Aa
help with pregnancy questions?
I know people can't diagnose over the internet and that tests are the best thing but I'm pretty confused... My last period was January 8th-12th, not really as heavy as usually but pretty much like normal...blood was a dark red/brown color (I get my AF every 30 days.. with occasional late times). About 2 weeks after that I started vomiting, and getting really bad nausea (nausea is bad during the mornings, worse after i eat, and certain smells just make me vomit), cramping in my abdomen, tender to the touch breasts (pretty much hurts to even wear a bra or shirt sometimes, my husband says that my areolae look darker and bigger) I have low back pain, I feel bloated and constipated at times, still no AF, husband also thinks I've been having mood swings, I feel very fatigued, and have headaches. Back in february for a few days i had a few spots of what looked like menstrual blood. I went to the doctor not long after and found out i had a urinary infection, but the pregnancy test i went in for came up negative. (also have taken a few hpt and they too have come up negative) I told the doctor of my symptoms and he said "....maybe you are pregnant but it's too early to test". I took a test this week and it too was negative. Does anyone know if Planned Parenthood does blood pregnancy tests because it appears that walk-in-clinics only do urine tests. I don't have any insurance so I'm not sure about going to a doctor and getting a blood pregnancy test done there, so does anyone know how much it would cost to have a blood test done without having insurance?
I think also the problem with the doctor I went to was it was almost closing time, it was really busy, it was a walk-in-clinic in the first place AND there was sort of a language barrier. He had broken english, which is hard to deal with already at home since my husband and I take care of his parents and 3 of his 7 siblings. They're hmong and his mother cannot speak english. I'm not too sure if the doctor was Hmong, Chinese or Mien. If he was Hmong he should have just spoke with my husband since he was with me if it would have been easier for him that way. I didn't really like going there because the doctors and nurses didn't really listen to me when I said that I was having A LOT of the symptoms. I understand that it could be psychosomatic, but my husband and I have been trying to have a child lately so we're hoping that it's not just all in my head. I personally don't think I'm pregnant, that my body is just acting all funky. It could also just be sympathy symptoms since his youngest sister whom we're taking care of is currently pregnant, who knows. I plan on finding a different doctor soon, but probably wont go until i've hit the "it's been 90 days since AF?!".
I have heard of woman not getting a positive on a urine test and finding out months later that they were indead pregnant. I am not sure about planned parenthood but I do know they have free clinics or state hospitals where you cant be denied service because of inability to pay. That being said you could also not be pregnant and have something eles going on. There are a number of reasons to miss a period. I think you need a diffrent doctor. One that will take you seriously and find out what is wrong. Good luck:)
I feel better after not wearing a bra or taking it off and getting relief after being stuff in so tight. As for feeling sick, I generally feel the urge to puke after I eat. Yes I am nausous(sp?) before as in having an empty tummy, but the majority of the time when I do acually get sick is right after I eat. I am 19.5 weeks with #4
sorry if i made it unclear. not wearing a bra doesn't make it feel better, it just hurts sometimes to wear a bra. I have never once thought i was pregnant, but my husband has asked me to take these tests. two tests have come up positive, but most of them have been negative.
Well, I'll try to address both your concerns. Hopefully I can offer information that you'll find helpful :-)
As far as the possibility of being pregnant, wondering and not knowing can often cause psychosomatic manifestations---i.e. phantoms symptoms, "spotting" symptoms when you aren't actually pregnant. Obviously with the absence of a positive pregnancy test, chances are that you are not pregnant---however, that doesn't mean there is no chance of you being pregnant. You still could be.
Some things in your descriptions lend toward typical pregnancy, and some do not. Obviously the cessation of menses is one for pregnancy, and some of your symptoms seem congruent. But the fact that not wearing a bra helps your breasts feel better is extremely atypical---usually for hormonal breast swelling associated with pregnancy, a bra is like a lifesaver. It is also uncommon to have the morning sickness worsen after meals---typically it is at its worst and most severe when your stomach is empty and eating something every couple of hours will help things, not make it worse.
As far as not having insurance, unfortunately unless you do some research and find free or low-cost clinics, private medicine can hit you with a double-whammy. See, insurance companies publish a list of reimbursement rates that they will pay for typical services performed by medical professionals. If a doctor wants Cigna's patients, or Blue Cross Blue Shields patients, they agree to those rates and become an in-network doctor. Cigna can do this because of all the patients they represent but it can be tough on the doctor's pocketbook. So, often doctor's offices will bill a significantly higher price for the "self-pay" patients like yourself. That's their "list price" so to speak, and they use it to make up for the loss they're often taking on the insurance patients. They are not doing anything wrong, but it just seems unfair sometimes when you see what a high price you'll pay for out of pocket care compared to what Cigna just paid the doc.
Anyway, now that you have that understanding, be prepared to pay over $100 for a blood test. The lab "billed" my insurance I believe around $170 for mine. My insurance reduced the bill to their agreed upon rate of around $13 and paid that. Being cash pay, you will have to pay the $170 price.
You can sometimes negotiate this down with the lab in advance, but it's tough to do, the more parties you have involved. And in the case of a blood pregnancy test, often you will have to go to the doctor (paying their rate for a consultation), then pay for the blood draw (separate charge from your visit, often encompasses sending it to the lab), then you'll get a separate bill from the lab they send it to (where you'll get that $100+ charge for the test). So... your best bet is to find a free/low-cost clinic in your area (ones at hospitals are good because they have all possible medical equipment available to them and a full-service lab on site). But you may have to call and ask if they will order a blood test when urine tests have been negative. Also check with your local health department---they usually offer full prenatal care, among other medical services.
Most Planned Parenthood offices do not do bloodwork beyond a "fingerprick" test. You have to have special licensing with appropriate staff (a certified Phlebologist) to draw blood and to my knowledge no Planned Parenthood facility has this (at least not in my area). So I don't think you'll have much luck there, though they might be able to direct you to a clinic that can help you.
As far as the possibility of being pregnant, wondering and not knowing can often cause psychosomatic manifestations---i.e. phantoms symptoms, "spotting" symptoms when you aren't actually pregnant. Obviously with the absence of a positive pregnancy test, chances are that you are not pregnant---however, that doesn't mean there is no chance of you being pregnant. You still could be.
Some things in your descriptions lend toward typical pregnancy, and some do not. Obviously the cessation of menses is one for pregnancy, and some of your symptoms seem congruent. But the fact that not wearing a bra helps your breasts feel better is extremely atypical---usually for hormonal breast swelling associated with pregnancy, a bra is like a lifesaver. It is also uncommon to have the morning sickness worsen after meals---typically it is at its worst and most severe when your stomach is empty and eating something every couple of hours will help things, not make it worse.
As far as not having insurance, unfortunately unless you do some research and find free or low-cost clinics, private medicine can hit you with a double-whammy. See, insurance companies publish a list of reimbursement rates that they will pay for typical services performed by medical professionals. If a doctor wants Cigna's patients, or Blue Cross Blue Shields patients, they agree to those rates and become an in-network doctor. Cigna can do this because of all the patients they represent but it can be tough on the doctor's pocketbook. So, often doctor's offices will bill a significantly higher price for the "self-pay" patients like yourself. That's their "list price" so to speak, and they use it to make up for the loss they're often taking on the insurance patients. They are not doing anything wrong, but it just seems unfair sometimes when you see what a high price you'll pay for out of pocket care compared to what Cigna just paid the doc.
Anyway, now that you have that understanding, be prepared to pay over $100 for a blood test. The lab "billed" my insurance I believe around $170 for mine. My insurance reduced the bill to their agreed upon rate of around $13 and paid that. Being cash pay, you will have to pay the $170 price.
You can sometimes negotiate this down with the lab in advance, but it's tough to do, the more parties you have involved. And in the case of a blood pregnancy test, often you will have to go to the doctor (paying their rate for a consultation), then pay for the blood draw (separate charge from your visit, often encompasses sending it to the lab), then you'll get a separate bill from the lab they send it to (where you'll get that $100+ charge for the test). So... your best bet is to find a free/low-cost clinic in your area (ones at hospitals are good because they have all possible medical equipment available to them and a full-service lab on site). But you may have to call and ask if they will order a blood test when urine tests have been negative. Also check with your local health department---they usually offer full prenatal care, among other medical services.
Most Planned Parenthood offices do not do bloodwork beyond a "fingerprick" test. You have to have special licensing with appropriate staff (a certified Phlebologist) to draw blood and to my knowledge no Planned Parenthood facility has this (at least not in my area). So I don't think you'll have much luck there, though they might be able to direct you to a clinic that can help you.
Man that is weird that your doctor isn't really helping you out. For you are concerned on what is going on with your body. Let me just say for me to get insurance I had to have proof I was pregnant. So I went to planned parenthood thinking okay so I don't have insurance, but I already know I'm pregnant and I need to test. They made me pay 35 dollars to pee in a cup! I was like wow.. Really. I coulda done that at home for 8 dollars. But I mean you could ask to see if they will. I'm not for sure.
Good luck hun!
Good luck hun!
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