Cant get to see midwife but need advice!

[AnotherHelen]

Have had really really bad headaches almost permanently for the last 4-5 days and they are steadily getting stronger and since yesterday morning are now accompanied by frequent and reasonably bad dizziness, have had flashes of light in my vision (but have had retinal problems in the past, so i do sometimes have this anyway) this is my third pregnancy and i have never had high blood pressure at all, in fact most of the time its really quite low, so i have no idea wether i should be worried about it now, i feel a little worried to be honest, i have called the midwife and she cant see me until tommorow morning, has anyone any ideas? could it be blood pressure related even though i have no history of it before? im 33 weeks by the way.
Helen xxxxxx

[WigWamBam]

You should be checked out as soon as possible in case it's blood pressure or pre-eclampsia related. Can you ring your maternity ward and ask for advice?

[throckenholt]

either go to the gp surgery and get someone to check your blood pressure (they really should be able to do that given your condition), or go to the labour ward at the hospital and ask them to check you out - but be prepared you may be there for hours if you do that.

[kid]

I'd phone the Drs and get your blood pressure checked. I'm sure they would see you today as the midwife can't.

[edodgy]

If I were you i'd go down to your maternity hospital or drs and get your bp checked as it could be high bp and it is best to rule it out. Im really suprised your mw wont see you until tommorrow when i was pregnant with my dd i suffered from bad headaches and my mw came straight to my house as they take it extremly seriously. Mine was due to pregnancy hormones though not bp but do get it checked out today.

[AnotherHelen]

Just called the Dr's and they said there wasnt anyone who could check my bp as most of the dr's are away on sick/holiday/ and paternity leave!!! (great) i asked about the nurse and they said she was too busy! i will call antenatal clinic at the hospital! hopefully they can be more helpful!!

[vickiyumyum]

antenatal clinic at the hospital or do you have a day/fetal assessment unit at your hospital if you ring them and tell them your symptoms they should just ask for you to come in as soon as you can.

[kid]

I think thats ridiculous, how long does it take to do a blood pressure! My dad has his own one to monitor his high blood pressure.

You might have to just turn up at the hospital.

My Drs are very good and will see me or the kids at short notice if we have a problem. At the very least we get to speak to a Dr and sometimes get called in as an emergency. I can't believe they won't see you.

[Janbo25]

thats ridiculous about your drs, i had the exact same symptoms and just turned up at the doctors and both the nurse and the dr saw me and then referred me to the hospital for a full bp profile, unfortunately i suffered with high blood pressure a lot nearing the end of the pregnancy

[edodgy]

i think u can check your bp at asda pharmacies and other chemists if all else fails.

[kid]

I think some Boots can check your BP aswell.

[throckenholt]

you could try just turning up at the gp and see if the nurse is free to check your blood pressure - will only take a minute or two - I am sure they can spare that, even if there are no appointments free.

[edodgy]

or ring nhs direct tell them your symtopms tell them your gp and mw refuse to take your bp thye'll soon get the ball rolling for you and will get in touch with your gp straight away.

[Janbo25]

it is very important that you get this sorted and you bp checked today!

[edodgy]

Its ridiculous they wont take your bp usually with symptoms like these at your stage of pregancy they come straight to your house to take bp.

[bundle]

you need to get it checked out. where do you live anotherhelen? if you live in london you can just turn up at moorfields eye hospital's A&E to get any eye problems checked out.

[Janbo25]

let us know how you get on anotherhelen

[chloe55]

Which area are you living in? I live near Wakefield and they have a walkin NHS centre - maybe ther is one in your area? They are very good and you don't need an appointment - failing that go to your GP, start crying and demand to be seen - that has worked for me in the past! They are not allowed to refuse to see you.

[AnotherHelen]

Hiya girls thanks for all your help! i rang my antenatal unit and said i was just going to come in, had to drag my 5 year old and my 2 year old kicking and screaming - if i didnt have blood pressure probs before i did after that! anyway i eventually got seen and they did my bp and she said it was actually quite high - which is really strange for me - mine is usually so low, but she never said to do anything but 'have a nice day!' so now im just plain confused!??!!??

[AnotherHelen]

Sorry im in Grimsby - obviously a crap area for any kind of healthcare!

[morningpaper]

What was your blood pressure and what has it been? Hopefully your midwife will be able to help you out more tomorrow.

[Janbo25]

they usually only worry if the top figure is above 140 or/and the bottom one is above 90 what was yours?

[bundle]

anotherhelen, i would ring the labour ward and ask them to bleep the community midwife, you sound - more than anyone else- in need of a home visit!

[throckenholt]

if you are worried (which you sound as if you are) then I would ring the midwife again and say you are worried and need to be seen - try muttering pre-eclampsia at her. Also try and sort out some childcare for the older 2 - if you are developing pre-eclampsia then you are likely to be in hospital for a day or so even if just for monitoring.

[bundle]

anotherhelen, do you have any swelling on hands/face?

[Janbo25]

i presume if it was too high at ante natal they would have done more