I am writing a review, in hopes to help prevent other women experience what I did. September 2020 I called this medical center because of irregular periods and wanted to know if I was going through perimenopause. I then was sent to get blood work before going to a physical appointment. I got the blood work and then went into a physical appointment where I was to have a pap. While at this appointment, I was seen by a female doctor, who was not the same doctor who did my phone consultation. While at this appointment, before, during and after my pap, she spoke to me about my weight and told me a I would be a good candidate for gastric bypass surgery and before the end of my appointment, she gave me names to other diets and so on. I briefly spoke about how I have hypothyroidism and she quickly pointed out that we both knew that it wasn't just my hypothyroidism that got me to the weight I was, and my irregular cycle was probably a consequence to being obese. I agreed with her that I needed to lose weight and took her advice. If I am honest, I really felt like a kid who was being chastised for not doing something right, like when I brought a bad grade home, or something. Even still, I deeply considered what she had said, so I started googling when I got home. I didn't remember the diets she suggested, but I did however research the gastric b surgery extensively. I spoke to my family about it. I began really feeling bad about myself, I mean I was never comfortable with my weight and knew I didn't want to remain that heavy and knew I needed to loose it. That summer I worked out everyday and watched what I ate, and couldn't understand why I was not losing and in fact gaining, that with the irregular periods, is what lead me to my appointment. I was scared that it could be something serious, because I hadn't had a pap for many years. I expressed this to the doctor before, when I filled out the form online to book the phone appointment, as well as on the phone, and additionally with the doctor who did my pap. After my pap, I was sent for additional blood work and this time it was a man who gave my results. I still wasn't given a clear answer, except I had hormone imbalances and needed to lose weight. I was determined to lose weight. I was frustrated, nothing worked. no one knew the mental and emotional torment I was in, or the days I went without eating, in a desperate attempt to tip the scale back, even a little. I hated myself, I wouldn't let my partner see me or touch me, I couldn't even look at myself. It kept me up most nights. I was a wreck. I was in my room one evening in November and felt movement in my belly. I searched the movements up on google and learned about phantom kicks. I really thought that was what it was, pregnancy at that stage didn't even cross my mind, I mean I just had all that blood work and a pap, there was no way I could much less be pregnant, but pregnant at a duration that I could feel a baby move inside my belly. I did however suspect pregnancy after continuous movement. I went and bought some pregnancy tests and sure enough I was pregnant. I was in disbelief for a bit, shell shocked I guess, and then panicked with fear, worried if my baby was healthy, I had no prenatal check ups at all, and had drinking alcohol socially during this pregnancy. I went to the er where I had my previous children, getting an appointment during the pandemic was nearly impossible. The er could hardly believe my story and sent me up to the maternity floor. The doctor who saw me happened to be my obgyn for my previous child. She was wonderful and tried to reassure me. The nurse I had however, she tried insinuating that I had did something wrong, and need to prove myself to them and not miss any appointment in the future. I did feel like I did something wrong, how could I not know I had my baby in my body. I left feeling ashamed and went through the rest of my pregnancy on high alert, careful to not miss any appointment. I also, found out I was borderline having gestational diabetes. I went on a low carb, low sugar diet and thankfully I didn't need any medical interventions, concerning that. I was stressed for the remainder of my pregnancy, first I couldn't comprehend there was a baby in my belly, and we had no idea knowing if there were any medical concerns with him, because I was to far along for these test that they do. I had no options, except to go to the appointment and pray for the best. At one of my appointments, there was some concern about his heart, and I was asked to come into the hospital and stay on the fetal monitoring system where they keep a record of his heart. I was admitted. I was induced and then later had an emergency c-section because his fetal heart rated completely dropped and couldn't be detected briefly. Thankfully he is healthy. I found out I was pregnant at 29 weeks and had him at about 37 weeks. Coincidentally the doctor who did my pap, has assisted the obgyn I had with c-sections. read more
