Being pulled from work...

[Annie2008]

I have a question within this post and I hope to get your ladies' thoughts about this.  Let me give a tiny short background.  I'm 18 weeks pregnant at the moment and for the most part things have been going well.  This is not your normal pregnancy though because when I was born I had Transpositon of the Great Vessles (which means my two main vessles were switched and had to be surgically repaired).  I had 2 open heart surgies to have that repaired early in life.  Needless to say I've had a team of doctors looking over me with the pregnancy.  I have had increased SOB (much worse than normal for being pregnant, and it's been getting worse at work, I'm a nurse and on my feet all day).  I recently had an EKG which was normal, then had an Echocardiogram which my cardiologist called me about because my right ventricle is double the size it should be.  Last night at work, my nurse manager saw me rubbing my ankels because they were hurting me and made me take off my shoe and sock and I was shocked to see that my ankels were huge and my color was pale and dusky and had a blueish tinge to my foot.  I have noticed my hands were retaining fluid, but had no clue that my ankels and feet were that bad.  We checked the oxygen level in my foot compared to my finger and my foot was 88-90 which isn't that great and my finger was 97-99 which is normal.  

Now my question is this, I plan on calling my caridologist this morning to tell her everything that has been happening because I can't wait until next week to see her in fear of things getting worse.  I'm actually hoping that she will pull me from work at this point and then I can file for short term disablity, but what do you guys think are my chances that she will actually hear me out today and see me right away so I can do this.  I want her to see me today because I can't do this anymore.  I came home crying because I can't breathe, and my ankles hurt me so much.

Thoughts please.
Thanks,
Annie

[Annie2008]

Ya, she was going to put me on light duty as well, but I work in a nursing home and they have already told me that to cover their butts they would feel better that I stayed home.  I'm fine with staying home, only because I know myself at work and I know I won't be able to stop doing more than what I should be doing.  I can't believe that you made it as far as you did too, but good for you.  I feel somewhat stupid for having off of work at 18 weeks, but I need to take care of me and my baby.  Work is not worth it.  Luckily I have benefits, so I can file for short term disability if I am off for good.  Money will be tight, but I have to do this for me.  I've been sitting here crying a bit, but it's because I'm scared and worried and just wanna make it through this pregnancy.  I think this may be our only child because of my heart.

I hope everything works out for you as well Lat - please keep me informed.
Annie

[Latrice414]

Annie im a nurse to, i work per dien  in a hospital 12 hour shifts and part time in a nursing home. Im suprised i have lasted this long with all the problems ive been having, im 29 weeks preggo, and i called to speak with the nurse who works with my ob to tell her my problems and now im going up there to pick up the letter for light duty that basicly includes i need to do a sit down job,(which i no there is no such job in nursing lol) and if they dont approve it, i will be going on early materinty leave, the thing is, im per diem at the hospital so thats no benefits, but i heard i can apply for unemployment if they dont give me light duty.

Im glad your off work until your next appt.  

[LauraB78]

I am happt to hear that the on-call OB made that decision. I agree that you shoul drest until you see your high risk OB and your cardiologist. Please keep us posted and take it easy!

[Annie2008]

Thanks for replying everyone.  Let me start off by saying that next Tuesday I am seeing a high risk specialist and the cardiologist again.  So this morning I called my cardiologist but was told she is on vacation this week.  So I called my OB/GYN and the nurse practioner that has been dealing with me called me back right away and I explained what has been happening.  She talked to the on-call OB and he agreed with her to take me off of work until I see the cardiologist next week and she can decide if she wants me out of work for good.  Sadly there is no light duty at my job (being a nurse ***** sometimes).

So for now I am off of work until July 16th -- but I have a feeling that it will go beyond that.

Thanks again.

[JoyRenee]

Uh yeah, I'd get seen today! Pregnant women with heart conditions usually take precedence so definitely call. And definitely need to stop working.

[Mumita]

I am surprised that with your medical history they haven't categorized your pregnancy as high risk.  I think that your health is more important than anything else and it seems that at this point you need to either be working at reduced hours or light duty or put on bed rest.
Like Laura said, you need to see your cardiologist and OB/GYN right away.  My feet look like giant water balloons but I'm 36 weeks pregnant and they are not blueish.  That is definitely a huge concern early on in pregnancy specially if you have a heart condition.

[LauraB78]

I would try and get in today. I would explain to them what is going on, I am sure with your history, your cardiologist could squeeze you in? Or, maybe just call your department and tell them you are not feeling well until your cardiologist can see you? I think you should take it easy until you are seen by the cardiologist. Better safe than sorry, you know?? Keep us posted.