160/85

"Leslie" wrote in message
...
That's what my BP was tonight at the Kroger where I went to check it upon
the
advice of the experts here. :-)

Then I waited a couple of minutes and took it again, three more times:
147/83,
145/83, 144/80. That's about what it's been at the doctor's for the last
several weeks.

My ankles are still severely swollen. I have a headache (mild) and I feel
like
my vision is blurry, but that could be either imagination or tiredness.

What should I do? I'm thinking, put myself on bedrest for the weekend and
then
go in on Monday for a urine test. What do y'all think?


Leslie - call your Dr I think. If you have a headache and are puffy and
have BPs that are a wee bit high, I'd certainly call and see what your Dr
says (probably bedrest and come in Monday, but its better to get it from the
horse's mouth).
Amanda

--
DD 15th August 2002
1 tiny angel Nov 2003
DS 20th August 2004

160/110 are the "Call now, don't wait" numbers according to my OB/Peri
(either number)-anything below that is rest, relax, and don't worry unless
it stays up there for at least 2 readings at least 6 hours apart or other
symptoms are there. Since it's just systolic (high diastolic readings are
more indicative of a crash), they're more likely to let you stay home as
long as you don't have potential seizure signs (really bad headache which
doesn't go away, dizziness, flashing lights), but they may want to either
have you come in for a protein check before Monday or call in a script for
the test strips so you can test at home.

"Elfanie" wrote in message
...
On 30 Oct 2004 03:32:19 GMT, (Leslie) wrote:

That's what my BP was tonight at the Kroger where I went to check it upon
the
advice of the experts here. :-)


First...*legal dance* if you have any questions it's always a good
idea to call your care provider.

Now..
You are not my client, and I wouldn't pretend that you are.
However..there are some things to keep in mind..

blood pressure
you're taking it sitting up - it's almost always going to be lower
when you lay down and relax. Even if you're 'relaxing' at the
Kroger..you know that there's going to be a certain amount of anxiety
about taking it. See if someone has a BP cuff you can borrow and take
it laying down and see what it says.

Uh, I thought you weren't supposed to take BP lying down for this reason!
The only time my BP has ever been done when I'm lying down, even in the
hospital, has been when it's been elevated enough that I was on the
automatic monitor (which I DETEST!!).

Leslie wrote:
That's what my BP was tonight at the Kroger where I went to check
it upon the advice of the experts here. :-)

Then I waited a couple of minutes and took it again, three more
times: 147/83, 145/83, 144/80. That's about what it's been at the
doctor's for the last several weeks.

Personally, I wouldn't let the one high reading outweigh the three lower
ones, especially if those readings match what you've been seeing typically
in the doctor's office. Also, from everything I know, it's the diastolic
number that makes practitioners the most jumpy, and your diastolic number
isn't yet in the "hypertensive" range (90 or over), even if your systolic
number was quite high once.

My ankles are still severely swollen. I have a headache (mild) and
I feel like my vision is blurry, but that could be either
imagination or tiredness.

What should I do? I'm thinking, put myself on bedrest for the
weekend and then go in on Monday for a urine test. What do y'all
think?

I'd probably lean towards this approach myself. I had a migraine during my 5
weeks of high BP during my last pregnancy, but I *knew* it was a migraine
and nothing to do with the BP, so I didn't say anything (because I knew
saying anything would lead to instant induction talk and I wasn't ready to
go there yet). OTOH, I never had any swelling or blurry vision (aside from
the typical aura issues that come with migraines), so I could also see an
argument for going in and being checked today.
--
Be well, Barbara
Mom to Sin (Vernon, 2), Misery (Aurora, 5), and the Rising Son (Julian, 7)

This week's suggested Bush-Cheney Campaign Slogan:
"Asses of Evil"

All opinions expressed in this post are well-reasoned and insightful.
Needless to say, they are not those of my Internet Service Provider, its
other subscribers or lackeys. Anyone who says otherwise is itchin' for a
fight. -- with apologies to Michael Feldman

Stephanie said:

First...*legal dance* if you have any questions it's always a good
idea to call your care provider.

LOL. My husband is an attorney so I know all about legal dances.


Now..
You are not my client, and I wouldn't pretend that you are.
However..there are some things to keep in mind..

blood pressure
you're taking it sitting up - it's almost always going to be lower
when you lay down and relax. Even if you're 'relaxing' at the
Kroger..you know that there's going to be a certain amount of anxiety
about taking it. See if someone has a BP cuff you can borrow and take
it laying down and see what it says.

I was thinking about renting one.



swelling
There are many things you can do for swelling...
* water submersion - get in as deep of a bath as you can for at
least 45 minutes (and as gross as some might find this, be prepared to
pee in the bath - because it will really push fluids out of you).

I have had one bath so far today (claw foot tub) and will be having another
shortly!

Epsom salt helps a lot to push fluids out, too.
* Adding lemon to your water or tea...it's a natural diuretic. So
is watermelon...cucumber...eating lots of that can help.

I'll have to get some lemon . . . I'm not very hungry unfortunately.

* salting your food to taste - NOT reducing your salt intake.
reducing your salt can make the swelling worse.

Did know that--thanks. I had a lot of salty food for dinner last night!


* keeping up on your fluids...drink drink drink...
* laying down with legs slightly elevated...helps drain some of
that fluid out and work it out.
* Not sitting/standing for long lengths of time

I've been in bed most of the day and will go back there once I finish up on the
computer.


* exercise...keeps the body workign well, including the kidneys to
work that fluid out.

I can barely move at all so that is probably out.


* massage of the legs...not deep leg massage, but massage that
starts at the toes and works the fluid up and out of your legs
(massage from the toes up to the knees).

Will get Joun to do this tonight.



these things will usually drastically reduce the amount of discomfort
and swelling from the edema...

but..*tap dances again* of course if you have any questions or
concerns you should talk to your care provider. =}

Thanks, Stephanie.


I've been having a lot of contractions today that feel different--I first
notice my breath catching in my chest . . . so you think that could be a sign
of impending labor?


Leslie

Emily (2/4/91)
Jake (1/27/94)
Teddy (2/15/95)
William (3/5/01 -- VBA3C, 13 lbs. 5 oz.)
and Lorelei, expected 11/2/04

"Children come trailing clouds of glory from God, which is their home."
~ William Wordsworth

Barbara said:

Personally, I wouldn't let the one high reading outweigh the three lower
ones, especially if those readings match what you've been seeing typically
in the doctor's office.

That's kind of what I thought. And today's readings were all in the 140s over
70s range (after spending the day in bed).


Also, from everything I know, it's the diastolic
number that makes practitioners the most jumpy, and your diastolic number
isn't yet in the "hypertensive" range (90 or over), even if your systolic
number was quite high once.


Right.


My ankles are still severely swollen. I have a headache (mild) and
I feel like my vision is blurry, but that could be either
imagination or tiredness.

What should I do? I'm thinking, put myself on bedrest for the
weekend and then go in on Monday for a urine test. What do y'all
think?

I'd probably lean towards this approach myself. I had a migraine during my 5
weeks of high BP during my last pregnancy, but I *knew* it was a migraine
and nothing to do with the BP, so I didn't say anything (because I knew
saying anything would lead to instant induction talk and I wasn't ready to
go there yet). OTOH, I never had any swelling or blurry vision (aside from
the typical aura issues that come with migraines), so I could also see an
argument for going in and being checked today.

I'm still having the blurry vision. I'm going to wait till Monday to call the
doctor though because 1) I'm hoping and praying I will just go into labor and
2) ISTR he is out of town so I would definitely end up with a less sympathetic
person and induction suggestions and 3) With the exception that I don't know if
there is any protein spilling going on this is exactly what happened last time
and all he said to do then was go to bed, so I'm really doing what I think he
would suggest anyway. I will call Monday morning presuming I am still pregnant
and nothing else changes in the meantime.

Thanks, Barbara!


Leslie

Emily (2/4/91)
Jake (1/27/94)
Teddy (2/15/95)
William (3/5/01 -- VBA3C, 13 lbs. 5 oz.)
and Lorelei, expected 11/2/04

"Children come trailing clouds of glory from God, which is their home."
~ William Wordsworth

Hee hee...
not to jinx you...but...
that was my sign of impending labor. Good luck!

Oh, I love you, Stephanie! :-)


Leslie

Emily (2/4/91)
Jake (1/27/94)
Teddy (2/15/95)
William (3/5/01 -- VBA3C, 13 lbs. 5 oz.)
and Lorelei, expected 11/2/04

"Children come trailing clouds of glory from God, which is their home."
~ William Wordsworth