Lauren Olena-MacDonald

 Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Support Network

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In 2001 I had to have an emergency c-section because my son was breache. In some ways I believe that saved my life. I live in NewHampshire, Our hospitals are small. Anyways, I was 26. Owen was my second son. I also have Christian who is now 10. I went into the hospital w a cold which a week prior i was put on Zithromax for... I had the c-section. Everything seemed to go alright but i was still coughing alot. Three days later with my ankles swollen about as big as my neck and still coughing, they sent me home. That night i started spitting up what looked like foam. I told my husband to stay home w the kids. I thought i had pnemonia. So i went to the hospital alone. They told me i was in CHF. I told them to hurry up and FIX it!!! HAHA! I really did say that. It had to have been about four hours later when I just could not breathe at all. The cardiologist on call said that she had no idea what was wrong w me, so she had to airlift me to a bigger hospital. I was intabated and sent to Dartmouth Hitchcock. I have alot of vague memories about things that happened within those five weeks. I still get flashbacks. I was pretty much done in. My EF was 5-10 percent. (my poor husband). I woke up in a regular birthing room. The nurses and doctors all came in as soon as i could speak to tell me about my condition. My head was spinning and i really didn't catch much of anything at that time. I just wanted to know if i had had a baby or not???? I was a mess!!!! I stayed in the hospital for 2 more weeks. My best friend took care of my new baby the whole time. On about the fourth day of the tubes coming out a nurse came in w my husband to talk w me. I knew even before they said anything, something else was wrong..and I also knew, like you know the sky is blue, It was not about me. I started crying like crazy..and just said NOW WHAT? The nurse informed me that my son had tested positive for PKU(a very serious rare metabolic disorder) on his tenth day of birth. I had no idea what this was...Man, typing this crap makes me wonder how I did it...I WAS INSANE! I felt sorry for myself, my baby, my husband, my other child. To say the least I was a mess. Here I am four years later still holding on. I take Owen to Boston Children's Hospital monthly..It's a ways away but they are the best. They have a world renowned PKU DR. there. It's a great place. He is very healthy. We keep him on a PHE free diet. He started pre-school this year. I see a cardiologist in Laconia. I kinda slack..sometimes i cancel appointment's. She jokes around and say's i'm like having a child...I drive her nuts. My EF is 39 percent now. I am working. In the beginning i applied for social security. I got rejected. I just said whatever and went back to work. I get stressed out sometimes but these days w Christian's football, Lacrosse, school, Owen's blood levels, Appointments...I don't have alot of time for myself. I am on Coreg and Lisinopril. I take a valium when needed. I suffer from PTSD. I use to wake up alot and count my heartbeats, I was afraid to drive, I thought if i die suddenly i will hit a tree and kill my children...I sleep alot better lately. Sometimes i get tired. Sometimes stressed. I don't feel sorry for myself anymore though...If ya start feeling sorry go to a big children's hospital and stand in the blood draw line, some of those kids make you feel like superwoman. I love my family. I love my life. I wish i still had that feeling i had when i first got out of the hospital though...I was in love w the world...Maybe i fell out of love w the world, the romance is gone LOL! Anyways, I would love to be a part of this group and get to know all of you..It feels good to be here...