I was having nausea like has become normal for me, but last night I threw up blood again. A lot of it this time. I was scared that this time there might have been something seriously wrong. So I called DH (he works night shift) and we headed to the ER.
They get me back there quickly because I'm 36 weeks and want to check on the baby. His heartrate is a bit high, but not high enough to be concerning. They hooked me up to the IV and gave me some prescription grade anti-nausea medicine in the IV. Then they decide they want to run a tube down my nose into my stomach to get a sample of my stomach acid to make sure the blood wasn't being caused by a stomach ulcer.
Just as they get the tube down my esophogas, they move me to a different room so they can have my room for another patient. My nose is bleeding at this point, and I'm completely miserable. But then everyone leaves, leaving poor DH in the room with me with a bleeding nose while I'm just trying to breath. An hour passes, and I start to panic. I felt like they shunted me off to the side with this uncomfortable tube in me, and I suddenly felt like my esophogas was swelling. I start crying from the pain and frustration, and I'm breathing in gasps. They aren't monitoring me at all at this point, so DH had to run down the hall and get someone. A nurse comes in and does the test they had put the tube in to do. I'm begging her to take the tube out, but she has to go ask if that's ok. It takes another half hour to get permission from someone before she comes back in and finally removes the tube.
At this point, it's probably 2 or 3am (we went in at 11), so I'm exhausted. I lay down in the bed for a while and try to get some rest while the strong anti-nausea medicine was still in my system. They eventually tell me they want to monitor me in labor and delivery for a while because baby's heart rate was high. When I get up there, I'm able to finally get into a more comfortable bed, and the tech straps heart monitors to me. Although his heart rate got high when he was active, he was fine. They keep me hooked up for about an hour before the nurse called the doctor so he could say I could go home.
I slept in this morning, but I'm queasy again. I'm going to call my OBGYN and try to move my appointment for tomorrow up to today so I can get a prescription anti-nausea medicine from him. I'm afraid if I don't I'm just going to vomit blood again tonight. Plus I'm hoping since the office works so closely with the hospital, they would have in my file the results of the stomach acid test and be able to tell me if they know what's wrong.
Sorry to vent the story here like this. DH and I decided last night that this story is best not vented on facebook because it would worry my friends and family for no reason.
Re: A miserable night in the ER
You poor thing! Vent here all you want and need. I can't imagine how miserable you must be feeling. ((hugs))
I hope they figure out what is going on and that it's easily remedied!
that sounds awful
Hope you feel better soon!
2012 Goal: working towards pre-pregnancy speed!
04/15 KI Metric Marathon/16.3 m (2:05:55, 7:43 pace)
05/06 Frederick 13.1 (1:41:09)
11/04 NYCM
Jess and Michael Married 10/2006
Thanks for the support.
We just got back from the doctor, and he prescribed some stronger anti-nausea medication. He said that because I haven't had this problem pre-pregnancy that's likely just how my body is reacting to hormones. He also suggested I keep an eye on whether or not I'm contracting during waves of nausea. I hadn't even thought about that as a possible symptom of contractions, but looking back the nausea does come in waves that go away after a minute or two. It might end up being the weird way my body does contractions. >.<;
DH and I wish we hadn't gone to the ER, but I'm glad we went and it not be something threatening to the baby than stayed home and something happen. Here's to hoping the prescription works and I won't have to have a repeat of last night. Definately going to try to make tomorrow a taking it easy day.
On the plus side, doc confirmed that baby is head down. Not dilated yet, but he says I'm thinning out. If having this baby will make this acid reflux nightmare end, I'm all for letting him come early if he decides he's ready!