Patty's story

I developed PE around 23 weeks into my pregnancy but my doctor never confirmed it for me. He just sort of blew it off and called it swelling. He never told me my bp readings or urine results and I didn't ask! My condition only got worse and worse till around 34 weeks I thought I had the flu. My upper abdomin hurt and I couldn't keep anything down.

After several hot baths and long showers to try to feel better, my husband convinced me to phone the doctor at 12:30am on Saturday. I went to the hospital where I was told by my doctor I had a bladder infection. I was given and IV and told I would probably have to stay a day or so. No blood work was drawn ever!. A new doctor came on duty the next day at 6pm and was about to let me go home (we had never met and I told her I was feeling better) but she decided after reviewing my symptoms to draw some blood.

My platelet count was 80,000 and falling and my blood pressure was 190/130 and rising. I was given mag sulfate and induced that night. I ended up having a c-section on Sunday November 22, 1998 and had a beautiful little 5lb 10oz daughter we named Savanah. Her apgar was a 9 and she was fine! I however, was not.

I was kept on meds for the next day or two when I began to hemmoraghe through my nose. My platelets had dropped to 16,000 and I began to feel my body slipping away as the doctors and nurses tried to get my nose to stop bleeding. It lasted several hours and an ENT doctor had to be called in to quarterize my nose. After all I had been through, I was not going to die over a nosebleed...NO WAY! I had just had a beautiful baby girl who was strong enough to make it through so I owed it to her to pull through too.

The doctors told me I had the worst case of HELLP SYNDROME and I was put on blood thickening pills for a few more days while I had to stay in the hospital. I finally got to go home after six days with my daughter on Thanksgiving day, 1998. It was truly something to be thankful for! I am scared to death to have another child although my intentions are to try again in the spring.

Patty