Ok, just asking for thoughts...

I did get diagnosed with SPD (GP) and have seen a chiropractor (last Saturday) with another appointment tomorrow.

My symptoms of SPD were EXTREME heaviness in the pelvis coupled with fatigue going down the thighes - which was making it very difficult to walk, go uphill, go upstairs etc.

After the first Chriropractor appointment I felt a lot "better in myself" - a lot of little tensions/aches that must have been building up during pregnancy felt a lot better. I have had a very bad cold this week (husband has had the flu), so haven't been hugely active. However have noticed that the "extreme heaviness" in my pelvis has reduced an awful lot (nolonger like a I have a bowling ball precariously slung in my uterus) . HOWEVER the "fatigue" is still there and worse than ever: it took me two sitting down stops to make it 250 yards this lunch time and by the end of it I was feeling fatigued into my torso (not just my pelvis and legs), my heart was beating pretty hard, I was breathing heavily and I felt a bit hot and dizzy...

At the Chiropractor last Saturday, she expressed surprise at the fatigue symptoms: that they were not general SPD symptoms and seem more like a "blood supply" problem... I will obviously discuss this with her more tomorrow. I have my next midwife appointment a week today and will also bring it up then. I have some (private) Obstetrician appointments and, although the next one is not due for four weeks, am strongly considering bringing it forward and possibly changing the care that I receive (I currently have "shared (part Obstetrician, part midwife) care" and am thinking of swapping to wholely Obstetrician-led care...).

But I am wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar? Either as part of their SPD or as something else (at the moment it is unclear if it is part of the SPD or something that has been hiding alongside it....)? To me it does almost feel as though my cardio system is not managing to supply my legs with enough blood/oxygen (bare in mind that, until 3 weeks ago, I was a 3/4+ gym sessions a week person... so I was not unfit). When this happens - and I can't sit down quick enough (there are only so many seating opportunities if you are out of the house) - then my cardio system (increased heart rate and heavy breathing) and head (dizziness etc) start to complain.

Baby is fine and active. I am trying to take it easy, but feel a bit like a prisoner in my own body...

Edited to add, BP is lowish but fine (normally 90 or 100 over about 60 or so).

QT

I don't really know hun. All I know is that I feel permanently exhausted. If I walk up the stairs I'm out of breath and have to have a rest before I can walk up the others to my bedroom, and if I walk even a very short distance I am out of breath and shattered. Maybe it is just a general pregnancy thing rather than spd? xx

do u hav enough iron in ur body by any chance? this all sounds to me like ur lackin in something with the fatigue in ur legs and the heart beating fast and what not and did u know all those symtoms r signs of anemia speshly the low blood pressure.. hav they done ur blood count recently? i know the fatgue in legs is common with spd but if u feel in urself its to do with something else it is definatly best looking into it let us know how u get on xxxx

I don't know... it has just come on very severely and VERY quickly (like a matter of just two/three weeks). Because I was so fit before, I don't understand it. I was fit and strong and I am not very big (put on 6/7 pounds so far and don't look big - currently weigh 10st 3lbs). To go from going to the gym 3/4 times a week (and comofrtably able to run 4+ miles until I BFP'd) to barely being able to walk 100 yards (or walk up two flights of stairs) just doesn't seem normal, even for pregnancy....

You see lots of women of 8+ months pregnant motoring around the town... I may not even look pregnant to some people (if I am wearing an open jacket), but am the one sat heavily on a ledge by the side of the road looking like I am going to have a heart attack...

I am fine in myself (getting lots of sleep, not tired or generally fatigued), it is just when I have to walk that problems occur (although standing still doesn't relieve them, I have to sit down).

QT

Can I just ask at what stage of your pregnancy you were diagnosed with SPD? I'm getting terrible pains in my hips and lower back, I can't do anything without feeling pain but my MW (spoke to her on the phone) thinks it's too early for me to be experiencing anything like SPD or PGP and told me to take paracetamol and have warm baths - not much help really!

Hope things get better for you soon, sorry can't offer any advice it's a real pain

I have had my iron measured twice (mid June and mid August), both times I was told that my levels were fantastic (about 13?). I would EXPECT to have more symptoms (and all of the time) if it was anemia, but it is worth asking to be tested again, thank you (will do that next Friday at the MW appointment).

QT

Thank you.

Only VERY recently - I was diagnosed two weeks ago today (so basically 22 weeks). That was after it "hit me" full force. I had a few, very temporary, "niggles" (which I didn't realise were the early onset of SPD) for about 3 weeks before that (so week 19). I hear that "around week 20" is very common for SPD, but everyone (and their pregnancy) is different... I am SURE that some people on here have been diagnosed a lot earlier....

Maybe get checked out by a (good) GP? That is from where my diagnosis came from (not the midwife). But beware of bad GPs and hospital doctors (had two rubbish ones, before the GP... one didn't have a clue, the other thought it was part of a UTI ).

Regardless of what it is (SPD or just other pregnancy related severe aches/pains) a chiropractor or an oesteopath may be a good answer.... I have seen a chiropractor (who was great for the achiness bit of it and who has only treated me once so far) and others have recommended oesteopaths.... You need one who is specially trained to handle pregnant women. My chiropractor is a "McTimoney" chriropractor (which is a little more gentle than some other forms) and was recommended through my pre-natal yoga class.

You really want to try and get some relief as soon as possible: like me you must be thinking that pregnancy has some considerable weeks (and weight gain!) to get through from this point (and you are a lot less progressed than me...). For both of us, unless we tackle it, I can only see things getting tougher...

Good luck

QT

My midwife also tried to go down the UTI route until I explained that I was having no problems in the bathroom

I'll make an appointment with my GP on Monday, best to get this looked at now. Thanks.

You can have a UTI without "problems going to the bathroom" - I have just recovered from a "silent UTI" (pretty much symptom-less - I didn't have any traditional UTI symptoms...). BUT I knew that the fatigue/heaviness problems (later diagnosed as SPD) were unrelated to the, then, virtually gone UTI (I was nearly finished antibiotics and in the process of being re-tested - which came back clear). I have had quite a few UTIs and a kidney infection over the years and they are VERY different to SPD (or other musco-skeletal problems). You are probably like me - we know our own bodies and what does and what doesn't make sense

I would never turn down a urine test (lab tested), but once they rule that out then you want a better explanation and some help...

QT

I find this thread really interesting.

I find every morning that my legs feel really heavy going up stairs. I'm only 16weeks pregnant...is this a normal or perhaps a symptom of things to come? Lately, the symptom of lightheadedness has been coming back too. I still manage getting to the gym 3/4 times a week without any problems. The m/w says my blood pressure is okay.

I hope you find a way around this QTPie...I really feel for you!!