Bloody stupid f******g redtape.

[pie]

Ok as my blood pressure was high last Thursday the consultant wanted 3 readings over the following week to check there was no problem. I arranged to have them done at my GP's sugery as it was nearer, I don't have a car and am on the bloody crutches.

The nurse who has been taking my BP says that it was borderline high last time (wed) so I better come back for more checks. So I get to the end of the road, tears streaming down my face. SPD is simply getting worse. Theres no way in hell I can get to the surgery (about a 20 minute walk on a normal day).

So I turn round come straight home, ring GP surgery to explain...they can't send anyone out as I am under shared, call the hospital.

Call the hospital, they have no antenatal community midwives, they would be more than happy to take my BP if I come in though. ARRRRGGGGHHH. I explain, again that I can't even bloody stand today, that I have SPD. She honestly doesn't understand that I can have SPD at 21 weeks. I tell her I've had it since 10 weeks and their bloody physio put me on the crutches. I AM IN PAIN.

So she's going to call me back.

OK who should I scream at GP surgery or hospital. Can I call district nurses direct. I swear by the time any one does get to me my BP will be through the roof.

[motherinferior]

Pie, how bloody awful. I'm so sorry.

[SamboM]

Poor love. Hope the time goes quickly for you!

[pie]

Hi Sambo, thanks for asking!

I'm not allowed to take the pain killers anymore as my doctor thinks that they are passing over to the baby too much, that is the baby stops moving whenever I take them. So without them, I'm totally unable to walk, so doctor has told me to sort out a wheelchair, which hopefully I will have done by the end of the week, though I'm not having much luck.

No osteopath will treat me until the baby is born, so I'm afraid its just a case of pushing on.

I also live in a housing trust property on the first floor and my GP has written to them telling them that I need immediate rehousing, so moving will be fun!!!

Anyway baby is kicking away so it will be worth it in the end.

(can you tell I'm trying to stay positive??)

[SamboM]

Pie, how's it going now?

[SofiaAmes]

pie, I had my ds at st.mary's and my dd at qc 2 years later. As far as I could tell, (having asked a straight question and not gotten a straight answer), St. Mary's give everyone a glucose test and qc only do it if there is some sort of indication for a need, as explained quite well by leese. They should do a pee stick test every time you see the gp or go to the hospital anyway and that gives a pre-indication of possible problems.

[leese]

pie - forget about the weight - understandable the stress you've been under. Makes no difference, so don't worry about it (less to lose after too!)
In our area, Glucose Tolerance Test is only recommended in certain instances - certainly not routine for everyone, but this may vary nationwide. Our criteria for offering GTT would be:

. previous large baby (> 4.5 kg)
. high maternal body mass index (we have to work this out at booking appt now
. family history of diabetes (not late onset)
. previous diabetes in pregnancy
. two or more episodes of glycosuria (sugar in your wee)
. polycystic ovary syndrome

Thats all I can think of for now, though I may have missed something out.

Blood tests are taken if your BP is raised to check for certain things like:
. uric acid levels
. liver function tests
. clotting factors
. ureas and electrolytes

The above will often start to show abnormal/raised results in advanced cases of pre eclampsia.

[WideWebWitch]

Pie, I was wondering about you earlier. Hmm, well at least someone turned up, although it might have been nice to tell you they were coming - maybe they finally took it in that you can't move, and so assumed you'd be in, whenever they went Marina said something on another thread about a 28 wk glucose test so from that I'd guess it's normal. Agree, forget about the weight and eat something delicious.

[SamboM]

Pie, I may be wrong but I thought that everyone had a glucose test at 28 weeks? That's what they told me at C&W.

Don't worry about the weight loss, go and pig out a bit though (if you can!)

[motherinferior]

I wouldn't worry about the weight, at the very least.

Forget the hassle from the midwife, too, if you can...

[pie]

Update: no one called me back at all, but at 1pm my doorbell went and it was a community midwife from St Marys (the hospital I'm NOT booked into). Apparently some one was meant to phone, and apparently if I literally live across the road I would come under Queen Charlotted Community midwife catchment area. Oh yeah and she gave me a bit of hassle about picked QC anyway...

BP is down though, though she says the consultant should have ordered blood tests as it was intially quiet high, anyone know what she is on about?

And I have noticed in my notes for the first time that it says NEEDS GLU 28/40...does that mean I have already been deemed needing a Glucose test, I wish the bloody hospital would tell me the they are doing.

One more thing, either the scales are wrong or the stress is getting to me but I have lost 5 kilos in a week, should I be worried?

I swear I'm beginning to feel like some sort of jinxed freak.

[motherinferior]

Oh pie, what can I say. The bit I could be helpful on, I hope, is the registration. Let me know if that's the case. Like everyone else, I'm just amazed at how crap a deal you're getting, and send big cyberhugs!

[SofiaAmes]

pie, where do you live. It sounds like you must be very near me (in between queen charlottes and st. mary's). I have a car and lots of time tomorrow (I'm still on maternity leave) and would be more than willing to take you to the hospital or your gp's to get your blood pressure checked. Please send me an email through tech with your phone number and I'll call and organize with you.

[pie]

Well my GP never rang back, the St Marys m/w never called back and the Queen Charlottes m/w never called back.

Everyone is just passing the buck and I don't know where to turn as no one is even answering my calls now.

leese, I think I spoke to the head of community midwives, and she just said that as I wasn't in her area I was to be passed to another hospital (not the one I'm booked into) to get a home visit. I have no idea what to do and am tired of crying out of fustration.

[leese]

pie - why won't the midwife come and see you at home? We are not 'post natal' or 'ante natal' midwives - just 'community' midwives - therefore we visit anyone who needs to be seen, and genuinley cannot get to a surgery appt! Often visit women with SPD.
Ring the hospital and ask to speak to the community Midwifery Manager and sort it out with her. No ifs and buts - you should be seen at home - and by a midwie, not GP, Health Visitor etc

[motherinferior]

Ring the Disability Rights Commission helpline 08457 622 633 to check about registering as disabled, as well. I think your MS should swing it. But I'll help as well if you need me too.


*8ing SPD. I slipped and skidded in our bathroom a couple of days ago (on my birthday, natch) which twinged mine horribly. It's such a shadow of yours, and yet for the past couple of days even getting up has been a nightmare. I was going to post this morning to ask how you were, anyway! xxxxxxxxx

[M2T]

Pie - I was admitted to hospital at 38 wks with high BP, protein in my urine and oedema in my ankles and fingers and face... everywhere in fact! I didn't have headaches or floaters either.

I felt fabulous though and couldn't understand what the fuss was all about. They kept me in until, thankfully I went into labour at 39+2.

It was purely precautionary coz I don't think they know all that much about pre-eclampsia at the moment. Hope you get your transport sorted out. Neither dp nor I drive and I found that people were just SOOOO unsympathetic about it. One GP receptionist actually told me that I should knock on my neighbours doors (didn't know any of them) to see if they could run to the surgery!!!!?

[mears]

Have you tried cool gel pads you can get from Boots? Also, don't try to just suffer it, take paracetamol when you first feel it. Headaches can be a result of pregnancy hormones, as well as high BP. Hope they resolve soon for you.

[SamboM]

Pie, I was monitored for high bp but didn't have headaches or "floaters" (those dots you see) I did get swollen fingers though.

Different people get different symptoms, I got in a right state about it and it was nothing, but if you have raised bp and headaches then you must get it checked out even if it seems early.

How high is your bp?

[pie]

I should say that the consultant wanted my BP checked as I have been having headaches the last couple of weeks. Not the back of the head, black dots before eyes I know are associated with pre-eclampsia, but still quite bad...anyone got any advice on this?

[SamboM]

Good news Pie, and you are so welcome!

Hope the doc gets back to you soon.

[pie]

wow...ok, I know I'm pregnant but I have tears in my eyes over the generosity shown hear, and a big big BIG thank you to Sambo.

I called the number the m/w gave me...still an answer phone. Called the number you left Sambo, a really sweet guy. He said that the receptionist should not be making the call over who sees me in regard to my BP, that I need to speak to the GP or the nurse. Asked when my next appointment is, and will arrange emergency transport for that, then we will figure out something long term.

Rang back GP surgery, didn't tell the receptionist anything, just that I needed a call from my GP, so am waiting for that call back now. I'll see what she says. The nice man, Mr Smith , told me to call back after speaking to GP incase they are totally inflexible and I do have to go up there...

I'm trying to remember my breathing and stay calm as I really don't want my BP to go through the roof.

I know I'm a couple of weeks early to be looking at pre-eclampsia at the moment, but I hate sitting here thinking that something maybe being missed because of bureaucracy.

Big cyber hug going out to the mumsnet crew though {{{{}}}}

[SamboM]

Forgot to say, he is not in tomorrow so try and call today.

[poppyloppy]

You beat me to it, sobernow!

[ScummyMummy]

Wow- that sounds good, Sam. Hope it will help, Pie.