I think this week is going to have a lot of posts. Well, mainly
because I am 15 weeks pregnant and have so much to say up until this point and
scoping it out in what organized manner I want to relay this information.
In reference to my previous post I mentioned I had a colonoscopy
scheduled that was cancelled due to the fact we found out about the pregnancy.
Not getting into all details and stuff, but before the pregnancy I had what you
can say a few issues in some aspects of my health. Nothing too crazy, but
nonetheless “issues."
When we moved back to upstate, I at that point was insurance-less,
and was for a couple months before we moved, because I needed to re-apply
for it, and since we were moving I would have to re-apply a second time the
minute we moved, so I didn't bother and just waited until we would move. It was
of course a process, and we got our insurance around the beginning on August.
So finally- doctor hopping for me!
After some bothersome symptoms and testing done... they found I
was 1. Severely anemic. Like the doctor phrased out “you have close to nothing
in your body." Oh, wow... thanks that's reassuring! Ha. 2. I have a
possible inflammatory bowel disease (either Crohn's or ulcerative colitis) that
can be detected through a colonoscopy. 3. I have a vitamin D deficiency. And
lastly... 4. ( this wasn't until a little later) but my thyroid was not
producing enough thyroid hormone.
So, WOW... a lot to
take in huh?
So, I started taking iron supplements, in addition B 12 and
Folic acid as recommended by my primary care provider to help my blood absorb
the iron or something like that. I also started taking vitamin D. For now, that
was it.
Thyroid... That was a separate issue. My primary doctor said it
was slightly low, but nothing to be concerned about. When my gyn (note this is
all pre pregnancy!) saw the same blood results she insisted I see an
endocrinologist just in case, to be safe... which sounded good to me.
Anyway, amongst all this mess... I took all these
supplements for about 2 months, and surprise, surprise I am pregnant! Of course,
the first question that pops into my head is if and if yes how are all my
current health issues reflecting on the baby and baby's health . Well my
stomach thing they said it’s not really a big deal, aside from painful visits
to the bathroom making it just basically an additional discomfort to me, there
is no issue really. The only concern was (maybe a little TMI) that my stomach
wasn’t digesting all my food properly and thoroughly- hence I wouldn’t absorb
the vitamins and nutrients from it. But with starting to take prenatal vitamins
they said it would not be a concern, and that pregnancy can actually reverse my symptoms and make
this go away on its own… or for at least the duration of the pregnancy. Which
in the beginning it didn’t really, but then gradually it did reverse the symptoms.
I had issues in the complete opposite spectrum.
The iron… now if you know…
iron is very important in pregnancy. A lot of women BECOME anemic during
pregnancy due to the fact that you basically increase 50% more blood in your
body or some crazy statistic like that. So the fact I was anemic- and as
mentioned- SEVERELY anemic was a concern. But again, I was taking my iron
supplements for two months, but have not yet had an additional blood test done
to confirm if it went up or not. And at this point my doctor said he would make
the decision to either continue me on the pill supplements or give me
injections depending on how my body was absorbing the iron. To my benefit, my
iron went up. It was still low but they said much better, so it was not an
issue to be concerned about.
Back to the thyroid, I haven’t really gotten in depth about that
yet. Well, like I said my primary doctor didn’t see a big deal but my gyn did.
And I decided I would go see the specialist, what the heck, and by the time I
finally got an appointment and the day came I was already pregnant. Yeah, they
scheduled the appointment like 6 weeks away, because they were booked. The endocrinologist looks over all my blood
work, and says that if I wasn’t pregnant my thyroid is low but not to the point
to be really concerned about it. But because I AM pregnant it is in fact a
concern. And they told me to thank my gyn for detecting it so early to start
treatment on time. Basically what she
explained to me, was that it’s crucial during pregnancy because the first few
weeks or months the baby does not produce its own thyroid hormone, and if it
does not get enough, it can affect baby’s IQ. So they put me on synthroid-
levothyroxine.
The fact that this isn’t a supplement or a vitamin worried me. I’m
sure the doctors know what they are doing but I double checked to make sure
this was safe to take, after all this is a HORMONE I am taking. They assured me
it is exactly the kind of hormone my body is not producing enough of that the
baby needs. They gave me a printout about hypothyroidism and pregnancy and all
so I guess there wasn’t anything else I could really do, and couldn’t find any
other downfalls really.
So, where am I today? My iron levels, last I checked was probably
about 3 weeks ago at my WIC appointment they did a finger prick, are wonderfully
high – in a good way. They said it’s a great range, which was so good to hear
after originally starting with “close to nothing.” My thyroid is being checked
once a month, and I am expected to take the hormone throughout all of pregnancy
and from there on a decision will be made whether or not I will need to
continue taking it. I had my 2nd visit about 3 weeks ago, and they said it went up, so
that’s good, but it’s in a range where it can go down if I stop taking the hormone
and bring me back to where I was. I have my next appointment approaching so we
will see what they say then. Vitamin D, I am still taking them, because I haven’t
been instructed to stop yet, but I am seeing my primary care provider this week
so I will ask him about that because if my vitamin D levels are okay, I really
prefer NOT to take an additional pill every day( in addition to the other 5 I
take daily.) As far as my stomach goes, I have been going from inflammatory
bowel symptoms to pregnancy constipation on a very weird day to day basis. It
varies. The iron was causing a very big reverse in my original symptoms, so I
was instructed to not take it as much since the levels went up. I’m just scoping
it out for now, there is definitely an improvement, so I am hoping maybe my
body will just somehow fall into norm on its own and I won’t need to reschedule
a colonoscopy after birth. Regardless that is too far in advance for now and I
will cross that bridge when I get to it!
For now, I am happy my iron is up, and hope it stays that way. I
am happy my stomach symptoms have slightly improved, and I am happy my thyroid
seems to be in a better range and I can continue to maintain it at a good level
for the baby. I obviously don’t have ideal health maybe, but I am thankful and
blessed everything is going well and hope the rest of the pregnancy continues
to proceed this way as well! :)
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