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Hi everybody. I wanted to give you all an update sooner than this, but it has been so crazy at work. Anyway, the last time I wrote, I was pretty devastated by a clubfoot diagnosis. Even thought it is treatable, we all want our babies to be perfect! I so appreciate everybody’s kind words, though… it meant so much.
One this I didn’t relay in my other post is how totally AWFUL the whole appointment was. This was my 2nd level 2 ultrasound and my husband’s very first appointment that he was able to attend. After waiting 1 ½ hours past my appointment time, we had a very rushed set of pictures with the technician – not a peep from her. My poor husband kept trying to ask, “what are we seeing now?” Anyway, the way it works in this office, is while the tech is taking the pictures and measurement, the dr. is reviewing from another room and then comes in. So he waltzes in towards the end and talks with the tech for a few minutes (we are RIGHT THERE – he didn’t address us at all at first) and then turns and says, “I think it’s club foot” We were so dazed/confused, etc. He didn’t explain anything, or show us on the ultrasound – nothing. My husband started peppering him with questions, and the doctor said to him, “you look like a man who doesn’t trust.” O.M.G. We were a little flabbergasted and as this dr. was leaving, my husband turned to me and said, “I guess we’ll talk to Dr. M (my regular OB) about this.” The perinatalogist turned and said, “Dr. M doesn’t know what I know.” Needless to say, it was a very bizarre experience/appointment. This all happened on a Thursday. The next day, I called my dr.’s office to tell them I was so confused, hurt, upset by our level of care at the “specialist’s” office and his nonchalant att_tude towards us when we got a diagnosis of a birth defect. This was a difficult phone call -- I hate to ever complain and generaly won't even send cold food back in a restaurant. The nurse insisted I come in and talk to my OB the following Monday. Of course, when I arrived on Monday, the perinatalogist had not sent over the report yet. He sympathized with me and said that even though his bedside manner was horrible, he does trust his judgment. My husband, though, basically said that he wanted another opinion and at least go to an office that would give us the care we feel like we deserve. My doctor agreed to give us another referral.
So, the following Thursday, we were able to get into an excellent Dr. at Winnie Palmer Hospital in Orlando (about and hour away from us). Our experience was night and day to the last one. She explained that there are 3 reasons why it is difficult to get good pictures on the baby. 1) my uterus is a funny shape, 2) I have a anterior placenta, 3) the baby’s position. BUT, the dr. did not give up. She was actually able to get really excellent pictures with an internal ultrasound and, guess what???? PERFECT FEET! I will go back in a month see this doctor again. Something else to stress about because of my funny uterus – she was originally concerned about the level of fluid around the baby – and said that can constrain the baby’s movements. But, but the end of the appointment, the baby moved so much, she said she was very pleased. Because of my placenta being in the way, and the size of the baby at the time (20 weeks 6 days) she wanted to get better pictures of the brain – which is why I have to go back in a month… but she also said she wasn’t concerned about that.
Anyway…. I’m going on and on, I just wanted to share my relief with all of you! Of course, I have this teeny part of me that says, I’ll believe she’s healthy, normal, etc. when I see her, but we are so relieved. Angry, too, at the other doctor. Why didn’t he try to get better pictures? I remember him commenting that it was a difficult angle to see, but he still diagnosed “bilateral clubfeet” on the report to my doctor.
JMP – I’ve been thinking about you as well. You stay resting! I know it must be so hard…but it seems to be working with your cervix staying the same length.
Thanks for listening, ladies! :-)
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