I entered the doc's office upbeat and chipper. There was one new nurse so Ginger, the regular nurse, was explaining that I have pre-eclampsia.
"Yes, we are aware that she's not pregnant but she got it after delivery."
I told them I was ready to have the diagnosis lifted.
They did the blood pressure reading and told me that they wanted me to sit and relax a bit....I did...they took it again....I sat some more and took some deep breaths and thought "happy thoughts".....finally on the third try it was 138/82.....they kept that one. The doc came in and said that it was much, much better but that they want it at 135/85 or lower consistently. It isn't.
This is where I began my begging, pleading and whimpering. "I cannot survive three more weeks of bed rest." "My babies are leaving for WA in two weeks...don't make me stay in bed." The upshot is that I'm on "modified" bed rest for three more weeks. I have to take the meds for at least three more weeks (they thought I'd be off of them today). If, at the end of the 6 week post-partum period, my blood pressure remains high it will no longer be considered a "pregnancy condition" and will be diagnosed as "hypertension" (is that the right word?). They will then send me back to the base to see if they want to keep me on meds or if they'll take me off.
I asked if I could begin going to the gym now and she said "absolutely not". I asked if I could begin WALKING and she said, "Wellll....o.k. but check your blood pressure readings." I'm not sure what "modified" means medically but I'm sure I can "modify" bed rest.
This is how *I* modified "bed rest" today. I started by going and making the final payment on my china. They did NOT have it wrapped and ready to go so I have to pick it up tomorrow. Since I was in the area I HAD to check out my favorite antique/thrift store - Grammy's Attic, and another antique store.....looking for a china hutch that is cheaper than the one that has caught my eye. I did find a pre-WWII Bavarian cupboard/sideboard.....for 1/3 the price of the china hutch.....Krista and I then went to lunch, the post office and finally to buy groceries at the commissary. It was so fun to be driving again!!!!!
I also went to the base to get my meds filled. They said they didn't have the med that the doc prescribed but they could give me another one that was "just as good". The more I thought about it they more it didn't sound right. I told them I'd like them to call my doc. They couldn't get her right away (she was at the hospital) so I told them that I'd take it to the clinic's pharmacy tomorrow rather than get their new and improved medicine. By the time I reached home my docs office had called twice...and the phone was ringing. I am absolutely NOT to switch meds. The one she prescribed is a time release and it is a better drug than the one the base wanted to substitute. We are lucky that we CAN get our meds at other pharmacies and just pay a $3 co-pay. I should have just got it there this a.m.
That's my big day so far. I still plan to feed Stacia, make Rice Krispy treats with Arielle, cook dinner MYSELF, go for a walk to see the deer, and then see what the evening holds.
Thus I "modify"....
