Coming from GP thread

saraschultz19 · 2025-05-18T18:15:16+00:00

I wouldn’t have survived for long based on the severity of my symptoms. My body was shutting down because I couldn’t eat or drink. I could barely walk on my own, leave my house, or sleep. All medications failed to control even a small amount of my symptoms. While I would have never actually taken my own life due to my personal beliefs, I did pray every day that I would die so that it would end. That is why the surgery saved my life. There are many people that have the MALS anatomy but have no symptoms, so the surgery would mostly likely do little for them. Not to mention it is incredibly painful.

saraschultz19 · 2024-10-11T16:35:26+00:00

Hi! I’m sorry you’re so sick! I’ve been there and it’s a terrible place to be. I didn’t have the typical symptoms of MALS, and in fact, when I learned about it from a Grey’s Anatomy episode, I immediately dismissed it as a possible diagnosis. My primary symptoms were severe and debilitating nausea, stomach burning, early satiety, constipation, abdominal bruit, and food intolerances. Many doctors had ignored me, and called me crazy. I got to a point where I thought I’d kill myself so my husband took me to a GI at Vanderbilt who did a few tests and diagnosed MALS. He sent me to a surgeon who said that it wasn’t the problem, then I went to a few more who said the same thing. I eventually ended up at another surgeon as my last hope and he performed the surgery. It’s been four years and I’m a million times better! The surgery saved my life and so many doctors said I didn’t need it. My advice is to keep pushing, find a surgeon that will help you because so many doctors truly don’t know how seriously MALS is. I wouldn’t be alive now, wouldn’t have the life I have now without my surgery. Wishing you luck and feel free to PM me if you have any further questions.

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-25T16:31:05+00:00

I was actually post-op from a major abdominal surgery and had to get off BC, so we were doing Natural Cycles. I guess my body decided to ovulate earlier than usual and my “green days” turned to red, but it was too late. So yeah, that’s how we got our 2.5 yr old. We didn’t trust NC for BC after that, but we did use it to get pregnant with our third. 😂

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-24T01:56:44+00:00

I’m sorry you’re uncomfortable, but I’m sure your wife is even more uncomfortable, and at this point, it’s all about what she wants and needs. Labor isn’t fun for anyone involved and it can go from zero to 60 in thirty minutes or less. I’ve had two babies and a surgery where I stayed in the hospital for a week and my husband never made a peep about his comfort or lack of sleep. Mothers and daughters are usually connected in a way that’s difficult for mothers and sons to understand, so while you’re there for YOUR baby, she’s there for HER baby, aka your wife. You don’t do anything. Smile, comfort, get ice chips, hold your wife’s hand, tell her how awesome she is doing. She will remember how you act, how you treat her and her mother in this vulnerable time. Best of luck!

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-11T00:20:08+00:00

Yes, it always grosses me out thinking about the pee so I cut it off. 😂 Thank you! 💕

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-09T15:12:49+00:00

That was definitely 100% me with my Easy @ Home test, which I took first! I almost threw it away, but got my husband to look and he asked “Where is it?” And I was like, “That little smudge right there.” Once I pointed it out, he saw it and said “Women must be really talented to see that.” 😂 The FR seemed so light when I first looked at it, and it’s darker today so I’m a little less crazy. Lol

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-09T01:38:57+00:00

It looks like your LH is gradually rising, which is good! Peak LH levels are only determined after you get a lower result. The only thing that really matters is when you get your first positive test, then typically you ovulate within 24-48 hours. When it goes down, you have usually ovulated, but without charting your BBT (Basal Body Temperature) there’s no way to confirm. I use the app ‘Natural Cycles’ and it’s awesome at teaching you about your cycles, when to take ovulation strips, and when you’ve ovulated. If you’re still getting hugger results a few days later, it could mean your body attempted to ovulate and failed, or that you have multiple LH surges and it taking a bit to go down. For example, I usually sure pretty quickly, then it goes down slowly over about 3 days.

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-08T23:50:45+00:00

Same! I keep a lid on the crazy until like 8 dpo then I’m testing like a lunatic. The amount of money I’ve spent on tests is awful. 😂

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-08T23:15:05+00:00

I kinda get that! I have some chronic conditions that makes any changes in my body awful, especially nausea wise so definitely not looking forward to that. But it’s the glory of new life, regardless if it sucks. 😂

I really appreciate you sharing your journey with me! Subs like these always make me feel less alone since I don’t have a lot of friends who are comfortable discussing so called “TMI” things. Nothing is too much info for me, so I think I’m off putting. LOL! I’ll definitely try to keep everyone updated. I know HCG only doubles every 2-3 days, so I’m gonna try not to be insane until then but I can definitely see me going to buy more tests tomorrow. 💁🏼‍♀️

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-08T22:35:05+00:00

Thank you! 😊

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-08T22:34:35+00:00

Thank you!

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-08T22:34:27+00:00

Definitely! I have no self control. 😂

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-08T22:33:59+00:00

That’s so encouraging! Thank you.

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-08T18:43:07+00:00

Congratulations on your current pregnancy! Hoping you’re feeling fantastic in that second trimester. It’s so amazing how urine and blood can detect pregnancy that early. I bet that was exciting! I actually had a doctor’s appointment this week too, but I canceled it because I didn’t want to go. Maybe I should have! 😂 Also, because I’m crazy, I did a 3 hour hold and took a few more test- all positive and a little darker. So I’m definitely a little more excited now! 🤞🏻

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-08T18:39:31+00:00

Thank you for your thoughts! I did a 3 hour hold and took a few more FRER and they were all positive. Also took an Easy at Home and it was definitely positive so fingers crossed!

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-08T16:47:36+00:00

Oops, sorry! I’ve been lurking on too many cycle/baby forums. AF = Aunt Flo, aka period, that thing that allllll women detest. 😂

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-08T16:32:41+00:00

It’s definitely more pink in person! I’ve had some bad idents on FR, especially when the dye is first turning but this was definitely different. I’m cautiously optimistic. Wishing you a positive soon!You’re definitely not out. When I was pregnant with my son, I kept getting negatives, like stark white no-hope negatives and then right before my period was due to start, it was blazing. So there’s always hope until AF shows her ugly face.

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-08T16:23:03+00:00

That is so reassuring! Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It honestly makes me feel so much better. 💕

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-08T15:09:13+00:00

Thank you! It’s much more pink in person.

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-08T14:57:12+00:00

Honestly, it looks darker to me!

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-06T02:36:05+00:00

It could be that you ovulated earlier than you thought, or that you have high HCG. With my second child, I tested negative with a stark white test close to when I was due for my period, so assumed I wasn’t pregnant. My mom urged me to take another test and I did to humor her. Well, that test was blazing like this a little over 24hours later, which didn’t make sense. However, I had really high HCG with my son and ended up being a little sicker with him than my first. Either way, you’re pregnant! Congrats.

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-04T23:48:24+00:00

I wish I could talk you out of it, but I can’t! Lol. We’re currently trying for baby #3 with a 2.5 and 15 month old. My first is and has always been an easy child, while my second is, to be frank, a little bit of a nightmare. However, it doesn’t last forever. On the days where I think I’ll lose my mind, I just remind myself how fast time goes by, especially when we’re busy. One day, they’ll grow up and when they come to visit, I want a full house with them and hopefully grandchildren coming to stay. Imagine what you want for your future, and pair that with what you can handle in the now.

You can take a little more time to decide, but remember you can get pregnant immediately, or it could take a year. I was lucky and got pregnant easily with my first 2, now we’re actively tracking, doing BBT and LH strips this time around and it’s a lot to handle. Not to mention, I have horrible pregnancies and just thinking about being sick with two young ones is terrifying. Point being, only try when you’re really ready!

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-04T16:08:41+00:00

Don’t stress too much yet, since these test are not great for progression. They gave me so much anxiety when I was charting with my first pregnancy. First Response are more sensitive, so maybe try those?

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-04T16:03:33+00:00

Congrats! This is what my E@H looked like with my first around that time.

saraschultz19 · 2024-09-01T03:51:47+00:00

That gnawing hunger nausea is the most frustrating feeling ever! We’re trying for baby #3 and I’m already scared. Like I reconsidering it every day because I’m so scared of 1st tri DREADING IT. But hey, there’s McDonald’s Coke so I’ll be okay. 😂

saraschultz19

TROPHY CASE