Hospital Stay/31 Weeks Pregnant/Edema

KaylaMarieRice0817

I need all of the advice and insight I can get. I was in the hospital July 15th - 19th. I went in for extreme low potassium levels. I received iv’s of potassium, phosphorus and saline while I was admitted. I came out weighing 22 pounds more than I went in and was experiencing severe edema in mainly face and lower extremities. I am here 5 days out and have yet to loose any of the water retention or edema. I have been pushing water like crazy, taking B6, magnesium & dandelion and no change. Misery is an understatement. Any advice would be so appreciated. I’m beyond frustrated.

poisonesse

I've never gone through any of that, but if it was me? I'd have my butt at the doctor's office! Just to make sure all's well.

pinuplove

This is definitely a question for your doctor.

Dreamwa1ker

Please see your doctor - I also HIGHLY recommend taking your blood pressure to ensure it is not high. Swelling/water retention and sudden weight gain during pregnancy can sometimes be a sign of pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure is the main sign), which is a top maternal killer. Not trying to freak you out, but to make you aware as many women aren't aware of it and it is one of the more common complications you can have - unfortunately not all doctors do a good job catching it. My doctor fortunately did - my son had to be born at 30 weeks (and is now 3 years old) so if they catch it they can do something for you and the baby. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/preeclampsia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355745

ExistingFish

Dreamwa1ker wrote: »

Please see your doctor - I also HIGHLY recommend taking your blood pressure to ensure it is not high. Swelling/water retention and sudden weight gain during pregnancy can sometimes be a sign of pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure is the main sign), which is a top maternal killer. Not trying to freak you out, but to make you aware as many women aren't aware of it and it is one of the more common complications you can have - unfortunately not all doctors do a good job catching it. My doctor fortunately did - my son had to be born at 30 weeks (and is now 3 years old) so if they catch it they can do something for you and the baby. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/preeclampsia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355745

Definitely be checked. I had severe I preeclampsia with my first. I felt fine, but I had severe protein in my urine and delivered my first at 33 weeks.

31 weeks was where my blood pressure started rising.

KaylaMarieRice0817

Blood pressure is great! Went for my follow up this morning. The doctor says it’s normal and my body was just so out of wack it wants to hold to the fluid in my body. Also no protein in urine either to determine preeclampsia. We know our bodies well though. It’s not literally possible to gain from 22 pounds from fluids during a hospital visit and it be permanent right?

LyndaBSS

I've had potassium drips many times due to heart issues. They are my least favorite hospital procedure. Too much potassium and your heart can stop.

Your weight gain is huge compared to any I've had. Call your doctor or the attending doctor from the hospital. Was this mentioned on your discharge papers?

Edited to add: sorry, didn't see your last post above.

apullum

It's water weight. It'll go away, but it might take a while to clear out of your system. How long it will take depends on all sorts of factors, so we really can't predict that.

Unless your doctor says otherwise, it sounds like the last thing you need to be worried about right now is weight loss. Your focus needs to be on recovery and having a healthy pregnancy. Follow your doctor's orders. Don't take supplements that haven't been approved by your doctor--supplements can interact with various medications and conditions, just like any other substance can.

KaylaMarieRice0817

I’m worried about so much of the weight because it’s edema. It’s pools around my ankles, thighs and face. It’s EXTREMELY uncomfortable.

LyndaBSS

I have idiopathic edema. Gained over 60 lbs of water in a few months. I am still on diuretics for it, 10 years later, although it's much better.

I don't think they'd put you on a diuretic due to the pregnancy. Hopefully, it will flush out soon.

You can also try compression socks.

yirara

Don't take random things to lose water weight if you're pregnant but discuss with your doctor. B6 is neurotoxic, that means it damages nerves at higher doses, and I don't know what the tolerance dose is for unborns. Also, all the other things you're taking might be problematic for your baby. Plus, if you use anything to pee more you might pee out the potassium again if the originally low potassium was caused by something related to peeing. Go see your doctor.

Dreamwa1ker

KaylaMarieRice0817 wrote: »

Blood pressure is great! Went for my follow up this morning. The doctor says it’s normal and my body was just so out of wack it wants to hold to the fluid in my body. Also no protein in urine either to determine preeclampsia. We know our bodies well though. It’s not literally possible to gain from 22 pounds from fluids during a hospital visit and it be permanent right?

So glad they checked you and you don't have it!

ExistingFish

So glad you got checked out! Hopefully the edema resolves soon!

51caTlaDy

I had something called polyhydramos during my second pregnancy in my last 2 months. It is more common in diabetics. My bag of water doubled and I looked like I was having triplets. I retained a lot of water in my legs and feet. Two weeks after I delivered at 37 weeks I was back to my prepregnancy weight. I had a healthy baby. I think the reason I lost weight so quickly besides the edema was I was overweight before the pregnancy.