Some really good news: THIS LITTLE MOMMY STAYED HOME has just been bought in Germany! This means in about a year's time, you'll be able to buy my book in Germany and read it in German (provided you can read German).
Some good news: Samantha Wilde is also a female wrestler. If you have been confused about my identity, I can assure you, I do not wrestle. (I'd link to a video, but I think this kind of wrestling is naughty.)
And on the lighter side: Since the birth of my daughter, I have been not-so-happily enduring a bout of post partum anxiety, compounded by the unfortunate genetic predisposition towards anxiety that all of my family members have managed to enjoy. Such lucky people! On occasion, my anxiety can be very funny.
Take the other day. I'd been having some trouble sleeping because my pulse was beating in my head, arms, neck, etc., quite loudly. I decided to see if it was blood pressure related and went to the local CVS to use their blood pressure machine. I got a reading of 133/122.
After running my morning errands I called the doctor, knowing that /122 is awfully high. (My usual reading is 100/70). The nurse I talked to agreed it was high but said she had to talk to the doctor first to see if I ought to come in. She said she'd call back. (And she did. Five hours later. When she urged me to get myself to the ER.)
In the meantime, I decided to do a little internet research. I searched for diastolic blood pressure and quickly learned that a high diastolic pressure is a strong sign of heart attack and stroke in young adults.
Well, I immediately realized my death was imminent. (Only later did it occur to me that I am NOT any longer (this being another terrible shock) a young adult!) I headed over to the rapid care clinic where I was told by the doctor that CVS must have had a faulty machine as no one's blood pressure could read 133/122. Why didn't the nurse I spoke with tell me this! I'd already planned my funeral. I had an accurate reading of 146/76--not great but not terrible.
I was instructed to buy a blood pressure cuff and take my own pressure once a day.
Now, whenever I get near the thing, my blood pressure sky rockets and my pulses races. This is called white coat high blood pressure.
On the upside, it appears that while I am terrifically crazy, I probably do not have high blood pressure.
I would appreciate any similar stories of how motherhood has made you mad.
Thank you for writing the book This Little Mommy Stayed Home. It was one of the best books I have ever read, honestly. Very truthful, very funny, very real. I noticed on your blog you mentioned how you have been having some anxiety ... and I had to laugh. Not at you, of course ... but the reason I started reading the book in the first place is because I have been having some serious postmortem, er postpartum, anxiety myself - and I was trying to take my mind off it. I had my baby girl (my first, and probably last) on June 3, 2009 and it's been a rough ride the past few months because of increased anxiety over the traumatic birth (plus, like you, I have the genetic predisposition also). Reading your book helped me focus on something else, and laugh along with you. It was great, and I am so thankful that I found your book to help me through the hard times. I am just sad that I am done with the book now. I found your blog site as I was looking (and hoping!!) to find another book you have written. I am looking forward to your next one.
ReplyDeleteStacey, you made my day! I'm thriled you liked the book. That's just what I hoped for it. And you can know you have a sister in post partum stress over here. Believe me, it gets better! You may even think of another baby one day. Will you forward an email to me so I can write you directly?
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