to not want to take these antibiotics

[onenutshortofasnickers]

the dr has given me antibiotics 'in case' i have a uti but a dip test didn't show one....

I went to dr with persistent headache, swelling, pain in chest and bad vision- I'm 15 weeks pregnant ish maybe 16 now!

In my last pregnancy I had all of this and protein in my urine, so pointing towards pre-eclampsia that I never received any treatment for- I took i upon myself to rest completely and it settled a bit, but was still high.

My bp is 137 and I have been resting for the last 2 days because of these headaches that won't go away with paracetamol. (Headaches have been non-stop for a week and a half at least.)

So my urine is being sent off to a lab even though the only other thing I have is a high pulse but no other symptoms.

I don't like being given antibiotics just in case and this is not the first time I have been given antibiotics (not pregnant) and I have turned out to have no infection. I know about immunity and anti biotics I have had problems with antibiotics not working for that very reason! (I used to be plagued with tonsillitis until I fought to get my tonsils out, it appears to be a family thing.)

Blood pressure was take after resting for 10 mins at least.

WWYD and AIBU?

Just want advice as called m/w but won't get reply until tomorrow now.

Thanks

If you've been taking paracetemol regularly, that may be masking a fever which is a sign of infection.
If you don't take antibiotics regularly, I would take the advice of the HCP to be honest and take them. UTIs when pregnant can have serious consequences.

I would take them because of the pregnancy just to be on the safe side!

I haven't got a temperature; I know how serious uti's can be but have no other symptoms that I would usually get- this dr has put me on antibiotics alot when there has been no infection and the bloods and urine has gone to be tested and I was fine- do you think it could be that again (this would be the 5th time now that the dr got me to take antibiotics for no infection.)

I just worry as I have to wait a week for the results and it was like this in my last pregnancy but more eclampsia and they just messed about 'umming and ahhing'... I just worry that they are putting off the high blood pressure thing and it will be more serious this time (I nearly had to have a c-section ast time at 24 weeks for blood pressure, and alot of emergency hospital visits.)

I probably abu but I don't want to be fobbed off agian and I just worry! This is how it started last time, any drs on here?

I will take the antibiotics later probably then ut if I find out there was no infection at all I wont be happy! allso if my symptoms stay the same or get worse when taking them would they treat it as uti or would they think hmmm (I know it's rare to get pre-eclampsia before 20 weeks but it happens, and last time was no fun!)

Thank you though, you have made me feel more at ease to take them x

Personally I would go for a second opinion, whilst taking the antibiotics on the safe side. It sounds as though what you need is someone to take a full overview of your health, rather than solely addressing the individual health issues. Can you request a consultant appointment, which if you turn out not to have a UTI, you may be glad of, so you feel looked after 'in the round'?

If you do take them a good probiotic after is a good idea I think.( I'm taking one called Symprove that is meant to be very good and makes me feel less bad about the antibiotics though only got it as it was on offer at a fair as expensive normally!)

I have a consultant a damn good one! A very busy one! But i still won't get to see him until my appointment as where I live I'm afraid, so it would be too late by then- I saw him and the very brilliant midwive(s) every week last time; they were brilliant and on the ball; dr or hospital weren't unfortunately... (long story!)

I will just take them but if they don't work (as in I feel the same in 3/4days?!or get worse;) I shall stand firm this time and not let them mess me around!

I just worry it is pre-eclampsia and it will end badly as I have seen in my own family what happens when no one does anything :/

I would start taking them and see your midwife tomorrow. She should be able to get the results of your blood tests and you will then know if infection is indicated and can decide whether to continue or not.

if you start them, finish them unless given medical advice not to do so.

Did not want to read and run, not a doctor here however have had pre-eclapsia( 1st preg) pregnancy induced hypertension (2nd) and chronic hypertension ( 3rd) currently 35 weeks and in weekly for checks.

Always a good idea to take antibiotics if they suspect UTI, HOWEVER your issue with with the high BP is serious based on what has previously happened.

Silly question but when I went in for my booking appointment with DC 3 my midwife told me if I have any blurred visions, high Bp ( as I monitor it myself) pain in chest before I saw my consultant at 20 weeks I should call the Day Assessment Unit and at 17 weeks I had chronic headaches anyone who has high BP gets them will know just how alarming and painful it can be.

I called them and said I am waiting to see my consultant for previous pre eclapsia etc etc, not due to see him until another 3 weeks however it was so serious last time could someone just check me- I mentioned the pain, the headaches, the starry dots etc I played it up a bit as I knew pre eclapsia pre 20 weeks is rare but you nearly were delivered at 24 weeks so you know how serious it can be.

Honestly by all means see the midwife but I would call the Day Unit in the am.

They called me in checked my BP which was through the roof at that stage and bought my consultant's appointment in 2 weeks earlier. Please call them and see what they say even if you go in and they put it down on your notes, nearly lost my DC 1 becasue my pre eclapsia was prevalent from about 24 weeks and they would not take me seriously either- good luck thinking of you

I don't know what to say re the antibiotics other than I had about four or five lots due to constant protein in wee issues and I worried a lot but took them as thought better to be safe than sorry. I wanted to post though to tell you to get those gel cooling strips for headaches. I put one on every night when I got home as I had headaches all the way through pregnancy and they really helped me.

sorry for you and I hope you get some good advice from the wonderful ladies on here x

I mean four or five courses through my pregnancy xxx

Hi
What was your diastolic BP? Was there any protein in your urine this time? And did the doctor have a look at the back of your eyes using ophthalmoscope? Was your chest and heart examination normal? Was there any sign of DVT (eg tender swollen calf or history of recent travel or immobility etc)?
If all these things were normal I think it would be reasonable to await urine culture results and blood results before starting antibiotics, unless you develop any urinary symptoms in the meantime.

UTI's can often present with vague/atypical symptoms however if you have severe chest pain don't hesitate to go back to get checked out again.

Hope that helps
(I'm a GP)

Sorry I also meant to ask, what was your pulse rate?

Hi *Laurel8, i have no clue! She didn't tell me my pulse just said it was high, i had my toddlerwith me at the time and he managed to 'chat' through her telling me my blood pressure, what is dvt? (usually when i get utis by now i would be in agony doubled over etc tmi sorry)

i have said all I know, I know she wasn't happy about the blood pressure and pulse but to send off to labs and see how it goes and she will ring me (she is actually a very good dr on the whole and i owe alot to her and am very thankful to have her as my dr!)

seacloud that's how i feel and what i'm worried about, but I see my m/w Thursday and consultant next week so hopefully nothing will worsen before then; whenever I get the chest pains- they are weird; I feel like I can't breathe but if I rest and stretch my arms so my lungs stretch it goes (if that makes any sense?!)

whatareyou.. last time I had constant tonsillitis and uti's too already by this stage so I have had lots of antibiotics! Luckily my tonsils have been take out now but I have started taking them and will now but if nothing gets better by the time I see the midwife they are in the same building so I will mention it; if anything gets worse I have numbers of emergency m/w or will turn up at walk in centre; we still have nhs direct here and they get a bit happy with sending you to a&e; i prefer to go other places and a&e ast resort or emergency!

thank you all so much; you have all made me feel alot better and put my mind at ease! thank you!

and sorry im not much help laurel!

this!

They called me in checked my BP which was through the roof at that stage and bought my consultant's appointment in 2 weeks earlier. Please call them and see what they say even if you go in and they put it down on your notes, nearly lost my DC 1 becasue my pre eclapsia was prevalent from about 24 weeks and they would not take me seriously either- good luck thinking of yo

This happeneed to me sooo sooo much last time before 20weeks w- major high bp but I got (and am seeming to get;) well it can't be that and your before 20 weeks and it is rare before then! Just because it is rare doesn't mean it doesn't happen and it can't be happening to me, my mum lost my older sister to this just before 24weeks and me and my sister were early, my dad has a brother lost to this as well. I have seen the pain caused and that makes me even more scared- the headaches though are just preventing me from anything much; I hav e stopped driving as well with this and the vision; I'm not putting anyone else at risk, I would rather it be a uti over eclampsia though!

Thank you once again everyone

Don't be afraid to go back for another examination if you are not feeling well at any stage, although BP of 137 is not high normally, you would expect it to be lower in pregnancy, and the blurred vision and persistent severe headaches should be taken seriously. I just mentioned DVT because of the high pulse, chest pain and swelling (its a deep vein clot), not that I think you have this!!

Does your maternity hospital have an urgent assessment unit that you could go to? I know every area has their own arrangements, but locally our hospitals have day obstetric units where you can attend for urgent assessment eg with high BP etc. You usually need your GP to ring them or you can be referred there from A&E. If there is anything like this near you, it may be worthwhile getting seen there.

Hope everything is ok

Laurel is right, the group of symptoms you have can be, in some cases, suggestive of a DVT and going in to see someone else in these circumstances is never going to be the wrong thing to do. Good luck, hope everything turns out well.

Thank you laurel and mrswedge unfortunately nothing near me and I know I would have to be referred by the dr so will just have to see how it goes and hope for the best.

Thank you

I would go into the hospital now! You are right these are all symptoms of pre-eclampsia and it doesn't matter what your blood pressure is. If you have protein in your urine which I am guessing you do if they sent it to the lab and you have symptoms especially blurred vision you are at high risk of developing eclampsia.

I would go into the labour ward if there is no day assessment unit (most hospitals have these now). They need to take blood and if sent urgently it should be back within hours and you need a consultant review urgently. Please don't wait.

i didn't have protein in my urine, well it didn't show up on the dip test as the Dr said 'everything looks fine but we Wilkinson send this off to check for a uti just in case and you can take some antibiotics until then.'

if anything gets worse I would go straight to the hospital the antibiotics haven't done anything yet but will take at least 24hrs to see any small difference, i just feel pretty shitty but going to try and chill.

thank you all for the help, I forgot to add i got gestational diabetes last time so have appointments for that too hopefully i won't get it this time! don't know if they are related or not.

thanks

i didn't have protein in my urine, well it didn't show up on the dip test as the Dr said 'everything looks fine but we Wilkinson send this off to check for a uti just in case and you can take some antibiotics until then.'

if anything gets worse I would go straight to the hospital the antibiotics haven't done anything yet but will take at least 24hrs to see any small difference, i just feel pretty shitty but going to try and chill.

thank you all for the help, I forgot to add i got gestational diabetes last time so have appointments for that too hopefully i won't get it this time! don't know if they are related or not.

thanks

Seriously even without the protein I would still go to the hospital. Your symptoms are highly concerning especially if you have a history of pre eclampsia in your last pregnancy. If your blood pressure has gone up and you have these symptoms you need to be seen urgently.

As a midwife if someone came to me with your symptoms even with no protein (and why did they give antibiotics if there was nothing in the urine, I am wondering if they were just trying to be reassuring) and raised but not extreme blood pressure, I would send them up to the hospital for bloods and a 24 hour urine. Please go or at least speak to your midwife or if you can't get hold of your midwife call the hospital and speak to a midwife there.

Spoke to mw she says rest and take the antibiotic s and I see her tomorrow anyway.

But I have started taking them but I honestly feel no effect fro, them at all its a low dose anyway.

if I get worse I know what to do but I can't keep pestering can I? They both say the same so I will see what tomorrow brings but as she is always late I will be sitting a long time and bp will go down when doing normal day to day stuff it is high, I know it but that wont concern them, so I'm going to have to carry on I can't rest forever unless dr orders me too or no one will be sympathetic... this is all so frustrating.

Thankyou and will update and if anyone has any more advice I will be very grateful and because of the mixed responses I'm hoping I'm doing the right thing.

Should I just call hospital sandberry im just very confused now, I reckon they think I have a infection but I will ask if they will do my bloods too