very low BP troubles - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

LucyMaggadino · 10-11-2003, 08:26 PM

This is a pregnancy story but also has BP issues. please help. I have a friend whos 18 and just had a baby 4 weeks ago. She went through a lot of trouble in labor. It took 30 hours and her pelvic bones hadnt moved (which theyre supposed to in your 8th month as im informed) an inch. They didnt even think of a c section. She was ripped in 5 places on the inside. Her left vaginal lip was hanging down to about 5 inches above her knee and it was 2 inches wide. She hasnt been able to control her bladder since. A week ago she thought she had an accident so she went to go clean herself and when she stood up, blood was coming out of her uncontrollably. She had lost 32 oz of blood. The doctors didnt know what was wrong with her so they sent her home. Yesterday the same type scenario went on except for it was much more blood. She was all alone and when the ambulance had arrived her blood pressure was 60/40. She had to have 5 blood transfusions. and was released late this evening. They gave her medicine to make the bleeding stop but said there wasnt much else they could do. The doctors said that the amount of blood she lost could have led to her death (they had a chaplain waiting at the doors when the ambulance arrived)Shes only 18 and she has a 4 week old baby and cant afford to be going through this. Im very worried about her so if anyone has any help as to whats up with her, it would be much appreciated. Thanks.

rubindj · 10-11-2003, 09:33 PM

Who is she seeing????

I would call a OB/GYN at a major medical center near by (or far away), get a copy of all her records, and go see him Monday AM. Even better, call her current doctor and ask for a transfer of care. Did they do surgery? Did she keep her prenatal appointments? Something doesn't sound right here. (either she doesn't understand/isn't telling you the whole story, you are in an area with no OB/GYN coverage, she hasn't followed his directions, or something else is going on).

LucyMaggadino · 10-11-2003, 10:12 PM

First, thanks for the reply...

They did surgery on her right after she had the baby but not since. I went to every prenatal appt. with her, so yes she went to all of them. I was also at her dr. appt last week (the 1st time it happened) when her dr. told her she doesnt know whats wrong. The dr. said that she would get in touch with a specialist adn have her sent there. Shes followed all of the directions (lots of rest, no asprin, etc.) and nothing has helped

rubindj · 10-11-2003, 11:54 PM

Call him up asap (either sunday if he via beeper at a reasonable time) or monday 8:00am, and get her to a OB/GYN that morning. From what you've told me, here is my guess:

Many hospitals, especially those in rural and semi-rural areas (and even a few larger areas), no longer have a OB/GYN (Gynocologist) on staff. The malpractice drove them all to other areas or to retirement. For most deliveries, they could be done by family physicians or by ER doctors without much trouble, even C-Sections. That being said, neither of these have experience in complicated deleveries, especially when there is significant tramau to the mother.

This lady needs to be seen by a OB now.

All of the above being said, I'm not a doctor at the scene, and he is. I would push to make sure she doesn't get "forgotten in the wash," but it sounds like the referral is already in the works.