On October 16th 2006 at 30 weeks + I was having a regular check up with my OBGYN when I was told my blood pressure was extremely high and a +3 protein in my urine sample. My doctor told me to leave and go right to the Grace maternity hospital .&. she would call them and let them know I was coming. On my way over I started to have contractions, how did I know they were contractions if this was my first baby? You just know trust me. I was admitted and given two doses of Betamethasone and once my contractions were settled I was released October 27th.
October 30th I was readmitted because of worsening PIH and low platelets, at that time my blood pressure (bp) was 170/112. They started me right away on Hydralazine, Labetalol and Magnesium sulfate infusion so I wouldn't have a seizure. November 4th while still in the hospital I developed Bell's Palsy, that was horrible on my self esteem.. one side of my face was paralyzed so when I smiled or talked only one side would move.. it was awful I didn't want anyone to see me like that. I cried a lot. On November 8th at 33 5/7 weeks gestation PIH was getting worse .&. so were my platelets so they decided to try and induce me.. Failure to progress in labour and also there were some variable decelerations on my baby's heart rate tracing. On November 9th, 2006 at 8:05pm Jodi Lynn Maria McBride was delivered by cesarean section at 33 6/7 weeks gestational age, weighing 4lbs 4oz and 16 1/2 inches long. She required 'free flow' oxygen to her face .&. because she was premature she had a risk of RDS and she was taken right to the NICU.
After my release from the hospital I went right back to school to finish up, after my classes were done I would hop on the bus every day to see my beautiful baby girl. I'd like to tell you that my experience with the NICU was a good one, but they made some errors that could have effected Jodi for the rest of her life. Jodi had to be fed through a tube in her nose that went down into her stomach because she didn't know how to latch. I pumped breast milk for her for a good month or 2. I left some in the fridge for her and the nurse who was in her care gave her SOMEONE else's breast milk!!! Me .&. the other mother (which was never identified) were tested to rule out any chance of HIV or AIDS. Thank god the other lady wasn't positive! Then one day and I was going to get a 'clean' breast pump the lady informed me those were the DIRTY ones... I was shown about 2 weeks before this that those were the clean ones.. again blood work was done, Jodi caught nothing from it.. thank god we don't live in a huge city like TO! I was so fed up with the mistakes the nurses had made.
One day shortly after that I took the bus over after class and fed jodi through her tube.. then it was bath time :) I went and got the supplies and started to bath her when her nurse came over and asked if I needed help.. I told her I had done this a few times before and was comfortable enough to do it on my own.. she watched me the entire time. I was not happy, this is my daughter and I'm being watch because I was young!! The next day when I came in and was changing Jodi into a new outfit my best friend Nadine got her her daytime nurse was in and came over and told me she had contacted Genetics because she was examining Jodi .&. felt she might have down-syndrome.. I was in shock! My baby didn't look like she had anything wrong with her! She stated that Jodi has a snort nose with a long forehead (just like I do) and a raise in her pinky toenail.. (just like I do) I was terrified.. I cried and cried and cried so much.. I didn't know what to do or how to raise a baby with downs. She didn't look like she had it but after she pointed it out I started to see it in her face, although no one else could.. Me and my family had to wait 4 weeks for results that would say she does or doesn't have it. Which she didn't..
While Jodi was in the NICU she had periods of Apnea's from mild to moderate in severity. The last Apnea was December 6th while I was holding her it was terrifying to watch her heart rate drop on the monitor.. after the initial 3 second shock where I just froze and stared at her I then rubbed her back and her heart rate went back up!
I continued to come everyday and spend time with her as did my parents and my close friends and family. She was like a little water baby, she was so tiny .&. precious! I was a mom now .&. I had to do what I could for her so she would have a great life. On december 16th I went to spend my first over-nighter with her. I was exhausted! I never done this before .&. the next day she could be released home with me! After we had a little nap that is lol
Jodi was home just in time for Christmas I couldn't ask for a better gift! After Christmas break I had to go back to school until the semester was over, I did it .&. I got my grade 12! Yay for Holly!
March 17th (Saint Patrick's Day) I went for a short walk with a friend, on our way back all of a sudden I couldn't talk. I was scared but my house was just around the corner .&. of course when I got there I could talk again.. My mother thought it was because I had a rum and coke before heading out but I know me and I don't get like that from one small weak drink. The next day while shopping at superstore I noticed my last two fingers on my right side went numb.. I didn't think anything of it and neither did mom. We came home and I took Jodi in my room to change her and I was talking baby talk to her when all of a sudden I couldn't talk again, I came out and put Jodi in her playpen and tapped mom on the shoulder and put my hands on my chest and tried to talk, nothing came out. She said "you can't talk" I shook my head no, concerned mom took my to the hospital.. I remember getting in the car but I don't remember the drive there.
The next thing I remember I was hooked up to IV's and other machines.. Mom says I didn't know what day or year it was when the doctors asked. When I felt well enough I gave them a urine sample, they came back and said I was pregnant!! I was scared I just had a baby 5 months ago. They did a blood test and it was negative, so I wasn't really pregnant my body was so messed up that it thought I was. About a week later I was told I have a blood clotting disorder called Antiphospolipid Antibody Syndrome (APS) that caused me to have a stroke on the left side of my brain. If it would have been the right I would be a vegetable right now. I laughed out of shock when they told me I had a stroke, I'm so young.. I just turned 20.
They started me on blood thinners and I had a specialist we will call him Dr. I had to have blood work done every 2 -3 days to make sure my INR was where they wanted it. I reported to his sectary Paula (who was a bitch, no way around it) if my blood was too thin she would say stuff like 'you sure you haven't been drinking' or if it was too thick she would say 'are you sure your taking your pills'... no you idiot I want to die so I'm not! That's what I felt like saying but I didn't. Anyways I had a visit with Dr. who said I could get a machine and check my blood myself at home, and learn to regulate my blood on my own.. so I did. Then I get a letter from that doctor saying that I was non-compliant .&. he refused to follow me further... yeah ok I was just doing what I was told to do. Anyways, thinning my blood was a struggle .&. was hard to do. I was told I couldn't get pregnant again and if I did I would have to come off my blood thinners cause they would harm the baby .&. if I came off them that would put me at risk for another stroke. So I was convinced to have my tubes tied.. I couldn't take birth control because it has hormones in it that thicken .&. clot your blood. I was fine with my decision at the time. Friday June 13th, 2007 I had a TL done.
In July 2009 my boyfriend went to stay with his dad in Fort McMurray. I was extremely upset not having him here with us. At this time I was working at a nursing home. One weekend while camping my hands started to itch and pain really bad and got extremely red. I couldn't sleep through the pain, mom took me to the hospital .&. they didn't know what it was but gave me some medication for the pain. Not that it really helped, all it did was make me sleep. My doctor put me off work. I had to quit, I couldn't work in this pain, plus heat and cold made my hands worse. I found that out the hard way.. they were so hot that I could put them in cold water with ice and it would melt the ice and the water would turn warm .&. then the pain would shoot up and I would scream every time. It was like someone was driving needles in my fingers. Then just like that they stopped and I was back to normal... or so I thought.
In October my boyfriend Simon flew me up to see him for two weeks! I was a blast .&. I was sad that I had to leave him, I even seen if I had enough money to take him home.. but I didn't. I was excited to see Jodi I missed her so0o much! I cried till I got to Calgary, I was heartbroken that he couldn't come. When I arrived in Halifax I hurried to the escalator, I came down .&. mom, dad and Jodi were all there waiting my arrival. Jodi was crying, which got me all teary-eyed. She didn't want me to go anywhere ever again lol. A few days after I got back my hands started again.. I went right to the hospital they said they think it's 'blood clots' in my hands.. they took my off the blood thinner pills and switched me to 18,000 units of Fragmin (blood thinner needle injection) .. It went away again. December 25th 2009 Simon flew home, it was a surprise Christmas present for me .&. Jodi.
January 2010 I started having migraines.. I would get them before my periods, so I assumed they were related to that. I went to the hospital and they told me that they were migraines, gave me pain meds and sent me home. I expected to get some type of relief off of 8mg of dilloted.. nope nothing. So I went back and they told me that I could be grinding my teeth in my sleep which is causing migraines. To make a long story short I was grinding my teeth because of the pain in my head. Double vision, yes that is what I said, came in after 3 or 4 weeks of constant migraines, now I was concerned as things started to look a little bit 3D to me. Off I went again and finally they decided to give me an MRI...
So now on top of almost dying from a stroke I could have died from having Inter Cranial Hypertension AKA: excessive fluid on the brain which is causing me to have such headaches and double vision.. Great summer is just starting and the pills I'm on make me very sensitive to sun!! Anyways after about a week I was released, still having double vision.. there is a 50/50 chance I'd ever see normal again. After about a week 1/2 home my migraines were gone and so was the double vision! Thank god that was so0o awful. Now I can finally fully enjoy having my own house! :)
My migraines are gone but now the pain in my hands is back. So I went to the hospital and they got me an appointment with dermatology. The Dermatologist told me she believes what I have is called 'Erythermalgia' which is a "rare neurovascular peripheral conic pain disorder in which blood vessels, usually in the lower extremities (or hands) are frequently (on and off daily) blocked and become hyperemic and inflamed. There is sever burning pain (in the small fiber sensory nerves) and skin redness. Attacks commonly triggered by heat, pressure, mild activity, exertion, insomnia and stress." Which would explain a lot. Stress from simon leaving brought it on. The reason I have it is because it is seen in people who have an autoimmune disorder like myself with my APS. I tried everything to get rid of the pain and nothing was working till one day my doctor advised me to try 'marijuana' or weed. It worked! Finally an answer, but for me it wasn't that exciting. I get really paranoid from it.. but not bad enough that I can't function. So for now this is what I have to do to get relief from the pain. I'm still waiting to get into my doctor.
.&. on top of that I get really bad joint pain in my knees and wrists =(
So that is my brief history. Yes it's long but it's pretty brief compared to what I could have typed. But my hands hurt .&. I'm tired of typing... so that's all for now =)
