Dusting & Cleaning

The day after my D&C or what the nurses affectionately called the Dusting & Cleaning.

Did it hurt? No, only the anesthetic makes you groggy. The nurses gave me their condolences thinking that it was recent. They had never heard of a D&C being performed after four months, and were even more surprised when they inquired about which doctor let me go so far, being fertility challenged. He has a great reputation, and an office staff that is falling apart.

The facility was nice and clean. The nurses were friendly, knowledgeable, and had an appropriate sense of humor.  Upon waking up from the surgery, it felt as if I was having cramps similar to the first day of my period. Nothing Pamprin could not handle. I was more dizzy and lightheaded from the anesthesia. My instructions were simple. No Driving for 24 hours. No alcohol. No signing of legal documents. Do not stay alone for the remainder of the day. Watch out for fever, increased pain, redness, swelling, drainage or discharge. No sex for two weeks. After all, this was a symptom of my husband giving me cooties! After the surgery, my friend and my hubby went to a local restaurant where I could get a bowl of soup. Clearman's Northwood’s Inn located in Covina, California. It was fabulous as always, and then I was ready to sleep. And sleep I did. About 4 hours after lunch.

I took a day off of work which I do not like doing. I am feeling heavy headed still. With the day off I am going stir crazy. My head has been spinning. My aunt Maddie called and asked how I was feeling. I mentioned that I will be ovulating on January 3^rd (my cousins CeeCee’s birthday). She then said, “be careful what you wish for”. I have no clue how to respond to that. Sometimes I don't know if she listens to the words coming out of her mouth. I'm 37 year old now. I have come to the conclusion that any of my friends who needs a kid break from their own kiddos; I can help them. I'm at peace with whatever God has planned for my future. In the meantime, I have a lot of resting to do. Hopefully I can post some pictures of my cleaned uterus later; or maybe not. It really does look like cobwebs that needed a good ole’ dusting & cleaning.

 © All original content copyright Nancy De Lazzaro Brannum, 2013-2013

D&C Day

Its 1:13 am. I will be finally getting the D&C surgery I should have had about four months ago. Inevitably when one is supposed to have surgery, one should not eat or drink even water before, which is when the subject is the thirstiest.

I went to see my new doctor, Dr. B, a week ago. He received all my records from me after I picked them up myself from Dr. W. He said that we would get this surgery a.s.a.p. and definitely before Christmas. I received all except for the one blood test that I hand delivered from Dr. L on my first appointment when we discovered our pregnancy, which they conveniently lost. This would explain why I was told when I miscarried from Ms. Mona,“you might be low in progesterone.” Ya think?!

After looking at my records and my ultrasound I have an Endometrial Polyp. Most likely from the miscarriage, and why my HGC levels have not balanced out, and why I feel like I’m stuck in a Doctor Who episode(Amy Pond was pregnant/not pregnant too).  I am ready to put this behind me. I know that this was developmental and not malpractice. I do believe that I was neglected. I should not have bled in a healthy pregnancy. I should not have had to take the amount of blood tests after my miscarriage, or had to ask for a surgery, ultrasound or medication. When I was having nine day periods after this miscarriage, the Doctor should have been proactive.  

No one will fight for you, or for your journey. Do not let anyone in your health treatment pass you over. I didn't want anyone to take a day off of work, so I was having one of my dearest friend take me; who is regrettably unemployed at the moment. Unfortunately Randy is going to take the day off of work regardless, because of a gout flare-up. So in the later morning hours we will both be off to the doctors. Wish me and him luck please.

© All original content copyright Nancy De Lazzaro Brannum, 2013-2013

Nine blood tests and counting....

How many months and blood tests does one Doctor need?

I have lost the count after nine.

The fact that we are now in mid-November, having cycles that are lasting nine miserable days, and I have yet to find out if I need Medication, an ultrasound or a D&C (Dilation and Curettage procedure, a surgical procedure to remove abnormal tissues in the uterine lining). So I do what every hormonal woman would do after nine blood tests; I called my Gynecologist office and said that I am not going to get another blood test and that they needed to decide now which of the three I should have.

The doctor decided that it would be a D&C. Sounds simple enough, right? No. In order to get the D&C I needed approval from my insurance. So while I am vacationing in Seattle; I get a call from the doctor’s office, and they have the approval. I make my appointment, and the scheduler wants me to get a blood and urine test. Ugh! Really!? Another? You can’t be serious? Sadly they were. So Tuesday November 12; after flying home from Seattle, I go straight to the doctor’s office to get that lab slip. 

You would think that I would have some paperwork waiting for me, or even the directions to where this surgery will take place, but no. Instead I needed to fight for the lab slip from the coordinator, who tells me knows that I need to fill out paperwork. She never said any of this before. We have a discussion that basically comes down to me receiving my lab paperwork, and the coordinator will talk to the doctor. Apparently there are some consent forms that I need to fill out first. I suspect that they would give me some sort of “what to do” form, as well as an address where the procedure would take place. I get my lab work fulfilled on Wednesday and wait for the coordinators call. I never get one. I call on Friday and only get the answering service who said, "what do you want me to do about it". Good question. I have no idea? What action do you take when your physician is not paying attention to you for four months after your miscarriage?  They were unhelpful and ended up hanging up on me. Now they are acting as if I am not negotiable. Rightly so! I have been patient for four months. Now I have gone from zero to bitch in three seconds flat. So I do what any hormonally charged infertile woman would do after having tolerance for over four months. I decided that this is not the OB/GYN for me. Ms. Mona and Dr. L have treated me like the needy stepchild who is annoying you. After having so much loyalty as a patient, this was not the ending I would have envisioned. Dr. L has helped deliver my family and friends.

Once Randy and I have made this decision, there is no turning back, but now the calls come all morning long. First I got a call back from the answering service asking if I want them to call the scheduler. I said no. just make sure that the Doctor’s time has been respected more than mine and let him know that I will not be there on Monday. Next the hospital called. I finally had it and expressed everything that has happened to me for the past four months. I was asked to tell the director of the hospital. I was called back by him, and he expressed his concern and said that he personally was going to report to the doctor. I mentioned that this will not change my mind. 

The Monday that I was supposed to have my D&C, Randy and I made a visit to my general practitioner and asked for a referral. I did my homework well. I called my insurance group and inquired about all the OB/GYN’s, called them all to see who’s office was friendly and helpful and who was taking more patients. Together we made a decision with my general practitioner and ordered a Pelvic Ultrasound and a referral to another local doctor.

 © All original content copyright Nancy De Lazzaro Brannum, 2013-2013