Monday, August 17, 2009

Hoping and praying

Your posts and emails have been so so important to me in this last couple of days.
I'll say it immediately that we seem to have still some hope and I tell how it went over the weekend.

On friday I was so distressed I was sick. I didn't sleep much as you can imagine.

On saturday, I spent the day in bed dreading going to the loo but the bleeding seemed to have ease a bit. My mam booked a flight there and then from Italy (the 15th it's a holiday there!) and arrived by dinner time. In no time she had done the cooking and the ironing and didn't want me to leave the bed unless I had too. But night time I was only barely spotting old blood.

On sunday, I had hardly any bleeding, but the thing is that when that's happening it's heavy-ish, no clots or anything, but red or dark red. In the evening we went back to the hospital for the second blood test. The first bloodtest wasn't ready and was not going to be done until monday anyway. I met the same doctor that scanned me on friday. I told her I had no more bleeding but she said not to hold hope that she was not expecting the HCG to be increasing anyway. She was adamant I had miscarried. Thankfully a midwife was much more human and gave me a bit of hope as she said I woudln't be the first not have a visible sac at 5w1d with that old machine. That it was a good thing the bleeding had eased and that I had no cramps.

This morning we set off for the clinic, my Favourite Doctor wanted me to tell her again what happened and she was so sorry I had a worrying weekend. Again she said that bleeding is very normal and for what she was hearing from me I didn't bleed much at all (well...ok then, but it looked a lot to me!) that some women may have a full-on period. She scanned me and she said it was still very early to see much but that my lining was perfect and look look here...see? there is a small gestational sac! That's all we can hope to see at the moment. She took my blood as well for more HCG testing in the same lab and she said to let her know the results from the hospital and she would call me with their results.

So next we went back to hospital given that we were told to go back at 11 for a more accurate U/S at the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit. Well, we waited two hours, blood results weren't back and the doctor seemed to be of the opinion that the HCG would have told us much more than the scan (yeah...well, you are not exactly around the corner from where we live...why have we be told to come in then??). Eventually Mike argued that we were specifically told to come in for an U/S. She said "oh in that case, I'll gove you a quick one" And by God it was quick. She basically measured the lining, didn't say anything about a sac, told me it looked good but that the HCG would have told us more. And we were sent home. Honestly, like many of you, I can actually make out an U/S by myself right now and I couldn't figure out which way this one was oriented! So I could't look for the tiny black spot I had seen at the clinic.

Anyway, the waiting for the HCG was longer than normal, it should have been in by 1 pm which is when we left the hospital and they werent. I phoned at 2.30 and the nurse said she wasn't authorised to give the results over the phone (WTF??) but that she'll talk to a doctor to call back. Eventually at 3.40 pm they called. The phone call was in a quite alarmed tone, she said they wanted to see me again tomorrow morning at 9 am, I said I was there today, how about they took me seriously then? She kind of pretended not to hear and it took ages for me to convince her to give me the damn values. It turnes out that the value on friday was 2143 which grew quite stedily from 637 only 3 days before. But then the bad news was that on sunday the value was only 2628... so didn't drop like the doctor expected and now the panic for an ectopic was REAL... My heart sunk of course, I said I didn't want to go back there that I didn't think I had been looked after properly and dismissed on friday with "You have miscarried, sorry about that, come back to CONFIRM this on sunday". She insisted that it was very important, that it was now SERIOUS and to go back tomorrow. I hung up and called the clinic straight away. Spoke with my Favourite Doctor and she was all cheerful, the results were back and high at 4004! WTF is going on?? Alright different labs can have different readings, but this much?? Never hear it before and I WORK IN A LAB!! From 637 to 4004 in 6 days is perfect growth for a singleton (of course I plotted it immediately) I asked her if I had maybe lost a twin over the weekend and this explains the discrepancies? She is actually more keen to believe that blood samples left hanging around for days and checked for unstable hormones such as HCG whenever suits rather than when it's needed is a crime and makes those values (BOTH!) unrelaiable. In fact, if the one on friday was even a bit lower like 1500 still would fit perfectly, than the one last night is just a mistery. It cannot possibly have gone from 2628 to 4004 in just 12 hours! Anyway, she said I'll see you next week for a scan.

So here I am now, baffled with the news. Mam is so angry at the doctor at the hospital who plainly said we were doomed with such a light heart when obviously, at least for now, we aren't. I don't think I'll go in tomorrow, I was there today, it won't change much I'd say, and all that poking around simply brings more bleeding which I'd like to avoid, thanks. Last time with the ectopic I didn't even get to 4000 and I was in theatre with serious pain. I just want to believe that for now I'm pregnant. I may call the hospital with my latest bloodwork to let them know, but I haven't decided that yet.
Once again, I'm sure all your prayers and thoughts helped a lot, and for this I'll never thank you enough.

22 comments:

Tina said...

Fran, what a terrible weekend you had. I am so sorry that the doctors and nurses were so dismissive of your concerns especially with your previous ectopic. It sounds as though you just had the worst set of health professionals, but thankfully your favorite doctor was able to clear up everything.

I will be praying and hoping for you that everything is okay with your little one.

PS Moms are the best!!!! Mine was the one that mentioned ectopic before anyone else did as she was driving at breakneck speed to meet us at the hospital!

C said...

Hugs and continued prayers

Unknown said...

Sounds like an incredibly stressful few days but am delighted to hear things are looking up. You're in my prayers honey and im really hoping you get confirmation all is as it should be soon. Thinking of you - scraps.

BB said...

Yikes... that is so stresful! However, I am glad that you did see the sac and your HCG has risen! It is so rough to go through this! All my fingers and toes are crossed for you... you are in my prayers!

Lisa said...

Ohhh that sounds good! I, for one, would dismiss that hospital staff and their results, they sound like they don't know up from down. What jerks! Your doc at the clinic wouldn't be waiting until next week for a scan if she was concerned. I will continue to pray for you. Seeing a sac is excellent, I'm sure she would have said had it been in the tube again.

Clare said...

Whoa - i think i missed your last post... you were told you miscarried? And then you were told you hadn't? Oh Fran I am so sorry for all this worrying and heartache you've been put through... but so so happy you are pregnant and that you've seen the gestational sac - that must mean it cant be ectopic right? And so so happy your mummy is there for you, what a wonderful mum!! Hugs!!

Michele said...

This sounds like very good news! I would stay with the clinic and screw the hospital. They sound like they dont have a clue!

I am so glad that things seem good!

Flower said...

Thank you God. I am still praying that things continue to grow and next week you will be able to see your little miracle. Your beta is awesome. yahoo for seeing the sac. we will get through this. i just know it.

just me, dawn said...

sending you hugs and prayers!!

Mad Hatter said...

I have just 3 things to say, love:

1) Your Favourite Doctor is a goddess and she is the only one you should listen to because your baby is doing GREAT.

2) The hospital is full of idiots and I forbid you to go back there for even a sore throat.

3) You did not deserve to go through such needless misery and I hope you can take some time to bask in your Italian Mama's love and cooking and put this behind you.

XOXOXOXOX
MH

Baby Smiling In Back Seat said...

That is fantastic news! Fingers crossed for continued growth and a heartbeat next week.

A year from now, if/when you have your healthy baby (thinking optimistically for you), I think you should teach your baby to make an obscene hand gesture then go back to see that awful doctor. You can tell her how wrong she was and then the baby can express what we're all feeling toward her.

Best When Used By said...

I was positively dying to know how your day went and I tried to sneak a peek at your blog while I was at work today...but they block the computers from being able to access blogs and so I had no luck and had to wait, finally, until now.

I am with Mad Hatter - you should not go back to the hospital for a cut on your finger, a sore throat, and definitely not something as important as your baby! They were absolutely awful to you! Can you use a different hospital?

Well, you know what ectopic pain feels like and at the slightest pinge, you will go rushing to the hospital. Until then, believe in your goddess favorite doctor at the Clinic and follow her instructions.

I think the baby is fine and when you go back in a week, you will at last see the heartbeat and have some comfort. You had such a terrible weekend and a crazy Monday! I wish I had been there to advocate for you!

Sending you lots of prayers and hugs.

Aunt Becky said...

What a horrible, awful roller coaster. I'm praying and sending you love.

Momasita said...

Fran, what a rollercoaster you've been on the last few days. You definitely do have hope. I love your Favourite Doctor, you're very lucky to have her on your side. I'm sorry it's been such a whirlwind of emotion, but try to hold onto the hope that's there! Hugs to you and your hubby.

areyoukiddingme said...

Wow - what a weekend. I hope that your doctor is right, and that all is well. I'll be saying some prayers for you.

Shinejil said...

Thank heavens! I hope you get some reassurance very soon and that you can rest a bit after all the stress.

niobe said...

Sending love and prayers.

Cathy said...

Even though it was hell getting to this point, I would say this is indeed wonderful news! Keeping you in my thoughts and looking forward to some more good news. Big hugs! Cathy

Petrucia said...

ph my goddess Fran, what an ordeal. How can people be so blunt to tell us something that may not be true?
Holding you in my thoughts. Holding out hope.
hang in there and best of luck.
hugs

elliej said...

Fran thinking of you; sorry for not posting sooner but I was away and only saw references to the recent events on the board you post on. HANG IN THERE. Things are definitely looking up. WHEN this is sorted, a long letter to the hospital at which you were seen invoking their grievance procedure may not go amiss. But that is for another time. Thinking of you xxx

Anonymous said...

Sjoe Fran, what a ride! But I'm hopeful that this is your miracle - it's going to happen. This is your time - take it easy and for now hold onto the fact that you are pregnant.

Praying for you.

xxx

Mad Hatter said...

Fran! Thank you for your comment on my blog! Okay, so my temp yesterday was 36.22 C and today it was 36.09 C....do you think it's high progesterone? If so, what does that mean and what should I do? And how are you doing today??? I hope all is well! XOXO