Pre-enclampsia worries at 21 weeks

[mrswee]

I posted a couple of weeks back that my feet and ankles had swollen up a little one friday afternoon. I contacted the doctor, she said to put my feet up over the weekend and get back if I wasnt better by monday. My feet went back to normal as soon as they were up.

On the monday after being at work in a warm office all day sitting still, my feet were a bit puffy again so I went to the doctor the next morning. She took my blood pressure twice to be safe and it was very healthy. She told me not to worry but to let them know if I started getting any head aches or visual disturbance ect.

on the Saturday at one point I laughed hard and got those sort of fire fly floaters for a few seconds, I didnt think much of it but then Mid week I had a headache a few times over two days in a row - they went away with paracetomal but returned when it wore off.

I returned to the doctor on thursday to be safe and saw a locum. She tested my urine and did my blood pressure again. Both were compleatly fine, which reassured me greatly until she said that it wasn't totally reasurring and I still need to continue to look out for symptoms because I'd already had symptoms.
she told me to contact the hospital over the weekend my headaches get worse or become persistant.

I have had a couple of very mild short lasting sinus type headaches so far this weekend which I haven't had to take anything for and my feet have been mildly puffy if I've been on them a while.

But I am very worried understandably about getting pre-enclampsia so early in Pregnancy after what the doctor said but I am also wondering how worried I really need to be!?
I mean basically I have had a few head aches and my feet have been a bit puffy, nothing significant, a few times in the heat.

does any one have any experiance of these symptoms at all?

I'm feeling bad enough this week after being diagnosed with SPD/PGP and am in pain with that as it is

sorry for the long winded post!

[mrswee]

Sorry also wanted to add that I had my 20 weeks scan last week too and everything was very healthy, baby correct size for expected due date and so on.

[mummytopebs]

I had pre-eclampsia from 34 weeks so not sure about it in earlier prednancy but mine was found out because my blood pressure was high and had protein in my urine, i didnt swell up till about 5 days after initial diagnosis, i felt terrible couldnt get out of bed,and my visual disturbances happened when my bp went to 170/125 when i had a section . I think the general rule of thumb is if your bp goes over 90 on the bottom they keep you in for monitoring. I am not medical person but i think most of pre-ecl is diagnosed by high bp and protein in wee so if those are ok then hopefully you are.

[Jackaroo]

I really wouldn't worry yet.

it is extremely early for PE, and both some puffiness and headaches are extremely common in pg., just because of the hormone levels and your body's changes. Try lying on your left side when you're in bed/resting for a while as this is supposed to help your kidneys function better (which will reduce puffiness).

Floaters are also very common. It is also possibly to have hypertension (higher blood pressure) without it being PE.

It sounds as if you've had a bit of a blow with the diagnoses this week, I'd concentrate on finding ways of coping with those first.

You are being very sensible and keeping an eye on your symptoms, and your doctor sounds very happy to see you/check you as necessary, so if you symptoms escalate, you can easily go back to them. it's true though, that protein and raised b/p won't tell htem everything, but your symptoms aren't increasing, so really really really just stay on guard and try not to get too stressed (also causes headaches :-)

In my experience, once I started to get water retention from the PE, no raising feet/resting made any difference to swelling going up and down, and as MTP says, I felt unwell too. Not just tired, iyswim.

so I've waffled on to, but hope some of that helps.

J

[mrswee]

Thanks that does help!

I woke up with a headache again in the middle of the night and again this morning

I followed the Locum doctor's instructions to call the out of hours midwife service.. Even though TBH I felt really silly, I know I shouldn't feel silly but I did.

A midwife came round and did my blood pressure, urine test and babies heart beat (which is always nice to hear!).. and everything was completely normal!
She also said not to worry, that headaches and puffiness is caused by hormones normally and it was very early to get pre-enclampsia, and to just keep getting checked if anything gets worse or changes for the worst.

I seem to get a few days at a time of relaxing and starting to enjoy my pregnancy then I have a problem of some sort and I worry a bit more than enjoy.... I suppose that's to be expected with my first!

I think the Locum doctor worried me a bit more than needed by mentioning pre-enclampsia in the first place, that was the first time it had been said to me.

[Jackaroo]

Mm, I would say it was very responsible for the locum to mention PE MrsW, given your symptoms, at least you know what to look out for now - I have to say I was a bit oblivious even when I did know about it, and in retrospect should've picked up on it earlier.

Glad you're feeling reassured though, you're right, there's always something. soon after I wrote to you I started to feel a bit more off, and had had floaters since the day before.. and turns out my bp is up - having said to you don't worry, it's the middle of the night here and I've had to get up as I'm sending myself silly!

At least I'm already 36 weeks......

[mrswee]

Oh dear, I hope you are ok!

[mspotatochip]

Mrswee it sounds like your doctors and midwives are being aware and proactive and will keep a good close eye on you! Believe me a lot of people don't get that level of care! The UK guidelines for pre e clampsia monitoring (quite technical) are here www.apec.org.uk/precog.htm. Try not to worry but just be aware of any sudden changes in symptoms.

Jackaroo how are you today? I am at a similar stage with a similar history with similar symptoms and have been wondering how you are since seeing your post last night!

[Jackaroo]

Hello Mrs and MS - Very kind of your MsPC (hope you don't mind the hijack Wee) - I really appreciated your support on that other threat - am staying away, if you have to start explaining where mice come into research you're on a hiding to nothing I guess.

and as you say, enough going on..........

I've post back to Frustrated Mom, but essentially I'm assuming all is well unless I start to "feel" worse. Will have a check on Thursday. My BP went down to normal once today, which I don't remember ever happening last time - where are you up to with your symptoms/medical assessment?

[mspotatochip]

Mrsw how are you today? Sorry about us two old pre eclamptics hijacking your thread Jack I'm on bp meds (methyldopa) and being checked bloods etc twice a week. 36 weeks today! DD was delivered at 35 weeks so we're winning. My bp has been up and down for weeks though which apparently can happen. That other thread is feral ignore them.

[glimmer]

Hi, I am worried about pre-eclampsia as well.
I just opened another threat, but nobody posted. I had severe pre-ecplamsia in week 42
with my first child, currently I am 21 weeks pregnant. I just took my blood pressure (at 10am) and it it 90/140 and I am very worried. I am trying to get a bit more info before I go to the doctor - I am in the US and want to have some knowledge before handing me over....
Don't know about protein at this point but am very worried (hate the chain of intervention and things getting out of control). Can you tell me a bit about pre-eclampsia management?

[mspotatochip]

Glimmer Just posted on your other thread

[mrswee]

Hi MSpotatochip

sorry I missed your post yesterday and thanks for the link!

I'm feeling generallly fine
I had my urine/blood pressure checked again yesterday and still no sign which is good!

My headaches seem to be subsiding in fact no sign today but I do have a little upper abdominal discomfort.... probably just the baby pushing everything up but I will mention it to the doctor - I'm back thier tomorrow for a secduled antinatal app.

I saw a new doctor yesterday and she was very thorough, she checked the back of my eyes as well as the usual and mentioned that there is a blood test I can take which could help find Pre enclampsia signs if I do have it. I will get that test tomorrow and hopefully then she says if it is clear I will not have to keep getting checked all the time... fingers crossed!

[mrswee]

PS great to see you have reached 36 weeks!