One Mum's Story: Anne & Tobi

Tobi - shortly after birth

I have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for seven years. I knew the risks during my pregnancy that I could possibly have a relapse after giving birth but was prepared to take that risk.

My pregnancy was normal until 36 weeks when I had to be induced due to pre-eclampsia. I had not suffered any of the nasty symptoms of pregnancy except for some slight bouts of nausea in the first trimester. I had not gotten hemerrhoids or varicose veins, I didn't get gestational diabetes or any other problems. My belly wasn't huge and I was still quite comfortable, in fact I worked up until four days before her birth. It was smooth sailing really.

I gave birth to my beautiful daughter Tobi Jane Williams on the 2nd of October weighing in at 6lbs 1 oz.

Tobi and her Mum and Dad

She barely cried when she came out of me and just looked up at me with her beautiful dark eyes. She had some trouble with her sugar levels on the first night but other than that she was fine. I however was in quite a bit of pain from stitches and two large hemerrhoids that had popped out as i was pushing. Then it started.

We got home and everything was great until one week after the birth. I was still in pain and woke up one night shaking. I had to go the hospital as I was suffering from an infection of some kind. On the way home from the hospital my husband got a snack from the local garage. That night he began vomiting and I tried desperately to look after him and myself and Tobi.

Over the next few days, the infection was being looked after with antibiotics and my husband also recovered.

After another two weeks our family dog came sick and we had to put her down. I also developed an extremely painful anal fissure which wouldn't let me sit for more than five minutes without hurting. So you can imagine I really didn't look forward to breastfeeding!

I went to a wonderful surgeon who said he could fix the fissure with a simple painless surgery. I booked it in and waited.

On my husband's birthday I felt my feet go numb. I didn't want to say anything to him. He had chronic back pain and was having a pretty bad birthday and I didn't want to ruin it by telling him I was having an MS relapse unless I was absolutely sure.

By the evening the numbness had spread to my knees and I was pretty sure.

By morning it was up to my hips and my right leg became weak. I was very angry as I had the surgery for my fissure in three days and as I live in the country, I knew I would have to go to Perth for treatment, therfore missing out on my desperately wanted surgery. I also was petrified because my husband had just used up his entire annual leave and would not be able to go with Tobi and I.

I spent eight days in hospital with Tobi. My mother, who NEVER gets sick, caught a cold on the second day so I pretty much had to look after Tobi myself, even though I couldn't walk properly. My neurologist agreed to let me have the fissure surgery in hospital so he referred me to a surgeon. I explained what I needed done and was excited that my pain would finely be gone!

Tobi

After waiting over 11 hours for the surgery, I woke up feeling great. No pain and I was excited that it was finally gone!

When I got back to my room I fell asleep and when I woke up at 2am to feed Tobi I was in excruciating pain. I rang for the nurse who gave me some painkillers. The pain continued throughout the night.

The surgeon had cut out a large internal hemerrhoid. He had left it as an open wound.

For five weeks after the surgery I was in excruciating pain every time I passed a motion. The student doctor at the hospital had laughed and said it wouldn't hurt and prescribed me Panadol!!!!

Over those weeks I hurt my back, lost two friends to cancer and tried to recover from my relapse and the surgery. My husband's back pain has gotten worse so he has been booked in for surgery in a few weeks.

Yet I look at my little girl and would go through it all again if it meant I could have her. She didn't really cry until she was nine weeks old. She settles well and eats well. she laughs and smiles and is a really happy baby. Even when I'm in tears from the pain she will lie silently on her rocker.
I am so lucky to have her and if what I'm going through now means she will be safe.. bring it on!!

Anne Williams

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