Super swollen - any advice?

[Newmum0113]

Hi ladies.

My feet are seriously swollen - I've put a photo on my profile page - www.mumsnet.com/member/photo-preview

Any advice? I've got them elevated but still in pain and throbbing and numbish too. And in getting hideous heartburn from lying in this position!

Trying to get a gp appt but have to call back in the morning first thing.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[blondieminx]

Can't see profile as I'm on the app.

You need to be seen pronto - when is your next mw appt?

Pack your hospital bag and go in tomorrow - does your hospital have an antenatal assessment unit?

[Newmum0113]

I saw my midwife on Monday and told her this was happening although she didn't see it as they weren't swollen then. I also saw a locum GP the first time it happened, again the swelling had decreased by the appointment time.

Both said - it's normal during later pregnancy and heat waves

Btw I'm 32 weeks.

Hospital bag has been packed since 26weeks lol

[EverSoNear]

When they are elevated does the swelling reduce? Have you had any headaches or visual disturbances / shooting stars past your eyes, light headedness or sickness? If yes to any of these call your maternity ward triage and get yourself seen ASAP. Pre eclampsia can come on all of a sudden, it's important that you are checked if you have swelling and any of the other symptoms, better to be safe than sorry.

Not trying to cause you worry, but I personally wasn't aware of the other symptoms to look out for.

[Newmum0113]

Thank you - have none of the other symptoms but my mum had preeclampsia with no symptoms at all.

That's why I mentioned it to my midwife but she wasn't fussed. Now I think about it tho she did say I had protein in mt urine and needed to drink more water - but I'd had 3-4 pints that day already ?!?!

Have GD too do having fortnightly scans - next one due on weds. If I can't get gp appt tomorrow will def call the hospital.

The swelling does go down a bit but not completely, then one day just goes away.

[fluffyraggies]

Does it go down over night?

Interested in this as my ankles and feet puff up every day - weather i've been standing and walking allot or not. Raising my legs doesn't help at all it seems.

Dr.Google (i can't get hold of my midwife - see other thread! ) says watch out for puffing of face and hands. Haven't had that. So not worrying much.

Hope you get seen today OP, and that you are ok. Let us know what is said?

[Deathbyladybirds]

You need to have your bp checked immediately as you have several pre - eclampsia symptoms. Ring your midwife now. Don't ignore this.

[Deathbyladybirds]

Heartburn type pain is a symptom of pre eclampsia.

[Deathbyladybirds]

From action on pre eclampsia website
The following signs and symptoms of preeclampsia, and variants such as HELLP syndrome, may indicate a problem or may just be harmless side effects of normal pregnancy. Awareness of these signs and symptoms is important, and please follow up with your health care provider if you have any concerns. Technically, a sign is a characteristic of preeclampsia that can be measured, but may not be apparent to the patient, such as high blood pressure. A symptom is something that is experienced by the patient, such as a headache or visual disturbances.

Links:
No Symptoms
Hypertension
Proteinuria
Edema (Swelling)
Sudden Weight Gain
Nausea or Vomiting
Abdominal (stomach area) and/or Shoulder Pain
Lower back pain
Headache
Changes in Vision
Hyperreflexia

Racing pulse, mental confusion, heightened sense of anxiety, shortness of breath or chest pain, sense of impending doom

[RegainingUnconsciousness]

Protein shouldn't be in your urine at all, it's a big molecule that shouldn't be able to get out through the kidney. It indicates high pressure.

You must ring you mw, or if you feel like she's not taking it seriously take yourself to the maternity ward.

Hope everything is ok, OP. hope we're all just overreacting.

[getoffthecoffeetable]

Please phone your maternity ward and get seen ASAP.
Hope all goes well.

[BoffinMum]

Ignore midwives and GPs and make sure you see a consultant at the hospital immediately. Make a fuss if necessary. It sounds dodgy to me.

[oscarwilde]

Get it checked out but they will probably shrug and tell you its normal. I can't see your pics as on phone but I had extreme oedema in my legs and feet. It was soooo painful.

Drink lots of water
Get to a swimming pool, for a paddle. It makes a huge difference in an hour.
Find someone to give you a firm but gentle foot and leg massage in an upward direction. Use oil or thick cream as your skin will be so sore from the stretching.
Get decent heartburn meds from your doctor/midwife. Don't accept Gaviscon if you can lie down with your feet elevated, while on your right side etc etc. Ridiculous.
Don't wear tight shoes (assuming you can get any on at all)

The bad nems is that it can take a few weeks to go post natally. Sorry. It's worth actively managing it now. Get to a pool asap!

[oscarwilde]

Ooh. Just saw your post about your mum and the protein. Take a photo of your feet and get to a maternity unit would be my advice. Worst case they send you home but they will note in your file and watch more carefully because not to would be neglectful.

[curlew]

Sorry- don't mean to scare you, but you need to be seen immediately. If necessary, go tonA&E- but immediately. You have been given poor advice by your HCP- it could be nothing- but pre-eclampsia can progress very quickly indeed. If you haven't already, go now.

[nextphase]

How pregnant are you?
Ring the Hospital midwives, on delivery ward if your over about 30 weeks, and tell them what you've written here.
Hopefully it is just the warmer weather, but it could, especially with the + protein, be the start of something more serious.
Don't wait for the community midwife to get back to you. Pease see some ASAP.

[valiumredhead]

I had severe pre eclampsia which came on very suddenly and ds was delvered at 32 weeks. My only symptoms were swollen feet and heart burn.

Please get yourself checked out x

[fanjodisfunction]

You should phone maternity bleep or whatever your maternity unit calls it. Swelling is noraml with GD, how have your glucose levels been? Are you seeing a diabetic nurse at all? If you are ring them up, and see what they say.
And don't worry about being a nuisance. Good luck OP.

Don't want to scare you but a friend of mine had GD and had the same symptoms as you and they sent her home, if it wasn't for a post on a thread where she mentioned her symptoms, we all told her to go back to the hospital. She had early stage pre-clampsia, she had caught it just in time. They gave her a steriod injection for the babies lungs and then booked her for a C-section. It turned out she wass very ill and any longer and the baby would have been ill too.

[curlew]

Have you gone?

[fluffyraggies]

Gosh this is very worrying. Everything crossed for you OP.

[Newmum0113]

Hi everyone sorry just got Internet access - am still in GP waiting room - my appt was 30 mins ago!!

I am going call daycare at my hosp if not happy with the GP comments.

Do far at all appts bp has been good side of low. But many of you are saying it can come on do quickly.

valium I'm petrified now as I'm 32+1!!!!! I'm not ready to have my baby yet - she's not ready to come!!

oscar took loads of photos in case it went down - I wanted to show the GP what it looked like!

They did go down a bit overnight but are swelling up again.

Will keep you all posted as soon as I hear.

[CoteDAzur]

GP should prescribe a tests looking at not only protein but also uric acid in blood.

I had very high and climbing uric acid in my blood during both pregnancies, which led to being induced with DD and a 3-day hospital stay with DS. My feet and fingers were also swollen. My normally very thin wrists were also swollen, which led to carpal tunnel syndrome.

[KarmaBiatch]

good luck xx

[BoffinMum]

Regardless of what happens a day, investment in your own digital BP machine might well be a good idea, for reassurance if nothing else. They are about £40.

[sillyoldfool]

If it turns out everything is ok, get yourself to the local swimming pool. Stay in as long as you can, the gentle water pressure pushes the water from your tissues back into your blood and you can then wee it out. I've had pretty severe water retention with both my pgs and not had p-e, so you may well be fine.

[RegainingUnconsciousness]

I've just seen BP monitors in Lidl this morning. Didn't look at the price though, sorry.