Sugar and Satan

Last week, I went for my Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) at the hospital.  The test was at the same hospital where I had my ultrasounds and where I will eventually deliver.  The thing I don't understand, though, is that the scans took place in the Antenatal Ward, the GTT was in the brand new Maternity Assessment Unit, and the birth will take place in the brand new Birth Centre (or, possibly, the Maternity Ward).  Yes, these are all 3 different places (the Maternity Ward/Birth Centre is pretty much the same location) in one hospital.  I'm not quite clear on what the Maternity Assessment Unit is actually for or what they do, other than GTTs.  It all seems like it would be better if it was centralized in one "Baby Stuff" (technical term) unit, housed in a single large space... But what do I know, eh?

**Blah blah blah, long ramble about how inefficient things are and how irritated I was DELETED (You're welcome.)**

From what I know, in the US you get screened via this blood draw/glucose drink/wait/blood draw method as "Step 1".  If you fail that test, you then go on to take a 3 hour definitive test.  In the UK, however, you do the blood draw/glucose drink/wait/blood draw test and that's it, but the wait is 2 hours versus 1.  I'm not sure why there is this difference.  Ross thought the whole thing was highly strange and asked why gestational diabetes is diagnosed in this manner, rather than the way regular diabetes is diagnosed (with a blood test).  It does seem unnecessarily cruel to the system.  Anybody know?

The best part of the test was the two ladies that Ross and I were waiting with between my 2 blood draws.  As we waited our 2 hours, there was a woman who was a few minutes ahead of me.  She was joined by her sister, also pregnant, in the waiting room.  We got to chatting and had a very nice conversation revolving around:
-How I sound like one of them contestants off X Factor in America!
-How they'd love to visit America, because of all the theme parks!
-How the sister not being tested was due Friday the 13th, but would be crossing her legs to keep him from coming out because she "didn't want a devil baby".
It sure helped pass the time and Ross and I have had many giggles over it since then.  We wonder if she had the devil baby, but haven't seen anything on the news...

Cute or terrifying?

After the test was over, Ross and I headed to the Trafford Centre to get some lunch and buy some coffee for Ross' fancy coffee maker.  I cockily thought "That wasn't so bad!  I don't know what all those women were complaining about!  I haven't felt any sugar rush or crash!"  Then I fell asleep in the car.  Then I woke up and broke into a flop sweat that soaked my shirt and hair.  Gross!  I was shaky and weak.  Ross tried to rub my neck to make me feel better and realized I hadn't been lying about being sweaty.

Luckily, we made our way to the food court and I was saved by ingesting a burrito from Bar Burrito (the UK's lame attempt at Chipotle).  The combo of beans, chicken, and rice (plus pico de gallo, sour cream, cheese and lettuce) was enough to flood my system with relief.  Then we went home and I took a 4 hour nap and skipped aqua aerobics.

So the moral of the story is:  When I make dumb proclamations about how easy stuff is, it bites me in the backside.  (Does it work in reverse?  If so, I think childbirth is going to be really really hard and awful...)

Did you have a bad reaction to your GTT?
Have you ever been knocked off your high horse?
Any funny waiting room stories?


P.S.  I was told that I'd get a call later that afternoon or the next day if I tested positive.  No one has called, so I guess I'm in the clear!  Huzzah!