I'm a mess and think I'll have a break down in the next 5 and a 1/2 weeks...(longish)

softservecity · March 2014

Woke up and my ankles and hand swelling had not gone down. Also had swelling real bad around right eye. Went to work and had school nurse check BP and got 121/93. After sitting and resting awhile she rechecked and got 130/98. So my doc had me go to hospital to be monitored. No protein in urine but they did find 4+ ketone level. They gave me a bag of IV fluids and my ketone level came down to 1+ (yay improvement!). Oh, and BP at hospital read 107/60. So that's all good news!

Anyways, I'm confused and concerned and really want to do everything right. Doc thinks I was dehydrated but I drink about 70-80 ounces of water every day! Another reason you develop Ketones is lack of carbs to convert to energy basically sending your body into starvation mode. Well... Last week I was told to cut all carbs and all fruit except berries. I asked about seeing a nutritionalist but my docs office didn't think this would be nesseccary. They also said if I'm eating enough other food I shouldn't have this ketone problem. I think I'm eating enough.. I'm definitely not starving.. And ive gained 31 pounds at 32 weeks. But now I'm like, "Am I dehydrated or starving?"

I can't wait for these last weeks to be over only because the stress of all this. I constantly have a 20 ounce cup with me that I refill ALL the time with water so I can't be thirsty and I (and my doc) don't want my amniotic levels to continue to rise which is why I was told to cut carbs/fruit... I just feel like whatever I try is wrong since I still end up in L&D being monitored.

softservecity · March 2014

Sorry if I rambled. I told y'all I was a mess :-)

QOTR · March 2014

I'm sorry. That sounds very frustrating! I hope that things settle down and you can enjoy these last few weeks.

whitneymarie003 · March 2014

I'm sorry that all happened! I hope you're able to relax and enjoy the rest of the pregnancy without anymore disruptions like that.

sparklingdiamond · March 2014

I am sorry for the scare! I hope things settle down and go more smoothly for you now!

spacepotatoes · March 2014

I don't know anything about ketones but it sounds really frustrating to be dealing with conflicting information from all sides! I'm sorry.

cnbean · March 2014

Sorry it seems like you are getting conflicting info. I would up your water intake though. From what I've read 80 oz of water might not be enough for a pregnant lady. Easier said than done I know! Good luck and hopefully things will settle down.

Xath · March 2014

Agree with PP, 80-90oz might not be enough. I have to have about 120oz a day to keep my contractions in check.

Sorry you're dealing with this.

tjkdlhb · March 2014

That sounds frustrating.

gurleymomma · March 2014

Hang in there.it will be over before you know it.

Peaceb0ne · March 2014

Sorry you are having a rough time

.

spinsoffresonance · March 2014

Cutting all carbs and fruit sounds like a very strange recommendation to me (I'm no doctor though so don't listen to me) when you're trying to grow another being. I would push to get a referral to a nutritionist.

keeumm · March 2014

I'm sorry you're dealing with this. I hope you are able to find answers.

Asantusa1 · March 2014

Sorry that must be so frustrating. Hope things improve

Tnpeach · March 2014

I hope thing get better, and quickly. I agree with PP, though. Try to get a referral to a nutritionist.

ehowa499 · March 2014

I hope you don't have to go through such a stressful situation again, I can't even imagine. I'm glad you are doing better now and I hope you can get things straightened out!

Bootsie327 · March 2014

Aw man, that's frustrating, I'm sorry. I guess just do the best you can...hopefully the weeks fly by!

Jillzy86 · March 2014

I'm sorry. I would try to contact the nutritionist even though the Dr said you didn't need too. It seems like something that would only help you and baby.

CopperPoppy · March 2014

Wow. What a stressful situation. I hope you and your doctor figure out a better plan tht helps you get through the next few weeks a little more smoothly. Glad you're doing better.

IBackBevo · March 2014

I don't mean to scare you...I really, really don't. But, have you done a 24 hour urine?

I had a similar situation (minus the ketones) in my first pregnancy. I had high blood pressure, swelling and headaches. My OB sent me to the hospital. The L&D took my BP laying down (not a reliable way) and it was normal. Spot urine found no protein. They sent me home and told me I was having migraines. Weeks went by and I got sicker and sicker. Finally found out baby was growth retarded. They kept telling me I was fine and blowing me off. Finally, I read where only the 24 hour urine is reliable for dx pre-e and I did one on my own and took it in. It came back that I had severe pre-e.

I think the ketones could be from cutting the carbs and fruit...but I am not doctor. I just know when I did Atkins like 10-12 years ago, I would actually measure for ketones because then I was supposedly in the correct fat burning mode.

JAM85 · March 2014

I would second getting a 24 hour urine to cover your bases. Also the carbs...unless you are eating a crap ton of vegetables and lean protein as in over 100g of protein which can be hard for most people who don't count or track food then how much you eat has no direct effect on ketones. If you really dropped carbs that quick (which I assume was a GD rec and still odd) then yes ketones are likely from that. You could eat tons of fatty meat, good fasts, and vegetables and be in ketosis not to mention have your appetitie drop which is the whole low carb premise. I would question why such a drastic reduction in carbs right now- GD is about controlling carb amount and placement no low carbing especially if that is drastically different from how you are before.

softservecity · March 2014

Thanks ladies!

IBackBevo said:

I don't mean to scare you...I really, really don't. But, have you done a 24 hour urine?

I had a similar situation (minus the ketones) in my first pregnancy. I had high blood pressure, swelling and headaches. My OB sent me to the hospital. The L&D took my BP laying down (not a reliable way) and it was normal. Spot urine found no protein. They sent me home and told me I was having migraines. Weeks went by and I got sicker and sicker. Finally found out baby was growth retarded. They kept telling me I was fine and blowing me off. Finally, I read where only the 24 hour urine is reliable for dx pre-e and I did one on my own and took it in. It came back that I had severe pre-e.

I think the ketones could be from cutting the carbs and fruit...but I am not doctor. I just know when I did Atkins like 10-12 years ago, I would actually measure for ketones because then I was supposedly in the correct fat burning mode.

They were going to have me do 24 hour hold but with BP being better at hospital and ONLY finding ketones it was cancelled since they thought I was just dehydrated. I've added carbs back in to my diet I'm just really limiting them.

Where did you get your test strip when you did your own?

softservecity · March 2014

Kimbus22 said:

I'm sorry you're getting such conflicting information. You've gotten good advice here.

I will second (third? fourth?) upping your water intake though. 80oz is not a lot. I was doing almost double that with my last pregnancy. Didn't feel thirsty at all, I thought I was floating. But when I went for my induction, I was so severely dehydrated that it took 4 nurses and 45 minutes to get an IV in me because my veins kept collapsing.

I'm trying to up the water. I keep a 20 ounce sports bottle at work that I keep filled. Today I felt like my work day was filled with drinking and peeling! Lol

momthatlifts · March 2014

Today was the second time my doctor has also told me I'm dehydrated. But I don't drink nearly as much water as you so it makes sense. Honestly 70 to 80 oz. A day seems like more than plenty to me. Wish I could be some help

. MH and my dad both get on to me about my water intake but I don't drink a lot because I already get up to pee way too much at night which makes it hard to fall asleep, on top of my insomnia. Anyways, good luck just keep drinking your water and I hope it works itself out

kat8805 · March 2014

The "healthy lifestyles" nurse from Anthem BCBS that calls and harassed me about being healthier every other month, said that at least 100oz should be taken in by a pregnant woman. There is your number. As far as the ketones, your Dr should know exactly where those came from if they recommended cutting all carbs and fruits. As I said the other day when you asked about this change, your Dr sounds like an idiot. You can ask any number of the GD ladies, cutting carbs completely isn't part of the GD diet, and their OB isn't the one making dietary recommendations. You need to see a nutritionist, or stuff what your Dr said about the carbs. Cutting carbs completely will essentially put your body is weightloss mode, and if you aren't eating enough elsewhere, it will also put you in starvation mode. The ketones come from your body burning strictly protein and fat, since it has no carbs to burn. That recommendation was a poor suggestion of how a pregnant woman should be eating, GD or otherwise.

sheriot · March 2014

I agree with @kat8805, that's an awful recommendation. I was dx with GD and the nutritionist didn't mention cutting out carbs at all, just learning how to balance my diet so I didn't end up harming my baby.

Want a personalized experience?

I'm a mess and think I'll have a break down in the next 5 and a 1/2 weeks...(longish)

Re: I'm a mess and think I'll have a break down in the next 5 and a 1/2 weeks...(longish)

Choose Another Board

Search Boards