Questions posted in the
Heart Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
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Subject: Re: Post pardum cadiomyopathy My wife recently gave birth to twins. The were born 4 weeks early, C-section due to the onset of preclampsia (toximia). After she delivered, he blood pressure skyrocketed. They gave her medication to lower it, which it eventually did. However, during the time period her blood pressure was elevated she spoke with a cardiologist who wanted to due a follow up. About six weeks later she went to his office. After several tests he diagnosed her with post pardum cardiomyopathy. He put her on accupril and said that they would know in six months where things stood. They could deteriorate, stabalize, or improve. #1 what are the percentages for each three of these? #2 Is this the correct medication? I hate to just wait six months to see what happens, should we seek a second opinion. My life has been a rollercoaster. The happiest days of my life have been since my children were born. I do not want to spend them alone. Dear Scott If it is peripartum cardiomyopathy, the prescribed medicine is reasonable. About a third of patients stay the same, a third get better, a third get worse. Only time will tell which category your wife will fall into. How bad are her symptoms? If she is asymptomatic, her prognosis is good. If she is still having severe symptoms, her prognosis is much worse and you should probably have her evaluated at a heart failure center. I hope you find this information useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only. Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies. Please feel free to write back with additional questions. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem. | |
