[saskiaofthewoods]

Hi,

I just got a call from one of the docs at the Army hospital yesterday and they want me to come in for a 3 hour test where they will test my blood again and again to see if I have diabetes etc.... Something like that. They said my last blood test showed that my blood sugar was a little higher than usual. I did not even want to get this last test done, but I did not want to start another fight with the hospital, so I went there, they gave me a sugar drink and an hour later took my blood. That drink made me so sick. I tried not to throw up before they could take my blood and after I came home I was in teh bathroom for over an hour.

So now they want to do this long testing and I really do not want to do it! I do not think something is wrong with me. I feel fine, the baby is great and even my doc said that the blood sugar was not alarming high. I guess they have just standards.....

So what do you think? Should I just let them do this stupid test and spend 3 hours in the lab or just risk it and tell them that I won't do it?!

Saskia

 

[2bluefish]

I would not do this test - I think it is dangerous. I have low blood sugar issues and if I drank a drink like that on a fasting stomach, I would have a serious crash. It is stressful to your body and your baby's. My 2 cents

 

[SublimeBirthGirl]

Find out what the result was of the 1-hour test. I would personally not do it. Even w/ my first (hospital) birth, I refused to drink the glucola or fast, and just ate and then got tested.

 

[mom3b1?]

Saskia,

They have changed some of the rules at military hospitals and you aren't as much at their mercy as you used to be, or so I'm told. I've not let them know I'm pregnant yet, but I'll have to if I want them to pay the homebirth MW. This is exactly the kind of fight I'm hoping to avoid, because I'm NOT taking that test, in fact I'm keeping all my blood to myself.

Kiley

 

[nolonger]

About all I have to offer is a

and a BTDT. I have taken the three hour test and it is positively miserable. It turned out to be needless stress because my baby and I were just fine, but the midwife needed to have me do it for insurance/liability purposes. This is one of the reasons why I haven't even looked for a midwife yet and would very much like to do a completely Unassisted Pregnancy.

You might or might not attract too much unnecessary attention if you were to refuse the test. I know that my hb midwives would not have worked with me if I had not taken the test and "passed" it.

My situation is very similar to yours in that I "flunked" the one hour test, but the three hour test did come out clear and I was able to go on from there. In a different pregnancy, I "flunked" the protein part of the pee strip and that was another drama that ultimately turned out to be nothing.

You are absolutely right about it just being protocol. I seriously doubt if you have gestational diabetes. Please don't even let your mind go there.

 

[alegna]

Just say no. I would never even do the 1 hour test.

-Angela

 

[saskiaofthewoods]

You know, that is the thing. I am not worried at all, because I know I am fine. Even the doc says that the blood sugar was not really high. I guess it is right at the line where they start testing. I did not want this stupid test and all it did was make me sick.

Since I am not active duty, I can refuse to have those tests done. I know I can. But it is always a big fight. And since I am already not willing to give birth in the hospital, it feels like they like to keep an eye on me

So I thought, I just do this test and they are happy. My mom told me that both she and her mom had a bit higher blood sugar while they were pregnant. But they were just fine and they never had to do more testing.

I also think that the result might have been just high because of what I ate the night before the test. We had a friend here who brought me some German cake. I did not have any German cake since January and of course I ate a lot of it.

I just do not know if I should have this test done. For me, I do not need it. It feels like I will waste a few hours just to make the nurses and doctors feel more comfortable. And I think if I would really have diabetes I would feel something, right? But I feel great. Infact, I feel better now that I am pregnant than I ever did before.

My doc told me that I can refuse all of the blood tests in the hospital. That seems to be new for a Military hospital. Only if I would be a soldier I would not have much of a choice, because then they can basicly tell you what to do, when to give birth, how to give birth... Poor girls! But me, as a wife, I can refuse it. But it is not as easy as it sounds. It means a lot of discussions and long boring talks.... O well. I will talk to my doc tomorrow.

Thanks for your answers.

 

[saskiaofthewoods]

You know what, I just thought about this. I am tired of having to fight for what should be my right in the first place. My husband is right, I do not understand the care system here, but it is simply not fair and I do not like it. So I will just refuse the testings from now on and if they want to keep on discussing this with me, well, then from now on they will have to leave messages on my mailbox, because I simply won't answer the phone anymore when they call. Hah, that feels good!

 

[PreggieUBA2C]

Saskia,

I would just call in and tell them that the day they have scheduled won't work and let them reschedule you. Then call again the day before and do the same thing. Keep doing that if you have to and maybe the third time, say 'you know what? I'm not sure what my schedule is yet. I'll call you back when I know when I can come in." and then don't call. It works really well because people get sick of dealing with such a disorganised person

and are glad they don't have to deal with you.

Unless they're going to hunt you down at your door, this will work and not cause trouble for you or your husband except in their perception of you (which isn't flattering anyway if I recall some of your previous posts correctly). Shoulder shrugging is a very good exercise when confronted with this stuff. It worked like a charm for me with an obstinate OB and receptionist

'Ooops...'

It works, really

ETA: I don't think of this as lying. This test won't 'work' for you, and since you are opposed to it, you don't have the time to waste on it; you'll be too busy enjoying your rockin' pregnancy! They don't need to know details. Not their business if you ask me.

 

[mrskennedy]

It's up to you of course! But personally I wouldn't do it. I did the short one last time, and got sick even with that one. You have the right to refuse medical care, so if you don't want it, you don't need it. If you're worried about what they'll say, tell them you'll watch your diet, which you'd probably do anyway.

 

[bryonyvaughn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PreggieUBA2C ...I would just call in and tell them that the day they have scheduled won't work and let them reschedule you. Then call again the day before and do the same thing. Keep doing that if you have to and maybe the third time, say 'you know what? I'm not sure what my schedule is yet. I'll call you back when I know when I can come in." and then don't call. It works really well because people get sick of dealing with such a disorganised person and are glad they don't have to deal with you....

It's always better to be the river than the rock.

Thanks for the tip!

~BV

 

[Usually Curious]

You could offer to get a glaucometer and test your own blood sugar, fasting in the a.m. and one hour after each meal for a week and then bring the results in for discussion. Make sure you eat well during that week! Lots of protein and very low carbs if you have any high readings at all.

I did this last time when I was getting shadow care but even with my normal readings the doc wanted to send me to a specialist and put me on insulin. She was ticked that I did not want to have the babe in the hospital w/her(she hid it at first and the further along we got the pissier she got). It's really about getting the 'high-risk' label.

Gestational diabetes is usually easily handled by diet so even if you did have it or were borderline it's not that big of a deal.

 

[fyrebloom]

refuse the test, you don't need the extra stress. If you are concerned eat a diabetic diet. This would include no more then 60 g (4 servings) of carbs at each meal and no more then 30 carbs (2 servings) at each snack (carbs that count are starches, starchy vegetables, fruit and sweets). Stay active and excersize and keep your food choices low glycemic. That should be plenty to keep even mild/moderate gestational diabetes at bay. I have "gestational" diabetes ie I scored 145 on the one hour test LAST pregnancy and my Dr decided to just keep the label. I test with a glucometer and never have abnormal readings (even when I eat too many carbs) so I severely doubt I actually have it this time.

If they are persistant have them do an A1C test instead... that test how your blood sugars are for the previous 3 months. This is standard of care for diabetics so if it's normal (and it is almost certain to be if your GCT was borderline) then they can leave you alone.

 

[saskiaofthewoods]

I just called them and told them that I do not want the test. They said "But honey, we really want you to do this test..." That they call me HONEY all the time seems to silly to me, but I guess it is a southern thing. Anyway, I said
"Well, you want me to, but I do not want to. I want to do what I think is best for my baby and me. And that means that I will refuse this test."
I do not think that they are happy with it, but o well

. I also told them that I do not wish to discuss this any further and they do not need to call me this time to try to change my opinion.

I feel much better now!

 

[Beakybird]

Way to go! Good for you for being strong and standing your ground.

Rebecca

 

[1happymama2003]

Yay for you, mama! You're standing up to them! With my first, I failed the first test and then felt like I "had to" do the 3 hour and of course, it came back just fine because, like you, I was just at the border with the 1 hr. test. I didn't have the strength (or information) that you do though my first time around.