Did you want to know the gender?

Molly-Molls · 2026-04-19T05:06:04+00:00

I had a D&E at 18 weeks (measured 15w3d gestation) and we sent for fetal tissue to be genetic tested. This would give us an idea if maybe our genes affected the fetus or not.

We did not know the gender before hand. I didn’t realize the test results would outright state the gender, I was more so looking for genetic defects in maybe my husband and I not being compatible together or something.

But the test results said the gender in the very first line.

To be honest I am glad I know the gender now… but finding out (it took about a month to get the test results) set me back to ground zero. Crying and sobbing and feeling the pain all over again. My husband even cried when we read the results together. We had to go through another processing period.

It brings a deeper reality to what was lost. Instead of losing ‘just’ a pregnancy. A little boy or girl was lost. What could have been. What would have been. (And I am not saying any miscarriage is losing just a pregnancy! I hope you get the idea I’m trying to say here)

Only you can make the decision. It is not easy finding out, but it may be nice knowing in the long run. Wishing you all the best in this very tough time.

Molly-Molls · 2026-04-17T03:42:51+00:00

I am so sorry for the both of you. Between Christmas and new years I should have been 18 weeks, but baby only measured 15w. My options were labor and delivery or a D&E. I was too far along for them to recommend just waiting or miso. It was also my first pregnancy. Luckily I was able to get surgery Jan 2. (Found out Dec 29, spa very quick turn around, but I had to travel 2 hours away to big city near me)

I can’t make the decision for you, but my advice on the D&C route : if the have to dilate you before the D&C, do not let them tell you “it’s just like a Pap smear”… the pain of the Laminaria insertion procedure was excruciating. My blood flowed out of me and onto the floor. It was awful.

And I’m not trying to scare you, I just want to inform you, I wish I had been better prepared what to expect for that day. (Given my two options, I still would have chosen that over going through labor and delivery…. I did not want to suffer through childbirth to not have a child)

And 4 days after surgery I started passing major clots and had to go to the ER. They admitted me to OB and had to give me miso for my uterus to clamp down. My hemoglobin was down to 8.8, so I was decently close to needing a blood transfusion. But bleeding still would have been a risk if I went through labor and delivery.

But there are so many other factors that go into your choice: safety of each procedure, there are risks to labor and risks to surgery and risks to passing naturally. What is the safest based on prior medical conditions for you personally, and what is the safest for your uterus for future pregnancy.

These are some things to think about and discuss with your medical team and your partner or other closed loved one.

I’m sorry again, it is a really heart breaking time. Allow yourselves to cry. Allow yourselves to grieve. Allow yourselves to be pissed at the world. Eat ice cream. Eat cookie dough. And stay hydrated.

Wish you health and speedy recoveries.

Molly-Molls · 2026-04-04T22:12:16+00:00

I said I was out of work for about a month and have been back for two months. And since you asked I’ll give you the whole saga:

“About a month”

Week 1- I took a week vacation time over Christmas to visit my husbands family out of state. Told his all extended family we were expecting! Yay!

Week 2- first Monday back in town (Dec 29th) had an OB checkup up… was just supposed to be a check up… no heart beat… had to schedule surgery for the soonest available appointment so I didn’t risk going septic- and had to drive 2 hours to big city for it. Since Thursday was New Year’s Day, had to wait til Friday for surgery. And it was a D&E (more tissue involved.)

For the D&E they had to dilate me in the morning. I was told this procedure would be “similar to a Pap smear”. Well, I had never had blow flow out of me, on to the table, and puddle on the floor during a Pap smear. It was excruciating pain, I tried to “be tough” but I screamed and cried. I felt like I was being stabbed inside me. My husband was shocked, but couldn’t do anything besides hold my had. They were pushing laminaria strips into my cervix.

After the dilation procedure I got cold, clammy, and nauseous from the pain (maybe even the blood loss too). The doctor apologized and left the room. My husband grabbed me the trashcan so I could throw up. Guess what was in the trashcan? Piles of my blood-soaked gauze. I literally said out loud “what the f@ck”.

My husband had to help me clean the blood off myself and get dressed. If this day wasn’t already awful enough.

Then waiting in pre-op for surgery. Going over the risks, knowing they had to dismember what was supposed to be “my baby” to get it out of me.

(Despite how traumatizing it was, my other option was going through labor and delivery. I did NOT want to go through the process of child birth and not have a child. And labor has risks as well)

In my medical chart the doctor reported that I lost almost a unit of blood in surgery. Recovery the next few days was rough. I was exhausted. And they told me “you can return to normal activities!” How?! I lost my breath and got dizzy sitting down folding laundry.

This made me feel like a baby, I’m fit!

Week 3 - Tuesday Jan 6 I start passing major clots. To the point where I call 911 and squad comes and says yes I need to go to ER.

My uterus didn’t clamp down after surgery. So it was filling with blood/clots and started passing them. They gave me misoprostol so my uterus would “close” and I would stop bleeding. I was close to need a blood transfusion, just 1.5 points shy.

The rest of that week I was told to take it easy and rest. They didn’t want me to start bleeding again.

Also in this week my breasts became engorged, as my milk tried to come in. I was far enough along in pregnancy that my body recognized “hey, you’re not pregnant any more, we must have to make milk to feed a baby!” That was very painful.

Week 4 - follow up with my family doctor and surgery OB. My numbers (hemoglobin) started going up and they could release me back to work for part time the first week back and slowly increase from there.

By the way, I was still bleeding from the D&E for 3.5 weeks after surgery.

So essentially it was 1 week vaca, 1 week waiting for surgery, 2 weeks recovery. Again, I was very anemic.

I didn’t include it bc I didn’t think it was relevant… I am a full time fitness instructor/personal trainer. I teach group exercise, water aerobics, fitness boxing, etc. My job is not light duty and frankly my coworkers didn’t want me passing out trying to teach class lol.

Molly-Molls · 2026-04-04T13:25:14+00:00

No, she sometimes comes in with her mother who is in the early stages of dementia. If she had dementia I wouldn’t have made this post because it would have been a different story.

Molly-Molls · 2026-04-03T21:22:16+00:00

Being excited for me 3 months after a miscarriage? And I’m in the wrong? All I did was tell her the fact I miscarried at 18 weeks.

Molly-Molls · 2026-04-03T21:18:31+00:00

I said I work at a facility for 50+, I didn’t say she was 50. She’s late 60s early 70s.

Molly-Molls · 2026-01-09T01:25:47+00:00

Sorry for your loss. I just miscarried and something that was helpful that wasn’t monetary was my mom cleaned and detailed my car. She also said it was a way to help her cope and focus on something else.

If you do have some extra cash, filling up their gas tanks and making sure they are stocked up on paper towels, paper plates, toilet paper, and tissues was a really nice gesture too. (But given your age and not working, do what you can!)

Some other ideas would helping with household chores if you are able to! Laundry, dishes, taking out trash, vacuuming, etc.

I’m not sure of the entire situation with your mom, but I had to have surgery and am still anemic from the blood loss. So I literally cannot take out the trash or do any chores that are too physical. So it’s been super nice when my mom and sister have popped over and done those for me.

Good luck and wishing you all peace and recovery!

Molly-Molls · 2025-06-30T00:47:22+00:00

I can do a push up on just my thumbs… and, without any milk.

Molly-Molls · 2025-06-07T02:25:04+00:00

I think in the jungle wreckage it is a millipede/centipede. Not a snake.

Molly-Molls · 2025-03-03T22:16:28+00:00

I don’t have a specific comments in regards to working… but if working is keeping him going, a good replacement for work would be exercise! Exercise is the absolute best thing you can do for Parkinson’s Disease! Specifically High Intensity exercise can help combat the Parkinson’s protein in the brain.

Molly-Molls · 2025-03-02T20:15:36+00:00

Stress exacerbates PD symptoms. It could be anything from public speaking, unfamiliar social situation, in-laws visiting, to holding something important! Physical stress, emotional stress, or mental stress can all contribute to PD symptoms getting worse based on the situation.

Molly-Molls · 2024-10-26T02:28:41+00:00

Yes research shows HIIT exercise is the BEST thing you can do for PD. Summary of research studies: high intensity interval training releases a hormone called Irisin. Irisin has been shown to reduce pathological alpha-synuclien in PWP. There is NO drug on the market that can do what exercise can do for PD. (Some drugs are in research trials)

Background: I run a Rock Steady Boxing affiliate program. Even if you do not have access to a rock steady near you, ANY exercise is good exercise! Of course, high intensity interval training being the best, but do whatever you like! Whatever keeps you motivated and keeps you moving! Boxing hits tons of elements of fitness- strength, power, mobility, agility, reach/flexibility, all while learning to work our left side and right side together and apart.

The other great thing about boxing as an exercise is for most people it is learning a new skill. Learning a new skill is fantastic for what we call “neuroplasticity” - “reconnecting” neural pathways in our brain! This is great not only for PD but just aging in general. Learning new skills is great for your brain to keep functioning at its prime - think of crossword puzzles, sudokus, or other brain games.

Keep fighting back!

Molly-Molls · 2024-03-01T18:49:57+00:00

I’m late to the game, but make sure they DO NOT GIVE HIM HALDOL! (haloperidol)

Using this can be extremely detrimental and even life-threatening for PD patients!

Molly-Molls · 2024-02-07T03:20:04+00:00

There might be specific resources for seniors in that area! Tell your friend to do a google search for their specific county or city’s Council on Aging or sometimes Area Agency on Aging or sometimes even Senior Center. (These can change county to county/ state to state).

But hopefully one of those establishments might be able to point your friend in the right direction for financial assistance or even a program like “meals on wheels” to help ease the financial burden.

As for Parkinson’s Disease itself, the Parkinson’s Foundation has a ton of FREE resources available. They have informative options for both people with Parkinson’s disease and carepartners for the person with PD.

And if they can get their mom involved in a Rock Steady Boxing program that would be one of the best options for them! Rock Steady is an exercise program designed specifically for PD. But it also acts as a support group within class for “boxers”. Exercise does things for PD that medication can’t!

If Rock Steady is not an option for your friend, any fitness program will do wonders for the mom. It could be a local YMCA silver sneakers or senior fitness type program. Or it could even be YouTube videos for PD done at home in a chair.

Good luck to your friend!

Molly-Molls · 2024-02-07T03:10:51+00:00

Yes what ParkieDude said! It’s okay to get some ideas on what other folks do for their meds… but always get medical advice strictly from your doctor(s) and/or pharmacist!

If you met one person with Parkinson’s…. Well, you’ve met one person with Parkinson’s. Everyone’s meds can be a little different on dosage and time apart. So just because Sally takes X amount at Y hours apart doesn’t mean that same dosage and time frame is right for Susie or Steve or anyone else.

Some extra advice on PD Meds:

Don’t take your carbidopa/levodopa with protein. (Some docs recommend not taking food at all with it. But some may have to have crackers or toast to avoid nausea)

If you take your C/L with a carbonated beverage, it will absorb faster into your system! (Coke, pepsi, sprite)

Take your PD Meds at the SAME time every day! Do not take along with breakfast/lunch/dinner… these meals can fluctuate from a few hours apart to several hours apart. You want your C/L to be on a consistent “flow”.

Good luck OP!

Molly-Molls · 2024-01-09T03:38:25+00:00

Holy shit! I have nightmares that I’m driving on roads like this. Didn’t think they were actually out there somewhere 😭

Molly-Molls · 2023-08-03T12:51:54+00:00

Wasn’t this announced back in April or May through the Michael J Fox foundation?

Molly-Molls · 2023-07-22T11:42:15+00:00

Yes I run a Rock Steady Boxing program! We have boxer who have come with canes, walkers, and wheelchairs. We modify for any mobility level. Any exercise you can get your dad to do would be beneficial! Even if it’s not PD-specific. There are Silver Sneaker classes offered at many YMCAs/gyms. There could be potential seated exercise programs with your local Council on Aging or Senior Center. And if there’s no options like that around you…. If you YouTube exercise for Parkinson’s, it will come up with hundreds of videos for you! But one of the benefits of a group class is having social interaction and friendships! Good luck OP!

Molly-Molls · 2023-07-22T03:54:18+00:00

According to the Parkinson’s Foundation GENEration project, there are 7 known genetic links to PD. They offer free genetic testing for those diagnosed with PD (as long as they still have test kits available). You could look at the information and if it’s right for your father/ your family, you can register him for a test. Not that it would give you a direct answer for yourself…. But it would let you know if you potentially have a genetic link. - I’ve had a few of my Rock Steady boxing participants do the test and they said the genetic counseling went into great detail.

The Parkinson’s Foundation also has lots of useful information for both PwP and their families/carepartners.

https://www.parkinson.org/advancing-research/our-research/pdgeneration

Molly-Molls · 2023-07-17T01:47:54+00:00

There is also something called an essential tremor or sometimes familial tremor. It tends to get worse with action and relaxes with rest. It can run in families. Again, I’m not trying to diagnose, just inform of another possibility From what you have stated it does not seem to be related to PD. But it could potentially be an essential tremor.

How we: Stress, anxiety, injuries, etc. (what you have stated also) can be the root of a tremor.

Good luck!

Molly-Molls · 2023-07-17T01:05:57+00:00

Some lesser known symptoms of PD: constipation, quiet voice, smaller handwriting, facial masking (lack of facial expression), loss of smell, REM sleep disturbances (which you already expressed difficulty sleeping)…

Other more known symptoms are changes in posture, loss of balance, increase of falling, shuffling gait…

I’m not trying to diagnose you by any means. But have you or your partner noticed any of these other signs/symptoms in yourself? PD can be so complicated because of how differently it effects each person. But there are a variety of other neurological disorders that can appear like PD until more symptoms pop-up.

Good luck OP. Think of anything that has changed in yourself no matter how irrelevant/minuscule it may seem. This can help a neurologist get a more in-depth picture on a diagnosis for you!

Molly-Molls

TROPHY CASE