My Happy Place

When I first scheduled my appointment with my ob, it was while I was sitting in the parking lot of my primary care doctor.  I was so excited.  They asked me for the first day of my last period, and I told them, and they estimated when 6 weeks would be, and made my appointment.

To be honest, I don’t really understand how they estimated that for me though—my periods are not regular like that. I mean, I have one every month now, but still: one month, it may come the first of the month; the next month, it may come at the last of the month; so I am not really sure how they determined my dates. I mean, I have NEVER had a normal, 28 day cycle, and I have been irregular since the 6th grade, and had difficulties with my cycles since the 6th grade. 

I insisted who I would see first.  I understand that when pregnant, they make you see all of the doctors in the practice. I didn’t get that at first, but the receptionist was kind enough to explain to me that when you go in to labor, your particular doctor may not be “on call,” so every doctor needs to know who you are, and be familiar with your individual needs in order to ensure your safety, and the safety of your baby.

That made sense.  However, because I have had sooooo many issues with dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and abnormal paps, and intense, extremely irregular menstrual cycles that had landed me in the emergency room over the years, I really wanted to begin this journey with her.

When I went in to see her, I was led to have my vitals taken.  I knew my blood pressure was high (I had asked the nurse at school to take it prior to my going in), and it was one of the major things I had on my list to speak with my ob about. 

You see, I had refused the labetalol, and was only taking the methyldopa.  Why you may ask.  Well, when I went to the pharmacy to pick it up, I asked the pharmacist was it safe to take when pregnant.  He gave me this weird expression, and said, “It depends.  This medication is in Class C.” 

Um, ok?  I asked him what in the world does that mean?  Can he please speak in layman’s terms!

He explained to me that labetalol, is a medicine in which the doctor has to weigh the risks to the baby, versus the benefits because there is no real research to support any findings on it.  When I heard that, it was –and excuse me language—HELL NAW!  I was NOT going to do ANYTHING to endanger my child’s life willingly!

Now, I love my primary, but I was only taking that medicine, if my ob approved it!

So, I digress…the LPN took my blood pressure, and made a smart comment—“Umph.”

“What does that mean?” I asked her.

“Your blood pressure is really high.”

“I know. I have had the school nurse monitoring it.  I am on meds for it, though.”

“Well, it’s obvious you didn’t take them today.”

“EXCUSE ME? Did you REALLY just try me like that? Like I’m some ignorant, uneducated woman who just fell off the turnip truck and doesn’t understand what my blood pressure means? How dare you ASSUME that I did not take my meds today! In fact, Nasty, it’s the FIRST thing on my list to speak with my doctor about today, so I would love for you to run back and crawl up under whatever rock you came from, and not assist me again.” 

I could not believe her nerve.  I was spitting fire. I was spitting nails. I was trying to calm down so I would not push my blood pressure further over the brink…

And now I’m back to my happy place.  LOL.  I was then led by another LPN who overheard the conversation and came to rescue her from me, to a room.  I walked, and I thought I was going to have an ultrasound done that day because that’s what people told me would happen.

Nope. I walked in, and the room was set up for a pap smear.  Um, huh?  I don’t need nor want a pap people, I want to know how far I am, when I’m due, what sex is the baby, you know, the usual!  I mean, chop, chop, people!

When the ob walked in to the room, she beamed at me, and she hugged me.  She was so happy! She was grabbing me and laughing…while I was grabbing at the sheet they give you to cover up with, trying to keep my modesty intact. 

But sure enough, when the hugs stopped, I got a pap smear that day! Shocked my pants off—literally!  The ob did my exam, and said everything looked good.  She explained that I would have labs that day, and then the next visit—when I am 8 weeks, would be when she would do the ultrasound, and do the measurements, and get an exact due date, but so far, the preliminary due date is November 15^th. 

She changed my blood pressure pill to Procardia XL, which is a time released tablet that I take once a day instead of 3 times a day as I did with the Methyldopa, and she gave me something for nausea.  She then ordered labs, and told me congratulations once again. 

She was not very concerned about my blood pressure though.  She was actually very nonchalant about it--I think that helped me calmed me down.  In her opinion, we still had time to get it under control.  She gave me a warm smile, told me get dressed, and then head to the lab for blood work, and that she would call me if there was anything amiss in my blood work.  She also warned that I may spot after the exam…And so I am back at my happy place....