Monday, October 5, 2009

Scary Monday Morning

After a fairly decent night's sleep, I woke up this morning with abdominal cramping. I was laying on my right side and switched thinking the left is always better. It was...for a little while. I don't know how long, maybe it was 2 minutes, maybe an hour.
But the cramps were getting worse and worse and I didn't know how long I could lay in bed and wish them away.
Doubled over in pain, I barely made it out of the bedroom to the bathroom and collapsed on the toilet. I had no idea what was going on, but I thought I might poo or vomit or both. The main thing on my mind, of course, was if I was losing this pregnancy? Were these preterm labor pains? What was wrong with me?

Holding on to the doorknob and gritting my teeth through the pain I started shaking uncontrollably. I finally cried out for Chicken who by a miracle was working from home today and tomorrow. Otherwise, it was 7am and I would've been all alone. I have no idea what I would have done. By now, I am completely covered in sweat, the beads rolling down my face, into my eyes, my mouth and yet I feel like I'm freezing to death.
In addition, when you're short and you're on the toilet, your feet don't hit the ground flat. The result is that your legs start shaking and you can't stop them because you can't put your feet down. That's the best way to describe it. Every time I am sick, I have to bring something into the bathroom to put on the ground so I am level, so Chicken brings me a pillow for my feet and water.

All of the sudden I need OFF the toilet but I can't move. I feel like if I try to move by myself I will fall on the floor. Chicken helps me into the living room thinking I want to go to the couch, but I don't. I want to lay down directly on the floor. I'm now wearing a sweaty tshirt you could wring out and my pants are around my ankles. I can't move.

Chicken gets out the M.ayo book but can't find anything specific for my condition and we decide to call my OB. Of course, we get an answering service who takes the message and says a nurse will call us back.
Around this point, I decide I really need to get up on all fours and push. Somehow I find the energy to do this, but I don't know what I'm trying to push.
Suddenly that's it, I have to go back to the toilet. And finally...release.
Thank god there is no blood, nothing that suggests the babies are in trouble.

Completely naked and wrapped in a towel, Chicken finally gets me back in bed, covering me with blanket after blanket because no matter what I simply can't get warm. We take my temperature, it is completely normal.
Hour after hour, I make the return trip to the toilet, drink a glass of gatorade and head back to bed to sleep the sleep of the dead.
The nurse determines I have a stomach bug and there is nothing to worry about as long as I still feel the babies moving (I do).
For the rest of the morning and early afternoon, I simply have to get it out of my system.

By mid afternoon, although I'm completely exhausted, I've managed to stay fairly hydrated and have worked up an appetite. Seven hours later and that's it. It's all over.

I now completely understand the intense fear that grips a pregnant woman when she thinks something is going to take it all away from her.
I'm 20 weeks today and for the first time, I'm scared of Chicken being out of town 4 days a week.
I really can't imagine getting through this morning without her. She is so good to me.

30 comments:

cindyhoo2 said...

very scary indeed. I am glad all is well in the end but I can certainly understand your fears about being alone. ((hugs))

Lizzie said...

i'm so sorry. so scary. i had a similar bug last week, was all alone and thought i was dying. but no pregnancy for me, it must have been all the more terrifying for you. so sorry!

Mina said...

Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry you went through that! Thank God your partner was there for you. I'm glad you are feeling better now!

Jen said...

Holy crap, scary indeed. I am glad that everything is okay but I can't imagine the fear. Take care of yourself!

N said...



So, so glad everything is okay. Hope you feel better soon.

Anonymous said...

Damn that must have been terrifying. So glad it was a bug and that Chicken was with you. {{{}}}

Next in line said...

You and chicken are a great team and make this wacky schedule work. Do you and chicken have a backup person for while she is away?I know chicken is irreplaceable, but it maybe good just to know that someone will come if you are stuck.

Julie said...

I'm glad everything is ok. That sounded very scary.

Anonymous said...

That sounds awful, so glad that your girl was there.

Unknown said...

our 5 year old had this stomach virus 2 weeks ago. She puked from 1 am to 8 am, then done...gone...good as new...weird huh. i hate that you had to go thru that. im sure you were terrified!

Anonymous said...

honey, i'm so glad you're ok. how frightening! glad chicken was home and takes such good care of you. xo

Two Moms, Two Monkeys said...

yikes! Glad everything is ok and the babies are good! I wasn't sure where you were going with this... holding my breath until the end. Luckily it was only a few hours before you were ok again. I know the feeling of not wanting to be left alone. Hang in there...

tireegal68 said...

That is one scary day! You poor thing:) thank god your honey was there. Sounds like the wholething made you feel very vulnerable and scared. It would me even if I just had the stomach flu and wasn't pregnant. I guess chicken absolutely has no choice but to keep travelling. Is she gone nights too or days? Sending big hugs:)

Anonymous said...

That is just terrifying. I'm so glad everything is ok, I was worried for a minute. I'm so happy Chicken was there today, I can imagine how scary that was. Nice work Chicken. Take good care and get some rest dear one.

Schroedinger said...

Yikes! Glad you are okay...thank goodness Chicken was home to help you! I hope you shake that horrible bug soon!

2momswithaplan said...

Oh my! I'm so happy everything's ok now.

Laurie said...

oh my goodness... I'm so glad that you're OK. How scary :( .

Anonymous said...

What a scary experience. I am glad to hear everyone is doing alright.

zeebah said...

Jeez. That's horrible and totally frightening. I hope you're feeling better...

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy you are on the mend. The 24 hour bugs are devastating, aren't they?!

Susan said...

Wow, that sounds soooo scary! I'm glad you're feeling better, and I'm glad she was there with you. Let's hope it's all behind ya!

mama bea, bao in the oven said...

Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry you had such a scare and that you weren't feeling well. So glad to hear you're feeling better. Thank goodness for Chicken!

Carrie said...

Omg i was almost shaking reading your post, that sounds so frightening. I was reading and praying your story would end with the babies safe. It sounds like the babies are doing ok, and this was some kind of nasty ass bug. Poor thing! Im so glad Chicken was there to take care of you. truly a miracle that she was home that day!
I hope you are feeling better, and that the bug does not come back. So sorry you had to deal with that scare. :(

Jackie said...

Yikes, yikes, with a side of yikes! I am so very sorry. What a scary experience. Thank goodness K was working from home!!!!

Glad you're feeling better.

Gayby Rabies said...

I ws so scared just reading this, I can't imagine what it was like to go through it! I'm so, so glad that you were not home alone and that you and the babies are okay.

tbean said...

Yowza. That was super scary. I'm so relieved all is okay for now. hugs

tui said...

scary is right! Glad that Chicken was there for you and I sure hope you're feeling a bit better now!

AdventuresInBabyMaking said...

holy sh*t, girl, that sounds awful! glad to hear that you're on the mend.

i'm totally w/ you on the legs shaking, too. every since i was a kid, i always noticed that my legs would do the same thing when i was sick. and they still do.

MoDLin said...

How sacry was that!!! Maybe you two should work up a "Plan B" for when Chicken is away. It will be reassuring to know that someone is on standby on those days. Glad to know it was a short term thing and that you're better now.

Libberal said...

Juat catching up on your posts. Glad to know this wasn't a days-long illness. Hope you're feeling better.