What does the abdominal pain feel like?

[sarina]

I'm trying to keep an eye on things since I am currently 30 weeks pregnant and I developed preeclampsia during my last pregnancy.

I'm wondering what the abdominal pain with HELLP feels like?

Thanks,

Sarina

[annegarrett]

The pain is called "epigastric" by the medical field.

"Epi"--A prefix, meaning upon, beside, among, on the outside, above, over and
"gastric": Of, pertaining to, or situated near, the stomach; as, the gastric artery.
"epigastic" (a) The whole upper part of the abdomen

The pain can be quite acute (intense) and sustained. It is generally most severe under the right rib and may be mistaken for severe heartburn, gallstones, or a gallbladder problem, the flu, or even back pain. Sometimes the pain will press on a nerve that refers to the shoulder and you will also get pain in the shoulder (right shoulder only) along the bra strap line (I like to call it the Vulcan Death Grip pain). Sometimes this pain can feel like a pulled muscle--or even the usual aches and pains of a stretching abdomen, too much Chinese food, or a general malaise. For me--the pain was intense and I couldn't lie on my right side.

Hope that helps. It would be interesting to hear what other women say about their pain.




Anne

[angelical]

hey hey hey!!! I have a question about that pain!

The day I went into HELLP, I had the worst back pain I have ever known was possible. It hurt so much that I couldn't stand it. Most of the day, they were trying to get me on my left side, but my back hurt so bad I could hardly lay down.

It seemed to radiate from the center of my back.

I have always assumed - and the nurses never suggested otherwise - that it was just Aaron laying breech and pressing on a nerve.

Could that have been the HELLP pain? I know it is "upper abdominal" pain...but could it be lower? (I didn't have any pain in the upper ab area)

Sharel

Sharel & Kevin
Aaron - 28 weeker
Born 5/2/02 due to preeclampsia & HELLP

[catherine]

I guess I'm the opposite of you guys, the pain was intense and situated from below my sternum across to the right side all "on top" of the baby [xx(]. It didn't hurt to press on the area. I actually got into the shower and the warm water spilling over my "bump" helped for a while but then I ran out of hot water LOL!! Probably just as well. It just never let up. By the time I got to the hospital it really felt worse than anything. Once they knew what was the problem they gave me something for the pain. I don't remember this at all but my neighbor said that of all the things that happened, the worst bit was watching me when they had to let those drugs wear off before they could start the epidural. She is one fabulous woman and I'm glad to know her.

Catherine (36)
DH, Dave (40)
Finn (6)
Lucy (1 1/2)
"Skelitor" due 7/31/03

[annegarrett]

Catherine--that was where mine was--right across the right side from the sternum to the side. I felt like I had a terrible "stitch" like the kind you get when you have been running and are out of shape. I knew something was wrong when the Percoset they gave me couldn't even touch the pain.

And too--I had that horrible shoulder pain..oww.

Anne

[josie]

I remember feeling really sore above my uterus on my right side (just below my ribs). It was an incredible pain that kept me doubled over even though the nurses kept saying to lie still so they could read their CTG machine.

On the way to the hospital I had no idea what the problem was and can remember saying to my husband that if this was what labour was like there was no way I was going through 20 hours of it!!

Josie

Ryleigh Kate 23 Dec 01 36 wks (Pre-E &HELLP)

EDD 23 July 03

[myfreckleface]

For me, at first I thought it must be heartburn. I've never had heartburn in my life, but I figured that must be what heartburn feels like, and I was pregnant so it made sense. It was located right under my ribs, close to where they meet.

I had just been sent to the hospital by my family doctor for observation since my b.p. had suddenly skyrocketed, and while waiting for the nurse to do the non stress test, I wolfed down a sandwich. When I asked her for some antacid, she looked at me with pity and said something like, "Oh my dear, I don't think that's heartburn - I think that's your liver but I'll give you some Maalox anyway." Well, within an hour I was doubled over in pain, sobbing and begging for meds. They eventually gave me a morphine drip (I think because they were sick of me sobbing and crying), which helped for about 20 minutes before the pain returned. I can honestly say I've never felt such acute pain in my life.

I delivered by c-section later that night not only because of my blood pressure (199/116) but because my liver enzymes were so elevated.

(delivered at 30 weeks due to HELLP)

[sarina]

So, tell me your opinions please...

I keep getting this pain around my liver area. It's kind of like a "stitch" in my side, only it migrates from my side to under my ribs and then will go away for a bit. It is not severe...just conerning. My bp is fine (so far). I have had this pain coming and going for 2 weeks now. I am 30 weeks pregnant as of yesterday.

I have asked my doctor about this pain several times...even bringing up the fact that I had preeclampsia last pregnancy and wondering if they should test me for HELLP. They did a CBC last week and my platelets were fine. They would not do a liver enzyme test even though I asked them to (the CBC was just apart of my 28 week labs that they did late along with my glucose tolerance test).

I am very concerned about this pain, but my OB (who is a high risk specialist) thinks I am being paranoid. He said the pain would be very severe (although in the first post above I read it might feel like a pulled muscle which is what mine sort of feels like) and I would probably develop nausea or vomiting. He will not even let me come in for a visit over this.

What do I do? I have a visit scheduled for next wednesday...should I wait it out? Am I being too paranoid?

Sarina

[angelical]

Sarina,

I have no idea about whether that is "the pain" or not. As I said in my post, the only pain I had was in my back...and it probably wasn't HELLP related.

All I can say is that it scares and worries me to hear that a doctor (esp a high risk ob) isn't listening to you. This is nothing to let lie. Is there another doctor in his practice, or a totally different practice, that you could call for a second opinion?

HELLP is too serious to ignore.

Sharel

Sharel & Kevin
Aaron - 28 weeker
Born 5/2/02 due to preeclampsia & HELLP

[myfreckleface]

Sarina, I had no nausea or vomiting with mine, although that might be because mine occurred within a 10 hour timeframe before I delivered. Anyway, as I was saying, I had no nausea, only pain.