Anyone experienced this re: preeclampsia?

[therumoursaretrue]

Hi,

I know there's a couple of threads about preeclampsia but I have a few specific questions so hoping to get a bit of perspective and find out if anyone has been in a similar
situation?

Before I got pg I never had any BP problems, but throughout this pregnancy my BP has been a bit of an issue from quite early on.

It has been pretty high on a number of occasions, and I have had two emergency admissions to the day unit because of this so it could be monitored. It did eventually come down. I am also having BP checked by community midwife atleast once a week.

I can't remember what it's been each time but I know it was 151/115 on one occasion.

Anyway I have been checking urine everyday and have had low levels of protein on 2 occasions but these went back down again so I was told not to worry.

My question really is how likely is it to have preeclampsia if your BP is not consistently high but only high sometimes? And if proteinurea levels are not 'high enough'?

Has anyone experienced preeclampsia but not had high levels of protein?

I am worried sick as I have constantly felt just not right throughout the 2nd part of my pregnancy. I also have had strange headaches, floaters in front of my eyes, occasional pain under my ribs, and have noticed my ankles and face puffy on occasions.
Also have had ringing in my ears.

The midwives I have seen have been told all of this. However they seem unconcerned aslong as my urine is clear on that day. I am having shared care and find it has been a little inconsistent.

Does anyone have any experience of this at all?

TIA

Should also mention if you have gotten this far that I am 27 weeks pg.

Have you had bloods done to check liver etc? I had PE and the swelling came before the protein and the HBP. I don't want to scare you but I would be more pushy in view of the floaters and head aches. PE is a set of symptoms and you are describing a fair few of them. If you are swollen, have higher than usual BP I am not sure why you aren't being investigated more thoroughly. I would speak to your midwife and explain your concerns. If you do have it you will need extra monitoring and checking and they will keep a really close eye on you. Let us know how you get on. The threads on here re PE seem to have some very knowledgeable people on so I would get on there too.

I had really really bad swelling in my feet and ankles from about 34 weeks, BP shot up at 36 weeks to 160/110. Only ever had 1+ protein. I had some quite bad visual problems again from 34 weeks (lost peripheral vision in left eye, flashy lights). Was going in to the day unit for monitoring every day and dipping urine at home. Eventually they induced me at 38 weeks. I was on Labetelol, never formally diagnosed with PE.

So my advice would be to call or go in every time you're even slightly worried about anything :)

Thanks for your reply. I haven't had bloods done, think I may push for them when I see the consultant.

In fairness to the midwife I have been seeing most often she has had me in twice this week to have BP checked. It was high the first day but not the second. She has also booked me in every week to have BP checked so she does seem keen to keep an extra eye on me. It's just that she seems quite

Oops posted too soon!

She seems quite hung up on the protein levels and just sends me off home again of they are clear. With all the other symptoms I have started to wonder if maybe I need to be a bit more forceful about how I'm feeling.

Thanks for sharing that oblivious. I am just concerned if there is any kind of problem it will be overlooked due to lack of protein so good to have your opinion. Will definitely continue to keep an eye on myself.

It was actually my nail technician who said to me about my ankles being swollen, she is also pg and said she had worried and worried after my appointment so had to text me to let me know!

Hello, well I had a very easy pregnancy, BP went up a little. Towards the end of my pregnancy I had swollen face, swollen ankles, was having a few flashing lights and nosebleeds and +1 protein. These ARE all common in a normal pregnancy, and I was told by my midwife not to be a worry wart. That was fine until I gave birth and then had a couple of eclamptic fits because my PE had gone unnoticed, or they say I just had very sudden onset PE in labour which was undetected.

My case is a ridiculously rare one so my point is not to alarm you but I went with what I was told by my very experienced midwife. And to be fair, ninety nine per cent of the time it wouldn't be anything to worry about. But you know your body and if I were you, I would push for additional checks because you are exhibiting quite a few symptoms. BUT remain calm in the knowledge that your midwives are probably assessing you correctly :)

Let us know how you get on

Xxx

Hi rumours

I'm not a health care practitioner, just a pre-eclampsia obsessive and from what I've read, it seems it IS possible to go on to develop PE without raised proteinuria. I think I read it in some MNers experiences on the PE mentalling thread. (join us btw )

Also, the NICE clinical guidelines for the treatment of hypertension in pregnancy - here may help you to understand your treatment and self-advocate if your hospital are not following them. Definitely worth a read.

Thanks misspiggy for sharing your experience. I'll definitely just try to be aware. Back in for BP check again tomorrow.

hambles I have taken a look at the NICE guidelines, thanks for linking them. I'm not convinced that they have been keeping a tight enough eye after reading that. Definitely going to bring it up with the consultant and ask for blood test.

In my first pregnancy I had extremely swollen feet and ankles,swollen wrists,and very high BP at the end( and at times slightly raised protein) I was ?pre eclampsia.

It was only on my next pregnancy that they told me it wasn't pre eclampsia, and that they'd 'tested' when I went in to have DC1.

I had PE with my DD. My BP had always been good but went up and down from 34 wks and my hosp started getting in to the DAU 2x a week. I had between 1+ and 3+ protein in each pee sample each time. They always stressed to me that if I had any severe headache or visual disturbances, to go straight in to the delivery ward and get checked out. You really should keep on about the headaches. Its what they seemed to be most concerned about with me.
In the end they decided to start 'sweeping' at 37 wks but after 3 and no movement I was admitted for induction. Long story but ended up being 'induced' all week and still have c-section. Seems little madam was quite happy where she was!!

Hi, the statistics seem to be that if you have high blood pressure early in pregnancy / before pregnancy your risk of pre-eclampsia seems to be quite high, around 30%. So, yes I think you are right to be concerned. [having said that most of those 30% still get close to term before they have to deliver and go home well with a healthy baby].

Its good that you have not developed proteinuria too, but i would keep checking this. Your symptos and just not feeling right worry me and I would push for more detailed invesitgations e.g.t he blood tests for liver enzymes, platelets etc as well.

Thanks for your experiences it's interesting to hear how it developed with others and also reassuring that pre-e wasn't always the outcome!

Yes Jules that's one of the reasons I am keeping an eye. My BP first went up at 19 weeks and I had floaters then too. I've had no previous problems with BP though, it's always been a bit on the low side if anything so was concerned that it was so high so early on.

Felt really ill on Wednesday night and my ankles were massive. My mum rang the hospital (I was in too much of a state!) who said it was most likely the weather and keep feet up but to ring back immediately if I'd any floaters. She explained I have had them for weeks and MW told her to bring me straight in if I'd sudden pains below my ribs. Can't say I was that impressed, seems to be a hazard of shared care that you don't always get to speak to someone who is familiar with your circumstances which annoys me a little.

Had BP checked on Thursday and it was fine again so think I just need to keep being as vigilant as possible.