PS

PS stands for pubic symphysis.  WebMD describes it this way: "The left and right bones of your pelvic girdle are joined at the front by a narrow section of cartilage and ligament. This is called the pubic symphysis... As the pelvic bones loosen during pregnancy, the pubic symphysis can temporarily separate. This is not a dangerous condition. But it can be painful."

Um, yeah it can.  I'm not terribly worried about it, but I do think the PS is painful this pregnancy in part because my right SI is not moving at all and it's likely compensating for that.  The PT gave me some exercises to try to strengthen the area's muscles. 

WebMD continues: "A separated pubic symphysis can take 3 to 8 months to heal on its own. For most women with this condition, pain or discomfort lingers for about 2 months after childbirth."

I do hope it ends up resolving on its own.  I know some women with SI problems who also have PS problems, because everything down there is connected.  Some have even had to have a plate surgically installed to re-join the PS.  So, this may or may not be a long term issue.  I will report on it as I go, of course.

Conert Standing

Last night our church did its Christmas concert.  I was able to stand and sing for about 45 minutes of the concert, even with a uterus the size of a soccer ball (according to babycenter.com).  I sat for the last two songs, but I was hidden on stage behind the congas.  I would never have been able to dream of standing so long before my iFuse.  I am doing very well this morning, too.  So, no negative after-effects, probably in part because I listened to my body and sat when I needed to.

21.5 weeks

It's A....

Girl!  We have two precious boys, and now a little girl to add to our family.  We are very thankful.

On the pain front, things are going pretty well.  Sometimes I even forget to take Tylenol on a regular basis.  I still take it at least once a day and once at night (along with nighttime Flexeril), but I no longer wake in the nights in pain - and nighttime pain wakings were every single night in the first trimester.  My guess is that everything is loosening up here in the second trimester with all the hormones flowing.  I am back in PT since my appendectomy, but I can tell I lost ground in the strengthening area while I was out.  I have been doing some neural flossing, but not enough.  I would probably get better results if I did it twice a day, but I haven't been.

On Thanksgiving, I did a lot of standing, cooking and cleaning, just on Tylenol, and the pain level was very manageable.  I hope this continues through the third trimester, but I'm not taking any chances.  I'm going to keep up my PT the whole time and also monitor my activity level to make sure I don't overdo it.  Driving, shopping, and sitting for extended periods are still the most painful things I do, so I have to be sure not to compound these activities too much in any 24-hour period.

Surgery

I had an appendectomy last week without knowing that I had appendicitis. It was a gut-wrenching decision because of the risk of miscarriage. Ultimately, after a couple hours discussion and a lot of tears, we decided to trust the judgment of the surgeon, because my symptoms were definitely not demonstrative, and they couldn't do any standard tests because I'm pregnant. The nurses all gathered around and prayed for me and the baby before the surgery, which was very comforting. Well, the post-op labs just came back today, and the tests on my appendix show that I did indeed have acute appendicitis. My surgeon was so funny, she said, "I was so stoked!"

However, now I'm out of PT for two more weeks, since it's so much ab work.  I will try to do some gentle stretches starting tomorrow or this weekend though, so I won't lose all my work completely.

Kicker

I felt the baby move the first time at 14 weeks.  Super exciting!  I feel him/her almost every night now, between 7 and 9 p.m.

In physical therapy, I can definitely tell I'm getting stronger, and my PT is pleased with my progress in that area.  But the pain level has not decreased yet.  I am still only good until about noon every day.  I will be discussing other pain medications with my OB, because she said I'm overdoing the Tylenol.  Tylenol doesn't last and when it wears off, I'm non-functional.  So I will be speaking with her tomorrow when I go in for lab work.

Delivery

So the question I keep getting is: will you be able to have a vaginal delivery after iFuse?  After speaking with my OB today, and then calling my ortho to verify, it looks like the answer is YES.  Of course, there is a 10-20% increased chance of needing a c-section, and my OB will make that call when the time comes.  I am nervous about causing further damage or hurting my hips or left SI, but as things progress I will simply be open with my OB about my concerns.  She seems very understanding and open to dialogue, and of course I am her first case like this.  She doesn't seem to think that my pain level will get too bad either, in the third trimester.  Well, time will tell on that one, ha!  But she did *highly* recommend a support brace "sooner rather than later."  Good call.