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Dear Dr Stoll(or anyone else who wants to comment),
I am 32 weeks pregnant with my second child.
I saw my OB today and found that my blood pressure was a bit elevated at 122/88. With my FIRST pregnancy, 4 days before my due date my pressure shot up to approx 140/95 and I was put on bed rest for 3 days. My pressure did not come down. My blood work showed it was not preeclampsia, and luckily I delivered the next day with no harm to myself or baby.
Now, it seems the problem may be reappearing with this pregnancy - only sooner. I had blood drawn today and will find out the results tomorrow - I am assuming they will be negative for preeclampsia as with the first pregnancy. I will see the doctor again in a week to be reevaluated.
I do take a daily magnesium supplement along with calcium and a prenatal vitamin. My question - the doctor says there really isn't anything I can do about my rising pressure as far as diet, fluid intake, exercise, etc (I do walk daily). If it gets worse, I will be put on bed rest again, and then induced at the appropriate time. I would now like to know YOUR take on this matter. I'm only at week 32 and I want to make sure even a small rise in my pressure causes no harm to the baby!
In Reply to: 32 weeks pregnant and rising blood pressure posted by Caroline on March 14, 2002 at 19:07:16:
Has your Dr. checked for protein in your urine? Are you swelling really bad? Seeing floaters? All these are also signs of pre eclampsia. I had severe swelling when I was pregnant and blood pressure stayed the same until I went into labor. They put me on magnesium (i.v. drip) to keep the blood pressure down. If you are having any other symptoms I would recommend taking it easy and cutting out salt (all of it). Good luck
In Reply to: 32 weeks pregnant and rising blood pressure posted by Caroline on March 14, 2002 at 19:07:16:
Hi, Caroline.
What kind of magnesium and how much elemental magnesium are you getting per day?
Walt
In Reply to: Re: 32 weeks pregnant and rising blood pressure (Archive in pregnancy.) posted by Walt Stoll on March 15, 2002 at 11:22:00:
I was taking 500 mg/day of Magnesium Oxide. The container says this is 500mg of magnesium as magnesium oxide - which SEEMS to be saying I am indeed getting 500mg of Magnesium. If not - without my periodic chart in front of me, I can't calculate the Magnesium to Oxygen ratio. I know that there are 3 Magnesium compounds said to be better absorbed, but I was unable to find any of those 3 when I purchased this supplement at the beginning of my pregnancy. Having not had a problem with preeclampsia before, I thought perhaps this type would be good enough. Today I managed to find one store that carries Magnesium Glycinate, but the pills contain only 8 mg magnesium each - a far cry from the 1 g I've seen recommended.
Also, I did find out today that my bloodwork is normal and I do not have preeclampsia. This still does not explain the elevated BP, or the slight amount of protein in my urine.
In Reply to: Re: 32 weeks pregnant and rising blood pressure (Archive in pregnancy.) posted by Walt Stoll on March 15, 2002 at 11:22:00:
I should add that this morning I attempted to take 80mg magnesium (as mag glycinate) this morning on an empty stomach and vomited it back 2 hours later.
In Reply to: Re: 32 weeks pregnant and rising blood pressure (Archive in pregnancy.) posted by Caroline on March 15, 2002 at 19:44:46:
Thanks, Caroline.
Sorry to disagree with your docs but you DO have preeclampsia. It just does not yet match the criteria to officially call it that. What do they think is causing your blood pressure to go up and the protein in your urine???
Shame on the company that sold you the magnesium oxide. THEY know that it is about as absorbable as sand (silicon oxide).
Find a product that has more magnesium in it OR take at least 10 tablets twice a day.
Your docs will wait until you have to take it by injection. It IS possible that you are no longer able to absorb even the glycinate but it surely would not harm you to try.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: 32 weeks pregnant and rising blood pressure (Archive in pregnancy.) posted by Caroline on March 16, 2002 at 09:39:53:
Thanks, Caroline.
It is true that IV or IM magnesium would help more and bypass the stomach.
However, we allopaths are trained to wait until damage starts before giving this totally safe dose IV or IM.
If your stomach is sensitive, build up from one at a time.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: 32 weeks pregnant and rising blood pressure (Archive in pregnancy.) posted by Walt Stoll on March 16, 2002 at 12:41:02:
" What do they think is causing your blood pressure to go up and the protein in your urine??? "
I know - that's the first thing that popped into MY head, and I'm not an MD. I plan to have a thorough discussion with my OB when I see him this week. Thanks.
Still worried, though - if I can't absorb the Mg by mouth, and the doctor says I don't have PE - it's pretty certain I'm not going to be given it by IV. And most doctors don't appreciate their patients telling them what to do...
In Reply to: Re: 32 weeks pregnant and rising blood pressure (Archive in pregnancy.) posted by Caroline on March 17, 2002 at 16:46:36:
You are right, Caroline.
The closed-minded conventional physician will wait until they have to give it IV to save your life and that of your fetus, when all could have been prevented by a little proactive action. Of course, for those physicians in whom defence of their ego is more important than the welfare of their patients.............
MY suggestion would be to find a more open minded physician for the next pregnancy. You can get on the trail of one in the archives for holistic practitioners.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: 32 weeks pregnant and rising blood pressure (Archive in pregnancy.) posted by Walt Stoll on March 18, 2002 at 10:03:21:
To my absolute horror, I discovered this evening that the magnesium glycinate I purchased the other day is actually MANGANESE glycinate. The only way I can attempt to explain this is that this bottle was grouped among the magnesium supplements and I purchased it in error. I am still in shock.
I ingested 80 mg of the supplement Saturday morning(on an empty stomach), and am glad to recall that I vomited the stuff back up. It was obvious that the vomit consisted of dissolved tablets. I did take a couple of 8 mg tablets today with a meal.
From my own research so far on manganese, I know that it does cross the placenta. Other info seems more sketchy and inconsistant - ranging from possible harm to the fetus, to unknown toxicity in general, or even mention of therapeutic doses ranging from 20-100 mg. Also, it seems that chroninc exposure is more of a threat than an accute overdose.
I have not yet felt any ill effects from this incident. I am assuming since I ingested the large dose more than 2 1/2 days ago, whatever is left in my system after vomiting is well on its way through my body by now. I am trying hard not to panic and plan to speak to the OB nurse tomorrow, but in the meantime can you tell me anything to ease my mind??
Again, thanks for all your help.
In Reply to: Dr Stoll - PLEASE read this post posted by Caroline on March 18, 2002 at 21:39:57:
Hi, Caroline.
I do not you have a THING to worry about.
HOWEVER, be VERY careful (as everyone should be) that you read lables carefully. This is also very important for prescription durgs since the pharmacist can make this same mistake just as easily.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Dr Stoll - PLEASE read this post posted by Walt Stoll on March 19, 2002 at 15:10:41:
nmi
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