Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Um, important things you should be told!

Glenn had a repeat nuclear stress test yesterday. Everything is fine!! Well, almost everything.

We use a hospital in NYC for his procedures. While he was in the test, I was in the lobby working. When I realized that he was much later than we thought he would be, I packed up my laptop and headed up to the cath lab. I inquired as to his status and the admitting nurse went to check. She came back and told me he was waiting and asked if I wanted to go back and wait with him. I said OK. Then, and thank goodness I was wearing something that made me look pregnant (because I often still don't look it at all) she asked me if I'm pregnant. When I said that I am, she told me that I can't be around him! Whhhaaattt???

I called his cardiologist and didn't get a straight answer out of him (who, by the way, knew I was pregnant). I called my OB and they didn't know how long we needed to apart, but, did say I couldn't be near him. Finally, I called my dad (my parents were our saviours yesterday!!), who, luckily, had just left work in the city and he came over so he could drive Glenn home. When Glenn was done with the test, he met with the doctor reviewing the results (not his doctor), who told him that, if he had known I was pregnant, he wouldn't have performed it!

He basically explained that, in 72 hours, 50% of the radiation will be out of his body. 72 hours after that, 50% of what remains will be out, and so on. He said that, to be safe, they would like to see 5 cycles of that happen before he can be in close contact with me, so, for the next two weeks, I can't be within 3 feet of my husband, which includes sleeping in the same bed!!

After the initial shock, I found the humor in this, but, now, I'm past that and I'm just furious!! What if this nurse didn't pick up on me being pregnant? How could his cardiologist order this test? How could the hospital perform it? Shouldn't there be an inquiry into whether the patient has a pregnant immediate family member as part of their standard questioning???

Now, there are definitely conflicting opinions on how much radiation he got and how long we really need to be apart. But, a cardiologist at one of the top NYC hospitals told us 2 weeks to be on the safe side, and well, we've come too far to risk not listening to him.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Anthems

OK, you know it's bad when your husband says "hey, you haven't posted on your blog in a long time"!!

I have no excuse. I sit down to write something and other things just creep up and I never get back here.

So, to update, all is good here! I passed my 3 hour glucose test, so, no gestational diabetes! I lost another 2 pounds, but, I think the tide is beginning to turn on that and I expect to be up a couple of pounds at next week's OB appointment. Speaking of next week, I officially enter the third trimester on Tuesday!!! Holy cow - how the heck did that happen???

Work is really, really busy, so I don't have time to write a lot. But, I've had this song going through my head for weeks now. I guess, for me, it's my little "pregnant after years of infertility hell" anthem, so, I thought I'd share it.

I Made it Through the Rain
Barry Manilow

We dreamers have our ways
Of facing rainy days
And somehow we survive

We keep the feelings warm
Protect them from the storm
Until our time arrives

Then one day the sun appears
And we come shining through those lonely years

I made it through the rain
I kept my world protected
I made it through the rain
I kept my point of view
I made it through the rain
And found myself respected
By the others who
Got rained on too
And made it through

When friends are hard to find
And life seems so unkind
Sometimes you feel so afraid

Just aim beyond the clouds
And rise above the crowds
And start your own parade

'Cause when I chased my fears away
That's when I knew that I could finally say

I made it through the rain
I kept my world protected
I made it through the rain
I kept my point of view
I made it through the rain
And found myself respected
By the others who
Got rained on too
And made it through

So, do you have an anthem for something that has happened or is happening in your life?