So good that you got clarification! In your shoes I'd much rather hear "zero" or "1mg" than 120mg - but I know my doc wasn't at all concerned with protein under 300mg. "Not concerned" is a moving target, I'm sure she was more vigilant, but even though things can go wrong at all bps and all levels of protein, the dangerous stuff is more likely when bp, protein, other symptoms, etc. are present.

I had my appointment yesterday for the protein discussion. Turns out, even though my husband and I both CLEARLY heard her say 1g. The lab results showed there was 120 mg in the whole catch. They expect to find between 50-80mg, so I was higher. But still below the 300mg for a preeclampsia diagnosis. This explains why my OB wasn't worried but the nurse was concerned.

It's been awhile since I've done a lit search, the dipsticks are *definitely* unreliable compared to the 24-hour, but I just don't remember if they're unreliable to the extent of missing 1gram. I supposed if you're really hydrated... Hoping for good news for you...

In my non-medical opinion, dip tests are slightly better than worthless except for women who have no other signs of pre-e. We had a poster who had no trace of protein on the diptest who did a 24 hour urine and had 400 mg. I have a friend who just a few weeks ago had no trace of protein in the office dip test and was spilling 250 mg on a 24 hour urine. But still, if you really spilled 1000 mg, it would surprise me if they were *that* bad, but it wouldn't be completely unheard of. But my guess is considering they let you leave and everything and considered it normal, odds are it was probably more like 100 mg or 1 mg.

Just a quick question I thought of just now. If my protein levels were really that high, wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that my dipstick tests would be picking up something? I check it myself at home every day, as well as getting it done in office, and it has been completely negative in office, and only one showed up at 15o mg first thing in the morning (I was also so dehydrated my pee was almost brown!) So aside from that one time, months ago, I've been protein free for the dipsticks. With a level of potentially 1000g, wouldn't I be seeing more? Or am I just grasping at straws?

Hello!

Thank you all so much for responding. I have an appointment tomorrow with my OB specifically made so I can get some confirmation. I will let you all know what exactly is up with me. I hate being so confused and feeling like I'm in limbo. Will update tomorrow!

Have you found out if who misspoke or who misread the results? 1gram vs 1mg?

5000mg is one of the criteria that could get a "severe" diagnosis, but 1000mg would still be a bump up from diagnostic. There are also women who normally spill protein without any other symptoms, due to undiagnosed minor kidney damage or disease that doesn't give them trouble outside of pregnancy (but can be a big risk factor for PE in pregnancy). But I would be surprised if that's the case with you since your dips have been normal. The dips are notoriously unreliable at diagnostic levels of 300mg, but I would think 1000mg would show up even in the dips.

Anyway, let us know what your doc says and hang in there!

I agree with blythe, definitely call and get that number clarified. I think 1000 mg protein is criteria for "severe" pre-e, but as you mentioned, I can't imagine that they would let you go home/be happy with that number. But still, doctors are human and mistakes are possible. I'd rather know for sure that your number is normal.

Maybe she meant 1 *miligram*? Because 1 gram would equal 1000mg, and 300mg plus your bps readings would make you diagnostic for PE... In your shoes I'd call her and clarify. She sounds very attentive and proactive, I hope she would be glad that you're taking an interest in working with her to watch your health!

The "white coat" bp readings - search our archives a little, in general it's my understanding that our experts are still concerned when bp is that high, regardless of the reason. They're glad when it doesn't *stay* high, but getting bps that high probably means that the mechanism that keeps your bp steady is broken to some extent, and that may mean a higher risk of developing PE.

It sounds like you're a reader - if you have more thoughts search the archives and the Ask the Experts, and holler if you need help narrowing down your searches! And if you want to bypass the searching or need a little help, please feel free to keep asking questions!

I hope you get many more weeks staying safely pregnant!