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A story from when I was 14 weeks pregnant (long)
I just wanted to share something with you guys since it's so dead on here anyway, lol! Some of you already know the story, but I hope I can help anyone else that this happens to. It's a story about things that can go wrong in the medical system. There are no words to describe how incredibly awful it was. And the worst part was, I had to go along pretending that everything was ok.
I was 14 weeks pregnant. It was a Monday afternoon, and I got a call from my OB's office saying that the doc needed to review some lab work that I had drawn at my appt the previous week. Of course I started to worry. I rushed over there, waited for an hour, and finally saw my doctor.
At first he was just chatting with me like it was a normal appt. Then I told him that I wasn't sure if everything was ok because I had gotten a call about my lab work. He left the room and came back a few minutes later with a very different expression on his face. He looked at me and said, "Jennifer, did you drive here by yourself or is someone with you?" I told him I was alone. At this point, I thought my pregnancy was over and my heart absolutely sank. It was an awful feeling. However, he dropped an even bigger bomsbhell.
"Your blood tests show that you are HIV positive."
?????Huh??? I was in shock!! Of course because of the nature of my job, the risk is always there, so this wasn't too out of left field for me. He started asking me about my sexual partners (John is my only one and I am his only one), any IV drug use (no, never!), if I had been stuck by a needle at work, if I worked on the 7th floor, (which is where a lot of HIV pts go). I answered no to everything. I think I've taken care of 2 HIV pts in the past 2 years, but it honestly never bothered me that much because I am always careful regardless of whether or not they have HIV. You never know who might have it and just not know it. Anyway, the test was done through Lab Corp and so he said he wanted to repeat the test, this time at Quest. Surprisingly, I held it together and went and got my blood drawn. Of course I told John and we were both devastated. I can't even describe the feeling. All I kept thinking about was how I wanted to grow old with him and now I wasn't going to be able to do that, how I could possibly infect my baby and the impacts that would have, and that I just really didn't want to have a poor quality of life. A million other thoughts were racing through my mind, but those were the most common ones. I went through my head and tried to think of all the patients I had and if I could remember anything that could've caused this. I know I haven't had any needle sticks. I started doing research on false postives, etc and the odds were not in my favor.
Despite all this, I went to work that Monday night. Luckily I had a very easy assignment and I was able to keep to myself. My pt was intubated and sedated, so I didn't even have to talk to him that much. I cried....like sobbing my eyes out....for the first time when I went to the cafeteria to get my dinner. I stopped in an empty bathroom and just let it all out. It was a rough, LONG night. I came home from work and tried to sleep but I was shaking so bad from the stress of it all. I was so worried about how the stress would affect my baby. I slept off and on for an hour here and there, but it wasn't good sleep. During one of my sleeps, I got a call from my doctors office. As soon as I heard the message, I called them right back.
They had 3 other women test positive and all of our Western Blot tests (the confirmatory gold standard test) were negative. Great news, but I still didn't feel completely out of the woods because I was still waiting for my Quest results to come through.
Then I got a phone call the following morning, and all of my tests from Quest were NEGATIVE!! I cannot even begin to tell you how relieved I was. You have no idea how awful this was for John and I. I can't even describe the feeling of hopelessness, despair....you name it! I bawled my eyes out (tears of joy) when they called me Tuesday and told me that the test results were inconclusive (well, negative from the western blot but I still wasn't convinced 100% until the next morning). I don't even know how I functioned at work Tuesday night after not sleeping much, plus the emotional toll all this has taken on me. I was completely, totally, and utterly exhausted. I slept after work that Tuesday night until almost 6pm. When John got home from work we went out to dinner to Bella's to celebrate. Holy crap, what a week that was!
Needless to say, I will NEVER, EVER use LabCorp again. And neither will my doctors office! Yay for them!
Re: A story from when I was 14 weeks pregnant (long)
My silly Lily is almost 4.
DX: 6/9/2011: Azoo ICSI/IVF only option for biological child
IVF #1: ER - 9/26 * ET - 10/1 * beta#1 10/13 - 140 * beta#2 10/17 - 477 * beta#3 10/20 - 1101
1st u/s at 6w6d - one hb * 2nd u/s at 8w3d - no hb detected 11/10/11 * natural m/c 11/13/11
FET #1 Jan/Feb 2012 - 3 delays - cancelled 2/13
FET #1.2 - May/June 2012 - ET 6/6/* beta#1 6/15 - 95 * beta #2 6/19 - 322 * beta #3 6/22 - 940
7/6 1st u/s @ 7 weeks - one beautiful hb - released from RE
EDD 2/22/2013
PAIF/SAIF/PGAL welcome
Planning Bio | Married Bio
Family Blog
Even after all these months I am still shocked to hear this story. I hope you don't mind, but I have shared this story a few times. Seriously my friends have to pick their jaw up off the ground.
I think Lab Corp is irresponsible not to retest their results before notifying the patient. I mean, this could have caused a MAJOR fight within a marriage and possibly could have lead someone to considering/having an abortion. Thank goodness you were able to get the second results quickly and ease your mind.
I can't even begin to imagine the stress that put you and your H through. What a nightmare.....
Baby Macy is here!
12/09 - Macy (daughter) | 4/10 - Began TTC Baby #2 | 12/10 - Chemical Pregnancy | 1/12 - Miscarriage at 14 weeks | DX - PCOS & Hyperthyroidism
WHA???
I'm glad they had you go test again! How stressful that must have been! I wish I could have hugged you!