HBP rearing it's ugly head - AGAIN!

[amillhouse]

Maybe I should be posting this under "Ask the Experienced" but I think my circumstances make it particularly rough. But anyone, please respond to this. Right before we went to my lovely b-day dinner I had my BP checked. I couldn't believe it - 162/103. I immediately called my gynie who calmed me down but is getting me into a specialist asap. He explained that now that since I am no longer pregnant, a specialist needs to manage me and administer BP meds. He also said it might be chronic hypertension now. He mentioned the importance of normalised BP if I get pregnant again. Of course, I knew that. It just makes me angry that I am still battling with this and my son didn't live. Anyway, how long did some of you battle with HBP? Did it ever come right? How were you managed? Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Anika

Mommy to Isaiah Dumisani Millhouse
20 January - 17 February 2004
Born at 28 weeks due to severe pre-eclampsia
Died at 28 days old of pneumonia
610 grams at birth
950 grams at death
My Angel Boy
"My firstborn, I will never forget you, always love you, and never replace you"
[URL=http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/d/dumisani]Isaiah's Website[/URL]

[catherine]

Anika, don't panic!!!

It may be that you have an underlying tendency towards developing chronic hypertension and that being pregnant speeded up the process. That said, this problem can be controlled with medication, and that medication can be continued through pregnancy. I think that the risks for superimposed preeclampsia run around 25%. You need to be watched carefully etc. I think that there are a number of people here on the board who discovered their chronic hypertension this way. Laura, the Moderator for Ask the Experienced (and basic "know everything" person) has this and has invested a lot of time researching it and has shared some of the useful links etc at different places. Do a search with Chronic Hypertension and her name and start there. I'm sure that if you'd like to contact her directly that would be fine too.

Catherine
Mom to Finn, Lucy (preeclampsia and HELLP) and Chloe.
Moderator HELLP Syndrome Survivors

[kim]

Hi Anika,

I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. I can tell you that I am 18 months postpartum and STILL have bp problems and have been on medication ever since I delivered. I had perfect bp before pg, so it still does not make much sense to me.

You should probably get into the specialist, or even a GP as soon as possible.
Take care,


Kim
Texas Chapter Coordinator

Ainsley 11/26/02-36 Weeks Preeclampsia
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/ainsleyk/

[sjs40]

My bp was always 140/90 before pregnancy and during pregnancy right up until the day that I was admitted to hospital with 185/125. Ellie was born end July 2003 and Im still on 50mg Atenolol, with bp being around 135/85 on a good day. Is there hope of it coming down so I can get off these pills? I would prefer to be off them before ttc again, and Im trying to lose weight to help with this.

Sue (40)
Chris (37)
DD Eleanor Susan (Ellie)
born at 27wks severe PE
24 July 03 - 20 August 03

[angelkat]

Oh sweetie...

I'm still dealing with BP issues since my first preg 13 years ago!!!... Sometimes it jsut never goes away....

hang in there...

Hugs
~T
Moderator Grief and Loss
Mommy to
Drew(13)PE 37 wks
Ky (11)PE 34 wks
~i~ Katlyne(12/9/02-04/02/03)25 wks
Casey Looking at Aug
Katlyne's Tribute Site
http://forevernetwork.com/lifestories/lifestory.cfm?Archive_ID=10971&Directory=/Archives/MountHope&Sort=V

[laura]

Anika, I'm so sorry that you have to deal with this on your birthday, of all days! Unfortunately, when hypertension is persistent soooo long postpartum (it's been four months since you had Isaiah, right?) it IS very likely that it's chronic hypertension you're seeing.

With my first pregnancy, my hypertension resolved two weeks after I delivered and it remained normal until halfway through my second pregnancy, and I still have it now- 14 months postpartum. I'm on atenolol and a diuretic, and I'm still hovering in the 130/80 range- and probably will discuss increasing the meds or changing them at my next appointment, the new goals for treatment are at or below 120/70. I definitely have some room to lose some weight and in my case if I got my weight under control I probably wouldn't have to be on meds.
Aside from meds, some people are using the DASH diet- the dietary approach to stop hypertension to try to get their hypertension under control- here's a link:
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/apr97/Dash.htm

You can do this honey, just hang in there. I emailed you today, as I was thinking of you, please feel free to reply! [:)]


Laura
Moderator/AK Coordinator

Mom to Alicia (severe PE) 5/98 and Camille (htn, oligo) 4/03
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/c/camilleandallie/

[amillhouse]

Thanks, Ladies! I am panicing and crying all over ther place. Didn't feel well tonite so I went out at 10:30pm to the pharmacy to check - 172/115. I can't take this! I came back and DH called somebody - I think my gynie - and road off again to the pharmacy. I will see what he comes back with. It looks like I need to go to a renal specialist, making an appt. for Monday. It has actually been five months since Isaiah was born (he lived for about month). And yes, I need to lose more wight - I have lost my preg weight plus but I need to lose some more. I just wonder, if I am ever ready to TTC, WILL I be able to? Anyway, one sad step at a time. Thanks for letting me know that others have had this happen. I will keep you posted.

Anika

Mommy to Isaiah Dumisani Millhouse
20 January - 17 February 2004
Born at 28 weeks due to severe pre-eclampsia
Died at 28 days old of pneumonia
610 grams at birth
950 grams at death
My Angel Boy
"My firstborn, I will never forget you, always love you, and never replace you"
[URL=http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/d/dumisani]Isaiah's Website[/URL]

[arj]

I'm sorry, Anika. One thing at a time, just like you said. I know that's easier said than done with all that you have been through. And you have been through so much...

I think that everything is magnified when your health is not good and you are feeling sick. I hope that you get some answers at your appt. on Monday. Once you get some medicine to help you get well and are able to relax and get some rest, I think that you will feel much better. Then you can tackle the weight issue. Hey, you've lost the baby weight-that's fantastic! Be good to yourself. You've got a lot of women rooting for you.

Allison (28)
DS-Evan, 7/19/2003. PE at 40 weeks

[angelkat]

One day at a time is all you can do... You will always have good days and the bad ones.

As for the TTC- heck, I became preg with Casey 30 pounds heavier than I was preg with Katlyne. Must have been all those DQ ice creams at Children's hospital. (MY BAD)...

Give yourself time!!!!


Hugs
~T
Moderator Grief and Loss
Mommy to
Drew(13)PE 37 wks
Ky (11)PE 34 wks
~i~ Katlyne(12/9/02-04/02/03)25 wks
Casey Looking at Aug
Katlyne's Tribute Site
http://forevernetwork.com/lifestories/lifestory.cfm?Archive_ID=10971&Directory=/Archives/MountHope&Sort=V

[amillhouse]

Well gynie put me on something to get me through until my appt. with a specialist. BP came down to 150/90 but I still feel awful. Gynie thinks these are the underlying issues coming forth. Definitely hypertension. We shall see what else is going on. . .

Anika

Mommy to Isaiah Dumisani Millhouse
20 January - 17 February 2004
Born at 28 weeks due to severe pre-eclampsia
Died at 28 days old of pneumonia
610 grams at birth
950 grams at death
My Angel Boy
"My firstborn, I will never forget you, always love you, and never replace you"
[URL=http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/d/dumisani]Isaiah's Website[/URL]