Frustrated (long vent)

Brummy14

As I posted on Tuesday I started having Braxton-Hicks contractions pretty much non-stop (basically just the tightening across the right side of my stomach with some associated light menstrual-like cramping along with it), which earned me a hospital visit on Weds -- so they gave me an IV in case I was dehydrated (I wasn't - I'm basically drowning myself these days), along with a muscle relaxant to try to get things under control. Cervical check was fine -- everything closed and looking fine. The meds calmed things down, but by the time I got home, they picked right back up again. 

I spent the next few days going back and forth with the docs -- they put me on Procardia once a day, then upped it to twice a day....still no impact on the frequency of contractions. So, today I got to get another hospital trip --  another cervical check (fine) and an u/s to check both h/bs (also fine) -- they changed up my meds so now I'm taking Procardia every 6 hours (including getting to wake up in the middle of the night to stay on that schedule).

I'm a little frustrated with my docs right now -- because they more or less lectured me for not calling the emergency line over the weekend when the BH contractions didn't stop (this was after they said they would call me back on Friday with a possible change to my meds -- and never called me back. I specifically called them hours before the office closed to have this discussion and get guidance on how to handle should it continue). And, then today -- they're like, "Oh, what the nurse said they saw on the monitors was just irritability, not actual contractions, because they're only lasting every 10-20 seconds." Oh, great, thanks for clarifying. That would have been helpful 6 DAYS ago. So, apparently contractions every 6-7 minutes don't count until they're a minute long. Or something. ::screams::

Then they said I have a 3PM appt at the perinatal center for a cervical length check -- until the OB's office calls and says NOT to go to that appointment because they'll check all sorts of stuff they don't need to check, and rather come into the office directly tomorrow so they can check it. WTF. I was so beyond confused (I mean, they're the one who called in the cervical check to begin with -- not the hospital residents).  

Argh. Venting. I'm still a bit peeved by the whole thing right now. In any case, I'm going back into the office tomorrow for a separate cervical length check with them. Patience is wearing a bit thin. 

The good news is -- I've been super pleased by the nursing staff at the hospital both times I've been there, so that's a good thing.

::deep breath::

yinyang124

I could have written most of this. "Uterine irritability" is beyond frustrating because it feels just like the BH that caused my cervix to change. Procardia also does not work for me, no matter how many times the doctors increase my dosage. I don't even take it anymore because I feel like my BP is going to bottom out or my heart will jump out of my chest everytime I do. In my experience, they don't take you seriously until your cervix changes. The nursing staff knows me by first name now. Advocate for you and babies if you feel something is wrong. 

jessican08

((HUGS))

An irritable uterus is beyond maddening. I went to L&D 3 times between 18 and 26 weeks as well as had weekly (at least) unscheduled OB visits because of my constant contractions.

The docs never Rx me anything because their motto is unless it's actual PTL, they don't want to give me anything and have my body build an immunity to it. At my last L&D visit, however, they gave me oral Terbutaline that I'm to take if I get more than 5 contractions an hour. I've had to take it 6 or 7 times since then but luckily it always quiets things down so I haven't been back to L&D.

FWIW - my contractions last 30-90 seconds and recently here over the past several weeks, I've had some lasting 5-7 minutes. Some are beyond uncomfortable too and are painful. Luckily my cervix has held up really well. It's shortened a bit (it was at 2.7cm 2 weeks ago), more than likely due to a result of where I am in the PG, but I haven't dilated at all.

I'm sorry you can't seem to get a straight answer - that certainly doesn't help your peace of mind.  

AmyJoy728

I was on Procardia every 6 hrs from the start. I doubt once a day would have done much. Uterine irritability is such an annoying diagnosis.  

Good luck!

mirnb

That is very frustrating...I also had this irritable uterus and had 2 trips to L & D at 28 and 30 weeks but never was on meds (got the lung shots though) On a happy note though I went on to carry my boys till my water broke at exactly 38 weeks...hope you have a similar outcome!