Severe Eclampsia/ Postpartum cardiomyopathy

Kassandra - posted on 10/19/2010

I am very similar, only mine was post partum. I actually went through eclampsia twice and this last time I also went into heart failure. Here goes.
I have had 4 babies, my first and third were preeclamptic and other problems, but my second and 4th were my ones that were the eclamptic ones.
With my second pregnancy I found out at 14 weeks (long story lol) and I noticed at my first appointment my bp was elevated, my ob said that it was too early to be preeclampsia so it must be preexisting. I tried explaining I have always had low bp, I was told he knew better, so all was ok for the first 7 months, then in 1 week I gained 11 pounds and had traces of protien in my urine. I was still told I was fine. I called around and found a new ob that day. I was monitored closely, but since I had not seen him the entire pregnancy I was allowed to go full term. I delivered on a tuesday, Went home Fri. morning. By Friday night I had the most severe headache of my life, I actually do not remember much from that time. I was told I may develope a spinal headache, and they couldn't do anything so I suffered through until Monday night. I finally sat down and just started bawling from the pain, which I have never done. My hubby got really worried and rushed me to the ER. I was put on caffiene (was told spinal headache) and when I kept getting worse I yelled at the nurse and tried to rip out my iv. I was admitted for pain control until a spinal patch could be done the following morning. The next thing I remember was waking up in the ICU, I had had 2 seizures during the night. I was kept for 5 days in ICU and 2 more in a regular room. It took 6 months or so to recover, I was not allowed to drive or even carry my son. I missed alot of that time with him, I have almost no memory of his first year.
Flash forward 6 years lol. I had a rough pregnancy I was having bp spikes the entire time and had alot of heart palpitations. I was sent to a cardiologist and was given a full workup, but was told all was fine. I made it to my due date and delivered a small baby girl. I was okay, but very tired and having alot of chest pain. I thought it was from pushing and straining. I had her on Thurs. went home Sat. By Sun night I started getting worse, because of my past experience I watched my bp, it was high. I was extremely swollen. I called the ob Mon moring and was told to rest and call back Tues, morning, I called and told them I was worse. They made me an appt. for Weds. morning. I kept getting worse hour by hour. I went in on Weds. told the ob my chest hurt so bad I could barely lift my newborn, I was very badly swollen, and I felt extremely tired. My hr was 40, my bp was 157/90. My ob looked my right in the eye and said everything is fine, you have heartburn. I left in tears. I decided to call the cardiologist I had seen earlier in the pregnancy. I could not get ahold of them until Thurs. I was told to get to the ER immediately. I was taken straight to a room. The dr walked in after all the tests and said I had eclampsia (again) and was in heart failure. He then walked right out the door. I was scared to death. I stayed 5 days in the ICU. This was in Feb. I have blood work every 3 months and am on bp meds, a diauretic, and potassium. I will be on all three for the rest of my life. I have bad days and good. I am currently having alot of trouble and am waiting on an echo next week and a stress test shortly after. I do not know how it will go but I am stubborn and hoping for the best.
Feel free to message me anytime, I would love to chat and compare experiences.

Gabrielle - posted on 09/18/2010

I had hellp syndrome that led to me giving birth by emergency c-section at 29 weeks. my daughter struggled for a bit but is now doing well and we should be able to bring her home soon. i have horrible swelling still, but my bp is under control. they ran an echo this week to check for postpartum myopathy and i am still waiting for the results. it's scary to be perfectly healthy one day and have all sorts of complications the next.

Shannon - posted on 08/04/2010

Millie, My heart goes out to you and you family at the loss of your lil baby. Please don't blame yourself for this. It is something that you couldn't avoid no matter what you did. You are truly in my prayers.

Shannon - posted on 06/08/2010

Hi Shannon, your story is similar to mine , i had severe preeclampsia and the headaches so bad for days that nothing would take them away. I even called the doctor regarding the headaches and i want able to eat or drink anything due to the severe headaches and the doctor told me that is normal for you have headaches in summertime being pregnant. Four days worth of headaches and nothing relived them, later that evening my husband an i went to bed and everytime i layed down i could feel like my heart was struggling to beat, he rushed to me the emergency room and i blacked out in the car not remebering the car ride to the hospital. They took me right away because i was pregnant and having these symptoms going on. the doctor in the er told me my blood pressure so high that i was suffering from the preeclapmis and seizures and i was admitted right away under constant care of the doctors and on complete bed rest. after 4 days of being on complete bed rest while the nurse were hooking me up to the monitors my placenta tore and i started bleeding and was forced to get an emergency c section, which was scary for me because i was sorta out of it because of all the medicine they had me on. My daughter was born at 28 weeks (2 1/2 months early). weighing in at 2 lbs 8 oz and 14 3/4 inches. she went immediatly to the nicu and my family wasnt allowed to see her till the next day. The next day i had a stroke from all the traumatic stress of everything and continued to stay in the hospital for another week and wasnt able to see my child until i was dicharged from the hopsital. My doctor did advise that becoming pregnant again would put me under the high risk catergory, but they said they wouldnt recommend that i get pregnant again but it was up to. It was a long journey for me as well and after 2 months of my baby being in the nicu i was able to take her home...So i am blessed that i am living and that my child is living as well. The experience still replays in my mind today and she is not 9 months old, but doing good. It was nice to read your story and that i am not the only one out there that their their experience haunts them. Im glad that everything worked out for you and that your children are doing well...

Millie - posted on 05/11/2010

Mine was not as sever for me. I started with a head ache at 17 weeks nothing would take it away, they found nothing wrong. At 20 weeks severely swollen, high bp doubled in pain in my tummy up hig and my head still, was told at hosp it eas just gastric problems take antacids no worries. 2 days later pain in belly is worse same diagmosis. 2 days later I call my Ob late at night explain the pain He sees me in the am. I am sent to hospital for testing. My blood count was 67,000 supposed to be 300,000. My enzymes were high. My liver was about to burst my bp was 220/190 at one point no meds helped I was about to sieze they started magnesium...I was dying quickly so the dr. made the choice I was now 21 weeks my baby would die... And she did. She was healthy it was me my body was killing me and she had to die so i could live. the guilt is overwhelming I was supposed to protect her and my body failed her. Her heart beat 1 1/2 hours but they refused to try she died in our arms...im glad you have your babies it is hard to survive be so ill be in the hosp fpr week and leave emptihandied I miss her daily...

Nicole - posted on 04/25/2010

Hey Shannon I Kinda Went Through the same thing i had an emergency csection because i had Severe Eclampsia i also had the headakes and swelling i was checked by my midwife because she suspected i had preclampsia and told me i didnt and i was fine ..then two weeks later i was rushed into hospital having seizures, all i rember was faling a sleep the night be 4 with a headache then waking up a fue days later in the high dependicy unit with a baby.
it was very scary waking up and not knowing what has happend and the doctors telling me i was very lucky to be here. they told me i could have more children but i am very scared to as i was only just 17 when it happren to me, it still makes me think today that i am so lucky for the son i have got because if my partner wasent of work that day we woundent be he now . i hope u and u family are ok now .