Pre-eclampsia/HELLP - Am I being paranoid?

[CherriesInTheSnow]

Has anyone ever been diagnosed with Pre eclampsia or HELLP syndrome? I can't stop worrying :(

I've had a much easier pregnancy in general this time than I did with DD, but the past 3 weeks or so, I have been gradually feeling more and more poorly.

I had a consultant appointment a couple of weeks ago and was sent a letter (apparently they couldn't get hold of me by phone, and said they would only call if something was amiss) saying I needed further blood tests for Intrisic Factor antibodies. I Googled this and it say it can lead to anaemia, so have assumed that's why I'm feeling tired a lot.

However for the past couple of days on and off I've had sharp pains under this he right side of my rib cage, and today had a little shoulder tip pain on my left side. I've had no correspondence about my blood as it was taken by a healthcare assistant who said my MW would be able to explain what's going on to me, and the letter only said to arrange a test.

Am I being super paranoid or could there be something worse going on than anaemia here? I also forgot to mention but consultant forgot to take my urine sample and I forgot as I was a bit nervous as it was my first consultant appointment, so I haven't had a urine sample taken in a couple of months now. I wish I could stop panicking about this!

Sorry forgot to mention that I haven't had blood pressure or a urine sample looked at since my 16 week appointment, so am a bit worried as I know these are generally used as the indicators of anything like PE.

If you're worried just give your midwife a call. Better to err on the side of caution :)

To test for pre e you need blood pressure taken and urine checked for protein, contact your midwife, but from what you've said I see no reason think you have pre e (I had it, sudden swelling, sky high bp, protein in urine).

When are you seeing the midwife next?

Excellent thanks for the reassurance :) I am not used to feeling so shit in the second trimester, and I have a few risk factors, but I think you're right and that it's unlikely. It is more likely the anaemia I'm pretty sure, I was just concerned by the sharp rib pains and pressure in my head, but no edema beyond normal puffy ankles (although the top of my bump is recently so swollen and solid!) I am only 25 weeks though and have an appointment on Monday, so hopefully will be reassured then. Just fed up of feeling so ridiculously shit and exhausted all the time, last time the first 20 weeks was a huge struggle and then I was fine, this time it's completely the opposite.

Make sure you get your bo and urine checked on Monday. And go straight to a£e if your symptoms get worse over the weekend.

Thanks, yes I will :) DH has already said he'd like to pop down with me at the weekend to make sure everything is okay, so if I'm feeling rubbish I will definitely go!

If you're worried, call the number on your maternity notes, ask them if they can do a blood test for pre-eclampsia, or just check you over. For most women PE is picked up by raised BP or protein in urine, but not always. They regularly check blood for women who have symptoms and would rather women call in and get seen than not. You will be assessed, someone will listen to baby, they'll do your BP and urine anyway, but might also do the blood test to make absolutely sure.

After my hands and feet ballooned a couple weeks ago, my ma insisted I call the doctor. (I don't bother with midwife she works 1 day a week)
The doctor called me back for a telephone consultation. My surgery has a BP monitor so she asked me to come in straight away, pee in a pot and do my blood pressure and to hand it in at reception. 2 hours later she called back everything was fine.
It's a simple check to rule it out. They could probably do it at a walk in centre.