The discerning reader may have noted, in my first post for this pregnancy series, that I mentioned having many doctors. Those close to me know basically my entire medical portfolio, but I wanted to share it here, in case anyone else out there is having similar issues, but also to share what you can do if you have any of the same problems as me.
Pelvic Pain
When I was pregnant the first time, around the second trimester, I started having some bad pelvic pain, but just got one of those support belts, because, I figured, it was just regular pregnancy stuff. It wasn’t. Googling issues in pregnancy is hard; like, really hard, because most things you (I) google(d) seem(ed) normal…you just have to kind of know if your problem is more than what the internet is vaguely suggesting is normal. Sometimes the pain was really, really, bad, especially as Gwendolyn grew bigger.
It wasn’t until I was released for exercise that I wondered if something was amiss, as I was still having a lot of pelvic pain, and some abdominal pain. I waited until 12 weeks, and even lunging caused tremendous pain. Through exercise, I got better—I had had a very sedentary pregnancy—but I would still have awful pain. Due to some other issues, uncovered when I went for an IUD discussion, I was seeing my gynecologist every couple of weeks. For 2 months, literally every 2-3 weeks; 6 months of semi-regular visits. We tried literally everything in the book to try and help with the pain (that we thought could be related to my other health problems), but it we never fixed it. Finally, I asked if chiropractic might help, and she said she thought chiropractors were great. She didn’t have any recommendations, though, so it took me a very long time to see one.
Once I did, though, everything changed. I had to go on an 8-month plan (yikes!), but it was absolutely worth it! More than anything else, chiropractic has changed my health for the best. The pelvic pain went away, and I can finally sit with good posture, and many other pains that have come up have been easily dealt with.
Diastasis Recti
On an update visit shortly after starting chiropractic, I told my gynecologist that I thoguht I might have diastasis recti. I had never checked before that week, but could fit 3 fingers in. It took me until 15 months postpartum to check, because I was a very fit first time mom, who was under 30 years old. I had none of the ‘traditional markers’. Also, pain is not a typical sign, but it was for me. She checked, and, sure enough, diastasis recti. She referred me to a physical therapist, and I immediately noticed a huge change in my stomach. See, I was okay with my postpartum body, but after a year, I started realizing most girls about my size didn’t look the way I did postpartum. My physical therapist, who I saw until 11 weeks pregnant, says her guess for why I have diastasis recti is simply due to genetics, and having more relaxin. Bad cards, really. After doing physical therapy, though I’m not totally 100%, my stomach no longer hurts a bunch when it has small children or animals on it—hallelujah!
Lady Issues
I am not going into details here, but it suffiseth me to say that I saw my gynecologist for 6 months, over these issues, until she decided my body is just like this now, and I shouldn’t get an IUD.
Heart
The scariest and worst problem, by far have been heart-related. Just barely after 3 months postpartum, I started having palpitations. Some were small, but a lot were huge. Like, feel-your-heart-pause huge. I’d get them when I sat down, or stood up, or randomly whether I was sitting up or lying down. I was also very, very aware of my heartbeat, and had many skipped beats, plus low resting heart rate, and extremely fast heartbeats other times.
We went to urgent care the day of my grandpa’s funeral due to the severity. It was so, so scary, because, honestly, for Gwendolyn’s first year, I often wondered how much of her life I would see. I have had 3 EKG’s, and worn a halter monitor 3 times (2 days; 1 week; 2 weeks), and had an echo done. I was finally referred to a cardiologist (but the specialist was unconcerned, and wouldn’t see me). They could see my heart rate could get super low resting (48 bpm), and really high while walking (the highest was nearly 200 while exercising once), but it was structurally fine, and the electrical issue, every doctor has said, isn’t going to be a problem—‘fly, have babies, you’re good’.
It’s been very difficult, as heart issues are f-ing scary. I hated being on the playground with an 18 month old, and having crazy, crazy, crazy rapid heart rate.
Thankfully, as time has gone on, it has subsided considerably. I had a doctor explain my premature beats to me. I no longer notice my ‘off’ heartbeat anymore, though I still feel skips, sometimes large ones, from time to time. Overall, though, I’m just glad it’s less intense now, and hope I’m prepared, or completely avoid it postpartum this time.
Ocular Migraines
Around the same time I started seeing a GP, and my physical therapist, I started getting ocular migraines. I had never had these before. The fist time, I was on the phone with my mom, and started having big while dots in my vision. I tried to Google it, but literally could. not. read. I got off the phone, and we all went to urgent care. Again. They told me what it was, and I was just relieved to not be dying. Unfortunately, I had them with some regularity for a while. It seemed that accidentally getting an eyeful of bright light would trigger them—terrible if you’re out and about with a toddler.
Luckily, though, meditation helped me be able to self-treat them. Instead of dealing for a couple of hours, I learned it could end it within 15 minutes if I turned off lights, covered my eyes, and just focused on my breathing. It really worked, and I’m happy to say, I haven’t had them in many months, though I’m still wary of staring bright lights (like when you’re on an exam table at the doctor’s).
Breast Pain
Also at the same time this other stuff was happening at the beginning of 2018, I started having breast pain. It lasted for a month before I called my OBGYN. The nurse was very unhelpful, and wouldn’t set up an appointment, suggesting I wait (more than a full month??)—but I insisted on an appointment, so she said they could tell me nothing, and set up an ultrasound for me instead.
Now, I’ve had yeast/thrush infections a couple of times, and had that treated, but this was pain, and itching, and it was different. The ultrasound found nothing, but my chiropractor, while doing a breast release (which was very helpful), found a lump. I went to my gynecologist who confirmed it—but it moved a lot, so no wonder I hadn’t located it. I went for another ultrasound, but the actual doctor, not just the ultrasound girl, told me to google my symptoms. I kid you not. Then they told my OBGYN some rubbish about a benign cyst, when they both told me they could see nothing, no lump at all. The pain has gone. but the itching has not.
Itchy armpit
I have had itching for about a year now. Sometimes, it’ll go away for a few days, or the rare weeks. But usually it’s there. I’m not sure what to do at this point. My gynecologist said, if it gets worse, they’ll send me to a specialist. Not sure if not going away after a year is worse. So, this one’s still a mystery. There’s a skin tag now, too. I don’t know, man.
GERD
I had terrible, unbelievable heartburn in my first pregnancy, and didn’t have any prescription meds for it. The GP I was seeing wouldn’t focus on the issues I came to him for, but put my on meds for heartburn. After it was over, I was worse than ever. Pregnancy bad, or worse. I mentioned this to my a m a z i n g allergist, and he went above and beyond, sending me to a throat doctor, who then set up an endoscopy for me.
I was terrified. I hadn’t been trying to fix this issue when I had so many others, and now I was going to be put under?! Never been under, never had stitches, or broken a bone…but my doctor doing the procedure was literally a saint. The endoscopy was easy, and I had REM sleep, after a hard night! No problems, but a hernia (diaphragm in stomach), and some ulcers. They gave me better meds, that wouldn’t be so hard to get off of. I was meant to have a follow-up, but I’m a months late now…At the end of the meds, my heartburn had never been so non-noticable. It was the best. Three weeks of pure health bliss. And then I got pregnant again.
I went into these details hoping to help moms, or moms-to-be out there, both with knowing to trust yourself when you suspect something is up, and what to do about it. Also, I think it’s good to let people know what’s going on with you. These past 3 years (because my first pregnancy was not great for me) have been a health nightmare, and people just never think that anything would ever be amiss. But sometimes they are, and that’s fine.You can get help, you can fix things, or get them under control. I’ve had such a plethora of issues, but it really is worth it to get help—you are worth it, and your family will be better with you better.
Best of luck to all moms, no matter where you are in the journey.
