Not for the weak stomached

So last week I discovered a wonderful new side effect of pregnancy.

I debated whether or not to blog this at all. But I think I have found a way to dumb it down and cream puff it up a bit.

First before the gruesome stuff - I had my follow up gestational diabetes test. I failed the first one before I went to Vegas. Your blood sugar can't exceed 140mg one hour after you drink that yummy glucose syrup. Well my test came back at 143. Not too high but anything over 140 you have to do the three hour test. So, I came prepared with my laptop and a video, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World - it is an old movie, but very funny! So the deal is they take a fasting sample and then you drink the stuff and then they test you once again every hour for three hours. You can't leave, you can't drink anything or eat any Tums no matter how much pain you are in because your stomach acid is eating away at your esophagus.

So, woke up drank a bunch of water the hour before, when you only have one "pokeable" vein it needs to be the best it can be. I check in, they take my fasting blood sugar. I drink the fruit flavored syrup and wait one hour. I was a bit amped at the beginning, all the sugar I think. My second poke they hit almost the same hole as the first. Needles don't bug me the poking doesn't bug me. But the second time was a bit tender. Go back to the lobby, waiting another hour - for my third poke my pokable vein had developed a swollen bruise so the tech attempted to locate another vein and that hurt! She poked around in my other arm for a bit managed to hit something she seriously got like 2 drops out. She had to call in her boss who had to try and hit my first vein again. She did it. It was getting very swore - went back to the lobby dying of thirst and my acid reflux was punishing me seriously. Crashing. I got so tired, couldn't even watch the movie any more. I slept. Last poke, the boss came in and did it, wasn't so bad. Immediately after my last poke I chewed a handful of Tums and called Don told him to meet me for a hamburger - I needed protein ASAP. I am waiting to hear the results. My next appt should be next Monday, I should have the results by then.

I have told Holly and Don and Becky that my body is punishing me for getting pregnant. It didn't want to do it on it's own and I forced it to. Now it will make me pay.

Here comes the part not for the weak of stomachs .... and my Dad. :)

I have developed varicose veins. Hmmm...not so bad, right? But they are not in my legs. Google it - You can figure it out. Every where - but my legs! Apparently anywhere there is a vein can get a varicose vein. There is NOTHING the Dr. can do about it. All I can do is keep the pressure off, laying around, baths, soaks etc.
It won't get better until the baby is born. And is anticipated only to get worse. Walking around WalMart or sitting to long will cause flare ups. Delightful! Now I know that there are more important calamities in the world. I am grateful to be pregnant. I am thankful for my blessings that I have. I have a wonderful husband who cares about me and loves me. So varicose veins should be no big deal.
This is surprisingly common during pregnancy - but women just won't talk about it much, because it is so embarrassing. So I am opening the door to the subject.