Re: feeling humiliated on bedrest
Gary & Tammy Bangs (gbangs@earthlink.net)
Thu, 28 Mar 1996 11:22:43 -0800
I was on bedrest for a total of 8 weeks, 5 days. And for the last 10 days of
it I was confined to one position. I had been on my left side so long that
the hair on my left leg stopped growing from lack of circulation. Like Chris,
I cut my long hair completely off.
Before Gary would leave for work, he would fill a small ice chest with my
snacks, and a gallon jug of water, and one of iced tea. Since I couldn't
pour things for myself, he went to the pet store and bought a bunch of tubing
(the kind used in fish tanks), and he fashioned it into long straws so the
jugs sat on the floor and I drank through the tubes. A good friend came by
every day and fixed me lunch. And a couple times a week, friends from the
neighborhood brought us dinner.
I felt very helpless during the bed rest. Especially after Alexander died,
(at 25 weeks). I was not allowed to get upset, because ANY excitement caused
contractions. So for three weeks, I laid there, not allowed to mourn for
Alex, and worried sick about Taylor. All while *remaining calm*.
I have to say that THE MOST WONDERFUL thing that Gary ever did for me was
after I came home from the hosp. He had set a chair in the shower, (I still
had trouble standing for very long), and loofaed (sp?) my entire body!! It
was the greatest shower of my life.
Gary was wonderful!! When I was put on *pelvic rest* with Travis, his only
comment was "so what else is new?" He never once complained about it. I
guess after all the years of doctors telling us when we could and couldn't
have sex during our infertility, it all was quite common by then. We make
jokes about it now, about having to *ask permission first*.
Bed rest was horrible BUT WELL WORTH IT!!!
Tammy
Mom to Taylor (28 wks, now almost 3),angel Alex, and Travis (17 mo), and
wife to Gary (home for awhile)