Sunday, April 5, 2009

Kids are getting better...

So, I took the kids to the doctor last Monday. I guess when I take my kids, I am kind of like a battle axe because I wasn't going to leave until I got what I want. Chris had told me that there was a possibility that they would send me home with no medication because the kids could be classified as a "Cold" . So...my "I'm not going to leave until the outcome is favorable for me" gene rears it's ugly head.

I took them to Urgent Care because their doctor couldn't see them both and I needed both of them to be seen.

I told the doctor right away that I don't bring my children to the doctor lightly and in their lifetime, Megan had 2 doses of Amoxicillian (sp) and Patrick had had one dose of Zithromax (sp). I told him I felt that they needed antibiotics and cough syrup. Well...guess what, I got prescriptions for an antibiotics and cough syrup.

He was very nice, checked the kids and immediately wrote me the prescriptions. I guess I know that he was going to discover that they were sick, but I wanted him to know that I knew what they needed and after examining them he concurred.

I guess I am writing this because before, I just blindly went with whatever a doctor told me, and now I don't. I question why and for how long and side effects.

After I had Megan, she had been home a week I started to hemorage. I had to have a D & C some of the placenta was still inside of me. After I made it through, the Doctor told me that he wanted me to go on birth control (I had never used birth control in my life), he suggested I go with Depo Provera. Quick easy shot every 3 months. Little to no Periods...won't get pregnant. I thought, well maybe that is for the best, I had Patrick and Megan 14 months apart. Doctor says I need it. Okay. I got my first shot in the hospital. I gained 10lbs. Got my second shot 3 months later. I gained 10 lbs. Got a third shot, I gained 15 lbs. Got a fourth shot, lost 3 lbs, but then gained 10 lbs...all on top of the baby weight I had already gained. I was to get another shot, but something inside of me said not to do it. I didn't. I stopped gaining weight. But I couldn't lose it either. I was not producing estrogen. 3 years after I stopped taking the drug I had all of the symptoms of pregnancy - breasts hurt, lactating, puffiness. So I went to the doctor - not pregnant. It kept up, went to another doctor - not pregnant. That is when I decided to park in the office until someone gave me some answers.

I know what pregnant feels like and this feels like pregnant. The Doctor was impatient - wanted to get home and wasn't really interested in what I was feeling. It was the end of the day and he got short with me saying it was probably something I did. I told him I wanted another doctor. He changed his tune. His voice softened and he asked me if I had been on birth control. I told him that 4 years ago I had been on Depo Provera, but I only took it for a year. He asked if I had had any periods. I told him No...I hadn't had a period since right before I found out I was pregnant with Megan. That was almost 5 years - No periods.

He told me that the reason I was feeling like I was pregnant was that hormone was starting to come back to my body and I would probably start having periods. He said that they could put me on Hormone Replacement Therapy in order to move it along. I declined. I had already screwed up my body putting a synthetic drug in it, I wasn't about to try to fix it using the same method. This was a known side effect. But my doctor had pushed it on my anyway. I wish now I would have pushed and asked more questions, but I followed blindly what had been told to me.

I don't know why I felt the need to share this...I am usually very private about me. Right now I have had periods for a little over a year, my body is starting to regulate itself and I am just now starting to lose weight. I am not anti-medicine...just anti-blindness.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Caution is best when using a new drug. You are right to question everything. If a doc isn't willing to explain what might happen then he isn't the right doc for you. Good for you Jen... I'm sorry you had to go through all that though.

Ivy said...

I totally agree with you, whenever we've moved and needed to find new doctors I don't settle for the first one we find if they are condescending and always in a hurry. I've had enough really good doctors to know that they don't need to treat you like you're an idiot just because you're not a doctor, and that just because their time is limited and in high demand, doesn't mean that they get to rush through you if they feel like your case isn't important. We've lucked out the last two times and have gotten really good, really attentive doctors. I just can't stand it when they don't believe that you know your children better than they do. Good job! And ya, hormonal birth control SUCKS!