Can you tell me what you would do? Re: Doctor/Pregnancy

J

Jengerbread88

New member
Okay, here's the deal. I'm about to come off as really paranoid and really awful, but I just want an honest opinion of what you would do.

For about 7 weeks now (since about my 23rd week of pregnancy), I've had spotty/blurry vision. Sometimes it gets really dark and I just... I feel like I'm going to faint, the edges start to really cave in almost, they get so dark.
I've had dizziness, bad headaches, and a couple times I've gone into the hospital for some pain in my lower ribcage/upper abdomen (it's not really chest pain... it's like... lower than that, lower ribcage, right up at the top of the abdomen above my baby bump).

The past... 3 weeks....? I've been having arm numbness and tingling. I'll be sitting there and my shoulder suddenly starts feeling numb, and it creeps down all the way through to my fingers.

I mentioned the dizziness and spotty vision and everything to my doctor AGES ago. When it first started. And a couple of times since.

Well, as you guys might remember from my other post, I went to the doctor last Friday and had high blood pressure, and some protein in my urine, so they tested me for pre-eclampsia. My screenings came back normal (blood and 24 hour urine), but when I called about the arm numbness today, they had me come in. My blood pressure was STILL high, but, as I mentioned, the other screenings came back normal.

I re-explained all of my other symptoms to my doctor, and he said "I think you're dizzy from an ear infection. Take some allergy medicine and you'll be fine."

Um... first off, since when does allergy medicine cure ear infections? And two, what about the arm numbness and the other symptoms? The vision darkening, the headaches, the nausea....? What about that?

I mentioned that I've had allergies all my life, and I've had ear infections before, and I know it's not that. He just said "Well, take that, come back in two weeks."

What would you do? I really don't think it's that. But, maybe I'm just wrong about my symptoms or something. I've told him about the symptoms before, every time when they first start, and he seems concerned, but also I think he confuses me with other patients. Today he said "I looked in your ears last time, right?" Umm... no. You didn't. You've never looked in my ears. "Oh." So... I'm not entirely sure he knows even which patient I am. He has called me in prescriptions for meds I'm allergic to, and then said "Oh. I don't have in your file that you are," and then finds out that he's looking at the wrong chart.

Usually he's really attentive and listens to me well, but today, I feel like he didn't even listen at all. He saw normal results, and only paid attention to those.

Should I contact the on-call nurse if my arms go numb again? Should I just ignore it until my appointment in two weeks? Should I call the nurse before the office closes and ask to talk to my doctor again? What would YOU do in my situation? Am I just overeacting? Is he maybe right and it's all associated with an ear infection? Blah... I need advice. :(
 
I'm always gonna be the one to say trust your instincts. The symptoms you are describing sounds like they should be taken more seriously to me, but I can't diagnose you nor tell you if your doctor is right or wrong. I personally worry, so I'd get a 2nd opinion.

Not meaning to worry you, but it sounds like you are worrying yourself and you want to trust your doctor completely when it comes to your health and your LO's.
 
You're worried. No amount of us telling you it's nothing will change that (and really, don't take medical advise from strangers online anyway).
Call back, speak to a nurse, or seek another opinion.
 
I agree. If it happens again, I'd definitely call the nurse and/or doctor. If you're blown off again, get another opinion. Even if it's nothing, someone should be able to find the cause of it.
 
He probably mentioned the allergy meds/ears b/c if there's fluid in your ears it will help dry it up. I get fluid in mine a lot b/c of allergies and it totally throws my balance off.

No advice on the other symptoms but maybe the baby is hitting a nerve. Does your back hurt at all? Hope you feel better..like Julia said I'd trust your instincts and if it continues to concern and both you call or go in
 
what do you do if you think something is seriously wrong? you go to L&D/the er. No one here will have the proper answers.
 
I had pregnancy induced hypertension with my first pregnancy....it is possible for your blood pressure to go up without developing pre-eclampsyia. Mine went very high early in my pregnancy and I had symptoms similar to yours..I would see black spots..get dizzy..feel tingly and numb. So you should pay attention to your body and I agree..either get a second opinion or MAKE your doctor pay attention to your symptoms. I ended up having to be on a mild blood-pressure medicine throughout my entire pregnancy which kept it under control.

Are you able to check your BP at home when you have one of those spells? One thing to do immediately is to lay down on your right side. It should help bring your BP down.

The arm tingly thing may be unrelated though..or it could be..but it's another weird pregnancy thing that I had and I've heard lots of others experience as well. I could be laying in bed with my arms flat at my sides and they would get all numb and tingly.

I'm surprised that if you BP is high when they check you at the doc he's not more concerned with it...even without protein in your urine..high BP is not something to ignore.
 
As someone who had preeclampsia, those symptoms sound concerning to me. I would go to L & D and get checked out there, or even make an appt with a new OB if you can.
 
lauren grier said:
No one here will have the proper answers.
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Lol, yeah, I don't expect anyone here to tell me what's wrong, specifically. I just was wondering if you guys would call the On Call nurse if it came back, or if I should wait for my appointment in two weeks.

For those telling me to get a new OB, this is the ONLY doctor my insurance pays for in the area, so I can't really see another OB. I can only see this one, or no dice.
 
Are there any family doctors in your area who would act as your OB? Many family doctors do this, it's just common knowledge.
 
psalm149 said:
Are there any family doctors in your area who would act as your OB? Many family doctors do this, it's just common knowledge.
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My family doctor doesn't do OB work... most of the people in my area go to an OB anyway. I hate to change family doctors just to find one that will act as an OB... especially because none of the doctors in my practice will deliver. They'd call in a midwife.
 
tx-nana-scraps said:
Find a family practitioner and get into see him/her as soon as you can, put your mind at ease. Only thing your doc seems to be doing is adding to your anxiety. Big Hugs!!! Good luck, hope you can find another doc soon.
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I called my family practice doctor just to see if he could get me an appointment. He said to see my OB. I explained why I didn't feel comfortable doing that, and that I was seeking another opinion, and he said "Honestly, my office will just refer you to your OB, and if you come here, you'll have to pay a copay. If you go back there, you won't." I asked if I should go to a walk-in clinic or something, then, and he said "They'll probably just send you back to your OB, too." So... I don't know what to do. The only other people in the area who take my insurance for OB stuff is the health department. They take over 1 month to get an appointment with (I tried calling them, too), and it's a $100 co-pay (my OB's office is NO copay with my insurance).
 
If you didn't have high blood pressure and other signs that could point to pre-eclampsia (even though those tests came back ok) I would say it sounds like migraines. I get migraines quite a bit....lose vision/goes black or goes to tunnel vision, tingling shoulders/arms/fingers and lose all function in them, sometimes I have passed out....I had an MRI and others scans done a few years ago to rule out a brain tumor...doctor didn't think it was b/c my balance was OK but just wanted to put my mind at ease.

I would definitely seek another opinion or keep bugging this doctor's office!!! Your symptoms are not something you want to mess around with!!!
 
lauren grier said:
what do you do if you think something is seriously wrong? you go to L&D/the er. No one here will have the proper answers.
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ditto.....and noramlly if you call L&D they will tell you to come in to check you out even if it ends up being nothing....

ETA...
money aside, what's more important? your health and baby or the money?...go get a 2nd opinion if you don't trust your OB doctor....
 
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I'm so sorry. I can tell you feel completely helpless. :( I don't know what to tell you other than keep hounding them or just see someone else and pay out of pocket. HUGS!
 
Do you have a GP? I would go to my GP describing the symptoms for a second opinion and possible OB referral if one is needed.
 
If the arm numbness comes back, I'll call the on-call doctor tonight. There's a chance it will be the other doctor, and since she won't have my chart with her, she'll have to listen to me objectively, rather than just take what he's written in the chart about me.

If it doesn't come back tonight, I guess I'll wait until tomorrow and see what happens. I just know if I get in touch with MY doctor, the chance he'll actually listen this time, objectively, is slim, but if I can talk to the other doctor, then maybe she'll listen. I'm just afraid if I make an appointment with her or something, she'll blow me off like he did, because he's probably made notes about the allergy thing in my chart, when I KNOW it's not that.
 
IMO........RUN to a second opinion.

If you have to call every OB/GYN and/or GP to see if they handle L&D, I'd do it. Second opinions-and I've learned this the hard way-never ever hurt. Ever. Good luck and hugs!
 
Ok....I would go to L&D or ER and get checked. Yes, it is going to cost you, but your symptoms and possible diagnosis are serious. I also had severe Pre-eclampsia (son born at 26 weeks)....and I had similar symptoms. Visual disturbances, dizziness, headaches and epi-gastric pain. I was told that I had "asthma" and "heartburn". I've never had asthma or allergies in my life. They prescribed me an inhaler....which I didn't end up using because it was a class-c drug (not safe for pregnancy).

I wish I would have listened to my gut and my son may not have had to go through the hell he went through. My doc blew me off too and I ended up in critical condition....both my son and I almost died. I am not trying to scare you, I am just telling you what happened to me. Don't diagnose your self. Don't brush off these scary symptoms. Go to the hospital and get checked by the OB in charge.

PM me if you want anymore info.
 
Susan Bartolini said:
Go to the hospital and get checked by the OB in charge.
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Susan, thank you so much for the information. I thought since he said it was allergies, maybe I should just deal with it, and say okay. But, after hearing about your situation, I am SERIOUSLY concerned.

My only issue is this: My ER operates differently than most. All pregnant women immediately go to the triage unit in the pregnancy ward. From there.... they call your doctor. There isn't an in-unit OB, just nurses, and pretty much anything you ask, they call your doctor. *Occasionally* there is someone who knows more on the floor, but most of the time, they just call your regular doctor. If my doctor didn't listen to me earlier... will he now?


And this isn't on the topic of Susan's post, but in general:
My doctor seemed frustrated today. Usually he is in a better mood and will at least take a few extra minutes for me if I ask for them. However, today is his busy day anyway, and I was worked in (due to the arm numbness) so I kind of just made it busier. Additionally, we had tornadoes in the area all day. The nurses were all panicking asking what the evacuation plan was, and finally, he just looked at his student and said "Wow, women around here really seem to overreact about things!" Note: This is a really bad thing to say in a clinic called "For Women Only." But... whatever. So I'm wondering if maybe he was just having an "I hate women" day, or if he was just over-stressed due to the schedule and the weather... I mean, it's really no excuse to not listen to a patient, but I kind of see where maybe earlier he wasn't in the frame of mind to help me at the moment... I'm wondering if I talked to him again if he would feel the same, or if now he has an attitude about me/my case and maybe he'd just still blow me off. I'm not really sure.
 
newfiemountiewife said:
Could it be migraines?
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I've had migraines before... it doesn't feel or act the same as my migraines used to. I know pregnancy can change things, but I've even had a couple of pregnancy migraines, and they don't feel the same.

He also said my ear infections may be more intense during pregnancy, but I've had one of those in pregnancy so far, too, and it didn't do this to me, either... it's very different than it was then, so I feel like it wasn't that. In fairness to my doctor, he didn't treat the ear infection-- a walk-in clinic helped me with it.
 
If you go to the ER they cannot make you pay tonight if you dont have the money. As long as they accept government funds I believe they have to treat anyone regardless of their ability to pay. So they will bill your insurance and then send a bill for your co-pay. If you are worried it is better safe then sorry for sure. I had pre-eclampsia and did not notice all the symptoms you are having. I had headache, severe swelling and extremely high blood pressure.
 
jessica31876 said:
If you go to the ER they cannot make you pay tonight if you dont have the money.
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If I go to the ER for pregnancy related reasons, it doesn't cost me anything. It's going to the walk-in or to a non-OB that costs me a co-pay. My issue with the ER is that they'll just call in my OB, who clearly blew me off earlier.
 
I think if you are in the ER though he will see you are clearly worried about your symptoms and might take it more seriously. Not sure how your ER works but mine automatically orders certain blood tests/urine tests as soon as you get there at the triage station. You could also try explaining that you had an appt today with the OB and the symptoms were not really addressed to your satisfaction and they have gotten worse
 
Jengerbread88 said:
If I go to the ER for pregnancy related reasons, it doesn't cost me anything. It's going to the walk-in or to a non-OB that costs me a co-pay. My issue with the ER is that they'll just call in my OB, who clearly blew me off earlier.
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So what? He'll have to listen to you again. And if, God forbid, something bad happens to you, it will be documented that you complained of symptoms twice.

Now, before they call your OB, I assume they will run the standard tests: blood pressure, protein dip, draw blood for a platelet count, sonogram etc. They can do those things without your OB. If any of those tests are alarming, you did the right thing and he will respond. If they aren't...then fine, you can go home. What's the harm in going?

You've already had documented high BP and protein in your urine. Both are needed for a PRE-E diagnosis. Pre-eclampsia causes your BP to fluctuate up and down...so they SHOULD take your BP more than once to see what is happening. They should also sonogram your stomach to see if the baby is in distress.

Do you know what causes headaches with pre-eclampsia? Edema of the brain. Not good. Get your butt to the ER. Don't give two shits about your doctor being inconvenienced. That is his job. Don't make excuses for his possible neglect.
 
Every single one of us that has been pregnant or had babies will tell you to go to the ER if you are concerned. And that is what you should do. And if your doctor blows you off, find a new one. You don't need to have a doctor that doesn't pay attention.
 
yes this...the day I was officially diagnosed my doctor did a c-section. My son was born about 6-8 weeks early. It is not something to mess around with.

Susan Bartolini said:
Do you know what causes headaches with pre-eclampsia? Edema of the brain. Not good. Get your butt to the ER. Don't give two shits about your doctor being inconvenienced. That is his job. Don't make excuses for his possible neglect.
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From the PE Foundation website:

Headaches

Dull or severe, throbbing headaches, often described as migraine-like that just won't go away are cause for concern.

What you can do...

If you have tried taking over-the-counter medication without relief, if the headache is very painful or you have light sensitivity, call your provider immediately and ask to see him/her that day.

Changes in Vision

Vision changes are amongst the most serious symptoms of preeclampsia, usually requiring immediate evaluation by a doctor. Changes in vision may be associated with central nervous system irritation, or an indication of cerebral edema (general swelling of the brain). Vision changes include temporary loss of vision, sensations of flashing lights, auras, light sensitivity, and blurry vision or spots.

What you can do...

If you experience any of these changes in vision, you should contact your doctor immediately or go directly to the hospital. We stress that these symptoms are potentially very serious and they should not be left unattended to until the next morning, or particularly not until the end of the weekend. With preeclampsia, it is better to err on the side of caution, than to take a chance that might become life-threatening to you or your baby.

Abdominal (stomach area) and/or Shoulder Pain

This type of abdominal pain, often called epigastric pain or upper right quadrant (URQ) pain, is usually under the ribs on the right side. It can be confused with heartburn, gallbladder problems, flu, indigestion or pain from the baby kicking. Shoulder pain is often called “referred pain” because it radiates from the liver under the right ribs. Lower back pain is different from muscle strain common to pregnancy, because it is usually more acute and specific. Shoulder pain can feel like someone is deeply pinching you along the bra strap or on your neck, or it can be painful to lie on your right side. All of these pain symptoms may be a sign of HELLP Syndrome or a related problem in the liver.

What you can do...

Pain in this area should be taken very seriously; do not dismiss it and go to bed. Call your health professional immediately.​
 
I would go to the ER and if they call your doctor and he blows you off then DEMAND to see who ever is in charge. Don't put your health or the baby's health at risk because your OB might be inconvenienced.
 
Listen, the only reason I am being adamant about this is because I was blown off too. I made excuses for my doctor and it ended in disaster. I can't tell you how many times I have said to myself, I wish I would have.....

Also, PRE-E is something that comes on fast. So today, you could be checked out by the doc and your vitals are fine and then tonight, you crash. That is why you have to take every instance of these symptoms very seriously.

I had PRE-E with my second pregnancy thought not as severe (delivered at 34 weeks) and I would have crazy BP all day long. Up, down, high, normal. Every time it got to a certain level, my doc made me come in. I was in the ER 5 times over the course of two weeks and ended up delivering at the end of the two weeks. It is a crazy ass disease.

One more question, are you swelling at all? Do you have pitting edema?
 
In TX at least, they HAVE to let you see a specialist. HAVE TO. You don't have to see the GP on duty guy-they HAVE to let you be checked out by an OB. And, honestly, they want to CTA too so they are going to check you out completely. Hope you are at the ER as I type :)
 
Susan Bartolini said:
Listen, the only reason I am being adamant about this is because I was blown off too. I made excuses for my doctor and it ended in disaster. I can't tell you how many times I have said to myself, I wish I would have.....

Also, PRE-E is something that comes on fast. So today, you could be checked out by the doc and your vitals are fine and then tonight, you crash. That is why you have to take every instance of these symptoms very seriously.

I had PRE-E with my second pregnancy thought not as severe (delivered at 34 weeks) and I would have crazy BP all day long. Up, down, high, normal. Every time it got to a certain level, my doc made me come in. I was in the ER 5 times over the course of two weeks and ended up delivering at the end of the two weeks. It is a crazy ass disease.

One more question, are you swelling at all? Do you have pitting edema?
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THAT! I had symptoms for a few weeks and was hospitalized. My SIL wasn't as lucky, it came on in the morning and she went right into labor, with no prior symptoms and their baby was 2 months early. Not trying to scare you-I know you are worried-go with your gut.
 
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