by Marilyn on October 17, 2007
I’m pretty sure my doctor said I had “antibody E” or somesuch when I spoke on the phone with her. And the temptation provided too rich because I found myself, not ten minutes ago, Googling (or rather, Blingo-ing) “antibody e”. And.. well, hmm. Here is what I found. This is the part that caught my eye in particular:
The baby must be followed closely with specialized tests to watch for signs of hemolytic anemia. Most likely, your doctor will order additional ultrasounds and perhaps amniocentesis to check the amniotic fluid for signs of hemolytic anemia. If the baby begins to show signs of hemolytic anemia, certain treatment options are available. In some cases, the baby may be given a blood transfusion while still in your uterus. In other situations, the baby may be delivered earlier than the original due date so that it can receive necessary medical treatment in the nursery.
Uhm, NO! Oh hells naw. Especially the whole “amniocentesis” part, thought I’m no too fond of the whole “transfusion while still in your uterus” part either. Actually, you know, the whole thing kinda sucks and is making me feel more than a little panicky at the moment.
Oh and it would appear the most likely reason this whole thing cropped up in the first place is LIAM. Chances are, he gave me the antibody. Sweet of him, no? Way to break the mold after yourself, kid.
(of course chances are things are going to be just fine as this isn’t a particularly threatening antibody to have. BUT STILL.)
by Marilyn on October 17, 2007
Kile took today off because he woke up feeling like something peeled off the bottom of your shoe. I’m not encouraged because I feel just slightly better so I know I’ve got it coming to me. While we were doing our respective “internet-ing” this morning, the phone rang and caller ID told us it was a “Private Caller”. Our policy is not to answer the phone unless we recognize the name or the number. Then my cell phone rang with the same “Private” but since it was plugged in out in the kitchen, recharging, I didn’t get to it in time to answer it. And with no message left, no way of calling back.
Later on, Kile checked the voicemail on his cellphone and my obstetrician had left a message for us to call right back. I figured she’d gotten my bloodwork results back and my thyroid needed a little “work”. Well, I wasn’t far from wrong. I left a message for her to call us back on my cell phone as we were going to be out at the store getting some groceries that afternoon. We were in the car when she called. Apparently? I’m a bit of a mess. First off, my thyroid is a little wacky. I believe she said my number was 9.2 which is high but I’ve had higher. She was alarmed though and unsure what exactly to bump my prescription up to. Finally, she settled on 200 mcg of Levothyroxine which she would call into my pharmacy (at this point, I told Kile we were going to Walmart instead of Smiths, which is closer but the pharmacy is way pricier). Then, she told me that my urine came back with a UTI. Big freakin’ deal. I get one of those EVERY time I’m pregnant. It’s almost a symptom of pregnancy. There was also some e. coli in there which is encouraging. I wonder how I managed that. That’s another prescription, this time for antibiotics. Then she told me the most interesting news. Last time I was pregnant, they tested my blood and it came back O+ with no antibodies. This time? O+ but with some antibodies. She asked if I’d had a blood transfusion anytime between now and then. Uh, nope. She was bewildered and putting a call in with a perinatologist to see if the antibodies were anything to worry about (like if they’re going to go ape and attack the baby or something). In the meantime, she wanted to have Kile’s blood tested in case he was the reason.
FUN! So we had to drive by the office and pickup the lab orders, go get Kile poked and go to Walmart where we did the majority of our grocery shopping as well as picked up the TWO prescriptions. We still had to stop by Smiths on the way home because for some odd reason their milk is cheaper than Walmart’s. And it took us FOR-FREAKIN’-EVER to do it. I officially hate traffic.
So for now, I’m hunkered down, taking my prescription (the antibiotics, not the thyroid meds, those get taken in the morning), eating dinner and trying very hard not to Google “hypothyroid and pregnancy”. Or “pregnancy and antibodies”. Better just stay away from Google altogether.
