Tuesday- September 11th, 2012

For the past week or so my body was acting weird. It started with one symptom and then new ones kept popping up, until it was a cycle of symptoms.

-Shortness of breath
-Nasty headache
-Head feeling like it was on fire
-Whole body feeling hot
-Feeling lightheaded and dizzy

On this day I was feeling very off. Spacey, drowsy, and like there wasn't enough oxygen in the air. I was all ready for work and leaving when my vision went blurry and I started to fall. Derek was there to brace me and set me on the bench. My face was pale and my cheeks where red. I just started crying and yelling at him. He said he needed to call the OB, I was just crying and blabbing on and on about him not noticing what was wrong with me and all this other stuff. Finally I calmed down a bit, but demanded to Derek that I call work first to let them know I wasn't going to make it in. When I called work I started crying while talking to them, I was so scared. I got off the phone and just kept crying to Derek. Finally, he calmed me down enough to call the OB. My voice was still quivering on the phone with the nurse. She told me that if I couldn't catch my breath I needed to call 911. I was doing okay, and figured as long as I wasn't moving I would be able to breathe okay.

My appointment was scheduled for 2:30. I was very scared. I sent out a text message to some close family and friends reading "Pray for me. I'm having dizziness and shortness of breath. I'm missing work today and going to the OB at 2:30."

I stayed put on the couch waiting for time to pass. I was cold, I had a sweater and blanket. I drifted in and out of sleep until it was time to leave for the appointment. I was still feeling off, that weird lethargic feeling. The front desk lady had a lot of care in her voice as she told me "Go ahead and have a seat hun" The waiting didn't seem too long but it was like I couldn't focus on anything. A nurse, not the usual one, came out and got myself and Derek. She weighed me, I had gained another pound. Then to the room where my blood pressure, pulse, and temperature where taken. The nurse didn't really discuss the results of the tests, but she did say that the symptoms I had sounded like a blood pressure issue. She left and we could hear voices in the distance, hers and the doctors. Not loud enough to make out what they where saying.

The doctor came in and ask me about my symptoms, I explained to her the cycle I was having. She said that my blood pressure was a bit low. Not dangerously low, but lower than it was the past two times I was in. All of the symptoms she said came from the low blood pressure. Also, that being on my feet a lot did not help the matter. The OB told me I need to eat more, eat salty foods, drink more Gatorade, and try to take more breaks to sit down.

I am very thankful that it's low blood pressure and not high blood pressure. However, it is very hard to eat more! I thought i was eating plenty, I've been eating about 6 times a day. Basically, I need to be constantly snacking. The hardest part is I usually don't feel hungry, I am forcing myself to eat most of the time. Then a lot of times when I start eating something (unless it's super salty) I get half way through it and then start feeling nauseous. It's a constant struggle, but I am doing my best. I work again tomorrow, just a short shift so it shouldn't be an issue. I am hoping if I eat more and take more frequent breaks at work I will do fine. Worse comes to worse I just won't be able to work super long shifts at work.

Derek and I where also blessed yesterday, we where able to hear our baby's heartbeat. We got to hear it twice, in two very short blips. The OB couldn't get the heartbeat on the monitor very well because the baby wouldn't stay still long enough! The moment was fantastic and will forever stay in my heart! Oh little baby how much we love you and are looking forward for the day when you decide to enter the world!!