I'd rather give birth than have a stomach flu or food poisoning, although I have quick deliveries. My recoveries sucked, though. By far, the recovery period was worse for me, than any other stage of pregnancy/delivery. I was barely recovered by my six week check up, after the birth of each of my children.

I recovered pretty quickly from childbirth, and walked two miles a week or so later. A few days after that, I was hit with about 24 hours of renewed swelling and seriously wonky BPs, probably the last death rattles of my PIH, and quit all of the OTC pain killers they send you home with because they may affect BP and I was freaked about having one of those rare cases of post-partum PE (it was scary, and boy howdy, I'm glad we induced when we did), but that was my only real recovery snag.

The stomach flu/food poisoning/whatever it was, I was still feeling wiped a week later, and just barely on solids again.

When I was hit by a car, the resident doctor examined me (there was no swelling; the leg and knee looked normal) and told me it was a sprain, and that I should arrange a ride home that night. But just to be safe, he ordered a CAT scan, which showed the broken leg, and the messed up knee with the bone chip floating around.... After the CAT scan, a real doctor showed up to tell me I'd need surgery the next day, etc....

seriously wonky BPs, probably the last death rattles of my PIH, and quit all of the OTC pain killers they send you home with because they may affect BP and I was freaked about having one of those rare cases of post-partum PE

Jesus, Ple that's an alphabet soup worthy of FDR's depression era policies.

I'm guessing PE = pre-eclampsia, though.

PE is pulmonary embolism, I think. PIH is Pregnancy induced hypertension.

I'm guessing PE = pre-eclampsia, though.

Yep. Though Cindy's right about the PIH.

I admit the thought "Fuck, if childbirth is worse than that, I'm not doing it." has flashed through my mind a number of times.

The key, for me, with pain-causing things is working out what needs intervention, and what needs immediate intervention. I wish there were a code for that. One that didn't rely so much on expensive tests.

Plei, I always thought Pre-Eclampsia was PIH? What is it? I also thought it was only a (during) pregnancy condition. My books have long since flown to other shelves.

Plei, I always thought Pre-Eclampsia was PIH? What is it? I also thought it was only a (during) pregnancy condition. My books have long since flown to other shelves.

Where I was being seen, PIH=just the raise in blood pressure associated with pregnancy. PE=all sorts of additional nasty stuff, as expected when you're looking at a condition once deemed toxemia.

I admit the thought "Fuck, if childbirth is worse than that, I'm not doing it." has flashed through my mind a number of times.

If you've survived stomach flu, you'll do just fine with childbirth. Mind you, I'm the only person I know who has such a hard time puking that I have to force start it, even when violently ill, so stomach flu may be worse for me than for most.

In first aid, they teach you that a symptom of a broken bone is "obvious injury without significant pain." I know it didn't seem to hurt all that much when I broke my hand.

There was pain a plenty when I broke my femur, not to mention the lovely sensation of bone separating when it happened.

Worst pain ever: throwing up from dehydration with a broken face

This, however, seems absolutely horrific.

There was pain a plenty when I broke my femur, not to mention the lovely sensation of bone separating when it happened.

Well, isn't the femur pretty much the worst bone you can break? (Outside of a skull fracture.)