What would you do? BP & head related

[Thattwatoverthere]

I'm 31+4 today and have been suffering with recurrent migraines for the last 2 weeks, I'm prone to them anyway but so far in this pregnancy I've managed to avoid them.

At my 31 week check up I mentioned that I'd had a permanent headache due to not being able to take my usual painkillers and it was picked up that I had raised blood pressure (it had been fine up until this point). I was sent to the MAU to be checked in case of pre eclampsia. My urine and bloods were checked and all was ok so came home feeling better about it.

2 days on and the headache hasn't eased at all and I have intermittent pains in the side of my bump and my back/chest. I know that it's not PE but should I be doing something else about it? My OH has made me ring in work for the last 2 days and won't let me out of bed which is a bit annoying but I don't really know where to go from here.

Any advice or being told to get on with it welcome!

Speak to midwife or GP again.

Yes, call Midwife or GP. You need to be checked again. Just because it wasn't PE a couple of days ago doesn't mean it isn't now. Midwives and GPs are always happy to see you if you feel something isn't right. They would rather you see them unnecessarily than the worst happen.

You've but seen a GP? Go there.

PE can come on very fast. If your head won't shift and you've now got abdominal pain I'd be contacting MAU for urgent assessment.

Speak to your midewife again. Mine tells me evrytime I see her to call either her or triage if I have any headaches as I was also tested for pre eclampsia

I did get a GP appointment happily. My BP was raised whilst I was first in there then went down again before I left which is great.
She's put down the migraines to stress and told me to not do anything stressful. Unfortunately work at the minute is mad and isn't likely to change until spring at least by which time I'll be on mat leave. I can't be signed off currently so I'll have to speak to my boss on Monday to tell her the situation which will go down like a lead balloon
And the pains I was getting in my bump making me wince every time? Baby's elbows apparently...
I have another midwife appointment this week so will see how that goes.

Just out of interest, what are your usual painkillers? I'm taking otc co-codamol for SPD and migraines as necessary. Are you unable to take it as it really is much better than paracetamol.

I used to take 800mg ibuprofen, nothing else touches it. My GP looked into codeine but because I'd had a reaction before to it didn't want to take the risk. There aren't any preventatives they're happy for me to take either

Oh dear, what a shame. I really feel for you. I think I'd die without being able to take codeine when I need to.

Just an idea, but Boots sell this still called Lavender Water or Eau De Cologne - they're these splash things that smell very fresh with a high alcohol content. I soak my head with them (West Indian thing) and tie up hair in a turban and as it evaporates it cools the head and really dies give some relief. Better than the 4Head sticks (which I also use).

Thanks for the tip! I do use 4head but great to have more options. The cold, stick on, forehead and neck strips are pretty handy too but warm up a bit too fast for me