HELLP
Listen to your body. When something doesn't feel right, fight for more answers. Educate yourself. Don't expect that your doctors will tell you everything - Laura McKnight
image by: Preeclampsia Foundation Canada
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I Had Never Heard Of HELLP Syndrome Until It Nearly Killed Me
I skimmed the books, I had many friends who had children before me and talked with them frequently, I visited my Obstetrician regularly, I took a prenatal class -- all the things a worried first-time mom does. All this, and HELLP syndrome was never discussed.
My first pregnancy was a hard one. I had frequent morning sickness that never went away. I was placed on Diclectin at about six or seven weeks because I couldn't keep simple foods down. I was told it would fade as I got closer to my second trimester, but it didn't. I read about how morning sickness was a good sign and that it meant my HCG levels were high, so I tried to take small comfort in this.
At our 18-week ultrasound,…
Resources
HELLP Syndrome 2001, Heart Attack 2011. Is This Why?
The reason why — why this, why me, why now? — is one of the hardest parts about my life with heart disease. And while my scary bout with HELLP syndrome may not be the reason (or the only reason) why I had a heart attack and now have heart disease, it is certainly a more logical explanation than random and unrelated health crises. (And you’d better believe I’ll be pressing all my doctors to find out more.) So now I’m angry. Yet, strangely, at peace. All I’ve ever wanted is to know why.
HELLP! Do I Really Want to Do This Again?
Did you have a difficult pregnancy or experience preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome that made you hesitant to have another baby?
I Had Never Heard Of HELLP Syndrome Until It Nearly Killed Me
HELLP Syndrome has a global maternal fatality rate reported to be as high as 25 per cent and a fetal mortality rate of 7.7 to 60 per cent. With these numbers, it scares me that it's not talked about (more, or at all).
HELLP Syndrome
My name is Miranda Sherman and I was diagnosed with HELLP Syndrome July of 2000. Many women each year are diagnosed with this pregnancy complication, and some women even pass away from the effects. To learn about HELLP read through my site.
Preeclampsia Foundation
HELLP syndrome was named by Dr. Louis Weinstein in 1982 after its characteristics: H (hemolysis, which is the breaking down of red blood cells) EL (elevated liver enzymes) LP (low platelet count) HELLP syndrome can be difficult to diagnose, especially when high blood pressure and protein in the urine aren't present. Its symptoms are sometimes mistaken for gastritis, flu, acute hepatitis, gall bladder disease, or other conditions.
Patient
It is characterised by: •H aemolysis •EL (elevated liver) enzymes •LP (low platelet) count NB: most isolated cases of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy are due to gestational thrombocytopenia, where the platelet count falls to 7-150 x 109/L, often late in the second or in the third trimester, rather than due to HELLP.
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