Thanks so much everyone! I left the doctor today feeling so dismissed and frustrated. But because my bp was normal, they wouldn't look into anything. It was more of a "I'm sorry your head hurts and you can't see and no meds are working, what do you want us to do about it?" Kind of thing. She wasn't at all concerned with the abdominal pain, she told me to take tums or drink a glass of milk. I tried to be persistent and all she came up with was "maybe go see a neurologist?" She even mentioned my platelets being low but brushed it off too. I literally cried as we walked out the door because it felt like she wasn't listening to a thing I was saying. Either way, if the doctors aren't concerned, I'm gonna try not to worry about it too much because added stress and anxiety certainly won't help anything. Thanks for the support everyone!
@LivingLaVidaGinger I am shocked that they brushed you off. Did they draw any blood? Take a urine sample? To be honest, I would consider getting a second opinion on this one...
@LivingLaVidaGinger sorry this has been so frustrating. Would you consider going to L&D to see what they say? I have chronic migraines, which luckily have gone away, but anytime I get a headache my OB makes me come in immediately and do blood and urine. And I have a history of them, so it's not out of the ordinary. I would consider a second opinion. Or at least go to a pharmacy a few times to check your blood pressure. How sucky, I'm sorry
I'm sorry @LivingLaVidaGinger. That's horrible. I agree with getting a second opinion. I heard somewhere recently (maybe from one of us?) that BP isn't the only diagnostic factor for pre-e and similar things. If nothing else, she should want to help you with your headache and visual symptoms.
@LivingLaVidaGinger did they at least take a urine sample!? I had none of those very concerning symptoms other than protein in urine and they immediately sent me for blood draw and saw kidneys and liver failing and induced that week.
@LivingLaVidaGinger that is ridiculous. BP isn't the only indicator of Pre-E. They didn't even at least get a urine? Totally unacceptable and you should seek a second opinion just to be on the safe side.
@LivingLaVidaGinger that makes me angry for you. Honestly I'd get a second opinion or persist they do blood work to check. With DS1 they told me my hand and foot itching was just due to my sensitive fair skin and dismissed me. I was 24 at the time and I think they thought it was FTM over reaction. I walked out to my car and then back in and asked to talk to someone else and insisted on blood work for cholestasis. They did the blood work and sent me home. Two days later I was admitted to the hospital, before my bile acids labwork even came back, because my other labs showed my liver enzymes were so high. I was induced and delivered the following day. I'd hate to wonder what may have happened if I didn't stand up for myself. (This was also the same doctor that told me this baby kid carried at 7 weeks, so they're all just a bunch of gems)
Do NOT be afraid to be persistent and have your requests met. It doesn't mean you have to be rude but firm. Doctors are human and sometimes we truly do know our body better than they do. Bottom line, you left feeling as though they did not truly address your concerns and that's not ok.
eta: I'm actually pretty pissed for you now. I know what that feels like to leave crying. Ughhhh
@LivingLaVidaGinger that is totally ridiculous & not acceptable to be so dismissive of symptoms which even for someone not pregnant would cause concern. Im so sorry that youre going through this! & completely agree that you should look for a second opinion!
@LivingLaVidaGinger omg I am so mad for you!! I left my appointment today feeling pretty dismissed but your stuff sounds really serious. If it comes back like that I would not hesitate to bypass your office and go to L&D for monitoring and their opinions!!
@LivingLaVidaGinger I am LIVID that they wouldn't test you. Having been diagnosed with pre-e, the symptoms you've described are LITERALLY EXACTLY what they've told me to watch out for going forward. If I were to develop any one of those symptoms, they'd immediately induce me because I've tested positive for protein. My protein levels were so low that nothing came back in my blood or my urine dip - just in the highly-sensitive pre-e specific urine lab test. And even though my BP levels are way back down to normal (110s/60s), they're still moving forward with the induction because once you've got pre-e, that's it.
I don't mean to be alarmist, but pre-e can turn so freaking serious so quickly, and I cannot believe that your doctor wouldn't even give you the time of day. I would highly suggest going to L&D.
They did a routine urine sample, but it wasn't anything specific for pre-e. They didn't want to do more blood work because they just did the CBC last week. I'll just keep an eye on my bp and if I get worse I'll just go straight to L&D without talking to the OB. This doctor was like my age and she's so new, I've been pregnant longer than she's been at that practice. I'm not saying she got her phd out of a cereal box, I'm sure she's very capable, I'll probably get a second opinion from one of the veteran OBs or the midwive just because they've been around longer and better know what to look for.
From someone who just had to have an emergency csection for pre-e, be your own advocate. Go to L&D asap. I only had swelling and high-ish BP and my OB kept dismissing it. I said something to my MFM and she sent me to L&D for blood work where they realized my liver enzymes and uric acid level were high. Pre-e is no joke, for you or your baby. I'm not trying to scare you, but you need to get it checked out.
If they got a urine sample they had to have checked for protein, which is an indicator of pre-e. If they only took blood for CBC, they should have ran more labs for liver function, serum creatinine, coagulation studies (for HELLP)and electrolytes. If you have access to lab results see if the above mentioned tests are there. If you have questions, PM me. But as @PerraSucia mentioned earlier go to L&D directly for testing and monitoring if your OB is not being thorough. Hopefully the doctor on call will order more tests.
@foxyrosy as I learned with my own pre-e testing, the standard urine dip is not sensitive enough to be diagnostic. Both blood and preliminary urine tests came back negative for me. The usual test you get at your regular appointments are quantitative, and you need a qualitative test for diagnosis.
Not trying to nitpick. I just want to make sure the right info is out here.
New symptom for me... I have GD, and it's been well-controlled with diet and exercise this whole time. The last few days, all of my blood sugar readings have been down significantly from what they have been - fasting down 10 points, post-breakfast down 20, post-lunch down 10, dinner holding steady (low) despite upping my carb intake. In all likelihood it's nothing to be concerned about, but I called the MW and spoke to a nurse anyway - I read (thanks Dr. Google) that numbers dropping at the end can signal a problem with the placenta, but in other places I have read that it's normal as the placenta is just not producing as many hormones at this point. I mean, it would be nice to be able to eat more carbs, but it's a little disconcerting to see such a sudden drop.
@madamerwin my #s have been down also. My dr is not worried but I've noticed if I don't eat on my schedule, my BS drops super low and i get hot/sweaty/shaky/dizzy. Part if that is that I'm on insulin and can get hypoglycemia easily if i dont eat regularly. But dr says it is normal. So I just have to listen to my "Eat, damnit" alarms and I keep some nuts with me at all times.
@Gretchypoo I spoke to the advice nurse, and she basically said that as long as my numbers are not TOO low (fasting below 60, post-meal below 80 or so), then it's probably not a concern - though she was going to check with the MW as well. She reminded me to make sure I eat often (I eat every 2.5-3 hours) and if I get dizzy/nauseous check my BS to see how low it is. Baby is moving at his normal frequency, so I am not too concerned, but it's just weird it changed so quickly. I even ate potatoes for dinner last night - they usually do a number to my blood sugar levels, but my numbers were still lower than usual. I'm going to eat a high-ish carb lunch today (like, 40g) and see what happens.
@foxyrosy as I learned with my own pre-e testing, the standard urine dip is not sensitive enough to be diagnostic. Both blood and preliminary urine tests came back negative for me. The usual test you get at your regular appointments are quantitative, and you need a qualitative test for diagnosis.
Not trying to nitpick. I just want to make sure the right info is out here.
@NiceyMeany very true urine dip is not diagnostic but it is still used routinely as a tool to assess for presence of protein. It wasn't my intention to say a urine dipstick is absolute confirmation of pre-e, so my bad if that's how it came across.
Uhm... so my BP was high at my appointment, and I am now sitting at the hospital waiting for a room to open up for monitoring. It was high last week too, but after 10 minutes it went down to a normal range, so I thought it was NBD. Apparently the high reading today means I need monitoring, blood work, and a 24 hr urine. So I am now at the hospital waiting for them to start stuff and panicking slightly. Which cannot help the BP issue to be quite frank.
@WinchesterGirl - Hang in there. I went through that last week and it is really hard to stay calm. I tried to use my time there for napping (easier said than done with the BP cuff tightening every 15 minutes). My only other words of advice are to ask for a 2nd jug if you drink a lot of water (a gallon a day or more) and get to do the urine catch at home. Hope all your labs come back ok and you're not stuck at the hospital for too long.
In monitoring now. They just drew my blood, but she had to stick me twice and I always feel faint when they do it. I'm working on the deep breathing.... little man keeps kicking the monitors, which is helping to distract me. This BP cuff sucks. And now it's pulling on my bandaid.
Thanks for all the good thoughts everyone! Thankfully my blood tests were clear, so they sent me home! I have started the super festive process of collecting my urine until tomorrow afternoon (pregnancy has a way of making you say things you never dreamed...).
They did however inform me that even if it's clear now, if my BP climbs more that they may have to re-test, and "It doesn't mean this isn't possibly still the beginning of something."
For now I'm just really glad to be home, and the hospital bags are going in the car tonight. I got there with nothing but a half-charged phone, and my emergency pair of in-case-of-sniss underwear. I'd like to be better prepared, if there is a chance of this happening again...
I have a brand new appreciation for all of you pre-e mamas, and the stress and scary things you have been dealing with. I am clearly a wimp, because this was overwhelming, and you have all been dealing with much more grace than me.
Also @Gretchypoo that did make me smile, thank you.
That's great news @WinchesterGirl! So glad you are home, and hopefully the urine catch will be nice and clear. I had a few randomly higher BPs too-it can definitely just happen-but it's good they are taking it seriously just in case. Also, in-case-of-sniss made me LOL.
Re: Symptoms Thread 1/30/16
I left the doctor today feeling so dismissed and frustrated. But because my bp was normal, they wouldn't look into anything. It was more of a "I'm sorry your head hurts and you can't see and no meds are working, what do you want us to do about it?" Kind of thing. She wasn't at all concerned with the abdominal pain, she told me to take tums or drink a glass of milk. I tried to be persistent and all she came up with was "maybe go see a neurologist?"
She even mentioned my platelets being low but brushed it off too.
I literally cried as we walked out the door because it felt like she wasn't listening to a thing I was saying. Either way, if the doctors aren't concerned, I'm gonna try not to worry about it too much because added stress and anxiety certainly won't help anything. Thanks for the support everyone!
I had none of those very concerning symptoms other than protein in urine and they immediately sent me for blood draw and saw kidneys and liver failing and induced that week.
Do NOT be afraid to be persistent and have your requests met. It doesn't mean you have to be rude but firm. Doctors are human and sometimes we truly do know our body better than they do. Bottom line, you left feeling as though they did not truly address your concerns and that's not ok.
eta: I'm actually pretty pissed for you now. I know what that feels like to leave crying. Ughhhh
I don't mean to be alarmist, but pre-e can turn so freaking serious so quickly, and I cannot believe that your doctor wouldn't even give you the time of day. I would highly suggest going to L&D.
edited to tag @LivingLaVidaGinger
Me: 37 - H: 39
TTC#1: 01/2016
BFP: 06/18/2016 - EDD: 02/20/2017 - Born: 01/27/2017
Sorry you are experiencing all this!
Not trying to nitpick. I just want to make sure the right info is out here.
You got this girl. Think calming thoughts. Hope this makes you smile :-)
They did however inform me that even if it's clear now, if my BP climbs more that they may have to re-test, and "It doesn't mean this isn't possibly still the beginning of something."
For now I'm just really glad to be home, and the hospital bags are going in the car tonight. I got there with nothing but a half-charged phone, and my emergency pair of in-case-of-sniss underwear. I'd like to be better prepared, if there is a chance of this happening again...
I have a brand new appreciation for all of you pre-e mamas, and the stress and scary things you have been dealing with. I am clearly a wimp, because this was overwhelming, and you have all been dealing with much more grace than me.
Also @Gretchypoo that did make me smile, thank you.
First BFP: 12/16/13
EDD: 08/23/14
Baby BOY born: 08/29/14
Ben and Maggie - 4/10/09
Mia - 6/16/11
Surprise! due 2/23/17