The Yeast That Took Over the World
I hate this yeast. I hate it with every fiber of my being.
Yesterday, we went to my midwife to see about the raging boob yeast. “I’m not entirely sure that is yeast…” she said. See, she said that because I have taken it upon myself to wash the evil bumps with Dial soap. Yes, Dial soap. It’s no longer as bumpy, but it looks like someone took a cheese grater to it. I was, desperate, see? It had to go away, and Dial kills 99.9% of…well, everything. I figured, what the hell? Might kill of the yeast, too.
It didn’t. Just my skin. Now I’m not so bumpy but raw, ragged and itchy. I am an idiot.
She prescribed me a 3 month treatment of Diflucan. THREE MONTHS. Because, apparently, my yeast is evil.
Ben’s pediatrician prescribed him more Nystatin because the Miconazole was not working. If it doesn’t go away in yet another two weeks, he’s to go in and see them. However, after one treatment of Nystatin last night, he’s much less red and there are nearly no more bumps left. I think we’re finally in the home stretch with his demonic yeast.
Now, I’m going to go boil my nipples.
Filed under doctor appointment, rant, symptoms, tests | Comments (6)TEDDY
Have you heard of TEDDY? Not the bear, The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young. They came into our hospital room when been was just about a day old and asked us if we’d like to participate in the study. They’d take some of his cord blood and test it for the genetic markers that can possibly lead to type 1 diabetes. I was half dead and was willing to say yes to anyone as long as it would get them out of the room, so off went signed papers to have Ben’s cord blood tested for type 1 diabetes markers.
I really didn’t worry about it. As far as I knew, no one in my family every had type 1 diabetes. Type 2, yes but no type 1. I assumed we’d just hear back that everything was fine, nothing to worry about, go on with our lives, whatever.
So this week, when we received a letter in the mail from TEDDY that said, “Call us soon or we’ll call you”, I got a little worried. I called once and no one was in. I figured, “Eh, they’ll call us” so I didn’t leave a message. It kept bugging me. I called back today.
Apparently, Ben has the genetic markers for type 1 diabetes. While this doesn’t mean he’ll definitely get it, he has a 3x greater risk of developing it than the normal population (1:33 vs 1:300). After a long, horrifying shpeel on what type 1 diabetes is and what it does to the body, she asked us to be a part of the continuing TEDDY study. It would involve taking him in 4x a year to have is blood drawn and height & weight measured. We’d have to keep records of his food, illnesses, pets, stresses, etc. We’d have to send in a poo sample every month. At 9 months, they’d take a sample of our tap water. At 24 months, they’d clip his toenails and test them, they’ll also test for Celiac disease. This would last for 15 years.
It’s a helluva lot to start doing but we’ve decided to do so for two main reasons. The first is very selfish. They’re going to keep close tabs on him. If he should have any problems, we’ll know immediately and they’ll be able to point us towards resources to help. The second reason is mostly because of her. This woman works everyday to keep things okay for her kids, and she works damn hard at it. Her daughter Hayleigh has both type 1 diabetes and Celiac disease. I’m in awe every moment of her attitude towards it. Cupcakes for everyone? No problem. Kris will find a way to make them both okay for Hayleigh AND tasty for everyone else. Someone being an ass at her school? Psh. Kris’ll run out and bring treats to even things out a little. I couldn’t imagine being in her shoes and doing as wonderful of a job as she does. So because of Hayleigh, I’d like to participate in anything that might lead to helping find a reason for this disease and, possibly, eventually finding a cure.
They say his risk would be 2x greater than what it is if he had a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes. Luckily, he does not, but I was surprised to learn that every single one of my great aunts on my dad’s mom’s side (10 aunts in total) died of type 1 diabetes. I also found out my grandmother has it as well but has luckily never needed insulin. And, apparently, my dad’s son from his first marriage has a son with type 1, too. It was a shocker to go from thinking we had no one in our family with type 1, to having multiple people with it. It’s a little worrisome. However, at the same time, it’s pretty likely I have the same genetic markers and I don’t have it myself. I’m trying to be ridiculously unscientific and say that’s a really good sign. I’m also thinking that it’s not a ridiculous idea that most Native American’s have these genetic markers.
So, they say about 1 in 20 kids in the study develop one autoantibody (a sign that the body’s attacking the cells that make insulin) and 1 in 40 develop 2 or more. I pray Ben is in that 19 that doesn’t.
Filed under 2 Month, family, tests | Comments (7)Chart? What Chart?
Today was my first appointment with the midwives. I’d been calling my OB for a week to try to get my chart faxed over, they were closed every day at 1pm for God knows what reason. Today, I got up early and called. They weren’t open, yet. When I did get a hold of them, the conversation with the new receptionist went something like this:
“I need you to fax over my records.”
“You’ll need to sign a release.”
“I already did. It’s in my chart.”
“Oh. Well, when was that?”
“A month or so ago.”
“I wasn’t here a month or so ago so I wouldn’t be able to do it.”
“The release is already signed, it should be in my chart. There shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Let me see if they scanned it into the computer………Hmmm, nope…….Hold on, let me check your chart……………………..You don’t have a chart.”
“What? I was just there last week for my glucose test.”
“I can’t find your chart. You’re going to have to come in and sign that paper again.”
“Well, how would that help if there’s no chart to release in the first place?”
“Um….I’ll have to find your chart.”
Why not look for my chart before you have me come in and re-sign a piece of paper I’ve already signed that is probably currently sitting in my chart? I hung up with her, after she said she’d look for it and call me back. I called my midwives and convinced them I really had prenatal care up until that point so they would keep my appointment. They did, but had to threaten that if they didn’t get my charts by next week, I’d have to redo all my tests. Dear Lord, no! I just got a 108 on my glucose test! Are you insane?!? That’s like asking me to redo the SATs after getting a 1500.
10 minutes later, the receptionist calls. “I found your chart. I found the release, too. What’s the name of the practice and the fax number?” WOOHOO! She promised to get it faxed over before my appointment at 3, since “we close at 1pm today, anyway.”
Bull puckey! 3pm came. I asked the receptionist, the nurse, the other nurse and the doctor, they never faxed it over! I guess it’s a good thing I’m switching because I don’t believe I could have put up with that receptionist for another 2 months. I’d end up banned from every hospital, giving birth at home with Eric screeching at me to do it in the kitchen so I don’t ruin the hardwood floors. In turn, rendering our poor child fatherless, leaving both of us on welfare and Ben in therapy for years because his mother was forced to kill father during labor. And that wouldn’t be good for anyone.
Filed under 3rd Trimester, doctor appointment, pregnancy, rant, tests | Comment (1)Instructions? I Dun Need No Stinkin’ Instructions!
I had everything planned down to the letter for the glucose test today. I should’ve known it wouldn’t work that way.
6am: Wake up and take medication
7am: I check the clock in the kitchen, 7am. I started defrosting the sausage. Made eggs and sausage. Had a battle with something I refuse to discuss, then sat down to eat.
7:50 am (8:50?): I know it didn’t take me 2 hours to make breakfast but all the clocks in the living room said 8:50. I figured they were all wrong because the kitchen clock was right, period.
8:00am (9:00?): Eric wakes up. I’m still sitting on the couch with cold breakfast.
“Why aren’t you eating? It’s 9. Don’t you have to drink your glucose stuff soon?”
“The kitchen clock says 8.”
“Um, but all these say 9…I think it’s 9.”
“Shit.”
9:05am: I scarf down my breakfast.
9:09am: Take out the instructions for the glucose. Skim them for the time to start/stop.
9:10am: Drink the entire 10 oz in 5 minutes.
9:25am: Leave the house, try not to puke and can’t stop talking.
10:10am: Get to the doctor with 10 minutes to spare. She calls me in to weigh me.
“How are you doing?”
“This stuff suuuuuucks!”
“It’s bad! Be thankful you don’t have to take the 3 hour. A girl is here doing it now and she actually had to drink the whole thing.”
“What? Wait…you mean I wasn’t supposed to drink the whole thing?”
“No…The instructions said that.”
Well, I listened to what the receptionist said when she handed me the bottle. She said, “Drink this.” I assumed “this” meant “ALL THIS.” I didn’t READ THE FLIPPIN INSTRUCTIONS! I felt like the kid in elementary school who, during those tests that specifically said, “Read all instructions first,” would still yell out, “I AM ON NUMBER NINE!”
So now I have to go back on Monday and redo it. I am an idiot.
Filed under 3rd Trimester, doctor appointment, pregnancy, tests | Comment (0)Emergency Ultrasounds Yield No Photos
I went to my appointment yesterday, and discussed the spotting with the doctor. She whipped out the doppler, and, lo and behold, there was the little heartbeat. Around 160bpm. That was so comforting. However, because of the spotting, and placenta previa, she sent me in for an emergency ultrasound downstairs in the hospital.
First, I had to drink 24oz of water before the appointment. I did, but I did it entirely too early and had to pee right before I went in. So, I drank about 28oz in the waiting room. It was horrifying. Who’s idea was it to make pregnant women drink insane amounts of water right before you press (hard) on their bellies?!
I got my first “on belly” ultrasound and it was strange. The pictures are no where near as clear. Of course, that could be partially due to the machine not being nearly as good as the one in my OBs office. She spent about 30 minutes on top of my belly, then had me go pee so she could check my cervix with a transvaginal. She got about 10 minutes into that and said, “Your bladder’s already filling up…Could you maybe go pee again? I can’t see anything.” So I went again, and 10 minutes later, it began filling up again. She said she’d probably already gotten every picture she needed, so she had me get redressed, called Eric in and went back to a belly ultrasound so he could see.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t have pictures because it was an emergency, but we got to see the little one moving around a bit. S/He was laying on it’s side with one arm under his head, the other across his body and under his head. It was adorable. The head is now more in proportion to the body, which makes my vagina and I much less nervous. Still, the baby is HUGE! It’s still measuring at least a week early in length, but I’m sticking to my July 1st date. It’s so beautiful. I can’t wait for July to get here.
Filed under 2nd trimester, doctor appointment, pregnancy, tests, ultrasound | Comment (0)Losing Blood and Belly
Wednesday was my first full day of morning sickness. It NEVER went away. The nausea was under the surface no matter what I did. It didn’t help that we were off looking for houses and the realtor drove a little crazy. I had to stop and get saltines or I would’ve yakked all over the backseat of his rental van. I also developed a strange heart palpitation at night, that we thought was thanks to all the cheese I’d eaten - I’m lactose intolerant.
Thursday, I woke up more nauseated than I’ve ever been. We still made it to my appointment, but an half an hour late, because I’d written it down as 10 instead of 9:30. They were very sweet, however, because my doctor is just really sweet and so is every single member of her staff.
Eric came in with me, and barely batted an eyelash when he saw me lay my pee on the counter. Want to get your man used to seeing your pee sitting on tabletops? Use Dollar Store pregnancy tests! They took my blood pressure, and my usual “blood pressure of the dead” is elevated - already listed on the “Things to be Grounded for” list. The nurse laughed at our amount of home testing, and then said, “well, you’re definitely pregnant.” That was a little surreal.
My wonderful doctor came in and congratulated us. That was weird! I sound so immature, I am..I’m a baby. What am I doing having a kid? I’m an only child! I won’t be the baby anymore! People will expect me to be responsible. I can’t handle this!
…..Sorry. Fetal position crying session over…
She went over a million questions about history, discussed the blood tests I’d need, and handed the blood work paperwork over to Eric. She left and let me dress in a CLOTH butt showing gown. Eric held my clothing while she did the whole specuulum thing.
“A little uncomfortable…ow…there, Eric?”
“No, I’m just worried about the whole blood thing.”
“There’s no blood right now…” I knew he meant the blood work to be done later in the afternoon.
The doctor responded with, “Not for a few more months! Then it’s all over!” His eyes got about 2 feet tall.
We talked about hospitals and natural birth, which she completely supported and seemed almost excited for me about. She said I should look at out of network hospital costs and suggested a hospital that heavily supported epidural-free birth. I really love my doctor. She also said my heart palpitations were thanks to my levothyroxine. I need my dose upped.
As we left, they handed us a heavy bag full of Enfamil, Similac, prenatals, paperwork and magazines. That was the moment it hit me. A baby was coming…and it was coming home with me…What the hell am I doing raising a kid?! I can’t….wait, we’ve already been through this…
We went down and got bloodwork from the BEST tech that ever existed. She got 5 vials out of me without anything more than the first prick. She didn’t move the needle once. Eric even watched and didn’t pass out. Her name was Wendy, and she will be drawing my blood from now on or I won’t go!
I have my first ultrasound on Tuesday that will tell me how far along I am. I’ll also get my bloodwork results then. I’m completely excited, and nervous…and what the HELL am I going to do with a kid?!
We went to eat afterwards, and I got about half of my salad down before I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I walked as quickly as I could to the bathroom, and managed to walk in right behind a woman with her daughter. I thought, “Okay, I’ll just hold it in. I’ll pee first, wait till they leave, then puke.” Who ever thought you couldn’t convince your body to not throw up when it wants to? I had barely locked the door when….bluaghhhhhhh. The poor woman kept telling her daughter to hurry up with every horrible vomit noise I would make — which are impossible to stifle, by the way! I wanted to run out and scream, “I swear, I’m not bulimic and I’m not going to get your child sick! I’m pregnant! It’s not my fault!” I felt awful.
However, I’ve learned that eating all day will keep you from puking. A piece of toast, a banana an hour later, maybe some oatmeal in another hour, it keeps everything from coming up. If you wait to eat, though, until you begin to feel nauseas, you will puke and it will not be pretty…but you will feel better. So what does one do? Get fat or puke all the time? Me? I’m going the fat route!
We bid on a house. It’s adorable, and my parents didn’t freak out nearly as much as I thought they would. Still, the house is just yet another thing for me to stress about and I’m simultaneously scared to death that we’ll get it, and that we won’t. Sometimes I feel in way too far over my head. Other times, I’m completely calm and happy about the choices we’ve made. I’m not sure how to deal with any of this right now. It’s all overload. I know I can handle it, because I have to. It’s just really scary. Really, really, really scary.
Filed under 1st trimester, doctor appointment, morning sickness, pregnancy, symptoms, tests | Comment (0)Funding Neurosis
Nothing says “breeder” like buying your local Dollar Tree out of their stock of pregnancy tests, just to be positive you’re remaining pregnant until the day you actually go in for your first appointment. Which, I’m confused about - not a new feeling in this thing. I’ve read you get your blood test, first thing. Then, you go in for your first OB appointment at 8 weeks. “Call your doctor,” I hear. Well, I did. I tried, and they weren’t open, I assume because of the blizzard. They’re not open on Fridays, either. So what does one do?
I’ll tell you what I wanted do, buy 8 pregnancy tests to take every day between now and the appointment. To make sure the line is getting darker with each test by studying them very closely against the others. Write the date on each test, take pictures, the whole shebang. But, that would be nuerotic, right? Nuts and overkill. That’s what Eric said. So I only bought one for every OTHER day. I think that’s a step in the right direction.
Yesterday we had an appointment with mortgage advisor in hopes of getting a pre-approval. We’d worked ourselves into a tizzy, expecting to get approved for $30,000 at most. We already were picturing having to live in the worst neighborhood in Denver, or, worse, raising our child in my parents house. Not that there’s anything wrong with my parents house…it’s just, you know, my parents house.
First, we got there late. We’re always late. Upon walking in, we got “that face” receptionists that just want you to go away give you. The what-the-hell-are-you-doing-walking-up-to-my-desk-like-I-can do-anything-for-you look. To his chagrin, we mentioned that we did, indeed, expect him to let the advisor know we were there then sat down in a very warm colored, freezing cold, distant corner. As if we weren’t nervous enough, a very thin, well dressed, young woman passed by us and flashed us her best million dollar smile. It looked as if she was going to eat my head. She did this three times in the time we waited, it scared the hell out of me each time. By the time the advisor stepped out to save us, I was convined we’d walked into a real estate version of The Titty Twister from “From Dusk Til Dawn,” and were about to be eaten alive.
The advisor was a nice young man with perfectly manicured eyebrows, that stared you in the eyes when he spoke. I’m not talking “maintain eye contact,” I’m talking ”staring to bore a whole through the back of your head.” I never thought it was possible to have an uncomfortable conversation about weather but, let me tell you, it is absolutely possible. After the 5 minute long, very strange weather conversation that did nothing to alleviate my fear of a heinous death by being eaten alive, we discussed our financing options and Eric’s credit score - something along the lines of, “I’ve never seen a score this high in any man under the age of 65,” came out of the advisors mouth right after an ear to ear grin spread across is face . We were luckily able to be pre-approved for much more than we expected, and are well on our way to finding the perfect, inexpensive home. We’re both really excited, about the house and, you know, that we weren’t eaten alive.
Filed under 1st trimester, pregnancy, tests | Comment (0)
