Too late?

[marilyn621]

Little background on this pregnancy : I'm currently 34 wks 4 days and my OB went on "emergency family" leave in my first trimester. I was seeing the nurse practitioner at his practice for several weeks (I'm not sure exactly how many but let's just say a large portion of this pregnancy) who referred me to what I believe is the only MFM in town. At the beginning of my third trimester they ordered all the tests they typically do with hypertensive patients: the 24 HR, blood tests, everything was fine. Well my OB came back a few weeks ago and doesn't seem concerned that my BP is on the rise despite my being on aldomet and that I've developed migraines and I'm itching all over. All they tell me is the dipstick shows no protein and they'll see me in two weeks. I've heard it's quite common to not show protein in an office visit and still have too much in a 24 HR test.
So my question is: is it too late to go to a different OB?

[arretin]

Most doctors don't want to take a patient this late in pregnancy but it is worth a try. And as far as the protien not showing up in the urine it can happen on the drop of a dime. The morning before I had my baby girl I had perfect blood pressure level and no protien in my urine. The next morning when I went in with contractions I had copius amounts of protien in my urnie, partial kidney failure, a blood pressure of 210/120, and placental abruption. That all happened within 24 hours of being fine. So keep a close eye on yourself! Good luck

[MomTimesThree]

You might try calling the MFM you were referred to and let them know of your symptoms. You're right, the dips are very unreliable. What are your pressures running?

[marilyn621]

I kind of already figured as much although I have heard women say thy switched in their last month. I just really don't trust this doctor because I feel he is being dismissive, as my doctor with my last one was. If it wasn't for an l&d nurse telling me "oh by the way you have preeclampsia" I would've been sent home for who knows what to happen with my first.
My pressures have been inconsistent but high. One day last week they were in the 160's/100's but went back down that evening. Then a couple days later they sent me to l&d and they were in the 140's/100's. They didn't go down even when I went to sleep but they sent me home because they said there was no protein in my urine. Headache hasn't gone anywhere either and I have blurry vision. I'm not even sure if I can get an appointment with the MFM because her office is always full. Every high risk woman in this part of Oklahoma goes there.

[sam10]

If you don't feel comfortable with your current OB, you should switch doctors. It is worth trying. Also you should really be seen by the MFM. Are there any other options than the one everybody is seeing? Lastly your pressures are very high and are concerning to me. Please go back to L&D if they don't come down and/or if you have any other symptoms.

[marilyn621]

I've use the link on this site and I believe she is the only one here in Tulsa. I'll check again. It my pressures get that high again I may just go to a different l&d.

[marilyn621]

Just an update. There are a couple of other MFMs in the area. Also I tried to move next week's appointment up because of my headaches and itching and he is on vacation until after labor day. He wasn't in last week either. I'm going to rip my hair out!!!!

[holly3372@msn.com]

What you can do right now is insist on a 24 hour urine test, theres no reason they should refuse you. Tell them you want one now asap for peace of mind. All you do is go pick up the jug and start 1st pee of the morning for 24 hours then drop back off at your docs and they will send it out to the lab. That way at leats that will be getting done and you can know for sure what is going on with your protein levels. I don't like the idea of them dimissing you right now with how you are feeling. Keep pushing to be taken serious, I have had to be very proactive with my docs as well!! UGH!

[angieb]

I completely agree with Holly. Request a 24 hour urine, you can call and ask for it, they don't need to see you to order it and as far as I'm concerned (not a medical professional), there is no good reason to refuse to do it- it's not like you are asking to do them every day or something that might be a little overboard- and you have a history of pre-e.
If they refuse to order one, ask it to be documented in your medical records that it was requested and their reason for refusing it. (That ought to get their attention.)

[marilyn621]

I'm going to ask them at my next visit. They keep relying on that stupid dipstick. I just went to the ER and asked if they could give me something for my headache. I've had it for over a week, maybe two. I don't have migraines when I'm not pregnant and I just had my eyes checked a few weeks ago, so I just don't believe there is nothing going on. Anyway whatever they gave me worked very briefly and then they just turfed me right back up to l&d for the same song and dance.