The Pain Does Go Away

After several years of writing on this blog, I had never experienced the opportunity to really connect with anyone who happened upon it. Until I wrote the post about having pain in my upper abdominal/rib cage and middle back. Hundred and hundreds of women from all over the world have searched for this topic on some search engine and ended up on this blog. Many many women have left their own personal stories in the comments of that particular post, and many have checked back to let us know that they had successful pregnancies. I, too, had a successful pregnancy. What's more is that from all of those who replied after giving birth, we can all attest to the fact that the pain subsided after delivery. Which, I think we can all agree, was a blessing.

It's sad to me that so many women all over the world are experiencing these same symptoms during their pregnancy, and seemingly, no one - not one of us - can get an explanation for it from our doctors. In fact, in many cases, our doctors have either blown it off or guessed at what it might be; which does nothing for either the pain or our peace of mind.

What is further frustrating is that many of us have female OBs, whom I would THINK would be a little more interested in finding out what the problem is. In my experience, she was the least concerned of all my doctors. (I rotated among 3 OBs within the practice so whomever was on-call when I went into labor I would know and they would know me).

For anyone new to this site that is experiencing the same pains as the rest of us, take heart, it does go away (unless, of course, you do have a gall bladder or pancreas issue). I would urge you to continue to inform your doctor(s) of the pain, and the level of it, as you move through your pregnancy; and, if you are able, to check into every possibility of what it could be to eliminate any serious threats to you or your baby. The specialists won't be able to do many of their routine tests due to the pregnancy, and they may even look at you like you're crazy (because, "Hello? You're Pregnant, Lady. You're supposed to be in pain."....Really? I AM? I'm supposed to be in THIS MUCH pain?! I don't think so, Mr. Bigshot Doctor-Man!), but I believe in my heart that it is better to check into it than ignore it. Because, really, the pain will not be ignored. It hurts.

Finally, I found the chiropractor to be somewhat effective; though not everyone would probably agree. It is a temporary relief, and let me stress again, t.e.m.p.o.r.a.r.y. The prenatal massage feels great, but once you put your clothes back on, it's all over. The adjustments worked better for me personally, and would relieve my rib pain for up to an hour or so, but then it would gradually come back. I was fortunate enough to have my insurance cover both of those things, but truly, if I had to pay for it out of my pocket, I would not have gone as often as I went.

So, to close this post, CONGRATULATIONS to all you new mamas out there who suffered right along side me. I was so glad to know I was not alone, and also, not crazy.

I hope all of you and your new families are doing well.

Pregnant with Pain in Upper Abdominal Area

Lately, several people have found my site searching for information on the pain they are experiencing during pregnancy. I am interested to know what kind of pain you are having, and what your doctor is telling you about it.

My pain started in my back between my shoulder blades, around 22 weeks. It still exists in my back, but about 2 weeks later, migrated to my upper abdominal area and has progressively gotten worse.

It feels like a burning sensation - all the time - right under my rib cage and down the center of my stomach. It is concentrated just right of center, but radiates all across the top of my abdomen. At its worst, it localizes to a point and feels like a knife stabbing me. This has just started in the last few days, and happens whenever I move, change positions, walk, etc.

I have had blood work and a sonogram done on my gall bladder to check for infection and stones. According to both, I have neither. I have tried stretching, which only makes the pain worse. I have taken extra-strength Tylenol, which does not touch it. The back massager helps alleviate the back pain, and reduces the abdominal pain temporarily, but not for long. My doctor - who is at a loss for what is causing the pain - prescribed me Prevacid, in case it is a stomach/acid reflux issue, which only made the acid reflux worse. I have stopped taking it. I've also received a referral to a physical therapist in case it is musculo-skeletal, but since the pain is continually increasing with every movement, I have put that on hold. I am scheduled to see a GI specialist next week, who I expect will do little to nothing since most tests require anesthesia or something else harmful to the baby.

It is getting difficult to get comfortable when I sleep. The only position in which I am really semi-comfortable is on my back, and being 28 weeks along, I am supposed to avoid sleeping in that position. Sleeping on my side (either side) feels like something (gravity?!) is pulling/stretching my insides to the floor, and sends the stabbing pain feelings shooting through my rib cage.

I know I am not supposed to be comfortable in my 3rd trimester. But! This pain started in the 2nd, and anyone to whom I explain it looks at me as if there is something very not right about the location of my pains. Of course, my doctors look at me as if I am the only person on the planet with this kind of problem, and are thoroughly perplexed at what could be the problem.

I find this extremely annoying and aggravating. Finally, after going to my doctor for the 3rd time complaining about this, they have prescribed me Tylenol 3, which is allowing me to sleep and is taking the edge off the pain. But it is neither alleviating it altogether, nor does it identify what the freaking problem is. Plus, I really don't want to be feeding my baby T3's on a regular basis.

Regarding the baby, he seems to be fine. His heartbeat is clear, he looks perfect on the ultrasounds, all signs point to this is not affecting him. THANK GOD!

So, please, if you are having similar issues during your pregnancy (or know someone who is), please share them with me, and let me know what your doctor is telling you about it. What tests have they done? Have they reached any conclusions? Do they seem as dumbfounded as mine do?! How do you feel? Is the pain similar, different, similar but different? I would definitely like to know.

All the best...

Edited 2/2/2007 to add:
I went for a consultation with a chiropractor today. They do work with many pregnant women, but usually because of the lower back pain experienced during pregnancy. I made sure they understood that what I am feeling is "not normal pregnancy pain".

Of course, they cannot do x-rays, but he felt my spine and noticed a definite curve in the middle section of my back, which is putting pressure on the opposite side and causing the extreme pain. He put me on a table that has a break-away section for my pregger-belly. He mashed around, particularly in the sensitive areas, which were really hurting today. Within a few minutes, my back had popped several times. He said that's all he wanted to do today, and was actually surprised that my back popped like it did given that it had been locked up for the past four months.

Ladies, I stood up and IMMEDIATELY felt relief in my abdomen. The burning sensation was not there at all. It's the first time I've not felt it in months! It was almost strange.

He told me that it would not be a permanent relief, and that it would probably take a few adjustments for it to last. He also said that my back will probably get sore again because it's so used to being in that cramped position, and will tend to draw back up. I am scheduled to see him again on Monday, as well as have a pre-natal massage at the same clinic.

The relief in my abdomen is enough to make me do cartwheels! Doc was very understanding to my pain, and could immediately tell that something was not right. He also said that many times, our posture has so much to do with the intensity of pain we feel, and that although not super bad, I could improve upon that as well. Course, being pregnant, we're prone to poor posture.

It's been almost an hour, and my abdomen still does not hurt, burn, feel numb or have stabbing pain. My mid-back/shoulder blade is hurting again, which I expected. I will keep everyone posted on the progress.

Pregnant, But Not Paranoid

At about four months pregnant (almost 2 months ago), my back started aching. Even though it hurt – like sharp, stabbing pains – most people, if I complained, would tell me “Oh, that’s NORMAL!” despite the fact that it was not my lower back hurting, it was my middle-back – between my shoulder blades. For some time now, I have also been experiencing pain in my upper abdominal area, just below my rib cage. One person told me it was my stomach muscles stretching, but, for the most part, any time I mention it to someone who’s had kids, they look at me like I’m crazy. Their response is usually, “Hmmm….well….I don’t really remember having pain there.”

At my last doctor’s appointment, three weeks ago, I mentioned the back and abdominal pain to my doctor. She glazed over it like a donut. “Oh it’s probably just your stomach muscles stretching. And that back pain, yes, it’s normal.”

Normal. I hate that word. Everything you read says that each pregnancy is different, women’s bodies respond differently, baby’s develop at different rates, and then doctors want to lump you in a category like “Normal.” Yah-right.

So, anyway, trying not to be a paranoid baby about it, I figured it would eventually get better, and I should just shut up about it, be happy that I’m feeling that precious little boy move about inside of me, and deal with the pain, as I suspect it’s going to get aLOT worse!

With the holidays here, there have been several days at work where people have brought in goodies, not to mention the holiday luncheon last week in which turkey was provided and everyone else brought in their favorite side dish. Oh Man! There was some yummy stuff on that table! I couldn’t stop eating! It was all so delicious, I wanted more, and (being pregnant, felt completely entitled and) got more!! Two plates of food, and a plate of dessert later, I was feeling like an over-inflated balloon about to pop.

Then…Oh. My. Gosh! The PAAAAAIN! It started after I ate and just got progressively worse. It got so bad I decided to go home because I just could not sit here at my desk any longer. It throbbed and burned like hot coals sitting underneath my ribcage. Nothing would make it stop. Laying down = no help. Sitting up = no help. Reclining = no help. Just burning, flaming, PAIN!!!

I went home and had a massage. This helped, some, but it took hours to get over the real intense portion of that episode.

Since then, it seems the pain just continues to get worse. I’ve even noticed in the last few days that when the back pain is most severe, so is the abdominal pain (and vice-versa). Also, it gets worse after I eat, especially, if I eat a lot at once. To boot, sitting in this friggin’ chair hunched over a computer all day, also does not seem to be doing me any favors. I don’t want to incessantly complain about something that is “normal”. But! I also do not want to overlook (and have to deal with) something that is not.

So? I called my doctor yesterday. The nurse listened and suggested I go ahead and come in to have the doctor check me out. I made the appointment, hesitantly since I’m already scheduled for my regular monthly check and glucose test next week, for today. And, I am so glad I went!

I saw a different doc today – there’s three in the practice, so they rotate seeing the pregnant so that when you deliver you are familiar with whoever is on call. The doc listened to my symptoms and suggested the possibility of two problems:
1. a gall bladder problem – i.e. stones, sludge, infection
2. a stomach problem – i.e. acid reflux, heartburn

He went on to mention that with gall bladder problems, the pain often radiates to your back. Between your shoulder blades.

Huh! Good to know.

So, after two vials of blood for tests and an appointment scheduled for a gall bladder sonogram on Saturday, I am completely looking forward to finding out what type of problem my gall bladder is having.

Thankfully, it has nothing to do with and is not affecting the baby whatsoever. So, as long as he’s kickin’, I’ll tough it out, whatever the result. May make eating Christmas dinner a little more painful though…

Thankful

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday.

Honey and I went to my parents for an early dinner on Thursday. We had a non-traditional menu of beef tenderloin, grilled salmon, baked potatoes, sweet potato casserole, fresh corn, green beens, cranbery relish, salad, and homemade rolls. For dessert, pumpkin pie and apple sheet pie. It was all so very delicious! Joining us were my parents, my brother, his daughter, and his girlfriend, my grandma and her boyfriend, and my great aunt and uncle. The weather was beautiful, we all got along, and had a wonderful dinner and visit.

After dinner, we left my parents and headed for Honey's family about 4.5 hours away. We stopped halfway up and picked up Honey's father, Pops. We arrived late, about 8:30 pm, but still were able to visit before many fell off to sleep. Pops stayed with one of Honey's brothers, and Honey and I stayed in a hotel suite. They were out of non-smoking rooms, and being pregnant, Honey was very particular about the room, so we opted for a suite, which happened to have a whirlpool tub smack in the middle of the room! What a treat! I was so surprised when we walked in.

A special moment happened one night during our stay. Honey felt the baby kick for the first time! He lay behind me, with his arm wrapped around and hand on my belly, and then, baby moved. It was awesome! I was so excited that he finally felt it, after over a week of me feeling him move around in there. I love sharing this experience with him.

We enjoyed three days with Honey's family, ate leftovers, and spent time with his six nieces and nephews. We even managed to take five of them out with us shopping on Friday morning. Nieces are 7 and 5, nephews are 7, 5, and almost 1. And with us pregnant, I'm sure many people were wondering, "and they are having another?!"

A Big Bushy Tail on a Toilet

As most pregnant women know, we have to pee often. Unfortunately, this urge does not take a break in the middle of the night. Therefore, I have been up at least twice, sometimes 3-4 times in the middle of the night for several weeks.

Last night - or rather early early this morning - the urge struck, again, I got up and went to the bathroom to do my business. Like many a night, one of our cats came to keep me company. As I sat there, petting the cat, I noticed Honey getting up out of bed. I thought the urge must've hit him, too.

I could tell he was straining to see in the bathroom, because I had not turned on the light. Next thing I hear is:

*claps hands* Get down from there!

I replied, "whah???!"

"OH!" He said, sounding surprised. "I thought you were the cat drinking from the toilet."

And Then He Kicked Me

I am in the middle of my 21st week (or 5th month) of pregnancy. In other words, halfway there. So far, I think things have gone much as they should:

• Found out I was pregnant in week 6
  
• Morning sickness started right on cue (i.e. the next day) and lasted right up until week 14 (end of first trimester)
  
• I lost 1.5 pounds the first 3 months (boy, was I sick!!), and gained four the fourth month, for a net of 2.5 pounds gained as of my last doc appointment
• Had an ultrasound in week 18 - everything looked good, and we found out it's a boy! They couldn't get a clear picture of his heart, so we're going back for another ultrasound the week after Thanksgiving, just to be sure all is well.
• Ever since, I have been waiting - wanting - to feel this itsy bitsy being inside of me move or kick or something!
• Instead, all I have is pain in my middle back, like a softball is lodged against my spine. It starts generally after lunch and grows increasingly worse as the day goes on. Honey was so sweet and sympathetic to my complaints that he went and purchased a shiatsu massage chair for me. It is the bomb!
• I've read all the articles on "what it's supposed to feel like" when baby kicks or moves. Some say butterflies, some say gas. I say when I thought I felt butterflies, it turned out to be gas!
  

So, last night as I received my full back massage, and Honey spoke with his grandma on the phone, a feeling I had never felt before came from inside my stomach, just to the right of my belly button.

My eyes got as big as silver dollars.

My mouth fell open in disbelief.

The biggest smile came over my face.

Was that a foot?! OMG! That felt like a foot - it was big! If I had been looking, I know I could've seen my tummy poke out as if being punched from the inside out.

Maybe it was an elbow? Ahh! There is was again! Not so big this time, but the same feeling nonetheless.

So, that's what it feels like when the baby kicks! Honey watched on, all smiles, as we enjoyed the first movement of our son. He put his hand on my belly, but, of course, baby didn't move then. What an amazing feeling. What an amazing thing! Life growing and moving about inside another life. God is great.