Can pre-eclampsia symptoms come on very suddenly?

[MuffinMclay]

I developed pre-eclampsia with ds1 at 36/7 weeks, and was induced at 38 weeks. I'm now 31 weeks pg with ds2.

Yesterday I was at the hospital for a scan and to see the consultant for an un-related problem (mw though the baby was too big, turns out it isn't). Whilst there they took my bp and tested my urine, and all was well (although urine may have been mainly water as I hadn't eaten or drunk anythin else for hours).

Today I saw my community mw and she found protein in my urine and my bp was at the top end of the normal range. How could things have changed so much in 24hours? Can pre-eclampsia start that quickly, or could it be something else?

I have had headaches and breathlessness, and was told to go to hospital if that happens again.

[Snaf]

Yes, things can change very quickly with PET. Given your history, I would ring your labour ward or day assessment unit and ask to be seen, just to be on the safe side. In fact, I'm a bit surprised that your cmw didn't send you in...

It may well be nothing, but if I was your mw I would want you checked out asap.

[camillathechicken]

what snaf said.

if you have a history of it, and are starting to fill poorly now, then you should really go in now to be checked thoroughly

as an aside, aneamia can make you feel breathless and not terribly well too.

[Snaf]

When you say your BP was 'top end of normal', can you remember what it was exactly? Just out of interest!

[TotalChaos]

Yes the symptoms can come on very suddenly. I would get checked out straightaway.

[MuffinMclay]

Don't think I am anaemic. Or at least I wasn't when I had blood tests done a couple of weeks ago.

Feel fine at the moment, apart from tired (5am start here today).

[MuffinMclay]

Bp was 120/80. Yesterday was 100/60 (and I was very stressed yesterday - something to do with a 2 hour wait at the hospital with a very tantrummy child)

[Snaf]

OK, so even though that's a 'normal' BP it's still high for you. That, plus proteinuria and headaches - I really would ring your DAU or labour ward.

[MuffinMclay]

OK, will give them a call.

Oh, ds awake and bawling...

[LiegeAndLief]

Just to add... it is very rare to get PE worse and earlier in a second pg. But still well worth getting checked out. Hope it's nothing!

Can definitely come on suddenly - I went from 135/85 and trace of protein to 180/110 and 3+ protein in 2 days. I was in hospital for 4 weeks and both bp and protein fluctuated wildly over that time, think this is quite common with PE.

[MuffinMclay]

Hospital didn't seem unduly concerned. They told me to come in if I felt in any way out of sorts, had another headache etc.

Othewise, just keep visiting the mw for bp and urine checks.

[plusone]

could you have some sort of infection?