- Date posted
- 15h
Crazy week to get this badge
I dont know why i got this achievement, and especially on today of all days. I had the craziest week last week with unexpectedly being sent from a routine obgyn appointment directly to the hospital for an induction (38 weeks pregnant) due to preeclampsia and developing HELLP syndrome and ultimately having a c section. Then had a 7 day hospital stay because my blood pressure was at dangerous levels and kept spiking despite medication. I had really bad OCD themes around labor and had been working with my therapist for months to reduce those symptoms. One of my fears was having an IV, and needles in general. I spent months doing needle/IV exsposures. Then at the hospital, I had an iv in for 7 days straight (at one point 2 ivs) and was getting blood draws at least once a day, usually multiple times a day (the first day I had my blood drawn at least 7 times in 24 hours). I did fine. I didnt enjoy it, but it wasnt horrible. My work in therapy really paid off. I even watched them pull out the IV before I left. My other big fear was regional anesthesia (epidural/spinal taps) my OCD was convinced it would cause me to become either paralyzed or give me chronic leg pain. It was partially magical thinking OCD. I felt like me making the decision is part of what would make it happen (like a true emergency c-section wouldn't hurt me, but if I choose a c-section it would. I ultimately was put in the position I had to choose if I wanted a spinal tap (they also offered general anesthesia and both had risks. My platelets were low and I was at a higher risk for bleeding.) These anesthesiologist told me to my face paralysis was a risk of the spinal tap, and I was at a higher risk for it. I felt like my OCD was closing in so bad in that moment, because this was *EXACTLY* what I spent 9 months being afraid of. But I used my strategies from therapy, and i made my decision based on values and not fear. The spinal tap allowed me to be awake during the surgery and see my son born, and my husband to be in the room, whereas the general anesthesia neither me nor my husband could see the birth of our son. Also, general anesthesia just generally carries more risk than a spinal tap. I made my decision based on those values and told my OCD to shut up. I was petrified. Sitting to get the spinal tap was so terrifying. But once it was in my back, I felt a little peace, because no matter what, I did it, I didnt let fear win, and I made decisions for myself and not for my mental illness. I guess the biggest thing I learned is those skills in therapy really work. They can be used to manage my OCD. And those skills I learned from months of working on those themes, they didnt remove the discomfort or fear, but they stopped fear from controlling me. I literally couldn't have imagined myself doing that a few months ago. And no, Im not paralyzed now so thats great, but the best part to me is that while I waited for the numbness to wear off I didnt sit and stress about whether or not Id ever walk again, I HELD MY PRECIOUS NEWBORN SON, and the OCD whispered a couple of times I may never walk, but I ignored it, and I stayed in the moment with my sweet baby boy 🩵💙🩵💙