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Upper abdominal pain... paranoid! Can anyone ease my mind about HELLP?

3 replies

silverseren · 31/03/2016 20:53

I’m currently 27 weeks pregnant and want some reassurance really. For the last two months I’ve been having upper abdomen and back pain every day. The pain started just below my right rib but has spread downwards down my right rib cage and my skin is quite numb/tingly in that area now. I also have back pain in the same spot on my back. It is sore in the morning but gets progressively worse during the day and is very painful. What is worrying me is that it’s getting more painful as the days go on.

My doctor sent me to be checked out at the hospital last month, they felt the area a bit and decided it was probably rib inflammation. I’m waiting to see the physiotherapist next month. I can’t help but feel frustrated when the doctor seems to think it’s ‘one of those pregnancy things’ as I’ve not known anyone with such severe pain so persistently during their pregnancy. I just want to make sure it’s nothing more serious really than the inflammation as it’s getting to be on my mind a lot.

My blood pressure is fine and I don’t have protein in my urine when they were last checked. I have noticed my vision has got a bit worse in the last couple of months, but it has slowly been getting worse for years so likely not due to my pregnancy. Every few days I'll get a few mins of feeling like my heart is racing or I'm very anxious. I’ve also have bouts of acid reflux and occasional sick coming up my throat soon after eating. I also feel nauseous every now and again.

When reading up on ways to help the rib pain I saw a few posts from people who were discussing HELLP and it made me feel a bit paranoid. Has anyone had experience with HELLP who could perhaps tell me more about their symptoms to put my mind at rest?
How long did you suffer from rib pain before diagnosis? What type of pain was it and how severe was it? If you had vision problems, did your sight suddenly get worse or was it progressive? And were you nauseous and sick all the time or was it off and on.
I suppose I’m trying to figure out whether HELLP is always sudden in its onset, or whether it can come on gradually.

I think I've just been in a lot of pain for a long time now, and I can't help but worry for my little guy :) Any information would be great! Thanks

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silverseren · 31/03/2016 20:59

Just to add the pain is made much worse by me sitting down. It gets unbearable. Standing up or lying down for a while eases it.

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Autumn2014 · 31/03/2016 21:55

I had severe hellp syndrome and had to have an emergency section at 31 weeks.. My pain was unbearable and came on suddenly. It was in my back right hand side. Basically my liver failing.the only thing that eased the pain was when they administered the spinal block. I also had the heartburn sensation, but the difference is that normal indigestion remedies like gaviscon didn't make a difference and you get no relief. You said that your bp and urine are fine. Have you had blood tests to check your liver function and platelets? I had high bp prior to my hellp episode but no protein until I became critically ill, so the message is that things can change very quickly. My situation was it came on very quickly. I'd been an inpatient that day for bp monitoring but been discharged as it had stabilised on oral medication. My husband brought me home. I had my evening meal, felt a bit unwell, with hindsight had some funny vision where I thought the stripes on the lounge curtains moved. Went to bed with a headache, woke up at midnight with indigestion, took some gaviscon but it got worse and the pain in my chest then started to radiate to my back right hand side, at about where the height of your bra sits across your back. Woke my husband and said I didn't feel right. Rang the Delivery suit about 2am. Thought I was going to die from the pain on the drive in. Went in about 3am and was admitted with bp of over 200/140 and blood results off the scale. Stabilised with iv medication, close to fitting, starting vomiting in theatre and my baby was delivered immediately. It's really good that you are educating your self about hellp because not many people are aware of the symptoms. So, for me it was sudden. But that's only my experience I'm sure some people experience slower symptoms, just like 'normal' pre eclampsia. Getting a baseline of your liver and platelets would be useful.