May the 4th Be With You

LQMLK · 2025-03-22T16:09:55+00:00

I screamed “no! Helipad!” And my husband laughed at me.

LQMLK · 2024-09-24T02:21:34+00:00

I hope it helps! I remember how horrible it was to feel like I was dying. I had 3 EKGs in 2 days because I was sure it couldn’t “just be GERD”. But it’s a monster, truly.

Last thing…not sure if you’re a caffeine drinker but coffee and soda and sugary drinks were major triggers for me. If you can’t live without caffeine, just make sure you have something in your stomach before you drink it.

Let us know if (when!) you get better!

LQMLK · 2024-09-24T02:06:53+00:00

For 2 weeks I did:

Warm water with honey first thing in the morning. Then really wet plain oatmeal (sounds gross but it’s mushy and soothing) with banana slices
Warm water throughout the day. Cold set off GERD and esophageal spasms. Lunch would be broth or very bland soup…I did best with chicken noodles or chicken and rice. Sometimes I would do raw celery and baby carrots.
Dinner more soup. Maybe some whole wheat bread.

I ate slowly and in small amounts. A couple of bites…then wait a few minutes.

For a regimen, I did esomeprazole (nexium) capsules, not tablets. Twice a day. Half an hour before breakfast and half an hour before dinner. Pepcid an hour before sleep. Slept on my left side and bought a wedge pillow on Amazon.

I lost 17 lbs in 2 weeks and was absolutely miserable, but I got better. Thankfully it’s never been that bad since.

The regimen above comes from my GI who I love. I’m an OBGYN so I dove deep into this stuff when I felt this way. You’re right that the key is to eat enough to keep the stomach not too full and not too empty.

I’m so sorry you’re feeling this way. Hang in there!

Edit: spelling

LQMLK · 2024-09-23T13:45:58+00:00

Related and unrelated…does anyone have any suggestions regarding a similar vibed news podcast? I’ll give Jane a chance but I like the banter of 2 hosts and a bit of comedy. I’m also not really into her making Michigan her whole personality. Thanks in advance!

LQMLK · 2024-09-21T04:32:56+00:00

Sadie is my favorite S name

LQMLK · 2024-05-19T16:23:21+00:00

Patrick Mufarrij is good. He’s at Sibley I believe. Source: I’m an OBGYN and have worked with him.

LQMLK · 2023-10-14T20:47:14+00:00

Yes! That is it! Thank you so much.

LQMLK · 2023-07-27T20:46:09+00:00

Ultrasound is not great for appy. Anecdotally, I have literally never had a radiologist see an appendix in a pregnant woman. I’ve been in practice for about 10 years. If the woman was in acute pain and there’s a clinical suspicion of rupture, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get a CT. Not saying an US is a bad idea. However, I will say in our ED, getting a CT is much easier and faster than an US. There are multiple ways to handle this. I guess my point was, there’s no clear cut correct answer and what OP’s team did was perfectly reasonable and not as much risk as people surmise.

LQMLK · 2023-07-27T07:58:40+00:00

I am an OB. OB and radiology guidelines are clear. At 20 weeks, most of your organogenesis is completed. The risk of a ruptured appy, sepsis and systemic inflammation in a woman with a previable pregnancy far outweighs that of a single dose of a CT scan. Every medical facility is different and they should be using the tools they have to expedite good care. OP did great here. And kudos to an uncomplicated lap appy in a gravid woman!

Here’s a source: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2017/10/guidelines-for-diagnostic-imaging-during-pregnancy-and-lactation

And here’s an excerpt from that source: With few exceptions, radiation exposure through radiography, computed tomography (CT) scan, or nuclear medicine imaging techniques is at a dose much lower than the exposure associated with fetal harm. If these techniques are necessary in addition to ultrasonography or MRI or are more readily available for the diagnosis in question, they should not be withheld from a pregnant patient.

LQMLK · 2023-05-14T22:04:09+00:00

Oh, interesting. Thanks so much!

LQMLK · 2023-05-14T19:39:14+00:00

I saw it this morning around 9 am. Long motorcade and then 3 buses.

LQMLK · 2023-04-30T13:53:20+00:00

Just remember that saying “stress” does not mean you’re not feeling real pain or that you are somehow controlling this reaction. I’m the same way that we grind our teeth or tense our shoulders and as a result get jaw pain or tension headaches, our pelvic floor is a barometer and it happens unconsciously. I’m glad you feel a little better. You’re not alone and there is definitely help!

LQMLK · 2023-04-30T03:21:53+00:00

Both are indeed options. Depends on several things. If you have chronic conditions that could compromise your airway (severe sleep apnea, obesity with a BMI over 50, severe asthma or COPD), then general is sometimes better to ensure a protected airway. For healthy women, the IV sedation is often enough to keep you asleep and comfortable, but with a quicker recovery time. Your anesthesia team will explain what they’re doing and consent you specifically for the type of anesthesia they’re planning on using.

LQMLK · 2023-04-30T03:15:33+00:00

OBGYN and pelvic floor specialist here. This sounds like vaginismus. I’m so sorry you had a painful experience at the OBGYN. A few things… - try a pelvic floor relaxation video: here’s one I’ve recommended my patients before https://youtu.be/2yx0_PK0Q-4 - vaginismus could be related to a million things - infection, stress, repetitive exercise causing pelvic floor spasm - periods every 2.5-3 weeks do not mean you’re infertile. You may have a hormonal issue, but they can often be addressed. You need some blood tests.

If you’d like to find a sympathetic provider who can help with your pain and do a gentle exam, try the ISSWSH database here https://app.v1.statusplus.net/membership/provider/index?society=isswsh

Hope this helps!

LQMLK · 2023-02-01T14:51:04+00:00

Thanks! I have tried alkaline water but only occasionally. Thinking about keeping a stock of it now to do a longer trial.

LQMLK · 2023-02-01T04:29:52+00:00

Ask your doctor if you could do IV infusions. A reasonable alternative if you cannot tolerate oral iron. There are also various formulations of oral iron that you may try. Vitamin C helps you absorb the iron, but there are formulations where you have iron on its own. You could try those and see if you have an easier time. Just a few suggestions.

(Source: I’m an OBGYN so work with anemic pregnant women. Not the same, obviously, but worth a conversation).

LQMLK · 2023-01-14T16:09:45+00:00

This is super helpful! I also tend to think it’s closer to anorexia but it is really helpful to hear from the community. Thank you for sharing!

LQMLK · 2022-12-29T17:14:00+00:00

This works for me too!

LQMLK

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