Pre-Eclampsia Watch Dog on the loose. - Page 4

[LoveChild421]

Wow Shannon that is so scary- I am so glad I found MDC because I had never known that pre-e could come on so fast! Gossamer's experience is so tragic- her Mary Rose was so beautiful- it breaks my heart. In her pictures she really looks like an angel.

I am so glad she is able to help prevent this from happening to others by getting us educated and taking it seriously!

I'm glad that most at home monitors are fairly accurate- I do have one that runs on batteries so I will have have to check them and change them often. I think the cuff is ok- I'm really petite so I hope it isn't too big- I can usually tighten it enough to get it snug. I will take it with me to my next appt. Thanks!

[Sarasein]

Thanks for posting this. I had pre-e with my DD and I am keeping a close eye on everything this pg. If it does come back, when should I start seeing signs? With DD I started swelling up to my eye balls by 32 weeks. By 36 weeks I had gained 20 lb in 2 weeks and was spilling protein in my urine. I was then put on strict bed rest and send home to collect my urine. I was induced 2 days later and Alexis was born at 1:51 am on July 4th. She was 37w, 2 d gestation and was 20 in long, weighing 8 lb, 2 oz. She did have severe jaundice that put her back in the hospital at 6 days old. I had my bp spike back up when she was 3 days old and was on med for that for 6 weeks after she was born.

I am currently almost 20 weeks. I have seen no swelling and my bp is staying steady where it should. But I am so scared this is going to set in again. I was seeing a midwife with Alexis and I had to dip that test strip my self. I liked that cause I always knew I was ok. I was the one that discovered the rapid weight gain and the protein in my urine. This time I have to see a dr and they don't tell me that stuff. I always have to ask what my bp was.

[shannon0218]

Sarah, I think really that it can hit at any time. I know my mother was basically term when it hit her and she had no warning signs at all leading up to it (she had no problems at all with my younger brother)
I would mention to your OB that you would like to know the numbers after he takes it--let him know you are concerned and you are trying to watch out for any signs.
You can buy the sticks to test protein and glucose from the drug store, maybe it would put your mind at ease if you had a bottle of them at home? Just remember that a little bit (or trace) amount of protein is really no big deal.
Take care and try not to stress about it but do keep an eye on it and advocate for yourself with your doctor.

[Sarasein]

Originally Posted by shannon0218

Just remember that a little bit (or trace) amount of protein is really no big deal.

I know a trace is not much, but it was the straw that broke the camel’s back with Alexis. That was the last thing that happened before the final diagnosis for her. I guess that is why I am so worried about it. I might have to look and see how much the strips are. Right now, I am not too worried, because I have no signs. But, I also see that it can still be a problem. I guess I am just scared. Her birth was horrible and I don't want a repeat of that. Anything and everything I did not want for her birth, happened. It has taken me a long time to come to terms with everything.

[LoveChild421]

I just wanted to report some good news- I went to my midwife for my 30 weeks appt. and my BP was normal 125/82 (even in their office- amazing!) and my BP monitor was right on with theirs so I know it's accurate.

I have been doing everything I can to keep my BP down and stay healthy- I've been drinking a gallon of water a day, eating lots of protein with each meal, limiting refined sugars and processed meats, taking calcuim, etc. I am keeping a close watch on my BP still since it was a little high and even though it was probably from anxiety I still know from Gossamer's story and your mom's Shannon that pre-e can come on fast and aggressively.

Cross your fingers I won't have anymore BP problems!

[gossamer]

Hi ladies, I am back from ENgland. whew, I am so glad to be home.

Shannon, How are you doing? How is Molly?

Sarasein, I am not a doctor, but i would reccomend you talk to your OB about your pre-e experience. I would ask for a baseline 24 hour urine so you know what your normal urine protein content is. I fyou have to ask, you have to ask, but you ant to know those numbers every visit. If you are worried or in doubt, ask or call your ob. As someone else mentioned, it is better to call than look back and wish you had.

Gotta go, I will write more later.

Has anybody heard how OnTheFence is doing?
Gossamer

[shannon0218]

Well, we are still technically alright, however last night and today my pressure has been high, blood work today was still normal and her NST while normal showed she wasn't quite as active as she's been on previous ones. I am to take my bp hourly (every 2 hours during the night-have to set alarm) and go in tomorrow morning for another NST, more blood work and an U/S. Decisions will be made then whether to deliver her early (I'm 36w, 2d right now)
So we could use some good thoughts so far tonight it hasn't gone up at all but hasn't gone down either (if it goes up by more than 5 more points I have to go in right away)

[gossamer]

Lovechild, everything is looking good so far, let keep our fingers crossed.

Shannon, it sound slike you are teetering on the brink here. Stay vigilant, count those kicks and don't be afraid to take your self in if you need to. I am praying for you.
Gossamer

[LoveChild421]

Thanks Gossamer! I really appreciate you looking out for all of us here! My BP was great today (120/65) so hopefully things will be ok- keeping my fingers tightly crossed.

Shannon, I am sending some prayers your way too- I'm glad you're 36 weeks already just in case Molly does need to come a little early.

[gossamer]

Ok ladies, it has been a couple of days, how ar ehtings going? How are the bloodpressures looking? Are you doing your kick counts? ANy headaches, inability to urinate, upper quadrent pain? Don't keep me in suspense.
Gossamer

[shannon0218]

Well....I've been in hospital since Sunday night. My blood work remains normal (it's being done every morning) and my blood pressures are now semi-stable. The headaches I'm having seem too severe for the blood pressure I have, so we're unsure if they are stress related or what is going on with them but I had one again last night after 3 days without. Unfortunately, when the headache is that bad, I start with violent puking so I've pulled muscles just about everywhere. NST's are being done 3x a day and Molly looks perfect with all of them now--on Sunday night when I was admitted, my bp was really high and she was quite still with an average heartrate of 130, but as my bp came down her heartrate went back to normal and she started to squirm again (it was a stressfull few hours)
They have moved my section date up to Monday, so just 2 more days!!!

[gossamer]

I am so glad you are being watched so carefully. I will definitely be praying for monday to come around. We want to see pictures asap. Take care of yourself. Don't stop being vigilent.
Gossamer

[LoveChild421]

Yay! Molly's coming tomorrow! I'm so glad you and Molly have made it through all of this and are being watched closely. I know you can't wait to hold her! I can't wait to see pics too!

Everything's trucking along with me- BP is staying low and Grey has been pretty active (he's pretty mellow most of the day though except the mornings). No headaches or pains of any kind. Feeling great and counting down the weeks! Still praying that all goes well and I am able to have my homebirth!

I hope you all are doing well!

[KaDeDiD]

I would just like to add that in my third pregnacy At 30 weeks i was admitted to the hospital with pre-e and with a soaring bp i was going into liver and kidney failure and my brain was bleeding, loose'n my sight they finally induced where i had my son and almost Died from lose of blood i think this is a very serious issuse and it needs to be Addressed Good Job on the research from aLL ..... Son was 5 pounds and healthy

[mtm]

Gossamer, just wanted to thank you for all your posts on this thread. Your signs and symptoms post rang a bunch of alarm bells in me a few weeks ago and made me talk to my doc about all the weird little symptoms I was having (rapid heart beat, high pulse, constant dull headaches). Initially they weren't worried as my blood pressure wasn't too high (130/80 this week which is high as its normally low) but as its creeped up, my docs have taken it a lot more seriously. My blood draws are coming back slightly elevated with some protein spilling in the urine and a 2 pound weight gain last week so I'm now in every week for poking and prodding. Thankfully I'm 34 weeks already. I'm not sure they would have taken it so seriosly had i not gone in armed with all your info, esp on the dull headaches.

My question for those of you with pre-e, are you having trouble differentiated between common pg things and danger signs? I often get headaches and visual disturbances so don't want to rush in for everything but don't want to miss something either.

Also any suggestions on how much vit e and c to be taking?

[gossamer]

mtm,
I am so glad you went to be seen and are being closely watched. My best advice is that it is better to go in and be seen, than wish you had when it is too late. pre-eclampsia got it's name from the Greek word for lightening because it can come on suddenly. You can go from being ok to on death's door within hours. The day Mary Rose was born, I had gone to my cardiologist that morning at 9:00 am, I saw my high risk OB at 2:45 pm and I was in theo perating room and Mary Rose was born at 10:22 pm. That is how quickly things can go wrong.

My dr. has suggested 1000 mg of vit. C and 800 iu of Vitamin E. I actually usually take about 2000 mg of VIt C because it is water soluble and whatever my body doesn't need, it flushes out. I am much more conservative with vitamin E because iti s fat soluble, so I actually take only 400 iu.

I hope that helps and I hope the rest of your pregnancy is uneventful. ANd I hope you know that having you take this seriously and being monitored warms my heart and hlep me to know that some good things can come out of the death of my daughter.

Gossamer

[mtm]

Hi Gossamer, weent to the doc's this morning. It was a good news/bad news appt. In good news, my blood pressure is holding stable, my liver and kidney numbers are up but only slightly so they still consider me borderline for pre-eclampsia.

In bad news, I'm spilling proteins at a higher rate, have low protein in my blood tests, and they lost the 24 hour urine so I have to do it again. From my u/s on Tues they are worried about ds's position, he's head down but his head is way over to the side. They talked about a version but given my blood pressure are unsure. Most likely a c-sec if he doesn't move on his own. I'm off to a high risk ob next week to check on the protein and talk about delivery options. They were pretty vague about if they thought I could hold out to term (March 10) but seemed to think 37 weeks (2 weeks away) was doable. YAY. Michelle

[gossamer]

I am sorry. It is a bummer that your enzymes are elevating and your kidneys are sputtering. I am so glad that you are keeping such a close eye on this though. 37 weeks is great!!!!!!!! I will pray that all goes well until then. I hope you don't have to have a C-Section, but if you do, remember that bringing the baby home is the most important factor of the whole being pregnant thing.
Gossamer

[shannon0218]

mtm, my daughter was born on Jan 24 at 37 weeks (by c-section) for borderline pre-e and she's just perfect.
All willl be ok and I too am glad you are keeping such a close eye on it.

[mtm]

went in yesterday with a bad headache and spots. Spent a few hours being monitored and my blood pressure was okay, no protein in my urine either! Baby still looks good, doc figures it was just a migraine brought on my exhaustion (ds had that fever/cough combo and wasn't sleeping the last few days). today I have more energy than I've had in a while. Hosp was great, reassured me that I did the right thing going in to be monitored.