Cant shake this feeling :( update

thompnia · August 2014

I am so scared to go to my Dr. Appointment tomorrow. In the last four days, I've gained five pounds. Granted, I didn't poop today, but I did yesterday like normal. My ankles look swollen but there is no pitting edema. I will be 22 weeks on Sunday and prior to this gain, had only gained about four pounds (give or take.)

Background. I had mild preeclampsia with my son and was induced at 37 weeks. I didn't have high pressures with him until 30 weeks or so. My last appointment (16 weeks) I had a slightly elevated pressure, but I was so nervous at that appointment (I went in for cramping) that I wrote it off.

I am terrified that I will have a sky high pressure tomorrow and be put on restrictions. I have so much to do and cannot imagine asking my husband to do it all. I am probably being irrational but I am freaking out.

Requesting prayers please. And maybe someone to tell me that I'm being irrational and shouldn't worry so much.

**Update**

B/P 122/80 and ankles looked way better after sleeping on my left side last night. OB and I joked that I'm probably just full of shit and retaining water. Going to start taking magnesium with my prenatal vitamin. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers

Maebb · August 2014

I'm sorry. I have an appointment tomorrow, and I'm nervous too. I'll be thinking about you!

It sounds like you're just carrying extra water. Whether it's edema or something else, I hope the doctor helps you figure it out, and hopefully the answer will not be something that limits your activity level too much. And of course I hope the baby is healthy and can be carried as full term as possible. Thoughts and prayers!

12chachacha · August 2014

You're being irrational and shouldn't worry so much :-).

Seriously though, don't worry about what you can't control, and don't worry about how you'll deal with restrictions until you find out you'll actually have to deal with restrictions. You could go in there tomorrow and everything could be just fine. If not, then you'll find a way to figure it out.

Good luck tomorrow! I'm sending you good vibes.

Edvent · August 2014

I can totally relate. Having preeclampsia last time is doing a total mind-f@$k on me too. I know it's easier said than done, but try to take deep breaths and do some things to distract yourself. I had a scare with high BP last week (due to a migraine) and it set all of my anxiety wheels spinning. I'll send t&p that all is well and your mind will be eased at your appointment.

womberptyof4 · August 2014

I suffered from this so bad with my last pregnancy....everytime I knew I had to go to the doc I would get all worked up and my BP would be super high and I was put on bed rest and sent to the hospital three times because of it.
I hate the hospital and I don't like going to the doc I had a lot of procedures as a child and it created a fear.
I know exactly how you feel and I am focusing on keeping my cool this time around but I have already had high BP only at the doc....hopefully they will realize it's mostly nerves and send you home without any hassles. Good luck!!

robsbabygirl08 · August 2014

I hope everything is fine tomorrow. I know you can't help but to worry though. Did you by any chance eat something high in sodium?

MusicFanatic · August 2014

I'm sorry!

I was just put on BP meds for the first time ever in my life because mine is in the 150's/90's.. I'm also nervous it'll turn into pre-e (which is a common trend in my family). Hopefully you're just retaining some water- have you tried to up your water intake? Thinking of you!

thompnia · August 2014

Thanks for the tips, thoughts, and encouragement, ladies! I have not eaten more sodium than normal, if anything I have eaten less. I am going to drink water like it's my job when I can tomorrow (full surgery schedule, and I'm actually in a busy room, yay).

Tomorrow will be my eleventh day of work in a row, so that is probably contributing. I normally work Mon-Fri 7-3:30, and I picked up twelve hour shifts this last Saturday and Sunday. I've left early a few days, but taken that time to get chores done as opposed to relaxing.

My last pregnancy I only worked two days a week (varying eight to twelve hour shifts) sitting at a desk, until about 32 weeks. Then I was in school two days a week until I took a week off to deliver. My current job is much more demanding. I know people manage it all the time, but I am really struggling. Topic for another thread, another day.

BookitBoo · August 2014

Lots of thoughts and prayers. Hopefully you're overreacting but I'm glad you have the appointment tomorrow, especially with your history. Better to catch it early!

thompnia · August 2014

BookitBoo said:
Lots of thoughts and prayers. Hopefully you're overreacting but I'm glad you have the appointment tomorrow, especially with your history. Better to catch it early!

this! I am only slightly nervous about a high reading from nerves and terrified that it is something to worry about. I agree though; I definitely want to know for sure.

My appointments have been so spread out.. I had a viability u/s at 7 weeks (just u/s, no office visit,) an appointment at 13 weeks, my same day appointment at 16 weeks when I was cramping, my a/s at 20 weeks (no office visit,) and tomorrow is only my third office visit at nearly 22 weeks. I get that because I have to schedule appointments at no earlier than 3:45 pm I will probably have to spread out a bit, bit it makes me nervous.

Maybe I can get my doc to write me a script for a home b/p cuff. That might help me feel at ease, or worse. Who knows?

Edvent · August 2014

I have a home cuff (it's my mother in law's) and it has helped ease my worries about pre-e. My pressure is always up a little at appointments due to a touch of white coat syndrome. Whenever I feel off I can take my BP at home and seeing it in a normal range makes me feel so much better. I also bet being on your feet so much lately is contributing to the swelling. Keep us posted!

danakatiepfoltzer · August 2014

I hope everything goes smoothly at your appt.
if you're skilled at taking bp (which I assume bc you work in surgery so you're a nurse or dr), then I would ask for the bp cuff. That way you can track trends easier than your dr. One high reading isn't as reliable as a high trend. It might be scary to see a high number but you might be able to detect a problem quicker that way.

Anyway, good luck tomorrow- whatever's gonna happen will happen and your dr can help fix any issues that arise.

nah82 · August 2014

Good luck at your appointment! I don't know how long ago you had your son but through my last two pregnancies with high blood pressure I read somewhere that you have lower chances of developing pre-e with a second pregnancy and even lower if they are close together? I can't cite any sources or anything.

Getting a cuff to keep track at home might make you feel better. Might end up having to buy it yourself, though, a lot of people that say they asked their doctor for a script have a heck of a time actually getting it covered by insurance because you usually have to go through a medical supply place. I got a deal on mine by transferring prescriptions to Rite Aid. They have/had a program that if you transfer a prescription to their pharmacy they will give you a $25 gift card, so I transferred my bp pill rx and used the gc towards my bp cuff. There are a bunch of pharmacies that do the same gc thing.

MichaelSC28 · August 2014

Good Luck on your appt today!! T&Ps

JaDaR · August 2014

Sending you good vibes today. Hope your appointment goes well.

TXUltraRunner · August 2014

There's probably not much you can do for the high blood pressure but for the water retention, make sure you're drinking lots of water. It sounds counter productive but it helps with the swelling.