Please don't read & run!

I didn't know what section to put this in, so I'll try here. I am in the states & don't have health insurance and I cannot afford to go to the doctor.

My little girl turned 5 months old today.

In the past 7/8 weeks, I have gained (at last count) 18 pounds. This coincides with when my milk supply dried up completely after stopping Reglan. I was supplementing before that, and I can't imagine that I was making enough milk to have a sudden weight gain right after I stopped. I actually have pitting edema on my legs right now (like when I was pregnant and ended up with severe preeclampsia.) I'm already very obese, and so other people look at me and assume it's all just fat.

I have a history of strange skin rashes (covering my entire body) that usually only flare up after extended sun exposure, but I've been indoors...and both of my arms and my neck have been itchy and bumpy for several weeks now. I also itch "down there" which I don't have a history of. My skin is dry and itchy.

Last cycle I had strange brown spotting, which I'd never had before. I just had the same today.

I've been feeling slightly dizzy (almost like my brain is shifting) before I go to bed.

I've been having strange chest pains - almost like anxiety. I think they may be from worrying too much about this.

After I had my baby, I was readmitted to the hospital with pulmonary edema. I was there for 5 days and took lasix and lost 30 lbs of water weight before I was dismissed. Some doctors told me it was a complication of my preeclampsia and others said that I had peripartum cardiomyopathy - which is why I am so terrified and freaked out right now. I'm terrified that something is wrong with my heart.

And my hair is falling out WAY more than it did after I had my son. It's awful!

Does any of this sound like anything you've heard of? Is it common? Do you think it could be a thyroid issue? (I've had 2 cousins with thyroid cancer and my mom has major thyroid issues due to goiters, as well.)

Next time that I have the chest pains, I am going to talk to my husband and see if he thinks I should just go to the emergency room. I will not be able to pay for it (at least, not now), but I know they'll see me. When I was pregnant I did go to the doctor for some chest type pains/racing heart/dizziness and they said that for that type of thing I needed to go straight to ER as the doctor's office can't really do the right type of testing needed for it. Unfortunately, I was left waiting for 8 hours because they decided I was okay, then the admitted me for observation overnight, and then the stupid doctor on duty told me that I just had anxiety and he provided me with relaxation techniques!

Sorry for rambling, I'm just scared and don't know quite what to do.

I don't want to make a big deal out of nothing and look like a fool with anxiety again.

ETA: I have a history of miscarriage and had a positive ANA (antinuclear antibody) test, but was told they didn't think it was significant.

Maybe it is high blood pressure. Mine has shot up since I have given birth (was borderline during the pregnancy).

sudden weight gain, pain in chest and oedema can all be a sign of post-partum toxemia/eclampsia, my friend had it after birth and swelled up like a balloon, it was the water retention and swelling that caused her rapid weight gain and she got headaches, blurred vision and chest pains.
sounds like it but I'm not a doctor, I would most certainly get it checked out

Are there any free health clinics in your area? I'd definitely go and get checked.

Can postpartum preeclampsia come back, especially this late? I had my c-section early because I had preeclampsia, and then we thought we had everything resolved.

I pretty much feel like I have it again, and I'm so confused! I don't have headaches this time, and my bp isn't extremely high, but it is higher than it was a few weeks ago.

I know, I sound stupid asking about medical things like this, but I really value other's opinions on this one..mainly just scared that the cardiomyopathy has returned - if I actually had it in the first place.

No, lacking health care options around here! I can be seen at the doctor's office but there is a $50 co pay if you don't have insurance and it has to be paid immediately.

I am thinking of calling Dr. tomorrow just to feel the situation out & see what he says.

Mine did almost 8 weeks PP I had to start meds. I'm still on them at almost 14 weeks.

I'm on hold to talk to a nurse...for about 10-15 minutes now...

Doctors appt at 3:00 (mountain standard time).

They aren't making me pay today. Yay!!!

BP was 180/102 1st reading and 160/101 2nd reading. They suspect that it's all thyroid related. Had an ekg which was good and several labs done to check for liver function, bnp, thyroid, & cbc. So...we'll see!