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From Denise
Oneyodafan@aol.com would like to hear from other HELLP survivors in Wisconsin.
From Cindy
ctonn@sympatico.ca (Barrie, Ontario, Canada) I am curious to know if there has been any research done or link identified concerning HELLP and autism/pdd? My beautiful 3 year old son has been diagnosed with pdd-nos. [pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified] He has always had some mild to moderate delays but they had been attributed [by professionals] to HELLP, IUGR, being 'premie' and his visual difficulties. One can't help but wonder if other parents, having shared the HELLP situation, are now facing this one.
From Marcy
Regarding Melanie's article in last month's newsletter:
(Martinsburg, WV) I didn't see an email address for replies to Melanie regarding her article. I hope you can forward this to her. I just wanted to say that it completely touched my heart. I too suffered from a severe case of HELLP. We will celebrate my Emma's first birthday in a few weeks. While the date brings back many memories of a time of chaos and fear, it is also the day I celebrate the most precious gift that I have ever been given. I cherish every moment that I have with Emma and my husband. I am truly blessed. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
From Loraine
loraine@gillespie.uk.net I had HELLP in 2002 with my now healthy little boy. I had no signs before except a slight rise in bp. My HELLP kicked in after I had my c-section. I developed DIC, ARF, low platelets and increased liver enzymes, all of which I was very lucky to recover from. However, my eyesight went. All I could see was the outline of people's faces for 48 hours. There was no sign of retinal detachment. This improved but everything was very blurred for months. Even now my eyes get very blurry, especially when I am slightly dehydrated or very tired. Has anyone else had anything similar?
From Holly
hhhealy@msn.com Holly would like to start a HELLP support group in western Maryland. Please contact her if you have interest in being a part of her group.
From Bri
bri.parkes@uk.royalsun.com (Brighton, England) I have just found out I am pregnant with my second child. My first child was delivered at 40 weeks when I developed HELLP syndrome. I am so pleased to find somewhere I can correspond with people who have knowledge of HELLP. When I experienced it neither my health visitor, midwife or doctor had heard of HELLP, let alone knew what the symptoms might be. This was reflected by the fact that, the day before I was admitted to the hospital, my doctor misdiagnosed the pains I had (liver distension and kidneys) as a pulled muscle and told me to go home and take some paracetamo! I owe my own life (and that of my son) to a 'stand-by' midwife who saw me the following day (purely by chance) and had attended a seminar the previous year on preeclampsia, where they had covered HELLP syndrome as a side issue. She sent me into the hospital 'on the off chance' that my symptoms might be serious. I ended up in intensive care, requiring massive platelet and blood transfusions both pre and post delivery. Needless to say, I am very apprehensive about this new pregnancy. I am desperately excited about it but, also very scared… more so for the baby than for me.
From Michal
hoppy@netvision.net.il (Ramat Gan , Israel) I found this wonderful site last year, after losing our baby at 20 weeks as a result of HELLP . This was my second time with HELLP - I also had HELLP at 32 weeks in 1998, with my daughter who is now 5.
I have also had infertility issues to deal with - my second pregnancy (last year ) , was as a result of IUI , and after losing our baby , I went through numerous cycles of IUI , and then fell pregnant on the first cycle with IVF.
The pregnancy was a twin pregnancy , and all the high risk specialists that I consulted , recommended that I do a fetal reduction, as a twin pregnancy increased my risks of getting PE/ HELLP again by over 2.5 (more than double ). Because of my history, I am at extremely high risk of getting PE/HELLP again - the question is "when."
The whole decision was extremely difficult for me, but ultimately I decided to follow medical advice, as I want to give this pregnancy the best possible chance. I was very scared, as the procedure involved a 7% chance of miscarriage. I was on strict bed rest for a week , and now things seem to be OK.
I am now 16 weeks , and just pray that things continue to go right for me. I am on Clexane ( Levonox ) and aspirin ( which I was not on in my previous pregnancies ) and hope that this will have a positive effect on the outcome for me .
My whole pregnancy has been extremely stressful because I am so scared of something going wrong, and take each day at a time. I cannot look much further than that .
To all the other pregnant ladies , I would like to wish you all successful, PE/HELLP free pregnancies .
From Jill
jillianw@shaw.ca I am searching for a doctor(s) in Canada who are considered the authority on the syndrome here. I live in a small city and am having difficulty getting information on post-natal complications. I delivered my first child in January and was not diagnosed with HELLP until about five weeks after the symptoms began to present. To date, my liver enzymes are still elevated, although fluctuating, and I have numbness in both feet. I have seen an internist, but was not happy with his approach (wait another six months to see what happens).
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