I'll start with the first part. I woke up at 1:00 a.m. Monday with bright pink spotting. I didn't burst into tears this time, I stayed calm and simply reminded myself that I was not cramping and that this should lighten up. I went back to bed calm as a cucumber, saying a few prayers that everything is okay with my little lemon. 4:00 a.m. the spotting turned brown. Bingo. It also lightened up in flow quite a bit. Since then, I've spotted brown every day. No cramping. Looks like I'm going to be one of those few women who have a "mini" period every 4-5 weeks during the entire pregnancy. Not too excited about that, but hey... I'll take it as long as baby is doing okay.
I went to the family doctor today because this "cold" has gotten out of control. After 10 days on Tylenol Cold and another 4 on Zyrtec, my body has decided to go into sickness overdrive. I woke up on Tuesday morning with a sore throat. I thought it was just allergies so I still went to work. By noon I was miserable... the left side of my head hates me. The nostril is runny, the neck is swollen, the ear hurts, the tonsil feels like it's about to explode, and the sinuses above and below the eye are swollen. I came home from work early and made a doctor's appt for this morning.
My first fear was H1N1, but I haven't had a fever. I went to the doctor with the notion that it has to be a sinus infection. He decided it would be a good idea to check for H1N1... I already knew what he was going to tell me... negative. But then he sits down and starts talking to me... "Half the time this test comes out negative when it's really positive." Okay, so what's your point? I don't have a fever. "It doesn't matter with H1N1, that's the thing about this virus." Oh goody, I'm so excited to know that I could have H1N1! He proceeds to turn me into a human science experiment, and basically tucks tail and runs because I'm pregnant. He tells me to start taking Tamiflu and if I rapidly feel better, we know it was H1N1... if not, then it's a sinus infection and the antibiotic will clear it up. But he wanted me to consult with my OB first.
Okay, thanks for taking my $20 co-pay and telling me to check with my OB on what to do. Really? Why did I even bother. So I checked with my OBs office... she told me to go ahead and take both at the same time. With me being pregnant, we can't take any chances. So here I am, pumping my body full of more medicines with no idea if I have H1N1 or a sinus infection. So this puts me at a cross road... do I bother getting the H1N1 vaccine? I've had the seasonal flu vaccine... but if this really is H1N1, why get the vaccine? I'm really quite upset that I don't have a real answer as to what the heck is wrong with me. I'm spotting, I'm sick with something either viral or bacterial, and I'm 14 weeks pregnant, terrified that something is going to happen to this baby with all this crap that has been going on the last two weeks.
I hope and pray that my immune system gets its butt in gear after this and stays healthy. I worry about giving the baby too much medicine... I worry about my sickness putting a damper in the baby's health... I don't know what to do or think at this point.
I thought the 2nd trimester was supposed to be the "honeymoon period" of pregnancy....
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Unless your ob thinks differently, I would still get the H1N1 vaccine. As a pregnant lady, you really shouldn't mess around with this thing. Also, as long as your pregnant, forget your family doctor. Always call the ob with problems. The family doctor isn't going to tell you anything your ob won't be able to answer plus she is going to be much more familar with drug safety and fetus development.
ReplyDeleteI think it would have been irresponsible of me to go into the OB's office and chance infecting all the other pregnant women. That is what a family doctor is for. I agree I need to keep in touch with the OB more, but even my OB's office tells us if we have been sick within 24 hours, to see a family doctor because we can't chance infecting the other pregnant women.
ReplyDeleteI would not get the H1N1 vaccine, personally- especially if I were pregnant. My SIL is a nurse and has told me it contains twice the mercury of most vaccines on the market, and she told me some other bad things about it in nurse speak that I didn't quite understand... I know lots of doctors and nurses are secretly less than enthusiastic about "having to" recommend it for young children and pregnant women. I would take my chances and keep doing what you're doing. In my opinion, Tamiflu is safer than the vaccine.
ReplyDeleteMandy, can these nurses prove that the "level of mercury" is high enough to hurt the baby versus coming in contact with H1N1? I think not. I think the benefits outweigh the potential scare with it. I too have spoken to health professionals and it's all in how you look at it. When you're pregnant, your primary focus is protecting that baby and when it has been proven that you and your baby can die from H1N1, but that NO babies are dying from the vaccine... I think I'll take my chances.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Tamiflu is not a vaccine, it cannot prevent me from coming down with H1N1 after I have taken it, unless of course I did have H1N1... but I didn't. If I did, I'd be feeling better today and I don't.
ReplyDeleteYikes - it's tough to have to make these decisions! I'm generally just a lurker, but I thought I would add my two cents this time. :-) My good friend is pregnant and had "flu like symptoms." They didn't test for H1N1 so she has no way of knowing whether or not she had it "for sure." However, her OB has said to still get the vaccine when she is able to since there is no certainty that it was H1N1 - it could have been a different strain.
ReplyDeleteBesides, it sounds as though you might have had a nasty sinus infection. Neither the flu or an infection are fun. :-( Best wishes with whatever you decide to do!
Whatever it is, I am praying that is STOPS.
ReplyDeletePlease remember that God is in control, and you are going to be fine.
I am hoping when you read this you are already feeling a little better :)
I am praying as well. I am sure everything will be fine. Thank God we are not in control, but He is. I hope you feel better!
ReplyDeleteJessi, I think you should still get the vaccine for H1N1. I work closely with the nurses that administer the vaccines daily, and it is HIGHLY recommended to pregnant women. They also recommend that you receive the vaccine unless you were specifically diagnosed with H1N1 through a laboratory test...better safe than sorry anyway. Also, about the mercury levels in the vaccine, this refers to the thimerosal preservative used the vaccine. There are only trace amounts of the preservative in the vaccine and some places even offer thimerosal-free vaccines. The level of thimerosal is not high enough to harm the baby. Hope this helps! I have seen TONS of pregnant ladies receive the vaccine with my own eyes! Love you and praying for you and baby lemon.
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit late, but I hope you are feeling.
ReplyDelete