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Calling on a friend for help
Oct. 5th, 2004 11:15 pmMy wife has been nursing a headache for a few days, but we thought it was nothing serious. Well, not until tonight. But we'll get to that in a second.
The pediatrician visit went reasonably well. This one took a second bilirubin and an albumen test. Though she decided that Matthew did not need a bili-blanket. We're a little unsure, but we're going with it. It turns out, among other things like blood type (O negative), my son has acquired my wife's inability to bleed. In the attempt to draw the two tiny vials of blood, maybe an inch long and perhaps a half centimeter in diameter, they had to prick his heel four times.
She said to continue supplementing feedings and keep an eye on him, but otherwise he seemed well.
That night, my wife's headache got a lot worse, where sitting up caused her severe pain, shakes, chills and nausea. Laying down was better than sitting up, but it was still very unnerving. About 9:00 I convinced her to call the Ob's office. The Ob called back rather quickly, suggested she take some Tylenol to supplement the 800 mg of ibuprofen she is on and to call her back in an hour. Immediately afterwards we called our friend Sarah, to ask her to come down to either stay with Matthew, or take her to the emergency room.
The pediatrician called back and said that Matthew's bilirubin had dropped to 18, and that there wasn't enough blood for the albumen test. So that, at least, was a positive note.
When the hour had passed and my wife's headache had not improved appreciably we called back, the doctor would not force her to go to the emergency room, but was obviously trying to encourage her. My wife was quite insistent that she not go, and instead elected to schedule an appointment on Wednesday morning. We call her sister to have her go to the Ob office with her, so I can watch Matthew.
I'm nervous about my wife's health. I hope she improves. I'm also very thankful to Sarah, who kept me calm in this difficult time.
The pediatrician visit went reasonably well. This one took a second bilirubin and an albumen test. Though she decided that Matthew did not need a bili-blanket. We're a little unsure, but we're going with it. It turns out, among other things like blood type (O negative), my son has acquired my wife's inability to bleed. In the attempt to draw the two tiny vials of blood, maybe an inch long and perhaps a half centimeter in diameter, they had to prick his heel four times.
She said to continue supplementing feedings and keep an eye on him, but otherwise he seemed well.
That night, my wife's headache got a lot worse, where sitting up caused her severe pain, shakes, chills and nausea. Laying down was better than sitting up, but it was still very unnerving. About 9:00 I convinced her to call the Ob's office. The Ob called back rather quickly, suggested she take some Tylenol to supplement the 800 mg of ibuprofen she is on and to call her back in an hour. Immediately afterwards we called our friend Sarah, to ask her to come down to either stay with Matthew, or take her to the emergency room.
The pediatrician called back and said that Matthew's bilirubin had dropped to 18, and that there wasn't enough blood for the albumen test. So that, at least, was a positive note.
When the hour had passed and my wife's headache had not improved appreciably we called back, the doctor would not force her to go to the emergency room, but was obviously trying to encourage her. My wife was quite insistent that she not go, and instead elected to schedule an appointment on Wednesday morning. We call her sister to have her go to the Ob office with her, so I can watch Matthew.
I'm nervous about my wife's health. I hope she improves. I'm also very thankful to Sarah, who kept me calm in this difficult time.
