HELP! Major health trouble... please tell me it could pregnancy related?

[Spark]

Alright, where to begin.

Earlier this month I was having a lot of odd neck and lymph node swelling symptoms and my Dr. was concerned I had Lymphoma. I ended up after a long round of testing being pronounced healthy. YAY!

Then, a week to 10 days ago my neck started hurting, right where I had the swelling before. It felt like my lymph nodes, but then seemed to spread to my muscles. I had a few massages. A trip to the chiropractor scheduled. Then, a couple of days ago I found out we're going to have a baby! WOW! Shock, joy, unexpected, yay. But yesterday the pain in my neck got really bad. I couldn't handle it. It felt worse than my labor with Cicely. So, I went into the ER while Jason stayed with the kids. Long stay there and they brought every specialist on duty in the ER on and then called some other Dr's on duty around St. Joes. THey just don't know what it is, but are really very concerned. THey don't think that it's connected to the earlier lymphoma scare. I've been fast tracked. And, while I partitioned to let me go home to get some rest through the night and come back in the morning. They gave me vicodin for the pain... I'm nursing Cicely still, FYI. But, the vicodin merely takes the edge off for the first two hours... then I have to wait in a lot of pain for the next two hours to pass to take it again.

At this point the plan is to give me "full work up" in the morning, including an MRI.

I've contacted my LLL group for info on the nursing gig. But, I'm soooo hoping that the muscle neck pain is somehow pregnancy related. Tell me this is true? Anyone heard of soemthing like this?

(Taking all good vibes and prayers here for all of us. I'm concerned about me, Cicely, and the new lima bean. My DH is really freaked out. Poor guy.)

[jessicaSAR]

I wish I knew and could do more than just send hugs. I will be thinking of you and hoping this is something minor.

[ctdoula]

I have no idea, but want to send you hugs. I hope everything turns out okay & the pain ends soon!

[Geofizz]

Ug, Claire. That's sounds awful.

It sounds a bit like some problems my SIL started having in her last pg, starting right away after getting pregnant. The doctors couldn't find anything, and she was off and on admitted to the hospital. In the 7th month the doc threw up his hands and said "well, I guess I can send you to physical therapy." The PT was able to tap bones in her neck back into place and the problem was gone. What you describe doesn't sound exactly the same, but close enough to think that if they don't find anything this morning to ask for a PT referral.

If you can get a PT referral to the walk-in clinic at the UM hospital, let them know you're pg. I saw Jennifer for my pregnancy-related problems and she was wonderful.

Here's hoping it's "just" an alignment issue. I'll be thinking of you today.

[chrissy]

all my healthy vibes and thoughts are coming your way claire.

[Artisan]

I don't know, but I'm sending lots of positive vibes your way.

[Ligmom]

I don't have any answers, but I will say prayers for you, Cicely, and the baby bean. Hang in there, Claire.

[allformyboys]

Oh Claire I am so sorry your having issues! I know that with 'me' I had a lot of 'minor' issues that when pregnant get a LOT worse, like minor aches and pains that would just make me take a tylenol before that made my eyes cross while pregnant. It was like the hormones made me super mega sensitive and the pain was WAY out of countrol. Not for everything but for a few things. So I hope it is just that, some hyper sensitivity caused by the pregnancy hormones. (((HUGS))) I hope all is well with you and your baby bean!

[Ravenmoon]

My lymph nodes in my neck got swollen in the beginning of my pregnancy which was one thing.Then because of the fluctuation of horomones i had really intense muscle/neck aches at the base of my neck.My head and neck throbbed horrendously and going to the chiro regularly helped.

[jennyriver]

could it be actual neck muscle pain? i wouldn't have thought so myself but in the past i had such a bad neck pain that i couldn't turn my head to the side or tip it back. i ended up with months of PT and it helped but when it would come back, i went for some acupuncture...i was pretty skeptical that it would work fast but after 2 sessions it did what 3 months of PT did! it was amazing. i think it was stress related - nothing physical had happened to me. the muscles on the sides of my neck were what hurt the worst. if you think you'd be OK with it, see an acupunturist to talk about your symptoms. i was shocked at how much she was able to help some pains i had and how quickly it helped! and NO drugs - yay!

hoping that's all it is and that you feel better SOON!!!

[hollyhobbie]

wishing you all the best in figuring this out. last week i had terrible pain in my neck and upper back too. it was so awful i was basically bed ridden. and i had been to the chiropractor b/c before that i was having serious headaches! but i went back to the chiro and he said one of my ribs was jammed somehow into one of my vertebra. he said it may have happened from lifting my dtr with loose ligaments. anyway, doesnt sound exactly like what you have but here's hoping it is something similar or something chiro can fix. i find that taking lots of fish oil helps when things are painful. i mean like 8 a day instead of just 1 or 2. my chiro recommended this when i had awful hip pain and it helped. take care and try to get some rest!

[pittsburghgirl]

First of all congrats, and sorry you are having difficulty.

I do agree with Jenny, though, you might consider an acupuncturist. I had a problem with my hip right before I conceived DS, several months of PT, nothing helped, then one visit to the acupuncturist (well, not even a specific visit, I was there for infertility and mentioned the pain so he did a second treatment after the IF treatment) and it was fixed. I am a big believer now.

[Full Heart]

Hmmmm. In Nov I had an infection in my lymph system. In my jaw and down my neck, right through that whole system of lymph nodes. Got to the point where I couldn't chew. I understand the pain aspect. I cried for days. I couldn't sleep. I was given meds for the pain but I couldn't nurse with them so I didn't take it. My antibiotics, which were kick butt, cleared it up in about 2 1/2 weeks. I never had any fever or sign of infection either. My dr didn't know what it was at first either. His first thought was wisdom teeth that had grown into the bone or an abcess that was hidden. But when he checked my teeth they were fine. Don't know if it could be the same thing but the pain sounds exactly the same, your is just a little lower. Have you tried castor oil compresses? Are there any chemicals you could have come in contact with? Have you seen a naturopath? Good luck! I hope you are feeling better soon.

Michelle

[chrissy]

claire, how did it go today?

[Aurora]

Thinking of you and yours.........................

[Jennisee]

Hoping all is going well.

[Spark]

Thank you all so much for your support. I really appreciate it. Jason came on here and read but didn't post. He told me the ideas though. Thank you. Since I posted we went to the chiro and have been looking for an acupuncturist to work with. The pain is really really severe. I don't know as thoough Ive ever hurt this badly before. I just really want to be ble o function. The current medical concern is that I either have some weird muscle disorder can't rmeember the name at the moment or that I have a tumor. Frankly after all the medical scares this month, I'm so sick and tired of living in this stress.

We've just decided to trust that this will work out for the highest good. We have to. This is where faith comes in. We have two beautiful children and another one waiting in the wings. There is far to much in jepordy for this to be something bad.

Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

[My3babes]

Claire.. My thoughts and prayers are with you!

[Ok]

Prayers and Strong Woman Meditations from many centuries coming your way to help comfort through pain and some Good Science Vibes to figure out what the heck is wrong and fix it.

Sorry you're in pain. ((hugs))

[Spark]

Thank you so much for your vibes! Oh, I'm actually having a moment, where I'm not in as much pain. I think the chiro is working.

I think I'm going to keep doing the natural route and ignore all the frightful awful things that the Drs. said this most likely was. I'm trying to go without the Vicodin as much as possible. Rarely do I medicate my kids or myself, so this V (never been on it before in my life!) is really not my first choice, especially so newly pregnant.

Thank you ALL for your support. Really. I'm so touched. It's wonderful to know that our community is pulling for me and our family. Thank you. Jason kept saying, what a greaet group of people!