Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Santa Wish List: Immune System

Okay in years passed this has been mildly entertaining but enough's enough. To truly appreciate this you will need a small bit of information, we're pregnant! So the due date is May 1st. Now for my endeavors:

Part 1: The Flu Shot
I swear everywhere I go everyone has been talking about the flu shot and how pregnant women are in a critical category to get inoculated. Dutifully I show up at our primary care's office after calling to confirm I simply need to show up. Little did I know I would be dragging both my girls through the maze of the hospital to find the little clinic in the basement. I probably exposed them to hordes of awful things. The little man behind the desk (read punk kid with engaged earrings) informs me he will need to speak with his supervisor.
"Sorry Ma'am, the flu shots are for established patients only."
I explain that my brother-in-law has swine flu and that all my in-laws have been patients for years and we've just moved to the state and for pete sake the doctor's name is on my insurance card.
"Let me check with my super." 20 minutes later he comes back.
"It will be $80 per shot." What, is it laced in diamonds?
"Sure. Whatever."
"Umm...just a minute." Again a 15 minute droll.
"Yep even if you are willing to pay, and though the family urgency we need to keep the remaining vaccinations for ESTABLISHED patients. But you can go to Walgreens and they have them for $25."

Walgreens after waiting for 20 minutes and filling out all the paperwork. "Sorry we can't give the flu shot to pregnant women or children under 13."

Luckily I found I could go to the instacare and my insurance would cover it and Katelyn's was $40. Nate went to Walgreens. I scheduled with Sarah's pediatrician office earlier and was planning on her $14 shot during the flu clinic. I called to cancel Katelyn's part of the appointment and the front desk forgot to schedule it in the computer after our very looong conversation and all 2,400 vaccinations were already scheduled out to other patients. We took Sarah to the Ogden Clinic for $20.

Mind you the Weber Morgan Health Department should have been stocked for the whole family but because they get their doses from a government allotted shipment it was delayed and so sometime at the end of October it is expected they will have the regular flu shot as well as the H1N1.

Part 2: The Flu...it's believed I had the Swine Flu
After all that work you would think we'd get a sick free pass, right? Wrong. Less than one week later the horrible flu reared it's ugly head but only for me (thankfully). After fever, profuse retching (did I mention I was already taking Zofran to keep something down before all this madness?), migraines, crazy wicked cough, and runny nose I started to get extreme vertigo evertime I glanced towards the tv. 6 days later I thought I was coming out of it with just a stubborn cough.
The instacare swab tested for influenza A which was negative but not always conclusive for ruling out Swine flu and the office never tested for the 24 hour blood confirmation...

Part 3: The Baby Scare
Apparantly one of those coughing or retching fits caused a tear in the placenta. Severe bleeding and cramping ensued and my OB couldn't give much more sentiments than there was a chance the baby could pull through but I would have to wait in bed for 2 days and then she could see me in the office. (She did tell me I could go to the ER but I would more likely expose myself to more nasty diseases and they would only be able to supply IV liquids).
Happily this morning we were blessed with the sound of a strong heartbeat and visual confirmation that I am healing from the tear. Life has been limited for the next week and a half to small quarters on "partial bed rest" but I am overwhelmed with grattitude for friends and family that have lifted the load with the girls.

Case in point I think I need some immunity help. Nate has repeatedly told me I have the immune system of a 90 year old woman.

PS. I cemented that I do indeed have the best husband in the whole world. Thanks Nate for all your help, love ya babes. Oooh...I forgot the craziest part, I have lost 12lbs in 2 weeks from this madness. Those dounuts on Halloween are going to be absolutely delectable!!!

31 comments:

Amy said...

What horrors.

At my last pregnant appt the medical assistant just asked me if I wanted one, I said sure, and she whipped it out and gave it to me 1 minute later. Weird that those places you went to were so odd about it!

kate said...

first, congrats! another cute starley on his or her way!

second, what a stinkin bummer about all the flu muck and run around nonsense! glad everything is looking ok. take it easy my dear, and i wish you many sickness free months!

heather said...

ummmm, what?? i'm so calling you tomorrow (when i have a signal...we'll be driving down to anaheim)...i hope you can answer your phone from your bed...and do i have your current number? i'll have to look at my email again. congratulations!!! i'm so excited for you and glad you got to hear the heartbeat! so sorry about the flu :( have you ever tried emergen-c? we got the H1N1 flumist today and i just took one to be on the safe side.

AJ said...

Must be a Utah specific law because we give shots to pregnant women all the time. Hope you get better.

Heather K said...

What a disaster! I can't believe all of that. That's part of the reason I just don't go anywhere with 2 kids by myself. I can't handle it.
Congrats on your exciting news! I was miserably sick with both of my kids (zofran & all). I did have a few b12 & b6 shots. They seemed to help me for a few days. I almost had a line put in for IV fluids. So not fun! Who is your OB? I hope you're feeling well now.
Congrats again.

Rachel said...

Yikes! Glad to hear you are on the mend.

Nanci said...

Congratulations.

Katie said...

oh i'm so sorry all that happened. that sounds absolutely wretched. to be sick with the flu AND pregnant - so scary! especially after all your dilligence in getting the shot. i'm so relieved that the baby is ok. i got your message last night. how nice are you to call to see how I am!! after all this! you take good care of yourself and let everyone around you take good care of you too!

Holly said...

Congratulations on the pregnancy...hope the rest of it is fairly non-eventful! Hope you're doing better soon!

Lisa said...

Congrats Stacey and Nate! I'm sorry for your "immunity" problems. I hope everything will get healthy for you and stay that way. We need to get together sometime, with the Wade's too, a little dental reunion. I hear Bryce is going to fly out sometime soon to check out all of the guys offices. It'd be fun to catch up. Take care!

ashes said...

Congrats on the baby! That is so exciting. I hope you feel better from the flu though.

Angela Hill said...

oi!!! well, congratulations on the pregnancy and I am very happy that you are in fact still pregos. sorry about all the other problems, they sound horrid!

erin said...

have mercy, stace... where to begin? yay for baby number 3!! i'm glad you have your own swine flu antibodies now. and please, please eat a couple of extra donuts for me. my doctor has already slapped my wrists, and i've got 3 more months of pregnancy. gonna be a lovely holiday season.

Leslie said...

Very excited to hear your exspecting. Isn't the flu season so much scarier... either this year or being pregnant, maybe both. I'm due in January and am really keeping the hugs and handshakes to myself, cause it's just plain SCARY! Hope everything else goes smooth for you and you get a healthy holiday season and healthy BABY, too.

Nicole said...

Congratulations! Happy to hear that the world will blessed with another cute Starley!

The Long Family said...

Yay for pregnancy! CALL ME - I can't find your new number!!!!

Shannon said...

Oh my goodness, Stace...I'm so glad to hear that things are looking up for you. What a scary experience, though. I dare say that you can be cleared from all other infections, viruses, and other miscellaneous bacteria for the remainder of the winter!

jennseda said...

I'm so glad that the baby is okay! Just stinks that you're pregnant and getting illnesses...I'm still on Reglan, but not alternating the Zofran anymore...18 weeks and a little bit better...at least we get a baby at the end:)

April said...

oh my gosh!!!!! Stacy, it is horrible to be pregnant and then to have such a scare. I am so sorry, BELIEVE me I know what its like to bleed in pregnancy, no fun at all. I hope it is healed and you are well. I am so excited for you and I hope the cold/flu is gone from your house and never comes back.
When I get back from my trip we need to hang. COngrats, your in my prayers for sure.

Heidi said...

Congrats on the baby! That's awful to have the flu and be pregnant. I hope you are feeling better and can stay healthy!

Holly said...

I got your message, and I was so happy!!! I am so glad things turned around. We've been thinking about you Ü
{it's me holly, i can't figure out what i did to my profile...Ü}

Clark and Liesel said...

Congrats on the baby!! How exciting! Glad you are feeling better!

adventure knitter said...

Wow! That's all i can say...wow. seriously, all that for the flu shot? this is why is never get one... But hooray for a baby!! That's fantastic!

Tiffany said...

Congrats on being pregnant, and I'm sorry you got sick. I've been worried about it with my kids cause I haven't been able to find a place to get one for them yet. I hope you feel better soon!

Amber said...

Stacey-
I am glad that you are doing better. I agree though this flu shot stuff is the pits. I went to Walgreens told them I wanted a shot for me and the kiddos, was given the impression all was well and then waited for 45 hellish minutes with my unhappy children only to find out they don't give shots to those under 13! Neeless to say I was not a happy camper. Oh well, I got my shot and we are still looking for the kids. Guess that if the flu hits us at least mom can take care of everyone. :)
We still need to get together.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your pregnancy!! Gee so far we have had 2 around the same time, so does this mean I will be getting pregnant soon?!
Can't wait to find out what you are having
Deborah T

Justin & Erin Linton Family said...

WOW!! That was an amazing story, Congrats on the pregnancy and sorry about the illness. Hope you start feeling better.. Hey we are going to be out there sometime after your baby is born. We will have to take a peak at the cutie!

heather said...

i thought i left a comment here...sorry, i'm totally a jerk and haven't called you yet...by this weekend hopefully :) congrats!

Lisa said...

Oh wow - that is a flu story. So I'm going to post some tips to staying healthy on my blog. Check it out when you have a minute.

Olivia said...

Congrats on the good news! And glad to hear that things are looking better with all the sickness. Best of luck with the pregnancy... and the rest of the winter.

Jessica D. said...

Congratulations to you guys! I am so sorry for all the trouble you've gone through...if it makes you feel any better the only one in our house to have gotten the
H1N1 shot is Liam (and he's only had 1/2 dose). I cant find anywhere that will give me, Bill or Connor one!!! So frustrating. I am excited to hear more baby news!!!