Pre-eclampsia without high blood pressure?

Question

26 weeks pregnant with diet controlled gestational diabetes. Went to hospital with excruciating upper right back pain. Released with pain meds. Returned next day as pain was now under right ribs and I was panicking because I couldn't inhale without severe pain. Blood pressure on arrival was over 160/90. Protein on dip stick. Key tones present. High heart rate. Blood pressure decreased to around 120/80 though heart rate continued 130-40. Protein in 24-hr urine. Key tones continue and acid in arterial blood gases. After two days in hospital, heart rate lowers to around 105, key tones subside, acids in arterial blood gases subside. The doctor said I must have torn a muscle near my rib and discharges me. Is it possible I could be suffering from pre-eclampsia even though my blood pressure returned to normal? Dr. believes I was upset over the pain which caused high blood pressure but that I am not presenting like someone with pre-eclampsia. Seeing Dr. this wk. Any opinions or experiences?

Answer 1

Not every patient presents as a textbook case.  It looks like the right things were done, though (24 hr urine, admission and observation for 2 days)

You need to keep on top of your BP - take it daily.  If it goes up while you are not upset, that's a concern.  Also be on the lookout for edema - swelling with fluid in the feet and legs.  A little swelling is normal with pregnancy, but a sudden increase in weight (due to fluid) or severe swelling is another sign of preeclampsia.

If you think things are just not right, see another OB (from a different group, if possible) for a second opinion.

Good luck - I hope it's NOT preeclampsia, and that you go to term with no complications.

Answer 2

It is possible to have pre eclampsia without high blood pressure early on. My symptoms started on a monday night and I got one high blood pressure reading the next morining. My body felt ready to shut down just hours later, they had my babies out by 2 pm. Pre eclampsia is serious, I wouldn't let it go if I was you.

Answer 3

it's called pre eclampsia cuz of the high bp.  follow up with your OB.

Answer 4

Without high blood pressure, it is not pre-eclampsia.  To be pre-eclampsia, there MUST be high-blood pressure.  That is the hallmark of the disease.  That being said, even with pre-eclampsia, blood pressure does not stay high every minute of every day.  It will be lowered and controlled by medication to keep it down because maintaining a high blood pressure during pregnancy can lead to a stroke for you, and premature delivery for the baby.  Now, if your blood pressure is down, and staying down, without the benefit of medication to control it, then it is probably not pre-eclampsia.