Pre-Eclampsia Watch Dog on the loose. - Page 28

[dynamicdoula]

Hi ladies,

I'm taking atenolol 100mg per day and Clonidine .05 3x per day to control my BP and whatnot, and I'm 32.3 weeks today. Here's a link to my BPs, they were pretty well controlled but now... not so much.

I've been making sure to stay hydrated and taking my medications on time, religiously, but my BPs are still going up. My baseline pulse is now between 80-85 and my BP is hanging out in the 130/75-80 range. I cried last night. I am definitely seeing lots of lights/crawlies every day, too. My hands are swollen and feel buzzy. I'm still getting negative protein when I dip, when I'm well hydrated. When I'm not well hydrated I get .30 protein (more than trace, less than +1?) I'm still -3 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight.

I will see the docs at the hypertension clinic on Tuesday, and I'm relieved about that. I'm glad I didn't go in on Friday, I really mentally needed a few days to 'try some things' at home and see if taking my meds more carefully, drinking more water, resting more, would impact things. Well if anything, they're worse! lol My hands are swollen and I took my rings off this morning, I don't want them to have to be cut off later!

I'm thinking they'll likely just increase my medication and I am hoping that brings things back under control.

One of the things most frustrating is that I actually *feel* fine! I am not uncomfortable in the traditional 32-weeks-pregnant sense, I can move around pretty well, I'm not nauseas or overly tired or emotional, etc.

I suppose she'll be born sooner rather than later- I'm due at the end of October and was really hoping for an October birth (my birthday is in October ), but I'll take a full term baby if I can get one.

[gossamer]

Kristina,
Let us know what happens at the clinic on Tuesday. I hope all is well. 32 weeks is not bad for your first really bad symptoms. I hope they can keep you pregnant as long as possible.
Gossamer

[dynamicdoula]

Yeah... I just took it (my hands are totally buzzing and feeling puffy), and it was 156/90 so... I put a call in to the on-call doc. *sigh* I'm sure I'll go down there and they'll just send me home after a few hours but man this is frustrating!

[dynamicdoula]

The on call doc felt that one reading wasn't enough to panic over, so I'm going to just wait until tomorrow and go in and get labs done at the hospital. I'll bring my chart with me too, so she can see the progression. It almost feels like a waste of time because they don't see it the same way as the doc at the hypertension clinic, and there I have the benefit of the additional information from the cardiac output monitoring. It almost seems like a waste of time to go in before Tuesday considering the doc at the hypertension clinic will probably just increase my meds anyway.

I took another BP and it was 136/67, down from 156/90. That's good at least.

It's hard not to get emotional about it all. :

[gwerydd]

i had a similar experience at 32 weeks, but my bp was even higher (160/124). i was hospitalized over Christmas to get it down. i felt fine except for my bp being so sky high (i check it 3 times a day). i remember sobbing frequently over trying to do everything right and still having difficulties. i am so glad i found this thread, it's good to read other people's experiences and to learn more for the next pregnancy.

i knew a lot about pre-e when i got pregnant because my mother had it with my sister and my self so i knew i was at greater risk, that and i have hereditary chronic hypertension. my sister was born at 33 weeks due to pre-e.

[dynamicdoula]

I did go in to the hospital today and of course my BP's were absolutely stunning- 110/55 range. Give me a break, body!!!! I did have +1 protein (which is somehow satisfying as it validates me of the mystery that is my body), so we did blood work which came back great and I'm doing a 12 hour collection of urine. I am hoping to get the numbers back before my appointment on Tuesday because I detest not knowing!!!! Man, I'm more of a control freak than I thought I was. Baby was beautifully reactive, so that reassured me.

I guess we'll see what that number is (it was 186 at last check) and if it's going up.

[myjulybabes]

Kristina, how's it going? Glad things went well when you did go in to the hospital.

I haven't been checking in, because things have been so uneventful-- thus far. My bps were beautiful for the second trimester, they're creeping up a bit now though. 140/96 at my last visit. I think they may want to start meds at my next visit. And I think I'm going to have to go out today and give finding a home bp monitor with a big enough cuff one more shot. I've felt ok not monitoring at home since things were going so well, but now the creeping bps added to a headache that's not going away, and I can't justify not having a monitor by saying "but we're BROKE" any more.

Two questions for the day-- anyone know if there's any correlation between pre-e and gestational diabetes? Any extra precautions I need to take? I've never had GD before, it's freaking me out!

Also, is there any point calling the doctor for just a headache with no other symptoms? It's bad enough that Tylenol isn't touching it, and I had a hard time sleeping, but no visual disturbances, no swelling, and as of Friday I wasn't spilling protein (should probably look for test strips for that while I'm out today too). I used the BP monitor with the ill fitting cuff and it read high, but no higher than it has on any other day.

[dynamicdoula]

Well it's going... okay I think. I did get my 24 hour urine back and it was 50 lower than the previous one, so that was great news! My BP used to range in the 115/55 range and now I'm hovering between 125-140/80s, on average. I got up in the middle of the night after taking both meds (I take one of them only at night) and having been sleeping and it was 132/81. *sigh* Not high per se but I'm keeping a close eye on it. I see my doc tomorrow and I might just throw out the 'let's get this over with before I need mag' discussion. Not sure yet, he's pretty conservative about intervention and won't want to induce until we're at that really fine knife point edge. Sick enough to induce, not so sick that I need mag, hopefully- that's our collective goal.

My other concern is my placenta- Had to sit in the hospital and wonder if I was having a cesarean that day because she deceled during a contraction down into the 90s and stayed there through the whole contraction. I had to go do nipple stim to bring on 3 contractions in 10 minutes (thankyouJohnnyDepp for your assistance! ) and she sailed through that- but about 10 minutes later deceled again! Ugh! Doc feels that the more information you gather the more problems you'll find and I whole heartedly agree; I was so grateful to be able to walk out of there with my uterus intact and my baby still inside of it, let me tell you. But if she's deceling I'm concerned, so I'm fighting to not be anxious about my NST's and just relax. This morning I had the whole "What if I die" conversation with myself and couldn't sleep for two hours.

On the regular pregnant lady stuff: I've gained absolutely 0 weight this pregnancy, I'm not overly swollen (my hands get a little puffy but no one can tell but me, so it's not severe, but I can feel them buzz when my BP is high), I'm sleeping well, eating well, able to poop regularly, not overly emotional (well except for these last few days )... I don't feel 34+ weeks pregnant, I feel somewhere in the mid-late 20 weeks. It's weird to feel this good and have all this other junk going on, but that's how this goes. At least I'm not on bed rest.

[myjulybabes]

Originally Posted by dynamicdoula

Ugh! Doc feels that the more information you gather the more problems you'll find and I whole heartedly agree; I was so grateful to be able to walk out of there with my uterus intact and my baby still inside of it, let me tell you. But if she's deceling I'm concerned, so I'm fighting to not be anxious about my NST's and just relax. This morning I had the whole "What if I die" conversation with myself and couldn't sleep for two hours.

Ain't that the truth??? I'm checking in now from the hospital. The headache just felt "off" to me, and I was right, my bp was up to 168/100. But even once they got it down (I'm on labetalol (sp?) now), they just had to keep hunting, and now I don't know when I'm getting out because my amniotic fluid was "low" on the u/s. I'm trying not to worry, because I know that test isn't always reliable, and it would be a REALLY sudden decrease if it's true, but... they've already given me both shots of steriods to mature her lungs, "just in case".:

The "what if i die?" thing never really occurs to me, I've always thought it was because I've never really had a "normal" pregnancy. Pre-e has just always been part of the deal. But apparently dh was worrying about it this time and so now I'm feeling guilty.

eh, sorry, took over with a whine of my own.

here's hoping we both (all 4 of us really!!!) make is safe and healthy through the next few weeks! No more decels for your little one and lots more fluid for mine!

[gossamer]

You are both in my thoughts and prayers.
Gossamer

[myjulybabes]

I'm home. Complete with labetalol, heparin instead of Lovenox (oh yeah, THIS is gonna be fun), a blood sugar monitor, oh, and glyburide because the steroids for lung maturity interfere with blood sugar. :

I don't have pre-e YET though, thank goodness. The bloodwork all came back normal, and the 24 hour urine came in just under the magic 300 mark (I want to say 275), but I was a smidge dehydrated, so I'm hoping that if/when they do a repeat, it'll be even lower.

It's fecking amazing how FAST problems can come on though. I went from everything going swimmingly, to strict bedrest in all of a day. I had just finally gotten everything ironed out for my scheduled section date too. Blah.

I keep reminding myself that a healthy baby is THE most important thing here (and a healthy mom!), but man, I can't help but be a little disappointed with how things are going.

[ksera05]

ack! Josie, I'm glad you're home again. I hope your protein stays under that 300 mark.

tomorrow is my 18 week ultrasound...and we're touring the NICU. I'm both excited and starting to get a bit nervous. Sigh.

[myjulybabes]

Originally Posted by ksera05

ack! Josie, I'm glad you're home again. I hope your protein stays under that 300 mark.

tomorrow is my 18 week ultrasound...and we're touring the NICU. I'm both excited and starting to get a bit nervous. Sigh.

Me too! I'm off for another BPP tomorrow morning, not sure if they're going to order any more tests. I've been feeling pretty good, all things considered, so hopefully I've got at least a few more weeks to go, even if it is on bedrest.

Good luck with the u/s and NICU tour! I really need to look into a tour, I'm at a different hospital this time than I was for my last 3.

[earthmaia]

What I found out the hard way:
1. Pre-e can happen in your second pregnancy for the first time.
2. Pre-e can start after the baby is born, I went home 3 days after my son was born. Took my BP at home on day 4 185/120. Back to the hospital for another 5 days. (skipping long story) Came home maxed out on Procardia, Lab., and Methydopa. Ended up needing to pump and dump for 2 weeks till I could get off the meds.
--I have hypertension normally so was pretty informed on the signs and symtoms, but I didn't know you could get it after the baby is born :

[gossamer]

Yup, in fact most women who die from Pre-e die in the 24 hours AFTER birth.
Gossamer

[ksera05]

Originally Posted by myjulybabes

Me too! I'm off for another BPP tomorrow morning, not sure if they're going to order any more tests. I've been feeling pretty good, all things considered, so hopefully I've got at least a few more weeks to go, even if it is on bedrest.

Good luck with the u/s and NICU tour! I really need to look into a tour, I'm at a different hospital this time than I was for my last 3.

It's a boy!

The NICU tour was great. Heaven forbid we end up there again, I actually think we'll like this NICU better than the last one.

However I'm now 19 weeks and my blood pressure is still down. 21w3d is when everything started to go to pot with DD so two more weeks before I start worrying

[myjulybabes]

Originally Posted by ksera05

It's a boy!

The NICU tour was great. Heaven forbid we end up there again, I actually think we'll like this NICU better than the last one.

However I'm now 19 weeks and my blood pressure is still down. 21w3d is when everything started to go to pot with DD so two more weeks before I start worrying

Woohoo, congrats on the boy and the good BP readings!

[gossamer]

I am keeping my fingers crossed for everyone.
Gossamer

[GinaRae]

Just sort of scanning the thread here and there and addressing things that pop out at me. Pre-e is usually according to the "rules" but not always and that's what makes it even harder to deal with!


-- I had toxemia (pre-e) with my first two and PIH (no doubt headed to pre-e) with my third. So far at almost 35 weeks there are NO signs of pre-e or PIH with this one. It could still sneak up on me...

-- I was not obese with the first three but am now. Yet I am healthier now.

-- There were NO signs of placenta problems with any of my births. The placenta and cord were beautiful and thick, no clots.

-- Eating a diet really high in protein actually made me sick. I had to scale back and am feeling MUCH better. We thought maybe pre-e was coming, but when I pulled some foods and some protein, I feel so much better.

I was really stressed to the max for several months when told to increase protein more and more. It came to a head with an egg allergy and complete sickness until I removed eggs and lowered my protein intake overall. And despite feeling better physically, what I am left with is the guilt that maybe I am still not getting enough protein and it's hurting me or the baby! So just take it easy with the protein and eat what your own body needs.

-- I have found out with this pregnancy (for the first time) that a dipstick test of urine is not a good indicator of protein in the urine. I've been told this now over and over. You need a clean catch, 24 hour urine test. For instance, my dipstick tests every appointment say at least 30+ protein, but when we swiped with an alcohol wipe first, no protein showed last time.


I am so far still in line with my homebirth and hoping for the best!

[gossamer]

Gina, I am so glad things are going well for you. That's great that no signs of pre-e and no protein in your urine. Woo Hoo. Keeping my fingers crossed for you too.
Gossamer