I have a question........

[wafr]

I'm 17 weeks PG and for the last two weeks I've been swelling (feet, ankles, legs, wrists and hands). The other day my b/p, which is usually a consistent 110/70, was at 146/110. I was seeing spots and had a tremendous headache. (I've been having a lot of headaches lately too). I called my midwife and they took me in within a couple of hours.

I do not have protein in the urine; however she did say that it's too early for that to happen. They are watching me for preeclampsia because I have the following symptoms: lower back pain almost daily, headaches almost daily, swelling (sometimes really bad other times just slight) vision issues (seeing spots), strong reflexes and sometimes I get a cramp under the right side of my ribs. My weight pre-pregnancy was great and I've only gained 4 pounds so far.

Basically I've been told there's really no way to stop preeclampsia but it is manageable. Is this correct?

Apparently, I'm at risk because this is my first pregnancy and while I have never had high blood pressure, both my mother and father do.

I've been taking rest breaks when I'm not feeling well and drinking more water than I usually do and drinking clear juices (as per the advice of my midwife). I'm also being very concious of my salt intake.

I'm monitoring my b/p and sometimes it's high and sometimes it's normal. Do you have to have consistently high blood pressure to have preeclampsia?

Thanks so much ~ Wendy

[mada]

Wendy,
Although typically preeclampsia does not occur until the 3rd trimester, there have been cases earlier. That b/p was very high and the visual disturbances and headaches are also worriesome. I don't mean to scare you or anything, but a good idea would be to consult with an ob and have some blood drawn and a 24 hour urine collection....preeclampsia can go from mild to serious quickly and your symptoms warrant looking into quickly....Please let us know how you are doing and if you have any other questions.

Mada Harpster

Sam 6-29-00 36weeks P.E.
Ben 11-03-01 No P.E.

[wafr]

I'm sorry, I should have included that my practice has 4 midwives and 8 ob/gyn's. The midwife did consult with the ob/gyn on duty and they did take four vials of blood to run labs on and have a baseline to refer back to over the coming weeks.

I will ask about monitoring the urine though ~ thanks! Right now any advice is appreciated [:)]

[annegarrett]

If you don't have proteinuria you don't have "classic" preeclampsia but you can have what is called "Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH)". With BPs that high most doctors would put you on antihypertensives to buy you time. About half the cases of PIH turn into preeclampsia--but neither are good to have.

Obviously consulting with a OB is important (which you are doing) and checking your urine (for proteinuria) and blood labs (for liver and kidney functions, etc...) should be done. You might also ask them to do an ultrasound of the baby and the placenta to make sure that the placenta doesn't have clots and that the baby is growing normally (an impact of the hypertension is clots in the placenta and restricted fetal growth). Aside from bedrest, antihypertensives, and more frequent visits to the OB--there is little to be done. The only cure for this disease is delivery of the baby. At this point--the goal is to get you further along--so that the baby can be delivered safely.

Do take care and let us know how everything is going. Let us know if we can help.



Anne Garrett
Executive Director
Preeclampsia Foundation

[deerhart]

Have the run checks for kidney infections? Also is there anything else that could be causing headaches and vision problems?

I know the lower back pain hurts like crazy, but it can be caused by a variety of different things and isn't necessarily associated with PE. Escpecially at this time of year you have to think about things like pneumonia which while cause mid to lower back pain as well.

The reason I mention it is because if you are sick (like with an infection, pneumonia, the flu) it can cause the back pain, headaches, and your BP to rise which with it going that high will cause the vision problem.
Its not to say that your symptomns aren't PE, but that its also worth eliminating other possible reasons as well (and helps if you run into doctors that tend not to believe you when they have ruled out other things)

Finally, the back pain can just be strong ligament pain that occurs during pregnancy. I had it in the 16-22 weeks range so bad and constant they did check me for bladder and kidney infecttions because nothing was helping it and it woudln't go away. It eventually tapered off some but never really went away until I was off my feet almsot all the time (at 30 weeks LOL)

GL
Erin

Mommy to Alex and Mason