Preeclampsia

I have it.

It's been an eventful past few days.  After my last post, I was on home bed rest, as I'd described.  I continued to have a dull headache, but no other new developments: no increased swelling, no visual changes.

Monday afternoon I went to my OB's office for a follow-up appointment.  My blood pressure was still up (140s/90s), and I was sent to the hospital for a non-stress test and some additional blood work.  I was told that I would not permitted to return to work and would now be on bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy.

Once at the hospital, I was given medication for my headache and released home after about five hours.  (On the plus side, both babies looked just fine on their NST.)  The OB for my group said she thought it was possible that I have chronic underlying hypertension which has just now begun to manifest itself due to the demands on my body from twin pregnancy and started me on lab.eta.lol (an antihypertensive which is safe for using during pregnancy).

Early Tuesday morning, I woke up with what felt the beginnings of a typical migraine.  I had been instructed to take Tylenol for headaches and return to the hospital if Tylenol didn't relieve it.  Tylenol never does anything for me, and this time was no exception.  By 5:00 a.m., I was in a lot of pain and determined that I needed to go back to the hospital, just in case this was a symptom of a worsening of my condition.

Tuesday was an awful day.  I stayed at the hospital for another five hours or so.  I was first given Per.co.cet for my headache, which only helped a little and made me very groggy.  The OB on call then decided it would be worthwhile to give me a dose of the Imi.trex I usually take for migraines.  (I had been under the impression that it is not safe for use during pregnancy, but she said it could be used in the third trimester sparingly.)

The Imi.trex reduced my headache a little more, and I was allowed to go home, with instructions to continue bed rest and to start a 24-hour urine collection.  I slept off and on during the rest of the day and was extremely groggy.  I had a lot of nausea starting on the drive home--probably a combination of the two drugs I'd be given, lack of sleep and food, and the migraine itself--and actually vomited when I tried to eat lunch.  (Despite 16 weeks of constant nausea earlier in my pregnancy, Tuesday was actually the first time I'd thrown up since I've been pregnant.)  I hardly ate at all.

By Tuesday evening, I was feeling semi-normal, and I felt OK yesterday.  I had to drive to the hospital to drop off my 24-hour urine collection but otherwise just took things easy.

This morning I was at the hospital again (fourth visit this week, for those keeping count) for another NST and measurement of amniotic fluid index.  Once again, the babies both looked very good.  My blood pressure is still hanging around the 140s/90s, despite taking lab.eta.lol twice a day.  And I learned the results of my 24-hour urine test, which showed that I have enough protein in my urine for a confirmed diagnosis of preeclampsia.

So that's where things stand.  My goal right now is just to take it as easy as I can and hope that we can delay delivery as long as possible.  (I passed 33 weeks yesterday.)  I will be going in for additional monitoring twice a week, and if I get worse, I may have to be admitted to the hospital.  For now, though, I am just hoping things don't get any worse and that I am able to make it to 36 weeks.