22 weeks pregnant and +++ protein in urine as well as pain

[Lili23]

Hi, basically what title says!
I’m 22 weeks pregnant with 3rd baby and this last 24 hours I’ve had a lot of strong braxton hicks.
no consistency or pattern though
a constant ache and pressure in my vagina almost like being full term with that baby’s head is there feeling if that makes sense? And general superpubic pelvic ache.
I’ve got no uti symptoms
No smell or dark colour, not peeing anymore than usual. But due to where the pain is and history of bad utis I thought I’d dip my urine for uti anyway.
Over the past 24 hours 8+ samples have all been extremely positive for protein
negative for nitrates etc. I’ve had a mild constant headache last few days but nothing unbearable.
I had hellp syndrome with my second baby in 2024 and delivered at 36 weeks
but never once had the high blood pressure just everything else ie: protein in urine, liver pain, low platelets low hb and raised liver enzymes.
Thank you in advance
( I did call mau and they said my urine tests are probably faulty and it’s probably just baby’s positioning…)

Bump

Sorry @Lili23 I don't like the sound of that combination of symptoms and I think you should go in and insist on being properly seen. Can you do that?
Hopefully everything is just fine but I wouldn't hesitate with those symptoms to make a fuss for proper testing.
Best of luck.

@TemporarilyCantDoMyself
thanks for the quick reply!
I feel I’m concerned enough to be making a post about it but they made me feel so silly when I called because I’m only 22 weeks like it’s too early for any issues 🥺🤦‍♀️
I thought with it being my 3rd baby too they’d take me more seriously. But clearly not

I would get it checked out, just as the previous poster said. Did you mention your history?

If I was you I’d go down to triage to get your urine checked as a very minimum. If your tests are faulty then a check by them will quickly expose that and then no harm done.

I agree, with your past history and symptoms you really need to be seen face to face,either get yourself there , or ring 111 or the mat unit again.

Please get seen and examined now.

I’d go in and get seen regardless. Even if your tests are faulty it’s better to be safe!

I would go and get checked for pre eclampsia

Adding weight to those advising to go and get checked. If you have s history of HELPP you absolutely need to be seen. Protein in urine, headaches etc definitely go.

As someone else who has had preeclampsia, echoing all the other pps saying to get checked out. Your history + protein + headache is all worth a visit - at the worst, it turns out to be a wasted Friday night, but if not, better to be seen sooner rather than later. Good luck and hope it does just turn out to be a faulty test!

Irresponsible of them to say all the tests must be faulty with your history. If you can go in, I would.

Update they’ve asked me to call back in an hours time as they’re extremely busy
I’ve just dipped my partners urine along side mine
his is completely negative for protein
and mines still +++ 🥲
I may just call 111 instead

I would.

Call back / 111 you need seen

An update managed to get seen by mau (here now) and protein is +++
they’ve sent it to the lab to measure exact levels which will take a couple of hours and in the meantime will do a speculum and a preterm labour swab test just because of the pains and braxton hicks

I'm so glad they're doing this.

Further update they did speculum but said my cervix was extremely vascular and bled a fair amount (wasn’t vascular during a speculum 3 weeks ago) and due to the bleeding couldn’t do the preterm swab test.
have now been sent home and told to rest and that urine is negative for uti
no explanation for the +++ protein or the braxton hicks or uterus pain either
and also told even if I went into preterm labour I’m only 22 weeks so there’s nothing they could do for baby anyway

also that I can’t be put on a ctg monitor to monitor contractions until at least 26-28 weeks so there’s not much they can do for me

I’m so sorry @Lili23 I think you’ve been treated terribly. I developed protein in urine at 16 weeks, by 22 weeks I was told to present to hospital. No other symptoms. I was closely monitored then I was admitted to hospital at 24 weeks with pre eclampsia and kept there until 28 weeks when I developed HELLP and had an emergency c/section. I was constantly checked and considered very high risk. I can’t believe they told you to go home with a ‘whatever’ essentially. It’s not good enough.

your health is at risk here. I was told in no uncertain terms not to get pregnant again after HELLP. Did none say this to you or say you’d be closely monitored if you did get pregnant again?

Id try get speaking to another medical professional. gp, midwife or go back to the hospital.HELLP is life threatening and the solution is to deliver the baby. So it’s not just about the baby it’s you as well.

I don't know what to say except I'm thinking about you and hope it resolves itself ASAP. And that you have the opportunity to rest now for as long as necessary. Do you have a DP to take care of your other DCs? Or someone who can help out?
I am shocked they couldn't have admitted you and at the very least kept an eye on you.
Wishing you well.

I’m so sorry they are not helping you more. I’m shocked to be honest and thinking about you

Hi OP, I had severe pre eclampsia in my first pregnancy and had all the symptoms you describe , it’s ridiculous they told you that your stick tests were faulty , in my experience out of date uti tests light up like a Christmas tree for everything , thinking of you and hope everything goes well .

Thank you everyone for all the advice and kind words 🙏🏻 I got home at 7am and managed to get some sleep for 5 hours.
once I woke up, I’m having at least a few strong braxton hicks every hour again and tummy gets very hard to touch all over for 30-50seconds (doctor and midwife felt this for themselves last night)
still have the pressure feeling in my vagina
urine dip as of 5pm still ++ for protein
(tmi) then taken a poo which has red blood mixed into it and fresh red blood too.
no constipation at all this pregnancy (I’m one of the lucky ones I know 🙏🏻)
no haemorrhoids or straining etc.
(before falling pregnant was under gastro to look into ibd as had some large episodes of bleeding and raised calprotectin neumerous times but lower colonoscopy was normal.
I have called mau back just now
their response “probably Ibs or hemroids
just rest and take cocodamol for the pain”
they are also aware of history and previous hellp syndrome
as well as my haemgloblin dropping from 131 to 99 in only 6 weeks despite iron tablets and iron rich diet. (They’re also aware that due to low hb I needed 2 blood transfusions at only 26 weeks with my first baby on top of iron infusions) but still insist on just taking the tablets.

my first two pregnancies I was living in London and the care was amazing couldn’t fault it.
moved up north to Yorkshire area last year and the care here has been so different in comparison.

I am so sorry they are not helping you more. Have they told you to call back if things get worse? Have they offered any advice or care