So, I made it to the second trimester and what a relief that has been. The symptoms have faded and my energy slowly returned. The dark cloud was lifting and I felt renewed energy to tackle everything. I got a yoga DVD and a dear friend (former St. Jude YMer) Christina was my angel. She's been great to talk to and give me info on all sorts of things. (She recently had her 1st and we have similar views on pregnancy/childbirth etc.)
Also, a huge blessing. A woman who works as a missionary for a church in Lima got books from their book sale for me on pregnancy and such and mailed them to me. It has been a huge blessing.
So, that's how things were going. Until last week.
On Thursday am about 5pm Richard woke up, like normal, and I was conscious enough to feel a headache. It's been hot here the last month and of course there is no air conditioning, central air, and we just have a little fan for our bedroom on the second floor facing west (super hot in the afternoon). So I've been trying to stay hydrated. I went downstairs and got a glass of water and went back to bed. I got up at 8 as normal and started work at 9. As I started my first lesson I noticed I couldn't read the screen very well. It had round blurry circles and I kept blinking to make it go away but it got worse. I texted Richard as I was doing my class and finished at 9:30, but that time I also had nausea. I hadn't eaten anything yet that day and the nausea had been gone for over a month and the headache of course and I really just went downhill quickly. The symptoms were similar to preeclampsia, which can be serious, so I went to the emergency room. When I arrived, I threw up the water I had been drinking, but my blood pressure was low 100/50 so I was more relieved. Anyway, long story short. Because I said I had eaten some bad food earlier in the week, they wanted to admit me. I was really against this and just wanted to recover at home from whatever, but they insisted.
So, I was admitted to the ob ward. Poor Richard was with me but he had a huge week at work and it was really inconvenient for him. But his wonderful family came to support us and bought me gatorade and such. So, he went home to gather a couple of things and then back to work. So, there I was alone, with my recently arrived copy of "What to Expect When You're Expecting" in a strange hospital, but in a room alone. Two women across the hall had recently given birth and one was obviously due and the other I'm not sure. I shared a bathroom with them, so I peeked in with curiosity every 15-20 minutes. They put me on an IV drip and I was drinking water/gatorade so going to the WC gave me something to do.
However, I'm not sure why, but my hand really hurt where the IV was. I think that that plastic part that was inserted was just too big for my vein. So, the whole day it was bothering me and my hand was getting swollen. I slept for 4 hours from 2-6 and woke up feeling much better. So, I was really ready to go home. Richard's parents and brother came during visiting hours and also Gladys and her family. So it was really sweet. I however learned that anyone, including your spouse, that wants to stay after visiting hours has to have a special note from the doctor. So as we didn't know this.....Richard got kicked out by security as he was helping me get ready for bed.
During the morning they took blood and urine sample, but as there seems to be only 1 doctor and she only does rounds in the morning, one has to wait until the next day to get the results. My hand was still really hurting and I had asked several times to deal with it. So about 10pm the main nurse finally came to see me to change the site of it, but as soon as she took it out, painfully but told me it was in the right place and didn't hurt! I begged not to have it put back in. I told her that it was unnecessary and I just wanted to sleep. She didn't know what to think of me, but she said she'd, "ask the doctor" but then I went to sleep and she never came back.
Next morning they woke me up at 5am........to take a shower and then breakfast. I was like, "it's early" and she thought I was crazy. No it's not....um okay.....anyway, so I finished the book cover to cover 500 pages and the OB doctor came at 9am with most of my results. She said they were fine and I said I felt better and wanted to go home. She wanted me to stay for the other results, but I told her I had to work. So, they finally sprung me with the promise I'd return the next day for a followup. Sure thing as long as I can get out of here. Thank goodness I begged Richard to bring me a small fan from home. It was so hot in that room. It would really have been horrific without it.
As a side note there is a weird thing here with air, fresh air from a window, air from a fan. It causes just about every ailment. Children learn this fear from a young age. Too much air makes you sick. So, again......I was the weird one. People here really tend to bundle their children. I don't know if it's because there is always an ocean breeze and it's the dessert so it is a little cooler at night, but.......it's excessive in my opinion. Anyway, so yea.
Being in the hospital gave me pause and I really thought about the future and delivery and what we were going to do. It's weird how the little things that are different can really throw you. However, as I am registered in the health system through Richard's work. It didn't cost us anything except to pay for the drips and whatever. So, that's not so bad.
I survived and I think what I had was a migrane headache. I guess they can happen in pregnancy as I have never had one in my life. So, now I know better the signs and symptoms and what to do. However, I think the experience was good overall as it allowed to see what the hospital is like (it's old and looks like a 1950's ward) and how it runs (also a bit old fashioned) but I prefer to know and learn how these things work before it's a critical situation. So, thanks for those who sent supportive messages and all.
Last note. They are in the process of building a new hospital that should be done sometime this year, but who knows when.
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