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 was admitted to hospital with PET in 3 separate pregnancies in 2017, 2020 and 2022. No lasting health issues that i’m aware of.

I had preeclampsia 12 years ago, induced, left in labour for hours, had to beg to have a blood pressure check. Had a mini stroke followed by chronic hypertension, kidney damage and debilitating migraines. I'm 45 and the side effects from the meds (max dose) are awful and my BP is still not controlled well.

I had pre-eclampsia with my DC, particularly badly with DD1 and was blue lighted to a hospital miles away but where there was a space in HDU for me and a NICU spot for my DD.

Unfortunately my BP issues never really went back to normal. I’m on meds and regularly monitored at my GP surgery.

Not sure if there’s any connection but I was recently diagnosed as type 2 diabetic. And also, as soon as it’s hot, I retain water on my ankles and wrists.

I’m so sorry about the loss of your baby. Glad to hear you have had good health since.

Sorry to the others on the thread who have had lasting issues.

There seems to be a common theme that people were not informed of the potential dangers down the line. When I was being discharged they told me to have my blood pressure checked once a year but sounds like a lot of you were not even given that advice. I strongly feel there should be more monitoring and testing for preeclampsia survivors as we get older.

I had pre-eclampsia 11 years ago. I was put on lisinopril and still on it now. My GP said I was one of the unlucky few who'd have high BP forever. Even if I lost a ton of weight. I lost five stone and I still had high BP 🤦🏻‍♀️ It's managed by the medication though so doesn't impact me too much.

Sorry to hear that. It’s so hard when it’s out of our control no matter how hard we try. How do you feel on the meds? I don’t get enough sleep or exercise due to having a small child but aside from that there’s not much else I could do. I’m a normal weight, eat a low salt / sugar diet, don’t smoke, don’t drink much.

I feel ok and don't believe it impacts me that much tbh. I had breast cancer last year and I'm on Tamoxifen for 5 years now. That has more of an impact but it's not too bad really. I've been so unlucky health-wise but the ongoing medication has been ok x

I had it 28 years ago, and I've been on blood pressure tablets since, kidneys are fine, and I'm fit and healthy in every other way.

Had it 23 years ago, very scary. Was on meds for 6 months, second pregnancy absolutely fine but they kept a close eye on me. I now have high BP medically controlled for past 10 years or so, it does run in my mums side of family though

Severe preeclampsia with DD. My obstetrician had several conversations during my week-long inpatient admission about long term cardiovascular risks for me.
My mum had preeclampsia with me (1980s), and was diagnosed with hypertension about 10-15 years ago.

Edit: my health is OK now. It took about 6 weeks to come off the blood pressure tablets after I gave birth.

I had pre-eclampsia with DS about a year ago and needed to deliver early. No one informed me about the long term risks, learnt about them from reading Mumsnet! My BP is back to normal now but I do wonder about the long term effects, particularly as heart disease runs in my mum's family.

As this thread has come back to life, i thought id follow up on my last comment. I have now had my ekg, heart echo and bloods. Whilst i was chatting to the staff running the scans, they told me that their research over the last few years has shown that changes in the heart due to pregnancy hypertension and preeclampsia can be seen pretty much immediately in the post partum period. Our hospital now offer heart scans as routine to everyone with hypertension or PE 12 weeks after delivery. They are hoping the results will demonstrate benefit to be rolled out to other hospitals as well.

Had pre-e with DT 15 years ago. The research showing it is a life time risk factor was not around then. When my mum had heart issues a few years ago I looked into my own risk factors. At the time I also had high cholesterol. My BP has been normal my whole life (excepting when I was pregnant and just after) but I took the wake up call: have lost 3 stone, lowered my cholesterol as a result of dietary changes and exercise more regularly. I am mid 50s now and never felt better but also am treating my health seriously in a way I never did before. I know it’s partly the throw of the dice but also want to do everything in my power to be well for the kids.

That’s great that your hospital offers that. I had an echocardiogram at 37 weeks pregnant when I was diagnosed with PE. I wonder if that was enough or if I should have had another one postpartum.

It’s definitely given me a big wake up call too. I’m trying to follow the Zoe 30 plants a week diet and make exercise a non negotiable. Before I would have cared about diet and exercise out of vanity but now it’s about my heart health.

I had pre eclampsia 29 years ago, was in hospital for a month before being induced three weeks early because of complications then was found collapsed in the toilets, by one of the other new mums, the night following the birth.We were both allowed home the following week.
Was never told about any likely problems later, in fact this thread is the first time I’ve heard there are any. I have had high BP ever since & have been on two maximum dose meds, calcium channel blocker & an angiotensin receptor blocker for years since with yearly check ups. I’ve been admitted to hospital twice when it went dangerously high with heart rhythm complications. Also had low thyroid since, on meds, don't know if that’s related? I’m not overweight but can’t exercise much now due to severe spinal arthritis.
Is there a link to any information about later effects?

@Darklane The preeclampsia foundation had some information https://www.preeclampsia.org/heart-disease-stroke

“Women who have had preeclampsia have three to four times the risk of high blood pressure and double the risk for heart disease and stroke. They also have an increased risk of developing diabetes. For women who had preeclampsia and delivered preterm, had low-birthweight babies, or suffered from severe preeclampsia more than once, the risk of heart disease can be even higher. While still unknown whether the risk is caused by preeclampsia or if the woman was already predisposed, these risks first emerge in the years following a complicated pregnancy”

I've had PE three times the last time I was 40 and the most severe a it escalated after the birth to an alarming degree. I was on BP medication for a few months the last two times

I have developed High Blood pressure and have been in medication for a few years now. My consultant at the time did say it was a 'when' situation not 'if'. It probably took 10 years to kick in

Wow this is really interesting. I had PE twice, but had a pre-existing condition which made me more susceptible to it. I had high BP controlled by medication before pregnancy but this was hugely increased in later pregnancy and continued for some time afterwards. It's controlled with normal meds now.

I have polycystic kidney disease and this dropped from 80 to around 33 having both my children. It would have dropped anyway over time but two pregnancies with PE definitely sped it up. I've also suffered with gallstones since DC2.

I had low BP before PE and it developed into hypertension and now I take medication. Took a long time though as I had PE 25 years ago so I might have developed it anyway, hard to tell.

I was expecting twins in 1983. I developed preeclampsia at week 20 -very early-and went in to hospital for complete bed rest. The condition saw me put on 4 stone in fluid which all disappeared within a week of the c-section ant 30 weeks. And we had two vvv tiny, healthy girls. My blood pressure was sky high and I was on bp tablets and diuretics for a few months after their arrival The lasting effects? I developed ITP which has caused no problems so far but I see a consultant every 6 months and have platelet counts every three months.
One of my daughters had pre-eclampsia but less extreme than mine. It disappeared when she delivered. The other twin had postpartum eclampsia. This was a surprise and needed monitoring for a few months.

I had pre eclampsia & hellp syndrome with ds 20 years ago, then six months later, was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia & 9 years later with ME/CFS, I've also got PTSD from my experience of birth. I'm now housebound & need a wheelchair as I can't walk.

I've had PET twice. Severe the second time with the blinding headache. Everything went back to normal except now I get blinding headaches and have the memory of a fish! Whereas before I was like rain man

I had PE more than 25 years ago , was very ill and was in ICU for a week . My dd was lucky to survive and was thankfully fine in the end . I had a heart attack at 52 ( with no risk factors apart from PE) and now have severe hypertension. Drug regime not very effective. However I’m fit, slim and take care of myself. Just hope for the the best . Interesting thread , my best wishes to everyone.

I had no idea about any future issues from pre-eclampsia! I had it almost 13 years ago now, my son was born at 26 weeks as my pre-eclampsia was severe. He managed to survive but has long term disabilities as a result. My blood pressure was high for a short while and I had medication but is a bit on the high side of normal now without medication. Although the doctors didn't want me on hrt because it showed up too high in the surgery. I had heart palpitations after having covid so was checked out by a cardiologist but all is okay. I try to keep fit with regular swimming but I need to do more exercise than just twice a week. I'm going to make more of an effort! Thinking about it I do now get visual migraines which I didn't before. They do go away reasonably quickly. Other than that my general health seems fine other than picking up viruses from my son.