The second trimester

Hiya, I didn’t blog yesterday because I couldn’t think of anything interesting to say.

It’s pretty much the same today – my life has been totally uneventful – so I’m going to blather about my ultrasound results.

Freddie has officially entered his second trimester – he is the size of a 13-week foetus.

It turns out I had over-estimated his current dimensions, which is pretty typical for a former weekly magazine editor. I vaguely recall him being close to 10cm – the size of a 16-week foetus – before he had his blood supply cut off about six years ago. He’s now 7.5cm.

I think the revised estimate means that if he’s removed my stomach won’t look as dramatically different as I had secretly hoped!

I had a telehealth appointment with the GP yesterday. She shared my results and blithely told me Freddie was nothing to worry about. She also informed me that the x-rays showed my spine was looking pretty good and my pelvis was in great shape.

You may remember that when I last saw her – less than two weeks ago – she gave me a referral for a cortisone injection in my spine. I decided not to mention that and she didn’t bring it up either, so she’d obviously given my file a thorough check before calling me.

I also couldn’t be bothered telling her I was feeling so much better after getting a cortisone injection were I actually needed one – in my hip.

And I refrained from pointing out that my pelvis might look fine in the x-rays, but the MRI report she received a few weeks ago shows … in the words of the orthopedic surgeon: “Quite florid bilateral gluteal tendinopathy/ tendinosis with florid bursitis (left much worse than right). The treatment will start today with a ultrasound guided cortisone for the bursitis. Alana may need PRP and we will make this decision in the months ahead depending on her response to treatment.”

(Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is a blood product made from a small sample of your blood. It contains much higher concentrations of platelets than “normal” blood — as much as five times as many. It is injected into your tendon to help it repair. I think it hurts a lot so I’m hoping to avoid it.)

My GP’s diagnosis was normal wear and tear that required a bit of physio.

I thanked her politely for her verdict on Freddie and said I would like a referral, I explained I had an appointment to see a surgeon because I have decided it’s time for Freddie to go.

As the ortho surgeon also noted: “Alana has a long standing uterine fibroid that is quite large and might be affecting her ability to turn on her core in her pelvis and low back and I would recommend Alana see an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist for the option of removing this fibroid as this may help her activate her musculo-skeletal system better.”

There is also a history of uterine cancer in my family, so that’s another reason for me to whip everything out.

The GP was a little startled/annoyed by my proactiveness, but I am done with her downplaying my health issues.

Also, oddly, I am much crankier now the pain has eased than I was when it was peaking. What’s with that? I keep having to apologise to people for snapping at them.

Weird.

Anyhoo hooray, it’s the weekend. Mine will be a bit busy because it involves a quick dash to Newcastle for Mother’s Day.

Catch you on Monday, when I promise not to talk about my health!

Hope you have a good one.

Song of the day: Promises “Baby it’s you”