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LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

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nicolestubbs
Posts: 23
Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2019 9:08 pm

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

Post by nicolestubbs »

Hi all,

So I found out i was pregnant 11.6.19, from the off I had lower left side pains that would be quite sharp, at the time I didn't want to go through with the pregnancy (no judgement please, isn't the right time in my life).. anyway i attended the 'clinic' and had a scan where they found fluid in my uterus and sent me down to the local EPAU at my hospital, not really entirely sure what was happening or how i felt the EPU done some blood tests and a scan..... They didn't say anything to me and the sonographer called in the nurse specialist, when she entered the room they spoke with one another but nobody told me what was going on! Anyway fast forward 48 hours and I have the number of my HCG which stand at 3161 was called and asked to come in to discuss this as these levels were quite high! Between 11.6.19 to 18.6.19 I had multiple internal ultrasounds and repeat HCG tests, within this time I was admitted back to EPU as a patient as I was experiencing the lower abdominal pain both on the left and right side aswell as all across the lower part of my abdomen and some shoulder tip pain.
Each time I had informed a nurse, doctor or a consultant at the gyne unit I was told it was normal and it was all linked.!

So there plan is to do some waiting and watching and discuss my options with me, well having a scan by the consultant of both maternity and gyne to scan me, she informed that she had found a "mass" and that the 2 options were: Let nature take its course, Have Methotrexate. I asked about surgery and this was not an option due to my BMI and it being a high risk! (This was fair enough and I sorta agreed), they planned for the Methotrexate to be given 18.6.19

Anyway come 18th June I again go back to the EPU to have the treatment was told the side affects and that they would still monitor the HCG to make sure they came down! On day 4 of having the treatment my HCG came down nicely, but by day 6 I had called the EPU with again pain in my abdomen which I was doubled over with and shoulder tip pain to be told take some painkillers go to bed if its still the same call your own GP in the morning! I had a call the next day and was asked to come into the EPU to have a chat with the doctor to see what they could do! I did and again was told its all related and the scan showed nothing!

This kept happening of going back and forth to the EPU over the 5 weeks!! Again shoulder tip and abdominal pain remained and was assured nothing to worry about!

WELL........

Come 5th July I was just relaxing on my bed getting ready to do my evening job when I had a sharp pain in my belly button (odd i know) I was thinking oh maybe I'v just laid on my front for too long.. (this was defo not the case) so Iv stood up and the pain comes and it comes sharp and in waves!! Again doubled over and then comes shoulder tip pain! Now at the first point of standing up I can't walk or really move and have pain in my lower area aswell as the rectum! I'm now starting to feel very sick and unable to bring anything up! I'm screaming in pain and the only way I feel at least the littlest bit of comfort is laying on my right side! Its about 6pm and my mums come into my room to say maybe its just trapped wind!! (believe me i know it wasn't) I keep saying over and over I can't move it hurts I feel like I can't breathe either! So at 6pm I decide to call the EPU and get some advice and a nurse takes my details and tells me she will talk to the doctor and call me back! At this point I phone 999 aswell as a family friend whoses a HCA and she can hear the pain I'm in and I'm explaining how I'm feeling! She advises to call 999!! At this point I'm hoping and praying the pain will pass in the next 10 minutes or so but no!

So I call the emergency services and am told an ambulance has been arranged and given all the after care advice! Iv still not moved I'm still laid on my right side, I don't dare move as I know the pain is going to shoot through me! 20 minutes later and I have the urge to go to the bathroom!! This isn't the great part, I struggle to even move and do it bit by bit but very slowly, I get to the edge of my bed and manage to stand and begin to walk to the bathroom which is across the hall from my room, but the dizziness has swept over and I feel like I'm going to pass out! I actually end up falling to the floor and have this ringing in the ears and everything seems distance! I somehow manage to get up and then call 999 again! But this time to tell them that I'm now feeling dizzy and very sick!

I still haven't heard from the EPU and its been 2 hours, so I call them back and get another nurse who promises me she will call me back and help me! By this point the emergency services have called and apoglised for the delay in the ambulance coming to me! Its now roughly nearly 9pm and the ambulance has turned up!! HOORAY!!! Someone to help me and make me feel safe, they do there checks and ask questions and then they ask me to get up!! Well I try and don't succeed... everything goes black...... they bring me round and get they get ahold of EPU who are happy to take me!

I arrive in EPU and am put into the emergency room and somehow end up falling asleep! A doctor comes in around midnight again I haven't moved due to the pain again when I do I'm screaming in pain! So the doctor comes in asks me to lay flat which is a task in its-self!! I do as asked and she does her checks she nexts wants a cannula in me which is fine but I immediately don't feel great and come over all hot and dizzy and well throw up! I apologise to her and she doesn't bat an eyelid, the cannula goes in and painkillers are given and Iv been told Iv got to be nil by mouth, again I drift off to sleep!

Its now Saturday 6th July a nurse asks me if I want a wash and I say yes (due to the fact iv been in the same clothes since Friday morning) I try to get up again and don't succeed the feeling of dizziness and sickness sweep over me aswell as the pain! A few hours later the consultant comes in to see me and says straight away about getting me scanned! We come up with a plan of me moving from the bed to the chair to the scanning room and back! By this point I have not passed urine for over 12 hours nor do I feel that I need to go.

I get to the scanning room and the consultant begins scanning me he takes his time and then speaks up and informs me he's found some fluid but can't measure it exactly due to a full bladder to which we again do the whole bed to chair moving about! Once I have an empty bladder thats when he tells me and then shows me.... I have a 10cm blood clot formed all together in me with more fluid in the uterus.... at this point the information doesn't go in and he says the best way to sort this is surgery!!

I make the phone call to my older sister and let her tell the rest of my family whilst I inform my partner! They all come to the hospital and I get moved to a room and have pain killers through IV to help with the pain! Its about mid afternoon and the consultant comes back and informs me he's going upstairs to get me into surgery ASAP and that an anaesthetist would be coming down to see me!

I go down to surgery around 6pm and have my partner walk down with me, at this point I'm crying I feel emotional, scared but relieved something is now being done! Its a few hours later and I'm awake from surgery feeling quite groggy and my first question to the after care team is has my tube been taken to which they reply yes! I get wheeled back down to the unit when there happy with all the obs and that I’m alert.

I end up sleeping part of the night and get seen by the consultant the next morning who informed me that the operation went ok but was tricky he then told me that he had taken my tube and I had a litre of blood taken from me also, I don’t say anything as the information doesn’t go in, but the consultant asks if I want to see the photos to which I decline, he informs me that the catheter will be taken out later on the Sunday and if all goes well I could go home! There’s still a possibility of me having to have a blood transfusion which is what happened and felt weird to be having blood put back into you!

I end up being discharged from hospital 9th July, I guess I wanted to share my story to get it out there! I feel lucky that I got through this especially as this could have been a lot worse and I could either be in ITU or lost my life.

I haven’t yet come to terms with losing my tube and the experience iv gone through I just want people to hear my story.

What I’m trying to say is listen to your body don’t take doctors or consultants words on YOUR pain!! Only you know your body and if somethings wrong then you tune into it and know when you need the help!! Just listen and don’t give up!!

EPT Host 22
Posts: 659
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2015 10:26 am

Re: LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

Post by EPT Host 22 »

Hi Nicole,

I'm so sorry to hear of everything that you have gone through and that you have suffered this loss and trauma. You've been through so much in a short period, and I encourage you to keep looking after yourself and taking it easy. The healing ahead of you is both physical and emotional, and there is no set time frame for either. As you say, listen to your body and to what you need. Our boards are full of people who have experienced similar situations, and they are a safe space for you to share or to vent. We are here for you for however long you need.

With good wishes,

Michele

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