[*becky*]

I need advice...

About 2 weeks ago my ankle went out from under me when I stepped off a curb. It buckled sideways pretty bad, swelled up and everything.
I've had weak ankles all my life and have even fractured this ankle this one before.

So...its still giving me alot of pain so I had my doctor look at it. She's afraid that I chipped the bone or might have a hairline fracture. She ordered me an x-ray. My brain apparently wasn't working and I didn't think to question her scheduling it. I was in my car on the way home and realized - I can't have an x-ray, there's a chance I could be pregnant!

I called the doctor's office and explained it to them and they said - just get a blood test first to see if you're pregnant first. No can do...I'm only 3 or 4 days past ovulation, so it won't show up yet.

Now what?? I definately don't want to risk anything if I am pregnant...but I don't want to further my ankle either.

I left a message with my doctor to see what she thinks...***sigh***

__________________________________________________ ____________________________

Update 3pm

So...I went and had the x-ray. They had to get my signature saying it was ok to do the scan and then they had to get the Radiologist's ok. He said "Ok, but double lead her" Basically they put TWO lead apron things on me - double the protection!

Anyway - all came back ok - no break, no fracture, no chip. So...its just a really bad sprain or I tore some ligaments.

Thanks for all your thoughts for me today, I really appreciate the support!

[Jlynn]

Thats a hard one. When is the x-ray suppose to take place?
I have heard that an x-ray isn' that bad if you have only 1 done during pregnancy. Plus you can wear a lead vest so your tummy won't be exposed to the radiation.

[~Andrea~]

I think they are pretty safe as long as you have the lead vest on. But, I would wait to see what your Dr. says. I would hate to have you put it off, and have something wrong with your ankle, but, I would hate for you to have it and harm your baby. I guess you would probably want to wait until your talk to your Dr.

[Carmela]

Even if you are pregnant as long as you are wearing the lead you should be ok. I have not actually taken any x-rays since I got my BFP (the co-workers that know have been helping me avoid it), but I took one set the day before and I am sure I took tons of them during the 2WW. Even if pregnant it is only recommended you limit your exposure to radiation and make sure you wear the proper lead protection. (In the case of taking them that includes the lead apron, lead gloves, and thyroid collar.) You should be just fine, even though I know I am pregnant, if I were to take a dog in after hours and I am by myself and need x-rays I would not hesitate to gown up and snap the film. Same goes for if I needed them for myself (with the exception of if my abdomen would be in the direct radiation field.)

I hope nothing is broken or chipped.

[*becky*]

Thanks ladies!!! I appreciate your input - I was really freaking out about it!!

This probably wouldn't have been such a big deal except I wasn't seen by my normal doc - she knows I'm TTC so she would have caught the no x-ray thing right away. Silly me...I didn't even think about it!!

I'll see what my doc says tomorrow. Honestly I don't think its broken...if its just torn ligaments or a hairline fracture, there really isn't anything they can do for me anyway - just wear an ankle brace and stay off of it.

I'll keep you guys posted about what my doc says...

[snsgirl336]

I think the other girls have covered the Xray topic, but I wanted to pop in and say that I hope that you feel better and are able to get that ankel fixed up quick!

[Chatterbox]

When I had my HSG done last month, the nurse practitioner that did it was pregnant. She wore the lead apron and collar while she did my test because of the radiation. I hope your ankle gets better.

Tami

[ashleighgurl]

I agree with the other girls that I think it should be okay. Let us know how it goes and what your doctor says!

[Lo_and_Behold]

I work in a cancer hospital & used to work in the radiology department for 2.5 years. Out of the 10 techs in the dept, only 2 are men. Since I've been here (6 years), 2 have been pregnant & 1 was twice in that time. They've all continued to work and take x-rays and mammos, ct's, mri's, etc & have been fine. It's not the same as having the radiation directly, but going in & out of the rooms, taking the pictures, etc. there's still some exposure. I think you would be fine just having a gen rad x ray. I wouldn't recommend going to have an MRI.. that's a lot of radiation. But something like an ankle x ray isn't so much exposure. You could wait & see what your dr says, but I think you'd be just fine. You could always call the radiology place & see what the techs/radiologist says also. They would certainly err on the side of caution & not put you in danger.
Good luck & feel better!

[MamaAnna]

Momentarily out of lurking...

Just popping in to let you know that it should be fine. When I was in my first trimester with DD I had more x-rays than I care to even try to count because I was in a car accident and the technicians kept messing up and having to redo them. They actually found out I was pregnant (all urine tests were negative and they wouldn't do blood work) with a CT Scan! They did the injected radiation and even had to do the lower abdomen scan twice because they hadn't waited long enough after the injection so the first one didn't turn out. At that point I was 12 weeks pregnant and she was fine. Of course I was worried for the rest of the pregnancy that she would be born green and glowing (I kid you not), but she was born a week late and absolutely perfect.

I really hope that you get your x-rays and that you get your ankle taken care of. Good luck!

Back to lurking...

[*becky*]

Thanks for all your advice ladies!! (((hugs)))

My doctor finally called me back and said what you guys said! I will request a "lead plate" be placed on my abdomen and since the x-ray itself is of my foot, everything will be ok.

Now I just have to figure out when I can fit in having the x-ray done today - in between meetings I guess!

I'll let you know what the results are.

[mom 2 haley & tyler]

I hope it's not anything serious and if feels better soon.

[Jlynn]

I am so glad it went well!! I am also glad it's not hurt to bad. I hope you get to feeling better soon.

[snsgirl336]

I'm glad that you got it checked out and that they double protected you! That's nice that they did that! I'm glad it's not broken! I hope it heals quickly!!!

[nelson1229]

Honey, the same thing happened to me, but it was the last day of my honeymoon!! i stepped off the curb wrong and bam on the concrete!!! It was painful, very painful!!! I had an xray done and I had a fracture.. it was a momenti will never forget!! I hope your foot gets better though!!

[*becky*]

Thanks ladies!! I had to go buy a bunch of different colored flip flops - with the brace on, my foot doesn't fit into any of my work shoes!

[ashleighgurl]

I'm glad you aren't seriously hurt, though! Good luck to you! I hope you heal really fast!

[Lo_and_Behold]

ooo no!! I know it doesn't look fashionable, but you might be better off with something more supportive like an orthopedic shoe. When DH & I were on a cruise in Sept, I broke my toe (on the 1st day nonetheless! ) & when we got back my regular dr sent me to an orthopedic surgeon.. I can't remember why now! LOL But I guess it had to do w/the way it broke or something like that. Anyway. He said flip flops were the worst thing I could wear b/c there was no support & gave me this shoe instead. It was like the bottom of a sneaker with a velcro strap that came over the top to keep your foot in. I felt silly, but it sure was a lot better than what I'd been using!

[Lo_and_Behold]

See...that middle picture in my siggy was taken oh.. about an hour before said broken toe on first day of cruise. Oh well.. at least I had a good strong pina colada to dull the pain!

[Chatterbox]

pina colada[/b]

Okay - you had to mention a pina colada. That sounds oh so tempting right now!