Is this pre-eclampsia?

KellyJellyfish · 2023-12-30T11:26:09+00:00

I’m seeing the doc in a week but for my own curiosity I wondered if anyone here could help me understand my results from BadgerNotes? Urine PCT test: 1.7 mg/mmol Ferritin: 24 FBC - Hb: 12.3 g/dL, 123 g/L | FBC - WCC: (Not Recorded) 10^9 /L | Platelets: 153.00 10^9 /L, 153,000.00 10^6 /L | ALT: (Not Recorded) 11.0 IU/L | Albumin: (Not Recorded) g/L | Haematocrit (HCt): (Not Recorded)(Not Recorded)% | MCV: (Not Recorded) fL

PickledScrump · 30/12/2023 11:29

If you had signs of pre-eclampsia you would be seen immediately, they don’t leave it

Fawklight · 30/12/2023 11:39

Pre eclampsia is usually recorded by proteins in urine, swelling in face and ankles and blood pressure.

namechange1986 · 30/12/2023 11:43

Which part do you think indicates preeclampsia?

Happitwist · 30/12/2023 11:44

If they thought you had pre eclampsia you would be seen immediately.

When my midwife referred me I was seen by a consultant the same day, with a plan for induction and medicine in place by the end of the day. They really don't wait around with preeclampsia, don't worry. :)

Mummyme87 · 30/12/2023 11:49

Nothing there indicates pre eclampsia, granted I don’t know what that protein level is as it’s not the same test we do.

however, pre eclampsia is persistent raised BP over 140/90 typically and protein in urine (more than a trace). There are other symptoms such as sudden onset of significant swelling (face mainly, it’s normal in feet, ankles and hands), epigastric pain, headaches that don’t settle with simple measures such as paracetamol/hydration/sleep, visual disturbances. Bloods can be deranged but the ones you’ve posted aren’t the ones used for testing for Pre eclampsia.

in short, if BP is normal and no protein in urine you do not have Pre eclampsia

Original poster

KellyJellyfish · 30/12/2023 11:52

My case is a little weird, I have some of the symptoms, but nothing super extreme. I do have protein in the urine, visual disturbances, no serious swelling though. The weirdest one however is my blood pressure and that has my midwife stumped (she called the hospital during our appointment yesterday for advice on whether I should go in or not).

basically my blood pressure readings are ‘normal’, BUT my results at the time of booking and most previous appointments were very low. So on paper my results look within normal range, but for me personally they have dramatically increased, which is what’s confusing my midwife.

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BertieBotts · 30/12/2023 11:54

What did the hospital say then and what has MW advised to do?

Pre eclampsia is no joke so you wouldn't want to be waiting a week to get it looked at.

CormorantStrikesBack · 30/12/2023 11:56

KellyJellyfish · 30/12/2023 11:52

My case is a little weird, I have some of the symptoms, but nothing super extreme. I do have protein in the urine, visual disturbances, no serious swelling though. The weirdest one however is my blood pressure and that has my midwife stumped (she called the hospital during our appointment yesterday for advice on whether I should go in or not).

basically my blood pressure readings are ‘normal’, BUT my results at the time of booking and most previous appointments were very low. So on paper my results look within normal range, but for me personally they have dramatically increased, which is what’s confusing my midwife.

The guidelines do talk about having high bp or a diastolic (bottom bp number) which is higher than booking. Off the top of my head I can’t remember if it’s a 15 or 20 increase.

I don’t see a creatinine figure in your blood results? They could do with testing that.

Original poster

KellyJellyfish · 30/12/2023 11:58

BertieBotts · 30/12/2023 11:54

What did the hospital say then and what has MW advised to do?

Pre eclampsia is no joke so you wouldn't want to be waiting a week to get it looked at.

They were also a little confused, she was speaking with another midwife I think. I have an appointment on Tuesday so they said to just come in then, but midwife said not to travel far this weekend just in case.

midwife said no point going in yesterday as Doc would likely look at blood pressure and see they’re within normal range that day and go no further, no one able to give me answers on why they’re so much higher than my previous results though (yesterday 128/86, but throughout pregnancy mine have been closer to 95/55 or higher, positive protein in urine is also a recent thing).

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Original poster

KellyJellyfish · 30/12/2023 12:01

Isn’t the creation level the urine PCR? Mines 1+ on the dipstick tests and 1.7 on the lab tests

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Original poster

KellyJellyfish · 30/12/2023 12:01

*creatinine level

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DyslexicPoster · 30/12/2023 12:02

If the midwife suspected PE she should sent you in for tests and observations.

I was told to go straight from the midwife app. Not to go via home, not to get my bag.

Original poster

KellyJellyfish · 30/12/2023 12:05

DyslexicPoster · 30/12/2023 12:02

If the midwife suspected PE she should sent you in for tests and observations.

I was told to go straight from the midwife app. Not to go via home, not to get my bag.

I guess they’re not that concerned then, just a little stumped at my rising blood pressure and positive protein in urine? She did call hospital for advise but they’re also stumped by the ‘high yet normal’ blood pressure results, which is why my midwife did the extra urine and blood tests for the lab

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Mummyme87 · 30/12/2023 12:06

The RCOG guidelines on pre eclampsia do no longer talk about a rise in blood pressure but a persistent BP over a certain amount, this changed a while ago. Urine needs to be sent off for a protein creatinine ratio (would need to be over 30 to be significant) or an protein albumin ratio where it needs to be above 8.
the bloods required for PET are FBC - looking at your platelets and HB mainly, yours are normal. Liver function to assess ALT which abnormal is above 40 on two occasions, renal function to look at creatinine trends mainly.

Mummyme87 · 30/12/2023 12:08

just saw there is an ALT result which is 11…. Totally normal. It’s fairly common to get pluses of protein in dipsticks and the result from the lab come back within normal limits

CormorantStrikesBack · 30/12/2023 12:10

KellyJellyfish · 30/12/2023 12:01

Isn’t the creation level the urine PCR? Mines 1+ on the dipstick tests and 1.7 on the lab tests

I’m not sure as it seems a different measurement from what we use. But at my hospital creatanine is a blood test.

Dibblydoodahdah · 30/12/2023 12:11

KellyJellyfish · 30/12/2023 11:52

My case is a little weird, I have some of the symptoms, but nothing super extreme. I do have protein in the urine, visual disturbances, no serious swelling though. The weirdest one however is my blood pressure and that has my midwife stumped (she called the hospital during our appointment yesterday for advice on whether I should go in or not).

basically my blood pressure readings are ‘normal’, BUT my results at the time of booking and most previous appointments were very low. So on paper my results look within normal range, but for me personally they have dramatically increased, which is what’s confusing my midwife.

I do think you are at risk of pre eclampsia as that was the same pattern that I had. Blood pressure started very low (to the point I was feeling faint) and gradually increased throughout my pregnancy. When I was admitted it had got to 150 on the top line and I had protein in my urine. I never had any swelling and only one visual disturbance. I also had HELLP syndrome which was detected by a blood test and caused other symptoms including what I thought was indigestion but was actually my liver. It was the HELLP that resulted in my admission as I had to have an emergency induction before I deteriorated any further.

CormorantStrikesBack · 30/12/2023 12:12

Mummyme87 · 30/12/2023 12:06

The RCOG guidelines on pre eclampsia do no longer talk about a rise in blood pressure but a persistent BP over a certain amount, this changed a while ago. Urine needs to be sent off for a protein creatinine ratio (would need to be over 30 to be significant) or an protein albumin ratio where it needs to be above 8.
the bloods required for PET are FBC - looking at your platelets and HB mainly, yours are normal. Liver function to assess ALT which abnormal is above 40 on two occasions, renal function to look at creatinine trends mainly.

I thought they’d moved away from it but gone back to it? Maybe they’ve moved away from it again 🤷🏻‍♀️

LangMayYerLumReek2024 · 30/12/2023 12:12

PE is high bp + protein in urine.

There may or may not be other symptoms. I never had any other symptoms. Just those.

It's treated with urgency though. If it was suspected you would have been sent to hospital for monitoring.

However if you start to develop other symptoms or feel unwell you need to contact your mw or maternity assessment immediately

CormorantStrikesBack · 30/12/2023 12:16

I just looked at the nice guidelines and pp is correct. No longer talks about a change from booking bp

Original poster

KellyJellyfish · 30/12/2023 12:18

Thanks, I don’t have the headache, I get feelings of pressure in my head though, mostly my ears (kind of like being on a plane) I’m also feeling very sick again and sometimes throwing up at night (haven’t felt this way since morning sickness in the early days) I also have bad fatigue and my heart rate is behaving strangely (resting rate when laying down very low - in the 50s, and surging to over 130 for minor activities like loading the dishwasher).

Some minor swelling in ankles and feet, but nothing crazy. Blood pressure has been rising the last few appointments.

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Mummyme87 · 30/12/2023 12:39

How many weeks are you @KellyJellyfish ? You sound very typical 3rd trimester.
@CormorantStrikesBack it moved away from that years ago, was a thing when I qualified about 15yrs ago but not for long. Obvs some trusts continued but eventually came in line with RCOG guidelines

Original poster

KellyJellyfish · 30/12/2023 13:10

Mummyme87 · 30/12/2023 12:39

How many weeks are you @KellyJellyfish ? You sound very typical 3rd trimester.
@CormorantStrikesBack it moved away from that years ago, was a thing when I qualified about 15yrs ago but not for long. Obvs some trusts continued but eventually came in line with RCOG guidelines

36 weeks

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Mummyme87 · 30/12/2023 13:21

@KellyJellyfish yeah your symptoms are very typical 3rd trimester. First tri comes back to haunt you 🥴 heart rate very high easily due to increased blood volume.
I'm 38weeks today with #3 ( also been a midwife for 15yrs) and it’s tough going isn’t it! Putting washing on the airer has been out of breath and heart racing!

congratulations aswell ❤️❤️

newrubylane · 30/12/2023 13:42

KellyJellyfish · 30/12/2023 11:52

My case is a little weird, I have some of the symptoms, but nothing super extreme. I do have protein in the urine, visual disturbances, no serious swelling though. The weirdest one however is my blood pressure and that has my midwife stumped (she called the hospital during our appointment yesterday for advice on whether I should go in or not).

basically my blood pressure readings are ‘normal’, BUT my results at the time of booking and most previous appointments were very low. So on paper my results look within normal range, but for me personally they have dramatically increased, which is what’s confusing my midwife.

It's normal for your blood pressure to increase later in pregnancy, I think. That said, I have naturally very low blood pressure and mine went up significantly and I had very swollen feet and ankles. I was finally diagnosed with pre-eclampsia when I was in labour. I'm sure they'll keep a cloae eye on it given the imcrease in blood pressure and other signs.