You Don't Think of Kidneys Until they Suck - AKA Jenna's Pregnancy Issues

Here's my story, from the beginning: When I was 18 weeks pregnant with Munchkin, I was working an early shift. I was feeling very tired and had a pain from my back right side all the way through to my front. Round about ten o'clock, one of my coworkers asked if I was okay and I broke down in tears saying how much pain I was in. They sent me home for the day, telling me to get some (much needed) rest. I ate a quick sandwich and went to bed. I woke up around three o'clock in the afternoon, covered in sweat. My parents were on vacation in Las Vegas so I called my paternal grandparents to see what I should do. Grandma instructed me to take my temperature which was around 102 degrees. She told me to call my doctor who told me to get my butt to the Emergency Room. I was whisked off to labor and delivery first to make sure the baby was okay; she was. Then came the long process of finding out what was wrong with me. Since the pain came through to the front they initially thought it was appendicitis. I had to pick a surgeon. I wasn't allowed to eat. (Hello! I was a pregnant woman! Give me food!!!) After a very "un-fun" test to see if I had appendicitis (only those who have had appendicitis or been tested for it will know what I mean) and a sonogram on my back the two (young) doctors came into my room after eleven o'clock PM to tell me that I had Hydronephrosis and would have to have surger to insert a stent in my right ureter in the morning. I was drugged, tired and scared and did not know to ask questions. I went through surgery the next morning. After the surgery, one of the OB docs came in to my room to tell me that I was now a High Risk pregnancy. (Where was this information PRIOR to surgery?!?!) The stent was more apt to cause infection and infection after a certain point will cause premature labor. Lovely. The first two weeks after the surgery, I was immobile from the pain and spasms in my kidney. I was forced to leave work and spend most of my time at my parents' house on the couch. At 29 weeks, I started experiencing premature labor. Not braxton hicks contractions but full blown ones. I was given three rounds of terbutaline shots in the hospital to stop the contractions. I was then scheduled to have surgery (yes, at 29 weeks) to remove the stent. My Mother was by my side at that point doing my arguing for me because I was totally out of it. The pain was horrible. After the surgery, I had to be cathed in order to go to the restroom, but they still discharged me the next day. After three days of excruciating pain just to get out the smallest, tiniest bit of urine, I burst into stronger contractions. At one point I was laying in a tub of lukewarm water, doing my breathing and my Mom came in and WATCHED my stomach tighten. I explained that I couldn't urinate anymore and I was in premature labor AgAIN even though I had been given oral terbutaline to take at home. My Father then drove us to the hospital. By drove I mean sped. Flashers on. He passed two cops but they never pulled us over. We laugh about it now. At the hospital, I even scared the doctor. Three shots of terbutaline did NOT stop the contractions. I was then put on a Magnesium drip (which SUCKS) and it also did not stop the contractions. I was then put in an ambulance and raced (LIGHTS AND SIREnS!!!) to West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh which is the best Premie hospital in our area. It took until mid-afternoon for them to stop my contractions. I was exhausted. I was even visited by the NICU Doctor to explain what Munchkin's chances of survival would be. It was definitely scary. The rest of the pregnancy went as planned with Munchkin arriving two weeks early. Okay. Post-placement I kept getting infections and having kidney pain. Eventually (meaning, eight months later), I got referred to a nephrologist. It took awhile to get in and see him because he knows what he's doing. So, right after our wedding, I got all of the tests run. Thankfully, I have no cancer causing these issues. Instead, my right ureter coming from my kidney to my bladder is significantly smaller. When my uterus grew, it pinched off the ureter causing backup, infection and swelling of my right kidney. According to my doctor, we are to have all of our children in the next five years. *blinks* But "no pressure." Yeah, OKAY! I know we are going to be met with some opposition to getting pregnant so soon after our wedding and other people will moan and complain that it's too soon after placement. However, due to the fact that I will eventually lose my kidney and you can't have a pregnancy with only one kidney if you want to do things in the best interest of the mother and child, we need to do this now. There is no other option. So, here we sit. And, to keep everyone update, first month of trying was a bust. Hurrah. :(