Pregnancy/blood Clots

Hi T., This really does sound like a situation you should be discussing with a doctor. If you feel like your current doctor is giving you the brush off you should start searching for one you do feel comfortable with and who is willing to take the time to listen to all of your concerns. Good luck.

It sounds like your Dr isn't answering all of your questions!! Go in and ask him/her all of your questions. If they are not answering to your satisfaction, get your records and transfer to a different doctor. Blood clots and being on meds to thin your blood are very serious and if you don;t know anything about your diagnosis and are not getting answers, you need to switch doctors!

Hi T.,

I agree with the other posters... you've got to get your questions answered by your doctor! Besides writing down your questions, etc, make sure you take someone with you to the appointment if you can. If you have a husband, that's probably the best person. But even if you can bring a friend, another pair of ears that you trust who can ALSO take notes, this should help. (Obviously someone you trust) I know with myself, even with my daughter, a lot of time I'm so busy worrying that even if I take notes I'm not really HEARING what the doctor is saying. A second person can really help out and later say, "That's not what I heard" etc. etc.

Good luck... be persistent... don't leave until you understand what happened.

Hi T.,

I am so sorry to hear of your misfortune with the doctors at the hospital. Are you from Montgomery County and was this a local hospital? As far as your concerns with blood clots, I would talk to your regular doctor. Another really good source for women is the Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Science, by Tori Hudson. As far as each additional pregnancy it is wise to talk it over with your OB or Midwife but each pregnancy is different so what happened this time may not happen the next. I hope you find all the answers that you need, keep asking until it makes sense.

Take care,
D.

Wow! So sorry that you had to go through all of that. I just wanted to let you know that I have issues with blood clots, had a stroke when I was 26 (I'm 33 now). My blood clots tend to be effected by my hormone levels, so I took blood thinners during both of my pregnancies. I had no problems with the shots (lovenox once a day until the last 4 weeks, then low dose heparin twice a day until the birth) other than the fact that it's annoying to have to do it everyday. The medicine doesn't pass through the placenta and therefore doesn't effect the baby. They consider the shots a theraputic level which means that you don't have to go in and have your blood levels checked regularly.

Sorry that I can't provide any knowledge on the other aspects of your situation, but I just wanted to let you know that taking the blood thinner during pregnancy is nothing to be scared of. It made me feel safe that I wouldn't have another stroke or blood clot in my legs while pregnant and I had 2 healthy babies.

Take care and God bless.

Hi T.,

The "exclusive" diagnosis simply means that is the only diagnosis they are officially proclaiming. I can't sugar coat it, because you need to be very careful, blood clots are responsible for some terrible damage to limbs, heart, brain and they can threaten your life. The good news is you found out you have these problems before you had to experience any of that craziness AND now you can be on the lookout for potential problems and get treatment. I sincerely hope that you will be vigilant for your safety, and take the blood thinnners and follow their recommendations. Did they tell you any thing would help other than pills? Like massages or exercise? I don't know but I do wish you my very best.

T.

These are all questions your doctor should answer. If you can't get her to explaine what your disgnosis was and what it means, ask for a copy of your hospital records and her records. It is your right by law that they give you a copy of these if you ask. They have the right to charge you a copy fee, in PA I think they can chage 20 cents/page. Take all this stuff to your NEW OB/GYN and ask them to explaine them to you. I big part of your doctors job is to educate you about your health. If your OB can't/won't do this, you need to find a new one. Your new dr will need time to read your notes b/f they can explain them to you, so make sure they have that information a week before your apt.

Hope this helps.

Before you get pregnant again, I would request a copy of your medical records from the hospital where you have birth so you and your current OB/Gyn can review them and take appropriate measures for your next pregnancy. If you are at high risk for blood clots it is especially important to know this before getting pregnant because the placenta can clot off and end the pregnancy. Blood thinners (once a day subcutaneously) can usually take away this risk. It would also be nice to know if this issue you had is solely pregnancy related or if you have some sort of underlying condition where you are at high risk for having blood clots. Just a good thing to know. I'm sure if you get your records and figure out what's going on you will be able to deal with whatever before you get pregnant again and not have to experience the same ordeal. Good luck.

If you want your questions answered, get a cc of your medical records from the hospital, and make an app't with your PCP -- let your doc review your records and answer your questions. Please don't tell me that you are willing to get answers from non medical moms who haven't seen your records.

If blood clots are an issue, your doc can recommend something like a baby aspirin a day, which is what I took following surgery. But the blood clots form largely due to inactivity after surgery, not due to pregnancy. So the best way around them is to be up and about (something you can't do if you have a broken leg and are prescribed to sit around elevating it)

Don't panic. Ask your doctor. Get good qualified medical advice. I would get a cc of the records first. Read thru them yourself, think about the info, read through them again, and WRITE DOWN your questions. . . then go to the doctor with all the info AND the written list of questions. When you are there, don't panic -- just ask your questions calmly. Or you can ask your OB/GYN since most of your Q's are based upon childbirth and pregnancy.

Be calm, be as intelligent as you can and ask lots of questions. Your doc may be able to tell you why they were looking for blood clots based on the medical info they had, and can explain what they do and don't know. You may not get all your questions answered, and no one can ever tell an expectant mom not to worry with any real success, cuz we worry anyway . . . but get your Q's answered by someone with 12+ years of medical training, not by a bunch of moms, okay ?

Peace, and have a wonderful time with that new baby of yours !!! They are SO precious, and we don't ever realize how fast they grow up until they grow and change on us !!

Oh MY GOD! I am so happy you are here to report about your experience. First, GET NEW DOCTORS AT ONCE and NEVER return to that hospital. Unless you plan to file a malpractice suit, never see them, speak to them or have them treat you EVER AGAIN. I would write a letter to your OB doc for your own satisfaction and carbon copy everyone involved, even an attorney so they think again before they are so negligent with another patient. Okay, now that that is off my chest. My darling,you had some sort of infection. Fever=infection. Basic Medicine 101. I had the exact same thing happen to me 2 days after delivery of my second child and was admitted immediately for IV antibiotics. I mean right from the doctor's office, didn't pass go, no time to waste, immediately admitted for IV antibiotics. My hemaglobin was also so low that I got blood transfusions as well. I am so stunned they waited so long to give anibiotics to you and I am so thankful you came through this experience alive and well to care for your baby. My heart goes out to moms everywhere who have complicated births. We take so much for granted in our high-tech, civilized country. Giving birth is serious business. A woman dies in childbirth every 19 minutes somewhere on this planet. We are so fortunate to have the care we have in this great USA. I can't believe your OB was so negligent. Gees, docs dispense antibiotics over a cut finger "just to be safe" and protect from infection. You gave birth, lost blood and had a fever 2 days later. This is a no brainer in the medical world especially in a hospital. Anyway, I could go on and on. Your angels love you a lot. Treasure them. Oh, and blood clots? Doesn't sound like that theory stood up. Infection ruled out. But, you definitely will be better armed with information (and a better doc) next time. All the Best!

T., You need to ask your doctor all these questions and demand answers that you can understand. If your Ob/GYN won't take the time to explain and answer all these questions then I strongly suggest you never see that Doctor again and ask your regular Doc to look through all your records and explain it all to you. You have to be your own health advocate...you would never accept the lack of answers if it was your child's health...don't accept this brush-off about your own health!! It is completely unacceptable in 2009 for any Doctor to allow a patient to leave their office without a full understanding of their condition! Doing research on your own with no medical background is just asking for problems...and I don't suggest it. Remember to write all your questions down and make sure that you understand what you are being told when you talk to the doctor...treat it like a business meeting! Stay strong & best wishes.