Pneumasthma: All the rage of the second trimester

So I couldn't really let Kevin have his hospital stay a few weeks back without taking my own turn, could I?

I started last Monday with a sinus infection.  One of those snotty, blow-your-nose-every-two-seconds nasty colds.  Usually it's awful for the first day or two, and then things get better.  But by the time I woke up Thursday morning my nose and upper lip were begging for mercy, and the sinus misery had spread into my chest.  I was wheezing something terrible and couldn't breathe, so I got in at my OB's office.  He immediately had me admitted to the hospital, which was not really what I'd planned on doing with my day, but if he said so... 

Of course, being only nineteen weeks along, there is no such thing as a hospital bag all packed and ready to go in the back of my car.  There is no spare deodarant or shampoo, a change of underwear, or a toothbrush to be heard of.  So you know he kept me in the hospital for three days, mostly for that very reason, and also to treat me for pneumonia.  Thankfully I was able to beg spare toiletries from the nurse, and convince Kevin to bring underwear, cough cough, pee pee, baby crushing remains of bladder, the very next morning.

Incidentally, my obstetrician also brought in a Pulmonologist, who within three seconds of meeting me chastised me sternly for seeing an obstetrician for wheezing lungs (Hello? I can't possibly be the only woman that consults a baby doctor for everything while pregnant?) told me I need to be allergy tested, get rid of my dog and cat, diagnosed me with asthma, and told me I needed to begin daily inhaler treatments to continue for the rest of my life.

Well.

That was a lot to take in, especially given the turn-off "Bow before me, I am doctor" attitude when I suggested possibly another plan of attack for this respiratory infection I see for maybe three to seven days a year, seasonally.  Then when I went on to explain that I am leery of taking any medications regularly while pregnant (read: Tylenol only sometimes, am slightly anal) I had to hear all about how, IT'S SAFE.  IT WAS TESTED ON BABIES, DUCKS AND SQUIRRELS.  SAAAAAAAFE TO USE INHALER EVERY DAY WHILE PREGNANT, EVEN THOUGH CHANCES ARE THREE DIMES TO A MONKEY'S ASS I WILL SEE ANOTHER RESPIRATORY INFECTION UNTIL THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, WHEN BABY IS NO LONGER RELYING ON ME FOR OXYGEN, BUT RATHER HAPPILY DESTROYING MY LIVING ROOM. 

SAAAAAAFE, the man continued saying to me, in exactly that way, which eventually made me smile and nod, and then roll my eyes deep into the back of my head when he finally left the room.

SAAAAAAFE, until five years from now my child is bouncing off of walls and studies have found otherwise, oopsie?

I'll go with him on the asthma diagnosis.  I'll even give him credit for the call on allergies (but still won't get rid of my dog and cat, sorry).  I just can't bring myself to medicate daily, forever, starting at a quite healthy twenty-nine years old, for something that occurs so seldom.  I most certainly take full advantage of medications when they are warranted, but I am also quite aware of the over-medicated society we live in, and therefore proceed with caution, especially while pregnant.

This visit from this doctor, oddly enough, occurred somewhere in the middle of my Thirty Hours Without Sleep streak in the hospital, from being so hopped up on the Albuteral Inhaler, Nebulizer treatments, steriod treatments, and antibiotics.  Even my poor baby was observed practically doing back flips during my Friday afternoon ultrasound. 

(I found myself watching an entire thirty minute run of The Hospital Channel's "How To Bathe and Diaper Your New Baby" at four a.m. one day, and I believe I've changed a few diapers and given a few baths by this point.  There was seriously no sleep to be had.)

Anyway, I am back home, my children are only slightly traumatized from mother gone missing, and I so happily made it through last night without having lights flipped on fifteen times for a baby listen and vitals check.  I'm hoping the wheeze goes away as I finish up the prescriptions that came home with me, so that I don't have to visit the office of Dr. Lung, the Go To All Lengths, Necessary or Not, doctor.  Ack.  I'll stick with the OB for now.

Comments

[Erica]

Coming from a person who has had asthma since she was a baby, I totally sympathize for you. Gah! Those inhalers can totall hop you up, especially if you aren't used to taking them. I took my inhalers, prednisone and sometimes antibiotics while prego and all 3 are quite healthy. However, I think the lung doc went overboard just a bit. You know your body, and when you are prego, sometimes it's a little harder on the immune system and your lungs. Hello....baby, growing, taking up space and squishing on your lungs, makes for some hard breathing! But what do I know, I ain't no doctor. Hang in there girly.

[Erica]

One more thing, they shouldn't diagnose you without taking proper tests. They can do all sorts of different things. First and foremost is a peak flow test. This measures your flow of air. Very important. Anyway....like I said, I am no doctor.

[Cindy]

Hey Moll!
I am so glad you had a good nights rest last night! i bet your bed was the BEST!

Here is to hoping we can still met up on Wed!

Oh, and we'd be happy to have Danny - and Riley would be happy to have your cat - just at your house!

Hugs!

[milk&honey]

Holy crap. I hope you feel better soon!

[glamgranola]

Wow. Sounds overboard to me too. All I hear these days is how Dr's really hesitate to classify asthma for insurance reasons. But to diagnose you right then and there, seems extreme, especially during peak allergy season. When I was pregnant with Harper I was so miserable with allergies. Never had them before and very minor after but I was a snotty, itchy mess.

Go with your gut and hope you get better soon!

[Michelle Z]

Wow! Glad you're home & healthy. Too bad you didn't get to SLEEP while you were in the hospital!

[Kim]

Oh so guilty for calling an OB for everything while pg - um even poison ivy! I would be leery of Dr. Know-it-all too! Hope you are feeling better soon!

[debi]

I am so glad to hear that someone else out there does not think that Dr Whoever is God. You are smart to think for yourself.26 yrs ago this week my mom passed away. I was a bit passed 5 months pregnant with Joey. I cried non-stop forever. I was doing homebirth with this baby but had to have a back up OB.He gave me something to calm me down. I trusted him and just took it. What a dope. My friend read the insert and told my I may want to stop the meds right away.All kinds of warnings to pregnant women. When I asked the Dr about that he gave me a disgusted look and said "oh, you're one of those". One of what? People who read the warnings? Since then I look everything up on my own. Yeah for you. I am so glad you are back home and on the mend.

[Kriste]

I've been reading your blog for quite awhile, but have never commented. I was diagnosed with asthma at age 22 and while pregnant with my first, I was very freaked out about taking the albuterol every day and my OB/GYN said to me, "If you don't breathe well, the baby doesn't breathe either. You need to be sure to take your asthma meds all the time!" It was hard for me, but his statement really struck hard. I do agree with a previous comment that the Pulmonologist was a bit over zealous, and a peakflow meter is something that should be used as well. I am just glad to hear that you are okay. The Albuterol does make you jumpy and jittery at first, but that does go away. I learned the hard way with my son that the ingredients in Albuterol are much the same as the ingredients in Brethine which I was pumped full of with my 2nd when I was in preterm labor. My asthma was so in control during that hospital stay! Just take care and I am glad you are home and hope you are feeling much better :)

[Frema]

I'm glad to hear that you're home and away from all the spontaneous diagnoses. Keep taking good care of you and baby Marin.

Also, I find it odd that a mother of two young children is able to get more rest at home than in a private hospital room. Go figure. :)

[Laylabean]

Gah!! Scary. I'm so glad you're home now and doing okay!

Good for you for keeping your head in spite of the medi-pressure. I'm completely and totally grateful for modern medicine (love ya, epidural!) but sometimes it can get a bit much.

[liz]

OH NOES!

How scary. And what a craptastic doctor? That dude sounds like he should get one of Stacy's Douche cards.

I would venture to say that most people, when they have a bronchial infection or pneumonia would likely get a "all-encompassing" diagnosis of asthma. And agree with your wariness. Be very wary of scary doctors (named Larry?)

Also, I go to the OB for everything while pregnant. Leave it up to her to send me elsewhere.

[Liza]

I vote for a second opinion with an allergist or asthma doc in a couple of weeks when your current symptoms are completely cleared up.

Good for you for standing your ground and trusting yourself. Sorry you had such a scary and intense hospitalization mid-preg.

[Hilary]

I also go to my OB for everything. I love her. And my sister is a nurse there, so they take good care of me. I know it's wrong but everyone else seems so mean. (see crazy Dr. Lung)
I'm so glad you are feeling better and are getting some much needed rest.

I got sick a couple of months ago and made the mistake of going to the minor med. That idiot told me I had allergies b/c my eyes were all red and gave me all this medicine and nose spray. (I've never had allergies.) Two days later I had to take one of the kids to the doc for the same symptoms. Last time I checked, allergies were not contagious. The Pediatrician diagnosed me (and said child, can't remember which one) with some virus that a lot of people (read doctors) mix up with pink eye and allergies.

[SJ]

I have asthma and allergies so I totally feel your pain! Hope you get well soon!

[Stacey]

I hope you're feeling better - and I'm also seriously freaked out now. I posted a new blog less than an hour ago about the same damn exact thing, right down to 8,000 meds and an asthma diagnosis, and I am jittery from the Proventil RIGHT NOW. However, no hospital stay for ME. :( And I am NOT willing to get pregnant just to get one. Lucky girl. ;)

[bubblewench]

Holy Molly! Seriously, I am glad you are ok. I don't blame you being wary about an inhaler. Maybe see a different lung doc? That isn't so hoity toity anti-animal?

I hope you are feeling better!

[Rachel]

Scary!! I am glad that you are home and gettting some rest. I also go to my OB for everything and I am not even pregnant. I trust him and he knows me very very well.

Even if you do have allergies, does not mean you are allergic to dogs and cats! Stoopid doctor. I have allergies, pretty consistently, and I do not have a dog or a cat!

[BetteJo]

Um, am I the only one who wonders how a pregnant woman with ASTHMA managed trail number 8 ???? Call me cynical, but I say - trust your instincts on this one.