That Question

on March 23, 2011
in All Posts

Oh, oatmeal.  I can always count on you!

IMG_1505

I had a rather rough night. I woke up at 2:30 AM and spent the next two hours on the bathroom floor, puking my brains out.  It was not pleasant.  I haven’t done that in years (I have a steel stomach), but it must’ve been something at dinner because Katie’s man also got sick.  No way to know if it was dinner or the cupcakes but I emailed both places and let them know.

 

The only thing I could stand to put in my belly this morning was oatmeal (well, and toast, but we didn’t have any):

 IMG_1506

A standard bowl:

 

  • 1/2 cup oatmeal
  • 1 banana
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup rice milk
  • Chia seeds
  • Toppings: almonds

 

I feel much better now.  Guess I just had to get something out of me, and STAT!

 

Even as I write this post, I know people are going to ask me in the comments section if I puked because I’m pregnant!  Short answer: No!

 

But I love how whenever a woman of child-bearing age is ill, the first question is, “Are you preggers?”  When I had a cold last week (I had the sniffles), my mother-in-law called me at work and said, “I heard you’re sick. Could you be pregnant!?!” Haha… well, not unless babies grow in my sinuses.

 

When I was in college, I used to go to Student Health all the time (free medical care!) and no matter what I was coming in for, the first question was, “Do you need to take a pregnancy test?”  Once I came in for a broken tailbone and they asked if I was pregnant.

 

Time to get my (non-pregnant) butt to work.

{ 115 comments }

 

  • Brittany (A Healthy Slice of Life) March 23, 2011, 10:29 am

    Oh no, I’ve been really wanting to try Cowfish… I wonder what it was that made you sick?? Any thoughts so I know what not to order?

    Glad you’re feeling better this morning, non-preggo 🙂

    • Caitlin March 23, 2011, 10:32 am

      It’s hard to know if it was the cupcakes or sushi… No way of telling. I’ve eaten there like, 15 other times and never had an issue so I’m guessing it was a fluke.

  • Kim @ Kim Lives Healthy March 23, 2011, 10:30 am

    Halfway through the post I was thinking “is she pregnant?” – typical!

    • Caitlin March 23, 2011, 10:31 am

      heheheh i would’ve been, too.

  • Tessa @ Amazing Asset March 23, 2011, 10:41 am

    Gahh, I am so sorry to hear about mid-night sickness! Throwing up is one of my greatest fears. Whenever I feel the slightest bit nauseous, I go into hysterics, fearing I will puke. I do realize it’s not THAT bad, especially once over, but try telling that to myself when I feel sick! Ew.

    • Kelli March 23, 2011, 1:46 pm

      HAHA I’m the same way!!! And now I have kids and as soon they feel like they are going to throw up I call my husband up and tell him to come home! Nice mom!

      • Tessa @ Amazing Asset March 23, 2011, 3:56 pm

        Kelli, I am most likely going to do the same thing when I have kids, call the husband! Well hopefully I will be over it by then, but at this point, this seems unlikely

    • Jen March 23, 2011, 2:05 pm

      I’m puke-phobic too. To me, throwing up is the worst. The good thing, though, is that I’ve never gotten drunk because of my hatred of vomiting haha.

      • Tessa @ Amazing Asset March 23, 2011, 3:57 pm

        Haha I totes understand. I can say with complete honesty that I am the one, lone remainder of my friends who have never thrown up from drinking. I never get to that point because of the fear!

  • Carolyn @Eat Well. Live Well. Be Well. March 23, 2011, 10:45 am

    I haven’t puked my brains out lately, but I also haven’t been asked if I’m pregnant. Guess I’m lucky. 😉

  • Sue @ Sue In Training March 23, 2011, 10:45 am

    Funny that you mentioned preggers questions! I’m never asked any of them usually, but last week I went to get a Thai massage, and the lady asked me if I was pregnant, because if I was, she wouldn’t be allowed to massage me!

  • Sara @ OurDogBuffy March 23, 2011, 10:47 am

    I get asked that a lot. By strangers. It’s embarrassing. That was the motivation for trying to lose some weight (I bloat easily and it looks like I’m pregnant depending on how I carry myself.) I actually cried the last time someone asked me.

  • Victoria (District Chocoholic) March 23, 2011, 10:49 am

    True story: I can’t drink for medical reasons. I recently found out that when I started in my current job 3.5 years ago, there was much speculation among my colleagues that I was pregnant. For about 16 months. Smart folks, I tell you. Smart folks.

  • Lana March 23, 2011, 10:50 am

    I was listening to the radio the other day and the DJ said “if i’m ever having a horrible day, I take a pregnancy test…at least that way I can say ‘I’m not Pregnant'”….lol….I just thought of that…

    I hope you start feeling back to normal!

  • Katie March 23, 2011, 10:50 am

    So sorry you aren’t feeling well! But I am so with you on the preggars question- I have had killer heartburn on and off for two weeks and thats the first question everyone keeps asking me. My response “No I’m not pregnant and just because I’m hitched doesn’t mean I’m breeding…”

    Have a lovely day!

  • Holly @ The Runny Egg March 23, 2011, 10:51 am

    I get that asked at family functions all the time — if I comment that I am really hungry or if I’m not hungry at all, if I’m not feeling well, anything. Jason and I have been married for a little over 3 years and I wonder if people think that is the appropriate time to have kids — so they think they need to ask (hound!) us?

    Sorry you weren’t feeling well, being sick is awful!

  • Lesley Lifting Life March 23, 2011, 10:52 am

    Haha, so funny, and so true!! I don’t think you can say anything without people thinking that.

  • Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman March 23, 2011, 10:53 am

    I don’t know why, but when I’m nauseous I can’t eat oatmeal. I need something salty when I’m sick. Oh, and I totally know what you mean about the student health center. I came in with the flu and the nurse spent 20 minutes trying to get me to say I was pregnant. I kept telling her that THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY I AM PREGNANT. I guess she believed college students were ripe for immaculate conception.

  • Caitlin @ The Caitie Experiment March 23, 2011, 10:54 am

    My health services in college was the EXACT same way! No matter what you went in there for, you were either pregnant or had mono. Then they dispensed you some painkillers and sent you on your merry way. The pregnancy assumption gets me at work all the time… I’m about to make a neck-sign that has the old “Ass-u-me” saying on it!

  • MK March 23, 2011, 10:55 am

    If you go to an ER for any medical problem and are a woman of childbearing age, they will typically ask if you are pregnant or do a pregnancy test. I would guess they asked when you came in with the broken tailbone because if they had to do x-rays they have to take special precautions if you are, in fact, pregnant. But I agree, the constant questioning totally gets old!

    • Caitlin March 23, 2011, 10:57 am

      Nope, I wasn’t getting xrays (that would’ve made sense!). I think they just thought my butt pain might’ve been caused by an embryo? LOL

      • Y March 23, 2011, 11:12 am

        It’s not necessarily that they think you’re prenant but if you get hurt AND are pregnant at the same, there are tests are drugs that you should avoid ( ie may cause deformities in the baby)

  • monicanelsonfitness March 23, 2011, 10:55 am

    Sorry to hear that, Hope you feel 100% soon!
    I get the preggers question a lot too. 🙂

  • Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope March 23, 2011, 10:55 am

    Ha, that’s hilarious about the health center asking if you were pregnant when you broke your tailbone. Yes, a broken tailbone ALWAY = Pregnancy. 😉

    Hope you feel back up to 100% today… take care!

  • Carly March 23, 2011, 10:56 am

    I get frustrated about the pregnancy assumption. I was crazy sick for about a week and a half, and my doctor had me do TWO pregnancy tests instead of looking into other possibilities. Turns out it was my kidneys. Babies don’t grow there.

  • Cassie @ Back to Her Roots March 23, 2011, 10:58 am

    My BOSS does that to me all the time. I’ve been married for 4 years, I’m of “normal” child-bearing age and anytime I have any sort of stomach issues she’s like, “Are you pregnant? You can tell me.”

    And what I want to say is, “UH. Do you not realize it is illegal to ask me that? And IT’S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.”

    On the college health center thing, I am currently working on a marketing campaign for a health center that dispels the myth that they assume women are pregnant/have STDs/sleep around when they come in. It was a problem they used to have, but new management put the kibosh on it but they are still having a hard time getting past the word-of-mouth.

    • Lauren March 23, 2011, 11:54 am

      Cassie I’m really interested in your marketing campaign! I’d love to hear what you guys are doing! I work for a college health center, and that’s something we’ve been battling forever! I’ve overheard male students lying about their visit saying the only thing we told them is they’re pregnant. Really? Does that even make sense? We can’t get past the word of mouth either, being called the “quack shack”. I’d love to try and do something to help dispel that myth! If you’d like to chat, email me at laurendorsett (at) gmail (dot) com!

      • Caitlin March 23, 2011, 9:17 pm

        This is really interesting, guys! Love it.

  • Tara March 23, 2011, 10:58 am

    I bet your mother in law was asking if you were pregnant and secretly hoping you were so she’d have a grand kid on the way 🙂 I think that’s why my family always asks me too

  • Parita @ myinnershakti March 23, 2011, 10:59 am

    That’s too funny! I love how when you’re dating someone, the question that arises is “when’s the big day?” Then when you’re married, the next question is “when are you going to have kids?” IT NEVER ENDS!!!

  • Heather March 23, 2011, 11:04 am

    I get that all the time. I get tired and sleep , oh she mush be pregnant again. I get ill, Im pregnant. I get bloated, Im pregnant. I want ice cream, Im pregnant. Well Im not people 🙂

  • Caitlin @ The Caitie Experiment March 23, 2011, 11:05 am

    I was just thinking… the last time I had an episode of digestive pyrotechnics, I thought it was food poisoning due to a Chinese food restaurant where I had eaten lunch. It was similar — up in the middle of the night, NON-STOP for 2 hours in the bathroom; I lost almost 7.5lbs in a little over 5 hours. It actually ruined my anniversary. I went to work 2 days later only to find out another coworker had a similar experience… and within five days, 2/3 of my office (as well as my boyfriend) had fallen victim to the Norovirus. I know it’s going around again this year (at least up here) — I wonder if it made its way down to you! I’ve been a hand-washing fiend this year because I wouldn’t wish THAT on my worst enemy! (Although cute story: it ruined my anniversary and bf came home with roses, Tiffanys, pepto, pedialyte and saltines. What a dreamboat!).

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat March 23, 2011, 11:06 am

    HAHA! I used to go to student health all the time too. They always expect the worst! I’m glad you’re feeling better. 🙂

  • Jessica March 23, 2011, 11:06 am

    The student health clinic at my university would do the same thing. Sore throat? Pregnancy test. Terrible hangover? Pregnancy test. Migraine headache? Pregnancy test.

    What’s up with that?

  • Amanda @ Cucina Amanda March 23, 2011, 11:06 am

    I had the exact same problem last night! I can’t figure out what part of my dinner made me sick. I actually got sent home from work for being sick today. I hope you’re feeling better!!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) March 23, 2011, 11:09 am

    Sorry for the tummy trouble. I’m glad you are feeling better now though. Hopefully the funk is all gone. That kind of stuff is so random and really sometimes there no rhyme or reason. Feel better Caitlin.

  • Sarah @ The Strength of Faith March 23, 2011, 11:09 am

    Oh man. I crashed on my bike a few years ago and ended up in the ER with a weird infection. The nurse refused to believe that I wasn’t pregnant. In fact she did a pregnancy test without checking with me, watched the results come up and said snidely, “Well now I believe you’re not pregnant.” I was so irritated when that pregnancy test showed up on my bill.

  • Ash @ Good Taste Healthy Me March 23, 2011, 11:10 am

    lol omg seriously? I think it’s hilarious you got that question just from the sniffles. Puking is the worst. I’ve noticed it always happens to me in the wee hours of the morning too. I’ll wake up at like 3 or 4 am and spend hours in the bathroom. I guess it’s better than at my desk at work!

  • betsy March 23, 2011, 11:11 am

    HA! my university health services would ALWAYS ask if you recently had unprotected sex whenever you came in. I was just talking about that yesterday with someone. too funny.

  • faith @ lovelyascharged March 23, 2011, 11:11 am

    Thank you for that visual image of babies sprouting up in sinus cavities…not that the idea just made me snort out loud at work or anything! Hope you feel better – something seems to be going around lately!

  • Kara March 23, 2011, 11:12 am

    Nah, if you were pregnant, you wouldn’t have gotten up at 2 to barf. That can wait until you wake up in the morning!

    I did break my tail bone giving birth, so there is a vague connection there 🙂

    • Julie (A Case of the Runs) March 23, 2011, 11:25 am

      Ouch!

      Yeah, I fear that someday, everyone will be able to tell before I’m ready to tell them.

  • Natalie @ Will Jog For Food March 23, 2011, 11:16 am

    Yup! I get that alot too…stomach ache = pregnant, tired = pregnant, hungry = pregnant. It never ends!

  • sarah (sarah learns) March 23, 2011, 11:24 am

    lol, our student health services did the same thing! i had strep once, and even before they did a throat swab, they asked me to take a pregnancy test!

  • Lauren March 23, 2011, 11:25 am

    Our student health clinic is the same way! I stopped going because it made me paranoid!

  • Lisa March 23, 2011, 11:30 am

    Totally agree! Anytime there’s anything wrong people immediately ask if you’re pregnant…my leg hurts = pregnant; my stomach hurts= pregnant. It must just be this age!

  • Amber K March 23, 2011, 11:32 am

    I never understood the pregnancy thoughts. Maybe it’s because my own thoughts don’t immediately turn to pregnancy when a woman is sick. But since practically everyone and their parents know that I have been trying with my husband for over four years anytime I so much as sneeze I’m asked if I’m pregnant.

  • Angela (Oh She Glows) March 23, 2011, 11:32 am

    I hope you feel better soon!
    I don’t know if I have ever had food poisoning (knock on wood), but I’ve had the 48 hour flu and it was just awful.

  • Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) March 23, 2011, 11:34 am

    No matter what illness you went to the health center for in college, you always had to answer questions about STDs. Um, I have a migraine, not syphilis!

  • Stephanie @ Live Cook Love March 23, 2011, 11:36 am

    HAHA! Your student health center sounds like mine!! Every time I went in there for ANYTHING they always asked me if I was pregnant!! I was like…. I am coming in because I have the FLU and need medicine, not because I think I may be pregnant. But thanks. It was so bad, rumor had it they even asked the guys 😉

  • Beth @ 990 Square March 23, 2011, 11:40 am

    I had a really crappy run last night. Like really, really crappy. Whole body hurting crappy. And it did pop into my mind–am I pregnant? Mostly because I have a friend who just found out she is. But my guess is I’m sick, because I have aches all over this morning!

  • Elyse March 23, 2011, 11:43 am

    When I was 13 years old (so around 7 yrs ago) I went to the doctor and he asked if I could be pregnant. I was shocked. I was 13… Back then who even thought to ask a 13 year old that question?

  • Kelly March 23, 2011, 11:43 am

    Yeah so last week I went to the doctor and they were like “okay we are going to test you for STDs” and I was like actually you can probably skip that- I’m actually married. Well, thats when it started… suddenly prenatal vitamins was the next topic of conversation haha. Should’ve stuck to the STD test.

  • mm March 23, 2011, 11:59 am

    My Facebook status from Monday:
    I can’t decide if it’s more amusing or annoying that I’m at the stage of life where every time I have “news”, people assume I’m pregnant.

    haha – I’m right there with ya. 😉

  • Ashley @ Feeding Ashley March 23, 2011, 11:59 am

    Feel better! I’ve had food poisoning once and I thought I was going to die. I went to the health department once with a pregnant friend who is many years older than me, and when we were seen the nurse asked me how old I was (16) then asked me how many children I had. weird.
    When I’m sick I always crave random foods like plain toast and white grape juice haha.

  • ~Jessica~ March 23, 2011, 11:59 am

    Hehe, THAT question does seem a prevalent one.

    So sorry you’re sick: you seem to have had such a rough time of it recently with injuries and illness. Wishing you well and feel better soon!

    xxx

  • Ella March 23, 2011, 11:59 am

    I’m a college student and every doctor constantly asks me if theres a chance I’m pregnant. No buddy – I’m single, thanks for rubbing it in lol.

  • Katie March 23, 2011, 12:02 pm

    Haha, it’s so true that at a certain age, when you’re sick, you’re *obviously* preggo 😉 Broken tail bone? That sounds painful! How did you do that one?!

  • faith @ gracefulfitness March 23, 2011, 12:05 pm

    Your last couple paragraphs made me laugh out loud, it’s SO true about the pregnancy thing. I’ve been asked a few times over the last year or two if I was pregnant.

  • LizW March 23, 2011, 12:09 pm

    I HATE that preggers thing. Anytime I’m not feeling well, people ask that. Seriously. People are so dumb – and nosy.

    🙂

  • Mary (What's Cookin' with Mary) March 23, 2011, 12:13 pm

    If I ever have a tummy bug, my MIL is notorious for asking me that ;P

  • Annie@stronghealthyfit March 23, 2011, 12:13 pm

    So funny 🙂

  • Lindsay March 23, 2011, 12:15 pm

    I had the same experience at Student Health in college- they ALWAYS ask that! So glad it wasn’t just me 🙂

  • rebecca lustig March 23, 2011, 12:15 pm

    i feel like they are SO quick to go to the preggers test! standard protocol perhaps?

    I’ll never forget the time I had to get an x ray on my foot and they MADE ME take a pregnancy test. I scared out of my mind.

    Have a great day,
    Rebecca
    http://fromheretothereinpurple.blogspot.com
    http://twitter.com/rlustig

  • Jen @ Canoe of Life March 23, 2011, 12:16 pm

    I get that question when I’m sick too, so I’ve decided to keep it to myself when I’m feeling under the weather.

  • Rebecca March 23, 2011, 12:18 pm

    I went to the doctor with a sore throat and they gave me a pregnancy test. I really was pregnant. I guess that’s why they never rule it out…

  • Rebecca March 23, 2011, 12:22 pm

    Went to doctor with a sore throat and they insisted on a pregnancy test. I really was pregnant. Guess that’s why they have to rule it out…

  • Natalia - a side of simple March 23, 2011, 12:34 pm

    Oh man, I’m so sorry you got sick! I seriously have a fear of puking. When I was younger and my siblings would get sick I would cry because I hated getting sick so much. I should probably note that I usually felt completely fine and would get upset out of fear for myself while they suffered… Sibling love 😉

  • Lisa March 23, 2011, 12:37 pm

    Haha! I get that question too. Last summer I was training for the Hood to Coast Relay and I was having dizzy spells that were REALLY bad. I almost blacked out several times. I went to the doctor and their first question was “are you pregnant?” Um no! Geez!

  • Kacy March 23, 2011, 12:37 pm

    Haha, that’s so true!
    Sorry about the sickness. Hope you feel better soon.

  • Heather March 23, 2011, 12:45 pm

    I had food poisoning over christmas one year and could not get away from that question!!
    And my student health center used to require a preg test before seeing you even if it was a broken bone. I found it very rude for them to make such assumptions about all college girls!!

  • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday March 23, 2011, 1:04 pm

    I had food poisoning on Sunday and got the same reaction!

  • Katy @ A Healthy Shot of Life March 23, 2011, 1:08 pm

    Hahaha it was the same question at my college’s health center- no lie one of my tennis teammates broke her arm and they asked if she was pregnant!
    Sorry you weren’t feeling well 🙁

  • Natalie March 23, 2011, 1:13 pm

    I’m so sorry you were feeling ill 🙁
    This story should pick you up though: I too have been asked that ridiculous question (and I’m not even married yet). What takes the cake is the time I went to the Dentist. They wanted to take X-Rays and as you all know pregnant women shouldn’t get X-Rays. Anyhoo the male tech asked me if I was pregnant. Seems normal right? Only problem is, I was 12!!!! I was so embarassed and mortified I couldn’t even respond. He asked the question in a kind of acusatory, sardonic way, like “I know what you kids are up to nowadays, come clean”. Luckily there was a female hygenist there and she tore him a new one. I laugh at it now, but I guess being female, no matter the age or marital status, gives people carte blanche to check their couth at the door.

    • Caitlin March 23, 2011, 9:16 pm

      Aw so embarrassing for a 12 year old!

  • LindseyAnn March 23, 2011, 1:15 pm

    Every time I feel sick, I get asked 2 questions–“Hang over?” or “Are you pregnant?” Good lord, can’t a girl in her mid-20’s just get a cold or the flu?

  • Karen March 23, 2011, 1:19 pm

    Ugh, I went to Ithaca College and they used to do the same thing. I went in for an ear infection and they asked if I was pregnant. Ridiculous! Glad you feel better.

  • MegaNerd March 23, 2011, 1:24 pm

    Ugh that sucks, pal!!!

    The last TWO times I ate onion rings (like a year ago, and in 7th grade) I woke up puking that night. I’m fine with other fried things, and with onions…. so it was weird. Now the smell of them makes me so sick!!! 🙁

    Feel better!!! Don’t forget to bring me a pillow!!

  • Elise March 23, 2011, 1:27 pm

    food poisoning is the WORST. hopefully you’re feeling better!!!

    i love it when doctor’s ask you “could you be pregnant” for things completely unrelated. don’t you think i’d ask if i was concerned about that? or mention it?

  • Lauren @ Hungry Dancer March 23, 2011, 1:30 pm

    That sounds awful!!! Glad the oats are helping you feel better!!

  • Shawna March 23, 2011, 1:30 pm

    Everytime I go into work feeling groggy because I have to be there at 7am, they ask if im pregnant. And the student health center when I was in college was good about the pregnancy tests too…oh and handing out HUGE bags of protection lol.

    As for oatmeal, that’s about all I eat anymore. I need to try and find chia seeds though, they look delicious 🙂

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey March 23, 2011, 1:33 pm

    🙂 Everyone asks me if I’m pregnant so much that I automatically think “am i?!?!?” when asked that question. Glad you’re feeling better!

  • Kelly March 23, 2011, 1:39 pm

    I had a several hour long dizzy spell on Monday and that’s exactly what Brittney asked me as well. My reply was, “Well that would incredibly inconvenient!” I wonder if anyone asked Stew if he’s pregnant. 😉

  • Ashley March 23, 2011, 1:48 pm

    haha, while this is actually a very important public health practice, as many diagnostics and treatments are teratogenic (i.e. x-rays, medications), it is so silly when experienced in real life.

  • Melissa March 23, 2011, 1:52 pm

    I am LOL about the student health-pregnancy thing. My university was NOTORIOUS for that!! I went in once for a spider bite (visible bite, swelling) and they kept asking me if I needed to take a pregnancy test!

    I also had food poisoning a few years ago and my dad accompanied me to the ER and as soon as he stepped out of the room the staff said, you can tell us if you’re pregnant, it’s OK. Mortified!!

    Hope you feel better soon 🙂

  • michelle March 23, 2011, 2:01 pm

    I HATE that question. I find it rude and obnoxious. I got a major award the other day and when I called saying I had good news MANY of the people I called said, “You’re pregnant!” I was like, “Um no- there are great things that can happen to woman of “that age” that don’t involve pregnancy.”

    I think I’m sensitive as I have dear friends who are having a hard time TTC and when the wife gets asked that question it breaks her heart a little every time. 🙁

  • The Chick March 23, 2011, 2:08 pm

    Feel better!

    I hate getting asked that question or the nudge nudge maybe this means you’re preggers. I lost my breakfast at the office one day and got the nudge nudge – response: pretty sure potentially expired yogurt doesn’t make you preggo but thanks for asking, can we finish this meeting so I can go home now.

  • Fawn March 23, 2011, 2:13 pm

    My college best friend was a little more proper and a lot less wild than I was but when she got her nosed pierced only a few weeks into our freshman year her very conservative parents almost fipped out when they saw her. Trying to save her butt and shake things up a bit I said, “At least she’s not pregnant, right?” I have used that to make so many things seem better since then too 🙂

  • Erin @ Big Girl Feats March 23, 2011, 2:22 pm

    Oh yuck, I hope you’re feeling better! Oatmeal totally saves the day. I have to do some follow up treatments for my thyroid cancer and one is taking a pregnancy test before the start of treatment. It’s kind of funny how even though I know I’m not, I still get that anxiety like “ummm…I don’t think so?!” I think, at 28, my parents would actually be happy now. Ha.

  • Emma (Namaste Everyday) March 23, 2011, 2:37 pm

    I’m so sorry you had such a rough night! that always runins a night and the whole day after! i hope you perk up!

  • Maura March 23, 2011, 2:48 pm

    Freshmen year of college, I became ill and was incredibly nauseous for weeks, to the point I could barely eat. As you can imagine, the university hospital was convinced I was pregnant, despite my repeated attempts to tell them it wasn’t possible. Finally I said, “Unless I’m the new Virgin Mary, I’m telling you, I’m not pregnant.” They took a test anway – go figure.

  • Michele Albert March 23, 2011, 2:49 pm

    Sorry you had a rough night! I really enjoy reading your blog.

  • Carrie S. March 23, 2011, 2:57 pm

    I know I’m a few hours late to this post, but that happened to me just this morning. I’m dealing with some severe neck pain and at one point said “my neck hurts so bad I kinda want to puke”. My co-worker responded with “maybe you’re pregnant”. Um, no, just said I was in pain, thankyouverymuch. Sorry you had a rough night, Caitlin 🙁

  • Jo @ Jo In the Kitchen March 23, 2011, 3:04 pm

    Hahaha! Of course, the one time I was sure I wasn’t pregnant was right before I found out about my son 😉
    Glad you’re feeling a little better.

  • Kiran March 23, 2011, 3:11 pm

    Ouch!! Feel better soon dear. Regarding preggars, is the same here. Stop taunting us, people 😉

  • Brandi March 23, 2011, 3:20 pm

    I am glad to know that my Student Health Center wasnt the only one who constantly asked if girls were pregnant!

    I went there once because I knew I had strep throat. The nurse told me I was fine, refused to test me, but insisted I take a pregnancy test! About a week later I ended up in the hospital with a severe strep infection and dehydration.

    I hope you feel better soon! Spending the night praying to the porcelain god is never fun.

  • Effie March 23, 2011, 3:30 pm

    I just had a baby in December and i’ve been asked twice now when I am due. Come on people, you realize that after you have a baby it takes a little more than 3 months to get that baby weight off.

    • Caitlin March 23, 2011, 9:07 pm

      You’re a beautiful momma

  • tina March 23, 2011, 4:23 pm

    Your MIL has a point! When I got pregnant, my sinus congestion got worse. It’s because your immune system is compromised otherwise it would consider the baby an invader and try to get rid of it, so we’re more susceptible to colds and/or our allergy symptoms can increase.

    Hope the not-yet-baby-belly is feeling better!

    • Graze With Me March 24, 2011, 1:17 pm

      I was just going to mention that actually, pregnancy DOES start in the sinuses! My first symptoms (as in 2 days after conception) were a constant stuffy and runny nose and a swollen thyroid. My neck was so filled with the expanding gland that I almost went to the hospital because I couldn’t breathe. Amazing what a baby does to your body.

  • Sarah March 23, 2011, 4:40 pm

    This may have been said already — I didn’t read all of the comments — and not that you’re pregnant — and I agree it’s kinda annoying that when you feel at all not yourself the first question (in my case, usually from my male classmates) is “could you be pregnant?” NO! heh- But anyway, pregnancy causes a vascular engorgement of your sinuses, thus many pregnant women have the ‘sniffles’ or complain of a stuffy nose through their entire pregnancy. Also, during pregnancy it’s rather common to develop allergies, whether it’s to pollan, etc. Just fyi- glad you’re feeling better!

    • Caitlin March 23, 2011, 9:07 pm

      hahah maybe i am pregnant in my nose!

  • Shae March 23, 2011, 4:50 pm

    Fun fact about “food poisoning”- It isn’t necessarily the quality of the food you ate, or if it was spoiled or rotten that made you sick. In most of those cases it is very severe, often needing medical intervention (E. coli, Salmonella). More likely than not, someone preparing food at either one of those places probably was sick with “norovirus” or some other stomach virus that was still shedding out of their system (which can happen days after they have been sick and probably feel better).

    I had also not thrown up in YEARS (6 to be exact) but I ended up getting a bad stomach bug at the beginning of a 7 hour transatlantic flights. I actually fell asleep in the airplane bathroom for 2 hours and no one even noticed or knocked.

    • Caitlin March 23, 2011, 9:06 pm

      That is sooo disgusting about the norovirus.

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin March 23, 2011, 6:58 pm

    Yuck that sounds awful! Since learning about foodborne illnesses in my nutrition class last week, I’m sceptical about eating out at any restaurant ever again! 😛

  • Ashley @ Thefitacademic March 23, 2011, 7:20 pm

    asked if you could be preggers when u had a broken tail bone!? Thats just crazy! Feel better!

  • Pure2Raw Twins March 23, 2011, 7:57 pm

    Sorry that you got sick, that is never any fun. I hope you are able to figure out what the cause was.

  • Kris @ tryingtotri March 23, 2011, 8:06 pm

    So sorry you’re sick, but OMG on the preggo questions, lol! My dad asked that question EVERY time hubby & I told him we had ANY news – Um, I’m in my mid 30’s with 3 kids, and Bruce is FIXED… NO!!!

    Last year, I had a massive cyst removed, and a full hysterectomy, and the clinic asked me at EVERY visit if I was pregnant! No, No, NO!! The morning of the procedure, they had to test me anyway (liability reasons). At least that one I understood. 😛

    Hope you feel better soon.

  • Sarah March 23, 2011, 10:09 pm

    so very true! I left work early on monday because i didnt feel well and EVERY SINGLE PERSON I WORK WITH said “ARE YOU PREGNANT?”
    seriously…

  • Amy March 23, 2011, 10:30 pm

    I can’t even tell you how much I cringe any time I hear someone ask “are you pregnant?” It’s rude and presumptuous. My husband & I have been trying (unsuccessfully) for the past several years, and there is nothing that breaks my heart more than someone asking me if I’m pregnant yet. It is hard enough to accept that my womanly parts don’t function the way they should, and having someone dump salt on that open would just sends me over the edge. Ugh.

    • Jen March 23, 2011, 11:36 pm

      I’m so sorry about your struggle to conceive. People really don’t think when they ask invasive questions like that. 🙁

  • ML March 23, 2011, 10:43 pm

    I left work early today and e-mailed my boss that I wasn’t feeling well (he’s out of town). He replied with a take care. Great, now I’m wondering if he’s wondering if I’m pregnant! ha ha ha! Hope you’re feeling better by now!

  • A March 23, 2011, 10:51 pm

    I’m kind of in the same boat, but not. Husband and I are pregnant. We’re only 13 weeks and definitely not ready to tell people at work for a variety of reasons.

    I felt awful for about 10 weeks on and off (and apparently looked it too!) One time I mentioned at work that I hadn’t been sleeping well. One girl asked many times, “Are you pregnant? That happened to me when I was pregnant.”

    Maybe it’s just me, but even though she asked, I lied. I’m not ready for anyone to know. I think it’s incredibly rude for people to ask if you are pregnant. If you are, you will share it, if you aren’t, you either REALLY aren’t, or are not ready to tell people yet. It’s like, STOP ASKING!!!

    By the way, it’s completely true about being drippy when your pregnant. My nose drips at random times, I burp randomly (with very little warning, it’s embarrassing) and hiccup all the time. Those things NEVER happened to me before. I was basically a non-hiccupper!

    • Graze With Me March 24, 2011, 1:20 pm

      I’m 15 weeks and I hiccup ALL THE TIME! I keep telling my husband it’s apparently how I digest now because he always used to mock me when I got hiccups before baby since I would literally shake the bed/couch with each one.

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) March 24, 2011, 12:50 am

    I get asked that question on almost a daily basis.

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