My G.I. said we wouldn't be able to conceive...
We did.
He said that I wouldn't be strong enough to carry her full term...
Bug was born via Cesarean Section at 39 weeks and 2 days.
He said that there would be deformities, developmental problems, low birth weight...
She was 8 lbs 1 oz of pure perfection.
No deformities, no developmental delays to date, none of the problems my G.I. had told us would happen.
As we prepare to celebrate her first birthday, I thank all the forces in the universe for her. She is extremely verbal - DaDa, BaBa, MaMa, Kitty, as well as an assortment of other grunts and coos. She loves to sit and be read to. She loves to "read" the books to you as well. She also displays super strength - she's powerful as my mother says. And she loves people. Laughing, smiling, and playing with anyone who is willing to laugh, smile and play with her. I have yet to meet anyone who hasn't fallen in love with her immediately!
She is 95th percentile for height and 50th percentile for weight - which I am sure will only go up with the way she eats!
So to the women out there who were told You Can't, You Won't, You Shouldn't...
It never hurts to get a second, or third, or fourth, or in our case fifth opinion.
My Miracle Bug
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
The Pregnancy
My OBGYN would later call our daughter - a true miracle.
We saw my OBGYN at least once a week during the first trimester. Ultrasounds almost every week. But our little Bug, my daughter's nickname, was growing and developing normally. Although monitored carefully by my doctor, things relaxed through the second and third trimesters. She recommended a C-Section.
I had stopped my meds - Cold turkey - the morning I saw those red lines.
How could I knowingly put poison into my body everyday, while simultaneously removing caffeine, hair dye, lunch meats, hot dogs, and a plethora of other things from my life?
Dr. G. was pissed. But as we walked out of his office just eight weeks into the pregnancy, his nurse said to us "It's the first of many difficult decisions you will need to make as parents."
She was worth it.
We saw my OBGYN at least once a week during the first trimester. Ultrasounds almost every week. But our little Bug, my daughter's nickname, was growing and developing normally. Although monitored carefully by my doctor, things relaxed through the second and third trimesters. She recommended a C-Section.
I had stopped my meds - Cold turkey - the morning I saw those red lines.
How could I knowingly put poison into my body everyday, while simultaneously removing caffeine, hair dye, lunch meats, hot dogs, and a plethora of other things from my life?
Dr. G. was pissed. But as we walked out of his office just eight weeks into the pregnancy, his nurse said to us "It's the first of many difficult decisions you will need to make as parents."
She was worth it.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Two Little Red Lines
5am
Saturday morning
October 2, 2010
Two Little Red Lines
I cried happily in the bathroom and ran back to bed to wake up and share the news with my husband
He began to dry-heave
Despite all the odds against us, we were going to have a baby!
Saturday morning
October 2, 2010
Two Little Red Lines
I cried happily in the bathroom and ran back to bed to wake up and share the news with my husband
He began to dry-heave
Despite all the odds against us, we were going to have a baby!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Healthy Babies
Surprisingly this "last ditch effort" of 6mp, Asacol, and prednisone was working. My colitis was in remission. I had been without a flare for over 6 months.
It was just some random Tuesday, my yearly visit to my gynecologist, when she asked if my husband and I were planning on starting a family. I smiled and said "No." She must have forgotten I had colitis. Then she said ten words that would change my life.
We've had women with colitis give birth to healthy babies.
I nearly exploded with questions - the meds? The side effects? Everything I had been told in the past - by four different G.I.s - was that all a lie?
She set me up with an MFM (Maternal Fetal Medicine) doctor and started me on prenatals and folic acid - nearly ten times the recommended dosage. She said that would help ensure a healthy baby.
The MFM confirmed what my OBGYN had said. Together he and I began to plan my pregnancy.
It was just some random Tuesday, my yearly visit to my gynecologist, when she asked if my husband and I were planning on starting a family. I smiled and said "No." She must have forgotten I had colitis. Then she said ten words that would change my life.
We've had women with colitis give birth to healthy babies.
I nearly exploded with questions - the meds? The side effects? Everything I had been told in the past - by four different G.I.s - was that all a lie?
She set me up with an MFM (Maternal Fetal Medicine) doctor and started me on prenatals and folic acid - nearly ten times the recommended dosage. She said that would help ensure a healthy baby.
The MFM confirmed what my OBGYN had said. Together he and I began to plan my pregnancy.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
You Cannot Get Pregnant
Dr. G - yes that is my fourth G.I. for those of you counting - came highly recommended.
After some more colonoscopies, he decided we would go back to the immunosuppressants, Asacol, & prednisone.
We discussed this course of treatment in the presence of my husband. It was the first time he had ever been present for this. The doctor explained the dangers of 6-Mercaptopurine. I was familar with these warnings and the blood tests that would be conducted bi-weekly.
You cannot get pregnant.
I had already discussed this with my husband. I had been told this by doctors several times throughout my life. I felt this type of information he deserved to be aware of before we got married. At the time, it didn't matter to him. He didn't want to have children anyways, or so he said.
But it was a quiet ride home. We were traveling 45 minutes each way to see Dr. G. Finally I asked him what was bothering him. He mumbled something about babies. And I cried.
Hearing the doctor say it made it real to him. Me? I had been crying every time I saw a school bus for the last four years.
After some more colonoscopies, he decided we would go back to the immunosuppressants, Asacol, & prednisone.
We discussed this course of treatment in the presence of my husband. It was the first time he had ever been present for this. The doctor explained the dangers of 6-Mercaptopurine. I was familar with these warnings and the blood tests that would be conducted bi-weekly.
You cannot get pregnant.
I had already discussed this with my husband. I had been told this by doctors several times throughout my life. I felt this type of information he deserved to be aware of before we got married. At the time, it didn't matter to him. He didn't want to have children anyways, or so he said.
But it was a quiet ride home. We were traveling 45 minutes each way to see Dr. G. Finally I asked him what was bothering him. He mumbled something about babies. And I cried.
Hearing the doctor say it made it real to him. Me? I had been crying every time I saw a school bus for the last four years.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Running
Dr. Z said let's try something a little different. I had responded so well to the Remicade, why not stay with that type of treatment. He taught me how to give myself injections of Humira.
Everything was great for about nine months.
But the colitis came back again.
Dr. Z. told me that we had exhausted our options. It was time to remove the large intestine. He explained the series of surgeries I would need to undergo, the potential risks, everything I needed to know. I was 26 years old.
I left his office and never went back.
I found a new G.I. gave him a brief history and started from scratch.
Everything was great for about nine months.
But the colitis came back again.
Dr. Z. told me that we had exhausted our options. It was time to remove the large intestine. He explained the series of surgeries I would need to undergo, the potential risks, everything I needed to know. I was 26 years old.
I left his office and never went back.
I found a new G.I. gave him a brief history and started from scratch.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Remicade
After 3 years of prednisone Dr. Z gave up and said we should try this new medicine - Remicade. It wasn't new to medicine, Rheumatoid Arthritis suffers had been using it for a few years. They had just recently started experimenting with UC patients and it looked promising.
Sure. What did I have to lose?
It worked wonders after just one infusion. Never felt better in my life. Again. Colitis gone.
Sure I had to go to the hospital every 6 weeks or so, get hooked up to an IV, and sit there for 3 hours. But it was worth it. I fell in love with my Remicade.
I even ran a marathon - that is how good I was feeling. And I didn't even have an accident doing it. That is a bigger accomplishment than the race itself.
Then the joint pain started. Lime Disease? Lupus? Nothing made sense to my primary care physician.
I figured it out before he did. During one of my infusions, I started itching. I was having an allergic reaction to my precious Remicade after nine months of glorious living. Problem was - I'm not allergic to anything else so I didn't know I was having an allergic reaction. Suddenly everything was itchy - including my throat. I was having trouble getting air in. I started coughing to try to get some oxygen into me.
Ya I'm an idiot.
Luckily one of the nurses saw what was going on, switched me to saline, injected a bunch of Benadryl into the IV and everything got immediately better. She called Dr. Z. and that was the end of my friendship with Remicade.
Sure. What did I have to lose?
It worked wonders after just one infusion. Never felt better in my life. Again. Colitis gone.
Sure I had to go to the hospital every 6 weeks or so, get hooked up to an IV, and sit there for 3 hours. But it was worth it. I fell in love with my Remicade.
I even ran a marathon - that is how good I was feeling. And I didn't even have an accident doing it. That is a bigger accomplishment than the race itself.
Then the joint pain started. Lime Disease? Lupus? Nothing made sense to my primary care physician.
I figured it out before he did. During one of my infusions, I started itching. I was having an allergic reaction to my precious Remicade after nine months of glorious living. Problem was - I'm not allergic to anything else so I didn't know I was having an allergic reaction. Suddenly everything was itchy - including my throat. I was having trouble getting air in. I started coughing to try to get some oxygen into me.
Ya I'm an idiot.
Luckily one of the nurses saw what was going on, switched me to saline, injected a bunch of Benadryl into the IV and everything got immediately better. She called Dr. Z. and that was the end of my friendship with Remicade.
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