The appointment went well considering. It was nothing that we haven't already done. It was me, E and a genetic counselor. We had to re-hash all the problems in our ttc journey and families medical history. She noted that nothing thus far has raised any concern or red flag from all of my testing She was pleased to see that we were pro-active in our situation and did all our preliminary testings. She explained that and ASD can not always be seen on their level 2 u/s's but she would request the dr to take a good look. She also explained that my fused vertebrates _( klippel-feil syndrome) is just an abnormality that has no genetic pattern. She says she has to tell me that there is a 50/50 chance that it will be passed down - but thinks that it is actuallu much lower due to my nt scan, afp results. Same with the ASD. She has suggested that the dr ( when i see a dr) refers me to a cardiologist regarding my 2 strains for the MTHFR disorder. I found out that the mthfr is a folic acid deficiancy. She suggested that I take atleast 1 mg if not 2 of folic acid for the rest of my life. (that was good to know) The cardiologist will do an echo-cardiogram for myself to just "make sure" all things are peachy.
I expressed my concern about every appointment that I go to adds a new demand on me and it makes me over anxious. (through tears) Like someone stated in a comment - I told her that I am trying to manage my fears but these appointments and the appointments that cause more/different appointments make it hard for me to control my anxiety and I was very unhappy about the way that things have unfolded. I made the counselor tear up - she felt bad that this was doing the opposite as to what it was supposed to do for me and she hoped that I could understand that I am still beng treated for a normal pregnancy until/if they find something wrong. I explained that I was tired of looking for something to be wrong. And that I was tired of "pre-cautions". She expressed that the next appointment with the U/s and the Dr on the 19th will give us more concrete answers and that I shouldn't worry and That hopefully all my fears will be able to go away after this next appointment. (she didn't work for the perinatals office - so i felt bad that i cried on her)-All things considered - uninformative appointment but I decided to take the rest of the day off and spend it with my husband for now.
On more happier news - I am 20 weeks today. 140 days in 140 days to go! Half way there and regardless of the crying - I feel great and I am going to enjoy this regardless of my anxiety!
Again, I cannot thank you enough for your encouraging comments and emails that let me know others "get me". Thank you thank you - I need that reminder sometimes
31 comments:
I'm so glad to hear the appt went well. Maybe you've educated that counselor to be more empathetic towards future couples.
Woot for being halfway there!!!:)
I'm glad the appointment was uneventful. Hopefully the counselor "got it" and it will help someone else in the future.
Yay for being halfway there!! Congrats!!
I hope you continue to get the all clear and are able to enjoy it all!
I just hope things keep coming back as ok.
Don't professionals know how much they can make pregnancy stressful with all the tests and cautions???
Yeah for a better than expected appointment! Sorry I missed the drama yesterday. :o(
Double YEAH for being at the half way point!
Doctors need to lay the crap off, this is stressful enough.
I' so glad the appointment didn't bring even more things to worry about. I'm sorry I missed yesterday's post. It sounds like you're feeling better about it.
Congrats on reaching the MID POINT!!!!....
I am so happy everything went well and that you were so honest with the Dr. I guess it will help her understand the feeling for us that had to deal with IF.
I am really glad that the appointment went well. Maybe it can ease some of your anxiety. Still sorry it had to give you anxiety in the first place but relieved that you are feeling better. Besides, half way! That is great news. I am really happy things are going well for you. Enjoy the day off with E.
Yay! I'd consider that appt a success. :) Cardiac scans aren't so bad- they look cool. Good to know about the folic acid, I'm glad she told you. FWIW, my mom was born with a large VSD and they thought she would die as a child. For whatever reason it closed up for the most part. She was never supposed to be able to have kids. They had 4- one 9y post vasectomy! None of us have any holes in our hearts and I got nearly every genetic malfunction you can find in our family tree, and then some. I have oodles of faith that your sweet little one will be painfully ordinary as far as gestating goes. Big fat bor-ing! :) WOOHOO on the halfway mark!!!
Yey for a compassionate counselor! (Once you tapped into that side of her, anyway). Yey for 1/2 way!
I hear you on the compounding anxiety; every time I add a new medication or see a new specialist, I worry more. Fortunately, I have a very good MFM office where they try to keep my worrying to a minimum, and only schedule tests if there's an indication of a problem. And even then, they don't tell me about the potential problem until the test comes back, so that I'm not worrying needlessly!
May your 2nd half be smooth sailing!
YEAH!!!! Congrats on being halfway there.
Glad the appt went well, hope the next one goes just as well
20 weeks today!!!! What the!!!
That's fantastic Farah. Look how far you and Mini have come already. You'll have your arms wrapped around your wee one so soon, and all of this pre-cautionary testing will be forgotten!
(I'm such a Homer - I was reading your post and where you wrote "re-hash" I stopped and thought "Mmmmm, hash browns!!"
xoxoo
CONGRATS ON 20 WEEKS & BEING 1/2 WAY!!! I am glad that your appt. went well and that the counselor was sensative to you and your concerns.
PS - Since you asked... ;) The fetal echo is no different than a regular u/s, just more involved in terms of what the tech measures and they often take a lot of "pictures" and save a lot of video images for the cardiologist to review later. The cardiologist often then comes in to look themselves towards the end. Sometimes they can press down a bit hard on your belly/uterus to try to get a good angle, but it's not bad. Sometimes I cramp up a bit afterwards. I found my echo (on Saturday) also was not bad. Again, it was very similar to a u/s only done primary on my chest right over my heart and then a bit under my left breast and on my left side. I think the tech took/save about 40-50 images of various angles, blood flow etc. It was slightly painful at times when the tech was trying to get a good angle pressing down around my ribs. But totally barable and interesting to watch on the monitor, especially in comparison to watching our baby's fetal echos. I never saw a cardiologist for my echo, just the tech and then my PCP called me today with the results.
Congrats on getting half way done!
I'm glad it well. I hope that the next scan is wonderful!
20 weeks! Congratulations on this great milestone. You’re ½ way there, how exciting is that? I hear on the appt-related anxiety, it is very stressful . Glad that everything is fine though
Congrats on being half way there! YAY! :)
Sounds like the apointment went okay. Hopefully the next ones goes not just as well but even better!
Big congratulations on making the half way mark :)
I think a glass of something non-boozy is in order
xx
J
(hugs) and congrats on the half way mark! Glad to hear the appt went well.
I'm glad that the appointment seemed to go smoothly. It's horrible that they continue to make you rehash everything, though. Hopefully someone gets the hint that making you jump through hoops for basic answers is stressful in itself!
I hope you enjoyed the day with the hubby!!
<3
I'm glad the appointment went well and, more importantly, the person you saw was sympathetic and understanding. It's hard enough without constant poking and prodding just when you thought you were done with it.
I am so happy to hear your appointment went so well. I am so SORRY for all the drama you have been through... I hope things keep coming back good!! Congrats on the 1/2 milestone-you are doing wonderfully!
YAY for making it to the halfway point! What a wonderful milestone! Not long now until you hit viability. It is all coming together so wonderfully.
I am so sorry that the appts just keep adding the stress instead of comforting you. You WILL manage this and get through it. XOXO
Half way wooohooo! That's great. I'm thinking of you everyday girl and praying that things keep coming back a-okay. I hope we both have lots of good things ahead! Oh yeah...love the name you suggested for my alias name!
Congrats on the half way mark!!! And I am so glad the appt went well.
I hope your appointments continue to go well and that you are not put thhrough any more anxiety. Happy half way point!
Congratulations to you for hitting the 20 week mark!!! I'm sorry that you have been dealing with all of this doctor drama, and I wish they were more accommodating.
Hoping that you get some great (yet solid) information at your appointment on the 19th. :)
Happy 20 weeks! I'm so glad that things went well today and I'm glad that you told them how you feel. I hope the next 20 weeks are a breeze! :)
HUGS!
Hey, I am so glad to hear that you had a great appointment. Like you, because now I know what causes all the stroke in my mother's family and my Protein S Deficiency came up in IF testing, I will be on Vitamin E and Ginko Biloba for the rest of my life, one I'm done with pregnancy and off the blood thinner. A small pain, but I don't want to have a stroke. Very good information that you got.
Halfway there, hurray! I hope you feel much better after the next appointment.
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