For the past few weeks, I have had a constant pain in my lower right back. It is in the same place that has hurt before every time I have had a kidney infection, so I went to my doctor’s office to get checked out a few weeks ago. After taking a sample, the nurse practitioner told me she didn’t think I had any infection because I had no fever or other symptoms, even though prior kidney infections had been the exact same way. They convinced me that my back pain was just attributed to how I was carrying Wyatt and it would just be a nuisance I would have to learn to live with until he was born.
Unsatisfied with the diagnosis, I pushed the issue last week at my regular monthly checkup. A co-worker of mine told me to trust my instinct and that no one knows my body better than I do, so I asked the nurse to check again. Since I have a great doctor, they checked me again and sent my sample off to the lab for cultures. They gave me a pamphlet of simple exercises and tips to help with my back pain in the mean time.
This Wednesday afternoon, the nurse from my doctor’s office called and asked if I could come in immediately for an IV antibiotic. It turns out that the cultures came back with a much nastier, very resistant bacteria that couldn’t be treated with oral antibiotics in pregnant women. I was shaking terribly as I told my coworkers that I had to leave immediately and that I probably wouldn’t be at work the next day. I quickly made calls to Justin and my mama and filled them in and Mama insisted on coming to Tifton to be with me while I got my infusion. At the doctor’s office, they informed me they were writing me orders to head to the hospital for my IV and that more than likely I would have to be admitted and have an overnight stay to get the entire course of antibiotics.
A quick call to Justin got him to leave the EMS (where he was working) from 40 miles away. He stopped by our house and picked up my overnight bag and packed me the necessities. In the mean time, Mama kept me company in the hospital where I was hooked up to the IV. Between the time I spoke to Justin and the time he got there, my doctor came in and told me that my stay would be extended to 48 hours and I wouldn’t be home until Friday night. Justin got there just after we got the bad news. Poor Justin had to sleep in an awful chair and probably didn’t get much rest at all.
Thankfully, the nurses in the Womens’ Pavilion are so great at Tift Regional! Justin, Mama and my sister Sami took great care of me over the past few days. My in-laws, including my SIL, visited and called to check in. All of my friends and coworkers were so sweet, texting and sending me encouraging messages on Facebook. I am really a lucky girl with all of the loving people I have surrounding me!
Today, I got the great news that I would be able to go home early. I was discharged and completely out of the hospital by 12:30 this afternoon. I was one happy girl! There’s nothing worse than being in the hospital, relatively healthy but tethered to an IV.
When I got home, I saw this sight:
A sparkling clean house thanks to my mother-in-law, SIL, nephews and niece. The dining room floor was still wet from being freshly mopped. They must have left within minutes before my arrival. As I was checking out the impressive sight (noting the lit candles and fresh flowers in mason jars scattered throughout the house), my sister said, “I didn’t know you got a new stove!” At that point, I didn’t know I got a new stove, either. My sweet husband had been to Lowes the night before and was up past 10:00 last night putting it in! Have I mentioned how lucky I am?
All is well now with me—my back pain has reduced dramatically, and most importantly, baby Wyatt is under no distress and has experienced no negative effects. My doctor said he is progressing right on schedule and will be joining us in May just as they told me. I have a whole relaxing weekend ahead of me to catch up and rest.
