I'm getting an ultrasound tomorrow.

No, dear internets, I am not knocked up again, THANK YOU BABY JESUS.

Lately, the dreaded avocado episodes are back. Indeed they were triggered by guacamole consumption (so sue me) and now the old gallbladder is just acting like a bitch again and hurting me all the time.

I was almost fully convinced I wasn't going to need any treatment for it after I had Abby because it seemed I could eat anything and everything I hadn't been able to while it was acting up. But I hadn't attempted the dreaded avocado. And then I did and then my gallbladder (AKA Vincent*) was all "OH NO YOU DI'ENT" and then I nearly died from pain.

So, I saw a loverly doctor today who scheduled me for an ultrasound of my jerky abdomen tomorrow morning at 8am (8 hours of no food beforehand?! They'd better start that thing at 8am ON THE DOT) to see if I've got some stones hanging out in there. I'm almost hoping there are, because the simple solution to relieve me of my pain is to yank the sucker out. She'd like to do it this week, if possible.

At first I panicked at the prospect of more time in the hospital, but in reality, as long as I don't have to vaginally deliver my gallbladder I'm pretty sure this will be a walk in the park.

In other news, Abby will be 3 months old tomorrow and DEAR GOD I GO BACK TO WORK IN A WEEK. Unless they pull out Vincent. Then it might be a little longer before work.

So, until I post a tear jerker post about how my child is practically already a grown up, I bid you adieu.

*A note about my gallbladder being named Vincent. My dear e-friend Poeia helped me name it. Vincent seemed the best since it makes me think of Vincent Price and I can only imagine my gallbladder being devious and having an awesome pencil-thin mustache.

Avocado episode, part II.

I ended up calling the nurses again yesterday about my pain, and they had me come in.

Before the midwife made his decision as to what was ailing me, he heard my complaints and aches and whatnot, then had me lay down so he could measure me and hear the baby - the old ute is 29cm long (grew by 5cm from a month ago) and he was BAFFLED at how short waisted I am. He said I have less than a foot between my hip and the bottom of my ribcage. (That's not normal?) if I'm not already having aches in my ribs and back, they'll be starting soon because there's no where else for the baby to go. Great. Thanks mom! Just kidding. I know you didn't choose this short-waisted-ness either. Do we blame my grandmother?

Anyway, he said in the end he thinks that it IS my gallbladder being a jerk, but doesn't suspect stones or anything, just acting up with higher fat intake, less space to function and good old hormones throwing off the delicate balance of my organs. He said I just need to officially change my diet and cut out all high fat (or relatively fatty) foods. He wasn't too concerned with the itching (my feet and hands were kind of itchy over the weekend), but said if it's more constant and consistent that I should call in. (See the concern about itchiness of hands and feet here.) But he's pretty secure in the thought that with a lower fat diet that I should be feeling better in no time.

The state fair starts next Thursday. So much for everything on a stick! (He said I can have a pickle on a stick, but what I really want is deep fried pickle slices dipped in ranch dressing. Nom nom nom.)

So, after all that, I ended up getting my Rhogam shot so I don't have to go back in again tomorrow.

I'm hurting again today...just in that spot under my ribs, but dealing. It just sucks...and watching what I eat is REALLY going to suck. Not to sound like "that girl" - but I've never had to watch what I eat. Reading labels is very foreign to me. Although, I discovered that the donuts I bought at the grocery on Sunday may have been hurting me - 55% of daily value of SATURATED FAT in EACH ONE. Ooops. I suppose I could cut those out.

(look at that frosted goodness)

But seriously? Entenmann's chocolate devil's food cake donuts?! They are SO GOOD...eating one is almost worth the pain. Almost.

This is what I found on a website of what to avoid when you have gallbladder issues. It's laughable.

Eggs, pork, onion, fowl, milk, coffee, oranges, grapefruit, corn, beans, nuts, in that order.
Trans fats
Hydrogenated, partially-hydrogenated oils
Margarine
Fried Foods
Saturated fats(even coconut oil until feeling better)
Red meats
Dairy products
Eggs
Coffee, regular or decaf
Chocolate
Ice cream
Black tea
Alcohol, beer, wine, liqueur
Fruit juice
Carbonated water
Tap water
Raddishes and turnips
Cabbage, cauliflower
Colas and all sodas
Oats (for some people)
Wheat
Barley
Rye (although the sour German ryes seem to be less troublesome)
All legumes (beans) as they tend to increase the cholesterol in the bile.
Avoid all artificial sweeteners, sugar, preservatives, refined and bleached foods (like white flour)

So, I can't drink water, juice, milk, tea, coffee or soda. That leaves....what? This list is ridic.

WebMD's article makes more sense. Maybe I'll pay attention to that one instead.

Hypochondriac, party of one.

So, all weekend I've been experiencing what I've written off to be rib pain. Rib pain is to be expected when you have a tiny human burrowing in your uterus, which is slowly expanding into your abdomen and rib cage.

However, I've realized in the past two days that it's really only in one location - my right upper abdomen. And after MORE consideration, it's the same spot I experienced discomfort during my "avocado" episodes - aka Gallbladder attacks.

I pretty much just sit at my desk all day, holding onto my ribs on my right side. It's not SUPER painful, but enough of an ache to me EFFING ANNOYING and is getting to be a bit of a worry. Today I made sure to stay away from high fat foods, and unless dinner from last night is still somehow plaguing me, I don't understand why I'm in pain today.

Now the decision making time - do I call the doc's office again (I did yesterday and the woman just said to avoid high fat foods, or thought maybe it was just plain old rib pain) and try to have them get me in today or tomorrow? Or just wait it out and talk to the MW on Thursday during my regularly scheduled appointment? I'm leaning towards waiting. The pain isn't stopping me from working, and I'm not nauseated or anything. It's really just more aggravating than anything. Fingers crossed it IS just rib pain and isn't my gallbladder.

No good.

I woke up today earlier than I normally do. I'm hoping that's what I can blame today's crappy feeling on.

I'm lightheaded and kind of stuffy, and just overall SUPER tired. God help me if I'm coming down with something.

It dawned on me this morning that I've been failing to remember to take my vitamin every night. Gah. Not that this has anything to do with anything, but goes along with the general complaining I'm doing here. :)

And to make matters worse, I have to be up at 3am tomorrow morning to test a deploy at work. Hopefully this means I can just not go to work for the rest of the day after that's done. :( Weekend needs to be here NOW.

So this is what death's door looks like...

I tried adding the words "Put me out of my misery." to my tweet this morning, but I ran out of room.

But honestly, I feel that way. I REALLY felt like that while I was laying in bed last night, and only slightly feel that way today.

I am SO OVER being sick. If you're not a twitter follower of me, you may not have known that Monday afternoon, my cold (which was a month in already) decided to go ahead and START ALL OVER AGAIN...with the stuffy, snotty nose, coughing, sweats and everything else that is having a cold. I was thinking I was finally getting over it, even though the chest pain that started a little over a week ago hadn't subsided.

So, yesterday morning after my shower, I decided I officially was not going to work. I could barely move from the chest pain and was going through a kleenex every 3 minutes. Not to mention every earth shattering cough and sneeze was triggering the occasional braxton hicks.

Around 3pm when the hubs came home with the car, I took myself to Urgent Care. Got myself an x-ray (which I fully stressed myself with but feel better now) and exam - no pneumonia, no blood clot in the lung, possible bronchitis. I was given a Z-Pack and Tylenol w/Codine that I'm not so sure I want to take, even though it's safe.

Last night, I was fully doped up on antibiotics, Robitussin, and Sudafed. I felt better, but felt guilty about all I was putting this little bean through. I'm pretty sure all this kid knows are PB&Js, pickles, and the sound of momma's cough. And that makes me sad. When I finally went to bed, I felt so guilty and crappy and like a horrible fetus host that I almost started to cry. Luckily, I still had enough sense to realize that my Sudafed would be wearing off soon and any crying would only worsen the nasal issues I was having, so I convinced the waterworks to knock it off.

So here we are today. I'm at work, still feeling miserable (the Robitussin is on board so that's helping), but at least feeling the babe's kicks so I know it's not too crabby with me. Today, operation HEALTHY MOMMA begins. The hubs and I will kick it off with a grocery store trip this evening.

::cough cough COUGH HACK COUGH::

I blame it on my brazen bragging of my "excellent health" last weekend. I was so proud of the fact that I did not get sick ONCE over the winter...and then...BLAMO. The sore throat set in Saturday morning, and by Sunday I was completely sick.

Being sick while pregnant is annoying. Last night, sleep was HORRIBLE. I was anxious and warm and achy and coughy. NyQuil would have been the bomb. Yet, I laid and did not sleep for like, 3 hours. Or if I would doze off, I'd wake up within 5 minutes. Booo.

And my teeth hurt. All of them. I guess this also is a pregnancy symptom, aggravated by my cold.

Still, I'll take all of this over being nauseated or fatigued.