severe pitting edema/possible pre-eclampsia questions..

cindy453

This weekend I had to go to labor and delivery b/c my legs were so, so swollen I could hardly walk. They ran the pre-e labs and they came back normal. However, my BP did jump around some- would go from 100/60 to 136/79, and back again.

My OB took me off of work and I'm supposed to rest and put my feet up until I see them tomorrow. The swelling gets better if I can stay with my feet up for a long time, but the minute I stand up it's back again. The pitting is really bad- they stay for 5 minutes or so. 

I have other pre-e symptoms, as well- visual disturbances, headaches, high heart rate... and of course the swelling. If you had pre-e, what was the first sign? Does the swelling come before the high bp? 

If it really is just the swelling, will I have to remain on bedrest for awhile? It really hasn't improved much at all...  I'm nervous about what they are going to decide tomorrow.

sarahtx57

my swelling came before the pre-e. swelling started at 28 weeks, followed by, hand swelling, severe carpal tunnel, due to the swelling, then face, headaches etc.

I was in and out of the hospital for pre-e testing. It was PIH for a while and turned into pre-e at 33 and some days. I was induced at 35 weeks and ds spent 17 days in the nicu.

I was on bedrest for those entire 2 weeks and was in an out of the hospital on magnesium sulfate. Just prepare yourself.

Let mek now if you have any questions!

hang in there!!!

mrsjrmiller

I was very swollen before any other symptoms surfaced. At that point my BP was elevated but no protein and my enzymes were normal.  That was the case for about 3 weeks then everything started to get out of wack.  I did multiple 24 hour urines and it went from+1, to +2 to +3... All the while my BP went up and up. I was hospitalized at 26 weeks, had BPs of 188/112 and made it a week before my c section. I hope things work out in your favor. The best thing to do is REST!!!! It will do wonders for you, even if it is boring or depressing - stay in bed (on couch) and relax. 

cindy453

thanks for responding! I'm really nervous about what they are going to say tomorrow... I'm so, so swollen all over, and having headaches and seeing stars/black spots. My joints even feel achy... I'm assuming from the swelling?

Did you monitor your BP at home at all? Or just rely on visits to the OB? My grandma has a BP machine that she said I could borrow, I didn't know if the home ones were as accurate though... 

For the 24 hour urine test do you have to be in the hospital, or do you do it at home? I've been drinking a TON of water, and I've read that can decrease the protien in a single urine dip, but over the course of a day it could still be too high... 

Halo79RN

my baseline was 90/60. I started with a heart arrhythmia that sent my rate up into the 160s at times for brief moments at 20wks,  then labile (up and down) pressures mid pg.  at 28 wks m/s came back with a vengance, at 31 1/2 wks I puffed up and gained a ton of weight literally overnight. I gained in my hands and face first. my hands would go numb or would hurt constantly, I'd wake with numb hands.  My 5 1/2 rings were gone and I purchased 8s for myself just b/c I felt naked... by 34wks, I could no longer wear those.  also around 32 wks, my b/p started to stay up, mid 130s over upper 80s,  my ob said pree. my dipsticks rarely showed more than trace for the next few weeks.  I would have headaches, right upper abd pressure and pain, visual issues (saw flashing stars, blurry gray spots, blurry vision) at 35wks I started feel insane. I just felt reved up and anxious for no reason.  my legs finally caught up to my hands and face (swelling), I had hyper reflexes, they did the 24 hr urine (at home, they give you the canister to collect and will give you instructions), my protein level came back 1050, the day I turned it in, the dipstick showed 2+, I collected second starting the day of the results (so a day later) that came back 1350, the day before induction my pressures were super high (highest was 150s/120s) and I was spilling 4+ protein in the urine.  I was induced at 36wk 5d, dd was born at 37wk, I was on mag from the time they broke my water and then for almost 2 days after.  I don't remember much.  I know my pressures stayed super high for 2wks, just high for 4 additional weeks and then up and down for months. 

with number 2, my pressures were back down as baseline (100/60s), I saw stars throughout... but at 37wks I woke feeling off, anxious, headache, then nosebleed, checked and pressure was high. was induced within a week. pressures came right down with delivery and have stayed down. 

I'm so done with pg. 

 

good luck! I always think of you high risk ladies when I say my prayers. 

mrsjrmiller

First, it made me chuckle that Halo79RN said I am so done with pregnancy. I am pregnant right now but feel the same way. I feel off and anxious like I am waiting for the shoe to drop... I cannot wait to meet my baby girl and I may make it through this without any issues  - but this is too tough.....

As for monitoring at home, I do now. I do not have to report my daily readings to my doc at this point but I keepa  check for my own knowledge. I would either take your grandma's with you to your next appointment and use it fairly soon after or before the nurse does it to compare how accurate it is. But I find it comforting to have one at home... Good luck!

sarahtx57

cindy453:

thanks for responding! I'm really nervous about what they are going to say tomorrow... I'm so, so swollen all over, and having headaches and seeing stars/black spots. My joints even feel achy... I'm assuming from the swelling?

Did you monitor your BP at home at all? Or just rely on visits to the OB? My grandma has a BP machine that she said I could borrow, I didn't know if the home ones were as accurate though... 

For the 24 hour urine test do you have to be in the hospital, or do you do it at home? I've been drinking a TON of water, and I've read that can decrease the protien in a single urine dip, but over the course of a day it could still be too high... 

yes, your joints probably hurt from the swelling. I couldn't use my hands in the morning because they were so swollen and achy.

I took my bp at home if I had a severe headache...which was pretty much every day. I wasn't going to the ob anymore because I was in and out of L&D every other day.

The first 24 hr urine, I did at home after staying in the hospital two days. That first one came back ok. They sent me home. I was home one day before getting another severe headache and high BP spike that I went back to L&D where they put me on magnesium sulfate and collected another 24 hr urine with a catheter (if your on mag, you can't get out of bed and have to be on a liquid diet). That's the one that came back high.

I would get the home monitor. It's what sent me to the hospital every other day, was I got a horrible headache, saw stars, took my bp and it was 160/100 so I would have to go in.

Continue drinking water, it's suppose to help with the swelling. If the protein is measureable the water won't affect it.

hang in there!! and rest!!!!!!! left side is best!