HELLP?

[mekia]

No experience, but did not want to not reply. I hope you're okay and get help ASAP if you need it!

[Deleted]

A friend of mine had it with her first. She had terrible excruciating pain around her liver (she thought it was just back pain from the pregnancy though). To the point she could barely walk. As soon as yet confirmed it was HELLP they had her in a c section within an hour or two. she was at term (Around 39 weeks) though. She had to be on magnesium for a few days and her liver enzymes were elevated for a really really long time after (years, but I don't think that's common). It's a pretty scary condition.

Her DD just turned 11 yesterday.

[boiler717]

My friend had it and delivered at 27w. I would head to L&D now.

[starryfish]

Not the same but I had severe preeclampsia and had to get induced at 36+1. I was on magnesium and then ended up with a c section. I can tell you the magnesium is really rough, the initial injection of it sucks and it makes you so so tired. They kept me on it for 24hrs after delivery.

GL and I hope you don't have it! How far along are you?

[starryfish]

Mar 22, 2017 13:19:23 GMT -5 bricco said:

Mar 22, 2017 13:12:13 GMT -5 starryfish said:

Not the same but I had severe preeclampsia and had to get induced at 36+1. I was on magnesium and then ended up with a c section. I can tell you the magnesium is really rough, the initial injection of it sucks and it makes you so so tired. They kept me on it for 24hrs after delivery.

GL and I hope you don't have it! How far along are you?

I'll be 39w tomorrow. Induction is planned for Saturday right now anyway (have a clotting disorder/am on blood thinners).

I would go to L&D now for sure

[ohgillian]

You need to go to L&D without waiting for a call back.

I had HELLP in two pregnancies and had two preemies after induced deliveries. In the first, HELLP came on over about a 12-24 hour period. In the second, I developed high BP first, then low platelets a few weeks later, then liver labs finally went bad maybe a week later and I was induced.

With low platelets and what you're describing, I would absolutely go to L&D rather than waiting for a call back.

ETA: You asked about outcome. I think the inductions were at 36-1 and 35-4. Both babies were tiny and one ended back in the hospital due to hypothermia; he just didn't have enough body weight to keep warm and I was a FTM who didn't know I needed to kangaroo him so much.  Ultimately both babies and I were fine, but since the HELLP had progressed much more in Pregnancy 1 than it did in Pregnancy 2, I was really out of it at Delivery 1, and not myself for a few weeks afterwards. The hospital adminsters mag sulfate to prevent seizures, and it can really knock you out and just make you feel crappy and groggy and weird. It was not in any way a delivery I had imagined, but ultimately we all were healthy. 

With Delivery 2, I was already in the hospital being monitored and I was induced as soon as my liver enzymes started to get elevated. Since they caught it so quickly and were basically just watching me all the time for sings of problems, I didn't get as sick, I didn't have to stay on mag as long, and I was more present at the delivery and came home feeling like a normal person.

Also, I saw that you are delivering 45 minutes away. If there is a closer good hospital, I personally would not drive 45 minutes away right now. 

[imimahoney]

I had low platelets and elevated liver enzymes off and on during my 1st pregnancy. When my bp shot up they thought I was developing HELLP.

I was induced at 38 weeks (which failed) and my son was born via c-section 3 days later. During my induction I had some stomach pain and floaters in my eyes. I was generally feeling very crappy.

I had no lasting problems because it was caught early.

[pooh8402]

GO TO L&D WITHOUT WAITING FOR A CALL BACK!

[bcv513]

Don't mess around with this. Go to L&D

[sparkythelawyer]

I am really hoping you are at the hospital right now.

[macmars45]

I hope you're at the hospital and getting the care you need right now.

[lilac05]

I hope you're in L&D now...if not, please go NOW. This is not one of those times where you can just wait and see.

Sending you good thoughts and prayers for good health for you and baby!

[ohgillian]

Mar 22, 2017 16:57:22 GMT -5 bricco said:

I am there. Monitoring and taking labs. Dr says it depends on labs, but my induction may be tonight instead of Saturday.

Glad you're there. You've got this. Maybe a baby tonight! hope you aren't feeling too terrible.

[hopecounts]

Glad you are being monitored.
Sending you good thoughts.

[lilac05]

I'm glad you're there and in good hands now.

[Blue Moon]

Lots of luck bricco! You got this. Wishing you and baby a safe and healthy delivery!

[oceanstbride]

Happy to hear you're at the hospital being monitored. Good luck!!

[christy082]

So glad you went in. Sending good thoughts!

[ohgillian]

Mar 22, 2017 19:16:28 GMT -5 bricco said:

I'm hospitalized until baby, but they are waiting on another lab to determine if they are inducing now or Saturday or sometime in between.

Glad to see an update. I was in for the last few days before delivery #2. It was super tough missing my 2 year old, but I'm glad you're being monitored.

[sju1982]

Glad they are monitoring you. Good luck!

[Jalapeñomel]

Good luck!

[urbancowgirl]

Sending good thoughts your way!

[gigem]

bricco glad to see you got to l&d. I had hellp w my first at 37wks. Pls pls communicate to ur nurse/doctor anything that feels even the tiniest bit uncomfortable or strange even after you give birth. My hellp "came back" 12hrs after dd was born, i had the floaters, headache, and upper quadrant pain etc again but i thought of this is just post birth fatigue/pain. It wasn't and i almost died, no exaggeration. This could even happen a few days after. Dont hesitate to call or go back to l&d.

All that matters is that you are there now and everything will be fine. Good luck w the induction. Did they say anything about no epidural because of your platelets level?

Eta: ditto to everythjng ohgillian said about how she felt afterwards. I also remember almost nothing from dd's actualy birth. As for outcomes, dd was totally completely fine, she went home after 24hrs with dh. I was hospitalized for a 10 days bc my bp wouldnt go down and my platelets wouldnt go up but i didnt end up w a blood transfusion. Dh brought dd back to the hospital to be with me once i was moved out of icu and we went back to the maternity together. I couldnt nurse her for the first few days but i pumped and she had formula and we started nursing after 5 days which worked out fine.

Thinking of u!

[barefootcontessa]

Glad you and baby are safe. Hope the time before delivery passes quickly.

[ohgillian]

- If you have any protein in your urine ( it sounds like you don't) do they have you doing a 24 hour collection?

- If you're planning on an epidural, how low are they willing to let your platelets get? What are they at now?

You don't have have to answer; if I were going thru it again I'd be wondering those things.

[gigem]

Mar 23, 2017 5:21:02 GMT -5 bricco said:

All my levels have been normal other than my platelets. My diastolic bp has been slightly elevated (97) but not crazy.

I still don't feel great, but not terrible. I've basically not slept at all, maybe 3 hours because I'm so uncomfortable anyway plus the interruptions.

They don't plan on me leaving until I have her but won't induce right now, maybe not till Saturday unless my levels go crazy. I'm frustrated, just wanna go home or have this baby.

I was thinking a bit the same quesions as ohgillian..... are your platelets like 60,000 or lower? Hopefully they will stay high enough so you can have an epidural, you should ask the doctor what is the limit (might depend on the doc or hosp policy from my experience). Xfingers for you and sending good thoughts.

You didnt have any issues like this with your first pregnancy?

[gigem]

bricco 107 is good!! I think you wont have any problem getting the epidural.

They are taking your bp often? That was one big issue I had after dd was born they werent taking my bp often enough because they thought the birth would stop hellp and it didnt so maybe they wouldve seen my bp going back up before i had a seizure :S

Try to get some rest today. Hope ur ds gets better soon.

[gigem]

bricco i am not a doctor so i dont in anyway want to doubt yours of course!

If you get headaches or anything tell them asap. as i remember that had something to do with my bp going up and i just thought i was dehydrated.

[pinotgrig]

So glad you went in - that's scary. GL for a smooth induction - can't wait to see more news!

I'm surprised they kept you on lovenox until now - I was on it with both boys and switched to 2x a day heparin around 36w in case I went into labor and needed an epi.

[starryfish]

bricco, glad you are getting induced tonight! Ditto pp, and PLEASE tell the nurse if you have ANY changes, or anything gets slightly worse. For my pre-e, once I hit 160+ on the top or 110+ on the bottom of BP, I was getting induced immediately (which did happen for me).