Severe pain and ?2+ protein in urine

[chopsface]

I'm 23 weeks pregnant and this morning I had to call myself an ambulance as I had severe abdo pain after walking to the bus stop. It was agony and I was lying on the floor at home dizzy and covered in sweat. By the time the paramedics arrived the pain had subsided somewhat but they checked my blood pressure, temperature, tummy and prick of blood from my finger - all normal. They then drove me to see the emergency GP at my surgery who listened to baby's heart and felt my uterus for cramping. All fine.

So no real explanation. I'm taking ferrous sulphate and wondering if they could be the cause as I read they could cause bad cramping. The GP just said to try them a few more days to see if the pain continues and then try a liquid form. I've already been on them nearly a month.

The other thing was my urine. There was a young observing Dr in with the GP this morning and he took my sample for a dipstick test. I'm sure he said "nothing, only 2+ protein" when he came back in the room. I thought nothing of it until I got home as I was still in a bit of a shocked daze from my ride in an ambulance! 2+ protein is not normal right? I phoned the GP and explained the situation to the receptionist. She read my notes and said the GP had put "nothing of note" against my urine sample. I'm wondering if I just misheard the young Dr, or whether the GP misheard! I am due to call the GP again tomorrow afternoon to further discuss my iron supplements so I'll him again then. But I feel like I'm going mad!

Whereabouts in the abdomen was the pain? The way you've described the incident is similar to when I've had attacks related to gallstones. For me the problem developed shortly after pregnancy but I've heard from several people that developed it during pregnancy. Something to do with changes in hormone levels. Anyway for me the pain starts as a stitch like pain low on the right side of abdomen. It then increases in intensity and spreads up towards the left shoulder but I believe it varies for different people. My attacks are usually accompanied by sweating, dizziness and nausea and can last anywhere between 15 mins and 10 hours at varying levels of pain.
Of course I am not a doctor and could be barking up completely the wrong tree but that's what you're post made me think of.

Are you constipated? I got in a terrible state when taking iron tablets when pregnant.
Sweats, abdo pain etc.

I think you need a follow up - any pain that severe and you need to know what the cause was. That needs a thorough check up from your GP, not just a phone chat about iron supplements.

Gallstones, severe constipation, pre eclampsia and rib inflammation (to name just a few) could be the cause - or it could be something benign, but I think you need to discuss this with your doc.

The +2 protein again could be something or nothing - it's not uncommon with a uti, a contaminated sample or just to randomly have a bit of spillover due to increased pressure on your kidneys, but to be honest they should probably have sent a sample for culture if you'd presented with abdominal pain...

Talk to your doc - this has obviously shaken you and it'd be good to get to the bottom of it.

muso the GP poked a certain area in his examination which I'm sure was for the gallbladder. It didn't hurt on pressing.

fanny I did have a few painful poos in the last few weeks but I haven't been too bad.

Skipton just spoke to the GP again. He's prescribed me opramazole (sp) as well as more iron. I'm not massively convinced it's indigestion. I've had indigestion after rich foods, wine etc and it felt nothing like that. As for the protein he said yes there was some, but he's not worried.... Seeing the Midwife in 2 weeks so I'm hoping she'll test my wee again and tell me what it means.