Postpartum Preeclampsia Anyone?

[celticepona]

I am so glad to know I am not alone! I was diagnosed with mild preclampsia at 36 weeks, and was confined to bedrest on my left side. ONe week later, I had hyperreflexia, and my ob decided to induce me in two days. I developed the severe migranes, I went back to the hospital 3 times with them for non stress tests, but since they said my bp went down on my left side, that the headaches were not related to the preclampisa...I do not believe that. I delivered a healthy baby girl April 1st., My doc continued me on bedrest for two weeks, at my two week checkup, bp still up there, 150/101, so they sent me to my regular doctor and said it was a more chronic condition, they never said I still had preclampsia. My reg doc put me on Norvasc, one week later, my bp shot up to 176/123. I went back last monday, and they put me on Norvasc, Altace, and Celexa to try to calm me down. I have been on these meds for a week. My bp is all over the place, remains in the 130s/80s, or 90s most of the time, but sometimes shoots up to the 100s still. I still have hyperreflexia. I accidently tapped my baby on the forehead (not hard though)trying to put a pacifier in her mouth, my husband noticed it, and I never realized it. I feel twitchy all the time, especially when I get tired. My hands and legs jerk when I try to do simple tasks, do I have permanent nerve damage? Does anyone else have this? I am never getting pregnant again, this has scared me to death.

[sonja b.]

Hello there. [:)] I am new to this site. I am wondering if there is anyone out there that ended up having a postpartum eclamptic seizure after being diagnosed with PE[?] I did 4 days after my first was born. Since then I have been seeing a neurologist and have been on seizure meds ever since. I was told by the Dr.'s that I was a rare situation, but I found out that things could've been done differently and that could've possibly prevented my seizure. Many things that are considered "the standard of care" were NOT followed by the hospital staff where I delivered my first born. Can anyone relate? Share with me how you are doing now? I have now been on meds for over 3 years and wonder if that'll ever change? How about you? Is anyone out there that feels as angry [:(!] as I do about going through something that most likely could've been prevented[?] I would love to hear how you are doing? Feel free to ask me anything about my situation, I want to be there for future moms to be, like I am for my friends. I don't want this to happen to anyone else. The most important thing is to NOT be intimidated by your Dr., that you as a mom know your body the best, what feels right and what feels wrong. Please don't be intimidated like I was if you feel that your Dr. is not taking you seriously.

[celticepona]

I can relate. My obs are really conservative, I was put on strict bedrest and induced at 37 weeks. I was not given magnesium sulfate, and had no idea that was an option. I was not given medication afterwards and was continued on bedrest for 2 weeks postpartum. After 2 weeks and I was still preclampsic, I was "cut loose' by my ob to my reg doctor and put on Altace and Norvasc for my bp, which is still high. I still have hyperreflexia. My mom is an RN and said that the Mag sulfate could have helped me during delivery. I deleivered after a 15 hour labor with no pain meds except for stadol, and have a beautiful healthy baby girl. I am concerned about permanent damage, and have mentioned my hyperreflexia to my reg doc who did not seem concerned. I am going back to them on wed to see my normal docotor who is a woman, and talk to her about the things I have learned on this forum. When I was let go by my ob, I was confused. They said I had a more chronic condition, and I was left asking...do I still have preclampsia? If not, why are my movements still jerky? After coming here, I know I still have the disease. I will not let pepole sluff me off now, and will do every thing in my power to get better.

[tracyremax@charter.net]

Oh boy can I relate. My son was born 9/01. It took me 3 months to stabalize my blood pressure. Then I fainted at home alone with my baby over medicated on bp meds. I had and still carry alot of anger about my situation. In my case I got sick PIH at 35 weeks and my doctors seemed to make many mistakes. I was never induced. My labor my son was born 2 days late!! was 29 hours long 3 hours pushing , No MAG and increasgly high blood pressure. My Doctor was in a practice with 5 other OB/GYN when I got sick my doctor was on vaction and the other doctors basically did not want to take responsibility for my care as they said they "played the odds" that it would not progress. Well they were very wrong and it almost cost me my life. I went to counseling for about 3 months after and was also put on CElexa for panic attacks which I never had prior to my illness. I reported my Doctor to the board and complained to the president of her group. She is still practicing so I guess not much was done. But I strongly believe that their mistakes are directly linked to the severeness of my illness. They failed me when I needed them most. Believe it or not I am over the trauma, I have changed doctors to a teaching hospital in Boston and have educated myself and learned that we have to be our own advocates. If we are unable to do that we need our husband and family to stand up and fight for us. Preeclampsia changed my life in so many ways. Some negative but many positive I do not take one moment for granted with my precious son. I have learned to educate myself and stand for myself and I do not take my health for granted as I saw how fast it can be taken away. I feel strongly that we need each other bc as I was recovering I could find noone who I could talk to in my area that had even heard of pe never mind know anybody that suffered from it. So in a very long response yes I did deal with alot of anger. I hope you are recovering and I also want to be there for the people that suffer pe after me as I know how badly they need to be supported.

TRacy in Massachusetts
mom to Billy 9/01
TTC #2

[montey]

HI-
This is my 1st post-Just found this site and wish I had sooner-I too am lucky to be alive after my ordeal. Still dealing with the anger.
My daughter was born at 29 weeks by emergency c-section. She had severe hydrops and passed away 9hrs. after she was born-I never got to hold her and don't remember what she looked like-it crushed me. I gained 17lbs in 3 weeks-all fluid but bp seemed ok. Was contracting and seemed having an placental abruption so had c-section-no time to rush me into Boston. After delivery was having palpations and on/off protein in urine; lots of edema. When let out of hospital my pressure was 140/90-it had not been that high during delivery or previous. My liver function tests had not normalized. The next day I had the worst headache-I took pressure with home monitor best I could and said 200/110. Went to ER and told by ER doc IMPOSSIBLE to be preeclampsia-I specifically asked if it could be-told no way. They were mad when I refused spinal tap looking for brain bleed. CT was negative. Shots of pain med did nothing-pressure came down a bit and I went to ICU. OB consult stated possible resolving pre-eclampsia or related to thyroid problem..RESOLVING-obviously not. I had a seizure in ICU was then given a spinal tap looking for meningitis or brain bleed and then put on Magnesium. I developed sepsis in the hospital due to untreated uti. After release I bled a long time and just brushed off. My daughter was delivered 5/28/03-in 8/03 a small clump of tissue showed up-I insisted on having it looked at by pathology-it was placental tissue. Then the bleeding stopped-I was told the tissue was not significant enough to cause anything and was lucky did not need a d& c-mine was an unusual case. During pregnancy my baby was found to have cystic hygroma (it resolved) but was told after it all- that put me at risk for all the complications that followed: polyhydraminos, placental abruption, hydrops, preterm labor, neonatal death, pre-eclampsia. I am so angry about what happened to me. I have come to terms with what happened to my daughter but not with what I think was avoidable.

Questions -anyone know:

WHAT IS THE STANDARD OF CARE FOR POSTPARTUM HYPERTENSION ETC.? I can't get straight answers-everyone is afraid of lawsuit.

Thank you-sorry long post..

[tracyremax@charter.net]

Hi Montey. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I am definatly not a doctor but was told by my doctor that you can have severe preeclampsia/seizures up to 10 days post partum. For me the treatment was Mag plus hydralazine and labaetol both blood pressure drugs. they started at very high doses and slowly dropped over the 3 months it took my BP to stabalize. I to am in MA (you mentioned a Boston hospital. I know my OBGYN could not wait to get rid of me as I am sure she was afraid of a lawsuit. She referred me to a primary care, cardiologist and neurologist. She was sure there were underlying condition of which none were found. WE did not sue anyone but it did feel good to report her to the Board of medicine and her superiors. It helped me deal with the anger. This site has helped me tremendously. But I feel sick to my stomach as I read the stories of all these women and men. I was thinking of becoming more active maybe we could do something in NE to get the word out.

Wishing you well in your healing

Tracy in Massachusetts
mom to Bill 9/01
TTC #2

[montey]

Thank you Tracy-
Good suggestions about reporting to Board-never occurred to me to do that but would like to get rid of the anger-(I do believe somewhat justified anger). Would like to get the word out too but not quite healed emotionally as need to be but will be active when ready. Still dealing with the loss aspect as well but on the mend...thank you again.....m

[tracyremax@charter.net]

Montey, I wish you well in your healing. Your loss is unspeakable and will take a long time to mend your heart. But as you heal over time I found that taking proactive steps helped me to let go of the anger although justified it can consume you. I am thankful my son survived and I took the brunt of PE. I am very sad that you and any other parent had to suffer such a loss at the hands of this devastating illness. Keep us posted on your healing and when you are ready it took me over 2 years we can work on getting the word out to other people.

Wishing you well
Tracy in Mass
Mom to Bill 9/01 severe PE

[valchemist]

At my 40th week check up, my blood pressure read 180/110 and protein was detected in my urine. My ob sent me straight to the hospital to induce. Prior bps and urine analyses were normal. I was put on magnesium sulfate and after 14 hours of laboring delivered a beautiful baby girl under general anethesia. My bps never went down after delivery. I ended up in the hospital for two weeks (my baby and husband stayed with me too, except when I was in ICU for a few days). About six different medications and serveral combinations were tired to bring my bp down. I am greatful for the many doctors that took care of me: OB, Periantologist, cardiologist, neurologist, and endrocronologist. I had CT and MRI scans of my brain and abdomen; ultrasounds of my heart and kidneys and blood/urine tests for adrenaline tumors (pheochromocytoma). Everything negative. Couple of months after my release an MRA was performed on my kidneys. Its been seven months now, my bp is under control and I am almost off all medication. I am now under the care of a hypertension specialist. He feels that my high bp is stress related. Some of my other doctors don't completely agree. However at the moment he feels that when my bp is high it is stress related and that I need to work on my biofeedback control. It is amazing how sensitive my bp is to my biofeedback. I will be seeing a periantologist in a couple of months to discuss the possibility of having another baby. I do want another baby; however I am scared.

[jenny]

I ended up in the ER 7 days after giving birth. I had severe pre-e before the delivery but my pressures spiked again at 7 days PP, and did not go down to an acceptable level without meds, until about 6-7 weeks PP.

Jenny(30)
Mommy to Zarse (fullterm)
Holly(fullterm;V.B.A.C.,posterier position)
and Christian ( blood clot at 13 weeks and born at 34+ weeks due to severe P.E. 4.lbs. 4 and 1/4 oz.)