Preeclampsia survivors - how is your health now?

[Ifitistobesaid]

Looking for experiences from anyone who suffered from preeclampsia in their pregnancies, however many years ago.

I had preeclampsia with my daughter just over a year ago and my blood pressure looks like it’s developing into chronic hypertension. High blood pressure does run in my family so it’s not entirely unexpected but it’s very depressing dealing with this at only 41.

Reading up on the long term effects of preeclampsia makes for pretty sober reading and I am very worried about what else is to come.

I know everyone’s health is individual but I’d be grateful for anyone who could reassure me.

I developed sudden and severe preeclampsia with my first and the notch test said I had it with my second but I didn’t develop any symptoms. After my first I was on blood pressure tablets for a few months but I’ve not had high blood pressure since (the odd high reading due to white coat syndrome but normal if tested at home). Health is fine but I do worry about the future which is why I’m testing when I remember.

i had severe pe with my DTs (6 years ago). I think my health is fine, weirdly I now have coeliacs disease and non alcoholic fatty liver, but that’s probably purely coincidence. Other than that, my ticker is in good shape and I think I’m ok.

I had pre-eclampsia 19 years ago, hospitalised for 3 months pre birth, then a hurried induction 6 weeks early. BP tablets for 6 weeks I think it was, no issues since, BP always fine (other issues, sure, but never my BP!)

I had preeclampsia twice 20 and 22 years ago along with a myriad of other complications, AFLP, obstetric cholestatis. 2 weeks in a HDU and then 2 weeks in a regular ward post partum first time. Day patient for weeks pre birth second time as thankfully I lived very close to hospital but was eventually hospitalised at 35 weeks then preterm labour.

I am absolutely fine. My BP is a bit higher than it was pre children but very much in the normal range.

I have had lots of tests and get BP checked a couple of times each year for HRT reasons. Get liver function tests annually for peace of mind.
All good.

My kidneys don't work as well as they should but DD is 17 now and they haven't declined any...I just have to remember to drink plenty of water, avoid too much salt and I can only have paracetamol for pain.

DD is now 22 - my health is brilliant. No lingering problems from something that damn near killed me!

This is a really interesting thread so im going to follow. I had pregnancy hypertension with DD1 (3yrs old) and preeclampsia with DD2 (11weeks old). I was asked to be part of a study after DD2 - the hospital have been tracking my BP for the last 11 weeks then next week are going to do an echo, EKG and bloods as part of a study to look at the long term impacts of PE on the heart. The obstetrician did tell me after discharge it puts you at higher risk of hypertension later in life so to try and ensure i have a heart healthy lifestyle. But obviously haven't yet implemented some of her recommendations yet due to the madness of the immediate newborn period.

Glad to hear most people are doing well. I seem to be in a minority with my blood pressure issues.

Would love to hear more experiences if anyone is reading this.

I had pre-eclampsia.
I have high blood pressure now.
It was discovered when my child was 7. I am quite sure I had it for years before then though. No one checked since until one time by chance.

I had a random heart attack last year, when I was 47 - 18 years after I’d had pre-eclampsia. I had absolutely no risk factors other than a history of pre-eclampsia. I have often wondered whether it was the cause although I guess I’ll never know. I was diagnosed with high BP at a routine appointment a year or so previous to my heart attack but I got it down very quickly just by upping my running and being careful about caffeine and salt intake - I was a bit of a coffee fiend before that.

I was never told about the risks involved following pre-eclampsia, the hospital nor the GP ever mentioned it and I didn’t research it - I was under the impression it was resolved after having a baby and had no idea it could cause complications in later life. I only discovered this after extensive research into why I had a heart attack.

I had pre eclampsia 29 years ago. I was led to believe that once baby was out, that all would be fine. So far so good. I shall look into it though Funnily enough I have recently started taking my BP a couple of times a week ( purely because DH has to) and it's within normal range.

Pre e x 2 and eclampsia x 1 here

chronic hypertension, will be on meds for life

Just read up on it. Have decided not to panic. I do need to drop some weight from around my middle ( menopause and chocolate related) but otherwise I'm in a fairly healthy category. Quite a good kick up the backside as I've been a bit lazy about losing the weight. Will remain consistent with the blood pressure monitor.

I hope you remain well @Ifitistobesaid and thank you for posting.

PS I'm late 50s

Pre eclampsia X2 here, eldest is now 13 - not experienced any issues outside of pregnancy/ immediately post partum.

It doesn't really matter if I die anyway

I had severe pre eclampsia and HELLP syndrome 13 years ago with my first pregnancy. My DS had to be delivered by ECS at only 27 weeks. Sadly he died six weeks later. He was born at the Countess of Chester hospital - that in itself is a whole other thread!
When I got pregnant with DS2 11 years ago, I took low dose aspirin throughout. as a precaution, and had no ill effects with pregnancy and no high BP or pre eclampsia. Had BP checked a couple of months ago and was normal. I wasn’t made aware of any issues to look out for later in life (I’m 52 now).

I had pre eclampsia with ds now aged 10. As I also have type 1 diabetes my blood pressure is monitored pretty regularly and always good. No other issues as far as I know.

12 years on

I'm on the cusp of high bp and am pre-diabetic.

I had severe pre eclampsia in my 2nd pregnancy with an emergency c-section at 33 weeks as my placenta had virtually packed up. It was a miracle DS survived.
No blood pressure issues afterwards but I now have coronary heart disease and 2 stents as my main left artery was totally blocked. I've also had migraine with aura for decades, bad enough to require daily prophylactic medication, and I have non- active lupus. The point is that they all have a blood vessel connection and I wish someone had joined the dots a long time ago to, at least, flag up that I might be at a higher risk of heart disease and given me statins for eg. Or some monitoring.

When I asked the cardiologist if I'd been at higher risk, he looked at me and just said "of course you were". I felt that I should have been more clued up but so many conditions are treated in isolation so you don't immediately link them.
I'm now in my sixties btw so obviously at higher risk of heart disease but I didn't have other risk factors. Though whether severe pre eclampsia was a factor, I'll never really know.

No they don't tell you to at least check your blood pressure in the future for example
Which might help some people
From when she was a baby up until she was 7 all those times I went to the doctor about something else no one took my blood pressure. Even when I mentioned migraines.
Then a doctor did take it (again I was at doctors about something unrelated) and it was picked up
I am sure that I've had it for years before that though

I’m interested in this. I have experienced multiple neurological issues. The research into the longer term help implications are interesting yet disturbing. However, the pre eclampsia history doesn’t seem to be of interest at my appointments.

I had pre-eclampsia in my third trimester with DC1. That was 14 years ago and I'm fine. DS suffered with IUGR so I was induced at 37 weeks. He's nearly as tall as me now, although shorter than most of his peer group.

I had pre-eclampsia 22 years ago. Severely. And suffered a stroke,

BP is low these days but my right side of my never recovered fully

I had preeclampsia and now I'm panicking that I've never had a check up for it. (They're teens though so looks like I'm ok!)

I had it with my first. My bp reached 170/117 and that was the day I was induced 😅

Didn't get it with my second and I've been fine ever since. Normal BP pretty much straight after birth.