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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Heart History and Pregnancy
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests
Heart History and Pregnancy
by Karen, Jun 29, 2000 12:00AM
A brief history before I ask my question. I am a 38 year old female. I have struggled with Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome all my life. My symptoms, episodes of rapid heart rate (up to 300 bpm)and dizziness are always worse when I am pregnant and after the birth of my fifth child I had an ablation. My severe symptoms have stopped but I still experience PVC's constantly and have had one episode of rapid heart rate since my ablation. I was going to begin taking Atenolol when I discovered I was pregnant again. My cardiologist and OB agree that I should not take the medication while pregnant so I am not. I am in my sixth month. Recently, I have been experiencing more symptoms. I have been waking up with a more rapid than normal heart rate, (my resting heart rate is approx 90), and my heart is beating "hard". I feel weakness and tingling in my left shoulder and arm and a feeling of "butterflies" in my chest and stomach. I also feel a little like I have a caffeine buzz as my hands are shaking. (I am not ingesting any caffeine.) These symptoms will last several hours and leave me with a feeling of fatigue. This is all beginning to take it's tole on me. Do you have any idea why this is happening? Thank you for your time.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB, Jun 29, 2000 12:00AM
As before, the pregnancy is probably triggering one of your arrhythmias. Beta-blockers have been used in pregnant women, so this is an option worth exploring with your cardiologist and OB again if your symptoms are truly unbearable.
Member Comments (2)
by c. morrison, Jul 06, 2000 12:00AM
I gave birth to my first baby in September 1999. I am a heart patient, 36 at delivery, with a family history of heart disease and hypercholesteremia or however they spell that. During my pregnancy, my doctor advised me to stay ON my atenolol and cardizem - said they used them all the time - and took me off the cholesterol meds. My beautiful baby girl is healthy and brilliant and my cholesterol is lower now than ever (resumed lipitor immediately after birth) but no breastfeeding allowed. I urge you to seek additional opinions. My maternal fetal specialists were a God send and helped me through a pregnancy that a previous PCP told me I could never have due to my medications. They don't all know what they are talking about and usually want to play it safe. Drs. Patterson and Eller at Womens Maternal Fetal Specialists in Atlanta, Georgia and Nortside Hospital in Atlanta are the best!
