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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

a+e doctor made me feel like shit...can anyone help with what to do next?

34 replies

abbierhodes · 11/04/2010 00:13

I'm nearly 37 weeks pregnant. I posted last night about swelling and itchiness. Basically, my hands and feet have been becoming more and more swollen for a few days, and no amount of resting them has made them go down.

I was going to wait until Monday when I can speak to my community midwife, but tonight they seemed to be getting worse, so I rang our out of hours service who sent me to a+e.

At a+e, I had my blood pressure taken by the triage person...it was 131/84 (high-ish for me, it never deviates from 100/60).

I was then sent to wait in another waiting room. Doctor came out, called my name. Instead of taking me to a consulting room, he spoke to me in the waiting room...asked me what i was worried about. I tried explaining to him. He looked at me like I was an idiot and said "swelling is normal in pregnancy. Itching is not related to pregnancy, are you allergic to anything?" I explained that I'm not, and have been tested for all sorts due to itching regularly before I was pregnant. He went on to ask if I've eaten sea food . I'm not allergic to seafood. He then said, "You do look a bit flushed, I'll get you some piriton." He went and fetched a box of antihistamines, and told me not to drink excessively.

Now, I don't mind being told if I'm being neurotic, but...
No one glanced at my green notes.
No one looked at my swollen ankles or hands.
I know from reading that itching can be very serious in pregnancy.
No one monitored my baby, or asked about kicks/movements etc.
No one did a urine sample.

I feel really stressed out now. I fully expected to be checked and told that there was nothing to worry about...but I wasn't checked. My midwife isn't around till Monday and I don't know what to do.

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BertieBotts · 11/04/2010 00:15

Ring labour ward for their advice - these are symptoms of pre-eclampsia and should not be ignored You might be fine but better to be checked out properly!

Saucepanman · 11/04/2010 00:19

Ring delivery suite, the number will be on your green notes, and they will let you go straight in to them (fyi without the need to go to a&e if there's a next time)

Itching does need to be checked out in pregnancy, as does your bp. Hope you are ok- ring them now.

BertieBotts · 11/04/2010 00:20

There will be community midwives on duty at labour ward or if nothing else they may be able to speak to A+E and get you seen again. They should have done a urine test at the very least!

I am sorry you have been treated like this. I am shocked that the doctor thought it appropriate to speak to you in the waiting room! I would seriously consider making a complaint, but first I would try and get yourself seen tonight. Good luck!

JodieO · 11/04/2010 00:23

Actually itching can be related to pregnancy www.patient.co.uk/health/Obstetric-Cholestasis.htm. I think you should call labour ward now as your blood pressure is higher than it was for you than before, the amount isn't as important as the amount it goes up, if you see what I mean. That doctor was dangerous.

nickschick · 11/04/2010 00:25

Definitely ring the labour ward but can I just say I have had a very strong allergic reaction to seafood just recently and boy did I swell up - despite the fact ive eaten seafood all my life.

abbierhodes · 11/04/2010 00:26

I'm just scared that they all think I'm being silly . I don't want to be branded a psycho-neurotic woman.

I've a feeling it is nothing, really, I fully expected to be told to stop worrying and go home. But to not even be examined?? Are any of you medical? Does my blood pressure sound high?

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lisad123wantsherquoteinDM · 11/04/2010 00:26

I would call labour ward and get them to see you. hope your ok

IMoveTheStars · 11/04/2010 00:27

ditto what everyone else has said. That A&E Doctor was an idiot. Your BP is high and you're itchy, you need checking out.

How the fuck dare he talk to you about your symptoms in the waiting room what a dismissive prat!

nickschick · 11/04/2010 00:28

im not medical but I think anything over 90 on the bottom number is high.

JodieO · 11/04/2010 00:28

They won't think you're silly. Please don't think that at all. They will check you and your baby over and, god forbid, if anything is wrong then you'll be in the right place. Don't risk it, it's not worth it, honestly. Please call them and don't play it down, express how badly you were treated in a&e and that they did not examine you at all, you NEED to be checked out.

lisad123wantsherquoteinDM · 11/04/2010 00:29

its not about being high, its about being high for you, that was a base line for mine but then went higher. I would go in be checked, better to be safe and be called a worrier than regret not going in imo

IMoveTheStars · 11/04/2010 00:30

131/84 isn't particularly high - are you usually 100/60 normally, or while you are pregnant? Not that it really matters, it's higher than normal, you're 37 weeks,and you need to be checked out (sorry for the second post, I just cna't believe how dismissive some doctors can be)

BertieBotts · 11/04/2010 00:30

It doesn't sound hugely high, but according to this website if it's higher than usual for you, then it should be checked. All they need to do really is a urine sample, to check the protein levels. It really does need to be checked out though, if it's pre-eclampsia then there is a very small chance it can progress into eclampsia which is very dangerous, luckily pre-eclampsia is easily managed these days, so don't worry, but do get checked!

JodieO · 11/04/2010 00:31

From what I remember (I had pe in first pregnancy) they told me anything more than 30 over your norm for the top number and 15 over the norm for the bottom number of blood pressure is high. It's done on an individual basis.

Tangle · 11/04/2010 00:31

I'm not medical but from what I know it could all be nothing. Its normal for your BP to go up at the end of pregnancy. Its normal to get some swelling at the end of pregnancy. You were itching before you were pregnant. But it could all be something - pre-eclampsia and Obstetric Cholestasis for two somethings.

Get yourself checked. You've got things going on that are concerning you - they're there to make sure those things aren't serious (apart from idiot Drs in A&E ). Of course you're a little bit neurotic - you're 37 weeks pregnant! MWs are used to it. They expect it. I'd call the labour ward and run it past them. Fingers crossed for you

JustAnotherManicMummy · 11/04/2010 00:38

Gosh that's awful. Agree with all those saying phone the labour ward. Better safe than sorry.

WomanwiththeYellowHat · 11/04/2010 00:41

Call the labour ward to check - I had lots of this in my first pregnancy and think it is always better to be checked properly and to know what is going on.

ScreaminEagle · 11/04/2010 00:51

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fabhead · 11/04/2010 00:58

I am astounded at his attitude - I had high bp at the end of both pgs and every time it went 30 over my booking one of 60 - i.e bottom over 90 they were falling over themeselves to test me for pre-eclmpsia, monitor the baby, urine tests the works - even admitted me the first time. Luckily it was just high BP both times, no pre-eclampsia - but they certainly took any signs of swelling seriously - they were always checking my fingers and ankles. I think it should be ruled out more comprehensively.

Valpollicella · 11/04/2010 00:58

Phone labour ward or EPU (they may also be able to advise). Excessive itching should always be checked out.

Don't worry about feeling silly in case there's nothing wrong. When I went in at 2.30am while 30 wks with DS as I suddently thoguht I hadn't felt him move all day, they were so good. And as soon as I was put on a trace it was ovious nothing was wrnog, but they reassured me it was the right thing to do (to come in) as I was anxious

Just ring to put your mind at rest. Please?

abbierhodes · 11/04/2010 01:04

Thank you all for being so supportive. I'm going to get some sleep and ring labour ward in the morning. I'd have to go on my own if I went now, as Dh would have to stay with the kids. I had a friend with me earlier, but I can't drag her out of bed again.

It's my 3rd pregnancy by the way...I know it shouldn't make a difference, but I'm not being PFB. I've not had anything like this before, which is what worries me...I know some women swell excessively, but I don't.

I'm more stressed about the way I was treated than the symptoms tbh.

I'm 99% sure I'll turn out to be fine (when something's wrong you just know, don't you?) but what if someone comes in who has got pre-eclampsia or something more serious?

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abbierhodes · 11/04/2010 01:07

Fabhead...what worries me is the fact that he didn't even glance at my notes, so he doesn't know that my BP is higher than my earlier ones.

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ScreaminEagle · 11/04/2010 01:13

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fabhead · 11/04/2010 01:13

what a knob. Get some rest, I'm sure it will be fine, but go back in the morning to be safe and I think you might want to query the doctor talking to you in the waiting room - hope it all goes well tommorow and you feel better soon.

nappyaddict · 11/04/2010 01:15

Hope it turns out to be nothing.