I wrote this a few days after everything happened. I've been on the fence about publishing it. Mostly because it's such a personal thing that happened to Cody and I. Up until this point we've only told a handful of people. It's because I want people to hear it from us, not from another source. I want them to know it's our story, and I want it to be shared on my terms. I realize now that it's on the internet it's anyone's story, but for a while it was just ours. I want to share with all of you our experience.
All the odd symptoms finally added up and we discovered I had an Ectopic Pregnancy on August 25, I was 6 weeks pregnant.
I was just sitting at my desk when I felt a super sharp pain on my right side. At first I thought it was just gas, so I laid down under my desk. My work mom Lori saw me and told that was not going to happen. We went into an empty office and she arranged chairs so I could lay down. I laid there for a few minutes, but no relief. I went to the bathroom thinking maybe I was just constipated (TMI I know), but nope. I went back to my office to find Lori and my other work mom Michelle was there. She told me to call up to L&D to see if I should check into the ER. They immediately said yes. So Michelle walked me to the ER where I was convinced it was just a kidney stone. (My last one was senior year in high school) I even called Cody and told him not to leave work that it was just a kidney stone. (The pain was in the exact same spot and felt similar.) I got checked in and I felt like I was being so dramatic, but they took me back to a bed super quick.
I was just sitting at my desk when I felt a super sharp pain on my right side. At first I thought it was just gas, so I laid down under my desk. My work mom Lori saw me and told that was not going to happen. We went into an empty office and she arranged chairs so I could lay down. I laid there for a few minutes, but no relief. I went to the bathroom thinking maybe I was just constipated (TMI I know), but nope. I went back to my office to find Lori and my other work mom Michelle was there. She told me to call up to L&D to see if I should check into the ER. They immediately said yes. So Michelle walked me to the ER where I was convinced it was just a kidney stone. (My last one was senior year in high school) I even called Cody and told him not to leave work that it was just a kidney stone. (The pain was in the exact same spot and felt similar.) I got checked in and I felt like I was being so dramatic, but they took me back to a bed super quick.
I saw the Dr., he said what he was going to draw some blood and run some tests. I made sure he knew I was pregnant. Right off the bat they started an IV, drew labs and gave me morphine. Shortly after that they took me back for my ultrasound. I know everyone that is taking care of me, so I knew I was in good hands. I go into the ultrasound super nervous (shaking uncontrollably from adrenal and morphine). I know the tech can't tell me anything, but I also know she wouldn't lie to my face. We come up with a code phrase, "call your husband"(because Cody is still at work) if something is wrong. She does an ultrasound of my kidneys, everything looks good. Then my uterus. I knew immediately that it was empty. She tried to reassure me that I may have just not been as far along as I thought I was. (but I had my HCG levels checked and had read that once you hit 1,000 you can see something on an ultrasound.) At this point she informs me we have to do a trans-vaginal ultrasound. I empty my bladder and prepare for the exam. Everything is fine until she hits a very sensitive part. She immediately tells me to call my husband. I ask through sobs if there's a baby she says yes, but doesn't tell me anything else. I guess on my own and start full on crying. Cody is there immediately and we head back to the ER. I cry a lot. The ER doctor breaks the news and tells me that it's an ectopic pregnancy and that he's going to call my OBGYN.
Well, mine is in Scotland, so it's his practice partner that comes to talk to me. I already knew what it meant, surgery STAT. Originally, I was hoping we would be able to save the tube. The Dr. explained that even if we did save the tube, this would just keep happening. She was super worried that it may be in the process of rupturing. I was taken to the OR two hours later. At this point in the room with me are Cody, my two work moms', Rod, and Dana. It felt good to have all of them by my side. I was terrified going into surgery, but I came out and everything went as planned.
I was rolled up to a hospital room where I stayed the night. I slept roughly from midnight until 4 am rounds. My doctor came and visited me around 10 a.m.. She told me that she thought the tube may have been defective all along, but the other tube looked "beautiful", and my ovaries were also in great shape. I was visited by a few of my close friends that I work with and my department sent me flowers with an amazing card. I was discharged around 4 p.m.. My biggest fear and my "Mount Everest", was getting up the three flights of stairs to our apartment. Cody was by my side the entire time and made sure we went at my pace. I defeated the stairs and spent the next 2ish weeks in bed.
The silver lining among all the choas was my support system. Cody was by my side every minute, of everyday. He couldn't physically be with me, but texted me while he was at work and came home for lunch. He made sure all of my needs were met. He made sure I showered to feel human again, that I had food in my belly, that I was never in more pain than I needed to be in, and that I knew I was loved. My parents, sisters, and in laws check up on me daily. Leah flew in for a couple of days to just sit with me and binge watch reality shows. This was the hardest thing I've ever endured, but I'm so blessed with the love of family and friends.
