Back to the Hospital

Alright, let me start by saying that Gabriel is perfect and doing really well. Remember how I told you guys that we were both alright after he was born? Turns out that wasn't exactly accurate... After my c-section I was feeling the normal aches and pains of having that particular surgery except I had one extra pain that I had never had before. My left leg was more swollen than my right and my left calf hurt a bit. I mentioned it several times to the doctors and nurses and they told me it was because of the the swelling that I had pain there. While I was in the hospital I woke up one night shaking really hard and in a cold sweat, the nurse came in and covered me up. I mentioned it to the doctor the next day and she said she honestly didn't know what the night sweats were but to let her know if it happened again.

Gabriel was born Thursday, sunday they let us go home! Whoo hoo. Sunday night my leg was still bothering me a bit and I was struggling with our stairs.

Monday night came and by this time my leg was REALLY swollen and was throbbing. I sat up all night on the couch crying because the pain was so bad, it was truly the worst I had ever felt and I felt completely helpless. I took tons of pain meds (heavy narcotics) and it didn't even dull the pain.

Tuesday morning brian called the doctor and set me up for an appt with the OBGYN, It took me 10 minutes to walk from the car to the office which was about 20 feet. I felt really really stupid! I also couldn't stop crying. Part of it was because I had a baby 6 days before and part was because of the unbearable pain.

As soon as the doctor saw me she sent me to the hospital. They did an ultrasound on my leg and found a DVT which means I had a golf ball sized blood clot in a deep vein. It is apparently much more common in pregnant and post pregnant women especially if they have had surgery recently. They admitted me to the hospital. After a few hours of crying they finally started giving me some good narcotics and things started to look up until the doctor came in.

I was nervous about the treatment, I really didn't know how they treat things like this. The first thing the doctor tells me is my diagnosis and then follows with "heather, this is very serious. If the clot breaks off and part of it goes to your lunges, there is only a 20% survival rate" OH GREAT! I just sort of stared at him while he explained the drug treatment. They would put me on a Heperin IV for days until the clot started dissolving and put me on some other blood thinners as well. I wasn't even allowed to get out of bed to go to the bathroom, I wont go into details here but I am telling you that using a bed pan is a pretty humbling experience. They drew my blood every few hours to test it as well as had me hooked up to a heart monitor. Scary huh?

Thursday rolled around and they told me that they have a treatment option outside of the hospital. They have shots that you can have someone come in and give you twice a day plus taking oral medication. So naturally I opted for the at home option since I have a new baby and I hate being stuck in the hospital.

So, I give myself 2 shots a day. The drug is called Lovenox, I figure there can't be any better drug than one with the name 'love' or 'loven' right? I am also taking oral blood thinners.

Things are looking up now though, I am allowed to as much stuff as the pain will allow me and I can resume a normal exercise regimen. The clot won't really heal up for months but they said the pain and swelling should subside within a couple of weeks. I have never had health issues before but this has been a serious wake up call. I am committing myself to taking better care of my body.

I also really appreciate all my friends who have helped us out TONS through this time! It's been really scary but it has been comforting to know that our friends have been there to take care of my family while I was laid up in the hospital. Thanks guys for everything... I really mean that , from the bottom of my bum leg (cause my heart just doesn't seem deep enough) :)

I am also very grateful for the Gospel, my testimony was strengthened through this experience. The bishop came and he and my husband gave me a blessing, I felt tons of comfort and was reassured that no matter how scary the doctor was I was going to be alright. There was a day or so where I was really scared but thankfully heavenly father saw fit to comfort me.

Brian has been super at being 'mr. mom'. He really stepped up to the plate with our boys. He didn't even complain that he had to take care of eli and the baby all by himself while I was in the hospital and also after I came home. He's a great dad!