6 weeks!
I didn't know how lucky I was with 3 days.
I know what you mean about the not being able to walk thing.
I wasn't allowed to, I was a baby about a foley( I had one improperly inserted and they only got one chance w/ me, sooo), so I used a bedpan,& that got old REALLY quick.
ugggh.
I am so sorry that you had to endure that and the looong stay.

I have been doing *so far so good* on this pregnancy,24 weeks now.

I was in for Norwalk the other day and it kind of scared me, like a flashback.
I fainted(on the potty,-nice;), due to dehydration, and when I heard the panic in my nurse's voice, I was like,"here we go again".
Thankfully I was just fine.

My b/p was great, so that gave me a good feeling.
As you know how serious those b/p monitors are in the hosp,(break my arm off why dontcha?;)

Keeping my fingers crossed:)



Mama to Bella, born 33 and 5/7 weeks at 3lbs,6oz.Pre-E and PIH,(borderline HELLP).
Babygirl #2,EDD 6/24/04

At my house, we refer to Magnesium as "Hellmesium". I had it for six weeks. I didn't have any hallucinogenic or psychodelic responses, but I was very, very ill. My eyes couldn't focus together, so reading was out of the question (making for a VERY long hospital stay). I felt like I was going to vomit constantly and could hardly walk to be bathroom by myself because I kept falling over. Honestly, the thought of that awful stuff again (in combination with IV changes every 3 days) is what terrifies me most! Well, ok, that and the hospital stay and putting my poor children through the * of our last experience...
Rachel

Erin, 5 days! God bless you!
Some of the experiences are funny..NOW, but then they were terrifying.
I thought my oxygen port was scented and I could choose the flavor. I also instructed my husband and mother how to systematically feed me Jello.
We laugh now, but at the time it was no joke.
My poor nurses got a ton of false alarms from me as I was convinced the call button was scratch and sniff sticker.(My mother and I later concluded all of the smell induced stuff, was from the flowers that were sent to my room from friends and family.)

In the end it was all worth it. and I will do it again if I have to, maybe this time it will be different if I have to take it, because I will know what to expect. Also i will discuss thing with my Dr. while I am stone, cold, sober, before I feel out of control. I think that would help to put my mind at ease.
(Apparently, I am a lightweight b/c, one of the nurses confided to me that in another hospital<where she had worked in the past>I would have been routinely administered double the dose that I had recieved.

Thank God for small miracles, ...heh heh, I got a lot of small miracles that week:)

Mama to Bella, born 34 weeks at 3lbs,6oz.Pre-E and PIH.
Babygirl #2,EDD 6/24/04

Hi,
I too hated being ton magnesium sulfate. When I had the loading dose I felt sooo hot and my chest just hurt, then I could see double. It was scary. I'm not sure what caused me to do strange things, but I think it was the mag. I tiptoed to the bathroom two does post emerg c section because I didn't want to bother the nurses, I was certain the drs and nurses were outside my door discussing me constantly, my IV pole talked to me and I was afrais to sleep, afraid I would die. Then there were the breathing problems! I was in ICU for 4 days and a reg unit for 4. I had mag for 5 for those days. We are contemplating another pregnancy. I admire you and wish you well.
Erin

deerheart,
I am literally sighing a huge breath of relief.
esp. about the mag.
My midwife,(whom I loved and luckily was there with the Dr. to assist once stuff got hairy.),said that she felt like some kind of concentration camp Dr. when she had to administer it.

Anyhow, I am keeping a positive attitude.

I wonder if mag has such a profound effect on most women?
I once had a co-worker who was administered it, and she said it was "like being drunk." Well I don't know what she was drinkin', but I had a more pyscedelic experience BY FAR.

I also had complications with a hemmorhage 4 hours after delivery that put me in the or for an emergency DNC. My b/p dropped to like 80/20 and I was in shock and bleeding out.

Luckily I was stablized and back in my room an hour later.

I was told it was a complication due to the interaction of mag. and pit.
When my Dr. told me in that recovery room that she would have to put me back on the mag for another 12 hours I just cried.

The leftover Adivan (sp?)in my system made me feel like a drugged out Frankenstein. I couldn't even turn my head or take a drink of water w/ out my DEAR husband and Mom helping.
thank God for them.

Thanks again for the support and info.
~Jennifer



Mama to Bella, born 34 weeks at 3lbs,6oz.Pre-E and PIH.
Babygirl #2,EDD 6/24/04

I was on the mag the first time, and avoided it the second time around. But, I also had the luxery of asking for an induction right when the symptomns started getting bad the second time around versus letting it go for 13 weeks of bedrest the first time.

Its always good to remember that even if PE happens again, its more likely to occur later and milder, thus a higher chance of avoiding mag.

Erin

Moderator - First Time Moms, Parents of Preemies
Missouri State Coordinator
Mommy to Alex and Mason

I am DEFINATLEY going to bring AFP testing/aminos up with the Dr. on my next visit,Mar.3.

I also agree with what Erin said about it happening again. Who knew it would happen the first time!

I wonder if they aren't trying to keep me calm by the way they are putting things.

I was very anxious throughout the Mag. ordeal last time.
I suffered EXTREME anxiety attacks as a side effect.
Finally they gave me Vesteril (sp?) to help me to relax and get some sleep.(I was just on the verge of sleep and felt that I couldn't breathe. It was explained to me that the mag. made my muscles, including the lungs relax, but my brain wasn't relaxed.)

I was crying and gasping constantly. I had a nurse assigned to me exclusively,and she was doing all that she could to help relax me, including reading to me. She applied cool compresses to my head.
She was a every special person.


During my first visit this pregnancy, I brought that right up. I told them that if I required mag. I really needed something to feel calm. While I was standing there of sound mind etc.

Can I just tell you again how grateful I am to this group?
~jennifer


Mama to Bella, born 34 weeks at 3lbs,6oz.Pre-E and PIH.
Babygirl #2,EDD 6/24/04

I agree with Erin--the #1 risk factor for getting preeclampsia is a "history of preeclampsia". Our medical board strongly advises that all women entering a pregnancy after having had preeclampsia previously be treated as "high risk". It is good that everything looks stable and chances are strong that you will be just fine--but we recommend you plan to get preeclampsia and then be surprised (pleasantly) when you don't--rather than plan not to--and then be surprised (unpleasantly) when you do.

Also--as a suggestion to all pregnant women out there--the AFP test and amnio can be valuable tools to determine if you are at risk for P/E. Our doctors say that an abnormal AFP is a strong indicator that you are on your way to P/E. For that reason (aside from genetic testing) we encourage women to get an AFP. Since an amnio carries some risk (1:250) of miscarriage--we recommend you, your family and your health care provider make the right decision for you--based on your individual needs.

Take care,





Anne Garrett
Executive Director
Preeclampsia Foundation

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pugmommy7


I dream of having a normal labor free of magnesium sulfate!!!

---

[:D] I'm with you!

I agree- I think you'll have a better idea of what to look for this time (IF it does happen again). That's a positive! [:)]

Congratulations & best wishes!

Jessica & Corey~ baby #1
Katherine Grace born
10-13-2003
34weeks,6days,39minutes PIH/ Pre-E www.coreyandjess.info

Thanks you all for your input.
It has really giving me a lot to think about.
I was recommended the AFP test, but declined.
(Termination is not an option for us...)

I did have a regular 18 week ultrasound and all seemed well.
I will ask about additional US's on my next visit.

They are requesting I come in for weekly visits after the 28th week for b/p tests, and check in's.

I have also been testing my blood glucose since about 10 weeks gestation. If I maintain the GD diet my levels are stable.

No one has mentioned anything about a Perinatologist.
This is another issue that I will raise at my next visit.

Being well informed is very important to me. Thanks again for your support.
~J