New, Confussed, All of the Above

Eminfrederick

I'm new to The Bump and any sort of forums surrounding pregnancy. There are so many acronyms flying around, I feel like someone spilled a bowl of alphabet soup. I know every new forum comes with a unique set of terms and I usually just ask in the comments... but there are boatloads in each post and truthfully, I am lost before I even begin reading! Does someone have a link to some sort of Bump glossary? I saw a post about it, but there were only three terms listed. YIKES!!!

You might have already targeted me as some sort of grump, but I'm not... well not all of the time, at least. I'm just a bit frustrated right now... and here is my story. My husband and I set out in March to clean up our act and get our bodies "baby ready." We both quit smoking (finally) and I went off a series of medications I was on for one reason or another that were not baby-safe. We tied the knot in May and were ready to start trying for babies... only one problem. My job took me away for a bit... in an environment that wasn't exactly hospitable to my health. (I have Ulcerative Colitis.) Everything flaired and I landed in the ER. After 50 million tests and needle jabs, we were told I my body would not even allow me to conceive until it repaired itself. Sometimes this could take a few weeks and other times, it could take months or years. I seem to be going back into remission and have a final test next Monday. We are hoping for good news and a green light to even start trying again.

Today, my husband and I had a long conversation about next Monday's appointment and what a green light might mean. I made the mistake of running out to buy a few "getting ready to try" books and now have myself completely backed into a corner freaking out. I hate reading books... for this reason... I obsess about everything not being perfect. I already talked to my doctor. I have been taking the right vitamins and made the necessary lifestyle changes... but I am still freaking out. One of the medications I went off of in March was for depression and anxiety... so not stressing is a bit impossible right now. The alternative meds they gave me didn't help... I just feel like I'm stuck. I feel very alone and very stuck.

On top of all of this, my cousin is visiting for the weekend with her new baby and I can't help but envy. It would be one thing if we were trying and had no success, but right now we aren't even allowed to try. I feel miserable. I guess I just hopped on here hoping for someone to talk to... someone to listen... someone to tell me they have been here... someone to tell me I'm not crazy. So that is what brings be to The Bump.

Everyone says this trying to have a baby should be happy, but right now I feel quite the opposite. I guess I'm just looking for a little hope.

sgdc2011

If you scroll to the bottom on the left you will see the bump glossary- that has all the terms in it, I still don't know them all so I know how you feel.

 Good luck on Monday!  Everyone freaks out a little, it's a big lifestyle change.  Don't stress to much about it, just relax and enjoy the ride.

kelsiliz

Ah, well hopefully I can give you some hope.  First off I agree with the alphabet soup I actually laughed when I read that because I've been having such a hard time understanding people! 

Second I've had a lot of medical issues and I just wanted to say good for you for trying to clean up your act (quitting smoking etc etc) before trying to get pregnant!  That says a lot!  So I just tend to think differently than most doctors and I prefer treating the problem and not the symptom.  So I also had GI (gastro intestinal) issues and they thought I might have polyps, or ulcerative colitis.  Which I might have.  But I don't anymore.  I went to all these specialist did all these uncomfortable test and I spent tons of money and ultimately no one could tell me why I was having all this pain.  I went to a holistic doctor and he determined I have food allergies....and intolerance and sensitivities to TONS of things.  He told me things that took me years to figure out.  For example I'm allergic to most toothpastes and it took me probably 15 years to figure out what exactly was in the tooth paste that I was allergic too.  It was just a slight irritation that got worse over the year.  I've been off those foods for over a year now (except I'm pregnant and now craving those foods) and pretty much all my GI problems are gone.  I was eating really healthy, but still I was eating the wrong things and it created inflammation in my body and appeared as ulcerative colitis and other diseases.  I couldn't lose weight for the life of me and I always felt terrible.  However after changing my diet completely (and it's a lot I'm now eating things free of: gluten, dairy, seafood, citrus, soy, preservatives, surfactants, phosphates, nitrates, sulfates and dyes).  And I'm finally feeling better.  Immediately I lost 20 lbs and at my ideal body weight (without a crazy amount of exercise) and I have more energy (well I did before I got pregnant). 

So that was long winded, but I'm sure your doctors appointment will go well and try not to stress that's not good for trying to get pregnant.  But maybe there's more to your diagnosis and if you want to try an allergy free diet for a few months it might be in your favor.  I had tried countless elimination diets, but nothing like this.  Good luck and I hope everything goes as planned.  

 

Dr.Loretta

Welcome.

I strongly suggest you find either an alternative depression/anxiety med, or some therapy, to help deal with your feelings. I would worry that PPD is a possibility, and there are ways to manage it both during pregnancy and beyond.

GL to you. I hope your tests turn out well and that you get the green light soon.