Two week long migraine

[Hurtyhead00]

Hi all just wanting to get some advice here
I’m 21 weeks, the last two or three weeks I’ve had headaches every single day. They are like migraines and always on the right side. Sometimes worse than others.
Today I’m literally bed bound, I can’t even look after my toddler. I’m wondering what’s the best option for me, should I call 111 to see an out of hours gp? Or is the maternity unit an option? My hospital have a walk in maternity unit if I had any issues but I’m not sure if this is maternity related. I have been warned about pre eclampsia but my midwife didn’t say if I was high risk or low risk, my urine was also clear of protein last time I went which was about a month ago although I know pre eclampsia is more common after 20 weeks. I can also hear the blood rushing in my ears which is making me think it’s a blood pressure thing. Please advise if anyone has had this or knows the best/quickest course of action ?
Thanks

Also I have been taking regular paracetamol but it hasn’t really helped muxh

Bumping for you OP as haven't a clue but I would be calling NHS direct if Dr google doesn't help.

Have you seen your midwife or anyone in these last two weeks? Has your blood pressure been checked? I’d give your midwife a ring.

@TwinsTrollsAndHunz I haven’t seen anyone since 2nd of jan when I last saw midwife, to be honest I’ve sort of just got on with it because I’ve been so busy, toddler has just started nursery etc. I’m going to call 111 as I’m not actually sure if I can get in touch with my midwife? I’ve only been given the number for the labour ward.

You haven’t got a number for the community midwifery team looking after you in pregnancy? Then give labour ward a call and ask the question. They’ll be best placed to advise you if that’s the only contact number you’ve been given.

I’m not a midwife but was a nurse and my first thought would be ruling out pre-eclampsia.

All the best

Hello, doctor here, sorry you’re feeling so rubbish. A two week headache to the point of being unable to carry on with your normal life needs to be checked out. I would absolutely want to see you if you were my patient.

I’d go via your GP - if your blood pressure and urine is ok, you still ought to be checked out for other causes. GP can either refer on to maternity ward or to hospital medics depending on their findings (or reassure you and send you home!) Don’t wait til Monday, contact the out of hours GP. Hope you feel better soon

I'm in the exact same boat as you but I'm 14 weeks - I have a blood pressure machine and mine is completely normal at all times in the day so I'm thinking mine must just be hormones hope you get it sorted though!

I have called 111 who have told me to contact my closest hospital maternity triage (walk in). I’m not booked at that hospital though so I think I will just call the one at the one I am booked at, which is only an extra 15 min drive.

Fair enough. Do it ASAP.

I’m here now and they are just telling me it’s a symptom of pregnancy and I’m just dehydrated etc. My urine has a lot of ketones (not sure what that is) and my pulse is high but they said it’s from not drinking enough water. This is my second baby and I’ve been drinking way more water than I did with my first and I never had headaches like this with my first pregnancy either

Hmmm. Who examined you? As in midwife, Dr etc?

Ketones are a by product of the fat metabolism process in the liver, they appear in urine in certain circumstances, the most common being undereating, starvation, carb restricted diets and untreated diabetes.

Was there glucose/sugar in your wee too?

Have you got ‘pear drop’ breath?

Are you eating enough or suffering with HG in this pregnancy?

How much is ‘way more’ water? Did you tell them how much you’re drinking? Are you more thirsty than usual? Going to the loo more frequently? Have you been tested for gestational diabetes in this pregnancy?

If you aren’t happy, push them for more answers. As the medic poster up thread said, a 2 week long headache that affects your daily living so profoundly is not normal and should not be fobbed off.

@TwinsTrollsAndHunz it was a midwife then a doctor and then another doctor. The ketones were a separate issue combined with high pulse and basically I was dehydrated. The pulse improved immoderately after I had drank a pint of water.
Then the doctor came round and said the headache and protein in my urine pointed to pre eclampsia so they have sent off bloods for testing and are going to call me back with results. I was also examined by a stroke registrar who thinks that I have high fluid pressure on my brain and there’s a leak somewhere, he said he thinks it’s most probably this because of the way the headache gets worse when I stand up. I’ve got to go to a neurology appointment in a couple of weeks and have a lumbar puncture.
So all in all I’ve come away with no diagnosis 🤷🏻‍♀️

Immediately not immoderately sorry

I’m glad to hear they took you seriously and you were reviewed by multiple HCPs to cover all bases 👍

You have one diagnosis (dehydration) and follow up for further investigation to rule out a second (with the neurologist). They’ve also ruled out life threatening emergencies, so that’s reassuring!

Keep track of your fluids (make sure you’re drinking at least 2L a day) and I hope you feel better soon. Awful trying to soldier on when you’re feeling rubbish!

Ah, that’s a lot clearer 🙂 after your second post. I hope you get some answers and relief soon

You poor thing. I had a migraine that went on for 5 days at 20 weeks. They're apparently a common second trimester thing. I was given some cocodamol (and told it was safe to take it again if I needed it up until 6 weeks before delivery). It relieved my pain enough for me to sleep properly and within 2 days I felt lots better. My BP was fine so not worried about PE. Getting your pain under control is step 1 I would
Say and then consider if you want to do any further intervention?

I did have loads of water to drink while I was there and also some paracetamol and still came home with a headache/woken up this morning with it so I don’t think it’s just dehydration. I’ve had a dehydration headache before and it has always gone with a big glass of water and paracetamol let alone lasted two weeks. I suppose I’ll have to wait for my results and neurology appointment