experience with me and give a couple of pointers on how to deal with this surgery. Some of what she has said contradicts what I've read in a few places. However, I trust first hand experience(s) over something I read somewhere most times.
So for now I'm back to waiting for the results from my glucose test today, my specialist appointment on Tuesday and maybe a word from my boss about next school year. There are a few things I would like to try to do before I'm hospitalized for this ordeal, but other than that I look forward to enjoying time with friends and family while traveling down Life's Path.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Far out frustration
Admittedly I am better now than earlier in the day. I should have really recognized it for what it was though.
FRUSTRATION!!!!
As those closest to me undoubtedly know, I have a touch of OCD that rears its ugly head every so often. Combine that with the nesting instinct of many pregnant ladies and you can get a lot accomplished normally. However, because of my Vasa Previa I am not allowed to do any exercise or heavy lifting which puts a damper on the OCD/nesting issue from above. It's almost as bad as teasing a hungry animal.
Like I said in the beginning though, I am better now. I took time out to watch a DVD with my family, crochet a little, have a bit of dinner and am now enjoying some quiet time with my husband after putting my little guy to sleep for the night. I did manage to get some laundry done and we made a store run today to restock the house a bit. I just seem to be having a hard time of not thinking about what lies ahead this summer, doing what I can and enjoying where I am at right now.
I started remembering last summer saying how I wasn't wanting to do much of anything because I was really tired after 2 summers of classes followed right after with travel leaving me with really only a couple of "quiet weeks" before starting the next school year. This year I'm getting down time whether I like it or not. Unfortunately this is because of my condition and it means I will be spending the bulk of my summer in the hospital. Of course this is why I started this blog in the first place. I warned you in the first post that I would probably be complaining a fair amount. Sorry about that. However I have discovered that it is healthier to vent than to bottle things up.
So I am trying to enjoy things at home for the time being. My mom and older brother are supposed to come visit tomorrow to help sort through somethings to make room before baby gets here this summer. I think we're going to try to cook up hamburgers too while they're here. I do have my glucose test later this week and I meet with our specialist again a week from Tuesday to decide when they want me to check in to the hospital. In the meantime, here's to trying to be in the moment and enjoying it. Thanks for "listening" to my gripes and any support through this branch of my Life's Path!
FRUSTRATION!!!!
As those closest to me undoubtedly know, I have a touch of OCD that rears its ugly head every so often. Combine that with the nesting instinct of many pregnant ladies and you can get a lot accomplished normally. However, because of my Vasa Previa I am not allowed to do any exercise or heavy lifting which puts a damper on the OCD/nesting issue from above. It's almost as bad as teasing a hungry animal.
Like I said in the beginning though, I am better now. I took time out to watch a DVD with my family, crochet a little, have a bit of dinner and am now enjoying some quiet time with my husband after putting my little guy to sleep for the night. I did manage to get some laundry done and we made a store run today to restock the house a bit. I just seem to be having a hard time of not thinking about what lies ahead this summer, doing what I can and enjoying where I am at right now.
I started remembering last summer saying how I wasn't wanting to do much of anything because I was really tired after 2 summers of classes followed right after with travel leaving me with really only a couple of "quiet weeks" before starting the next school year. This year I'm getting down time whether I like it or not. Unfortunately this is because of my condition and it means I will be spending the bulk of my summer in the hospital. Of course this is why I started this blog in the first place. I warned you in the first post that I would probably be complaining a fair amount. Sorry about that. However I have discovered that it is healthier to vent than to bottle things up.
So I am trying to enjoy things at home for the time being. My mom and older brother are supposed to come visit tomorrow to help sort through somethings to make room before baby gets here this summer. I think we're going to try to cook up hamburgers too while they're here. I do have my glucose test later this week and I meet with our specialist again a week from Tuesday to decide when they want me to check in to the hospital. In the meantime, here's to trying to be in the moment and enjoying it. Thanks for "listening" to my gripes and any support through this branch of my Life's Path!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Hanging in mid-air or enjoying the scenery?
I probably shouldn't be starting a blog late at night like this, but I'm going to anyway.
It has been a roller coaster year this year for many reasons. Right now I face not only the end of the year with an uncertainty of what school(s) I might work at next year, but I am also facing a bit of uncertainty about the arrival of our next child. Those closest to me, including some of those I work with, have been very supportive this year after I was diagnosed with vasa previa. If you don't know what that is, and most probably won't, this is a condition where blood cells from the umbilical cord have attached themselves to the cervix preventing a natural birth for my child and potentially being lethal to the unborn. It is a rare enough condition that a proper study has not been done since this condition, unfortunately, is usually only discovered after there has been a miscarriage or a stillbirth. I am fortunate that I had a very skilled sonographer for our sonogram this last March who saw the potential signs of this condition and pointed out to our OB who recommended us to a specialist to confirm this diagnosis.
Thanks to my family, friends, and co-workers, I've made it so far without suffering any real complications. All though it has been interesting being told to not exercise when my job as a music teacher on a cart seems to be as full of exercise as if I were teaching say...physical education. ;-) I have dialed back some and now I am looking at the last phase of things where I will be "enjoying" an extended stay in the hospital until the arrival of our newest family member this July (if not sooner).
This then is the reason behind starting this blog. It will be a place to keep family, friends and others up to date on what's happening as well as providing me a place to vent in my moments of frustration. Those who know me well know this may happen more frequently than I'd like since I am not one to just sit anywhere for any length of time. So please join me on this next leg of my life's path and see let's see where it takes us!
It has been a roller coaster year this year for many reasons. Right now I face not only the end of the year with an uncertainty of what school(s) I might work at next year, but I am also facing a bit of uncertainty about the arrival of our next child. Those closest to me, including some of those I work with, have been very supportive this year after I was diagnosed with vasa previa. If you don't know what that is, and most probably won't, this is a condition where blood cells from the umbilical cord have attached themselves to the cervix preventing a natural birth for my child and potentially being lethal to the unborn. It is a rare enough condition that a proper study has not been done since this condition, unfortunately, is usually only discovered after there has been a miscarriage or a stillbirth. I am fortunate that I had a very skilled sonographer for our sonogram this last March who saw the potential signs of this condition and pointed out to our OB who recommended us to a specialist to confirm this diagnosis.
Thanks to my family, friends, and co-workers, I've made it so far without suffering any real complications. All though it has been interesting being told to not exercise when my job as a music teacher on a cart seems to be as full of exercise as if I were teaching say...physical education. ;-) I have dialed back some and now I am looking at the last phase of things where I will be "enjoying" an extended stay in the hospital until the arrival of our newest family member this July (if not sooner).
This then is the reason behind starting this blog. It will be a place to keep family, friends and others up to date on what's happening as well as providing me a place to vent in my moments of frustration. Those who know me well know this may happen more frequently than I'd like since I am not one to just sit anywhere for any length of time. So please join me on this next leg of my life's path and see let's see where it takes us!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)