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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
arrhythmia and palpitations
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
arrhythmia and palpitations
by belinny, Dec 17, 2005 12:00AM
I have had heart palpitations since I was a teenager so I have had it for about 20 years.I have had two children and I am now 9 weeks pregnant. About seven years ago I was having the heart palpitions quite bad after I took a prescription drug to try to lose weight. I was sent for an ekg and I wore a holter monitor for a couple of days. Both said that nothing was wrong. The doctor thinks that my heart is "nervous" I have had to deal with anxiety spells and depression after the birth of my second child. I am no longer on any antidepressants and I feel that I am not bad enough to take them any longer. For the past couple of weeks I have noticed an increase in the palpitations and skipping. It is now every day and it occurs alot during the day. I was just wondering could it be the pregnancy or is something else going on now. They have increased more over the years and my grandmother has a pacemaker. My mother also has the palpitations bad and there has been a lot of heart attacks with death in the family. I would appreciate any input. Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-M.D.-MJM, Dec 17, 2005 12:00AM
Hi Belinny,
Congratulations on you're pregnancy. PVCs can increase or decrease with changes in hormones (like pregnancy or menstrual cycles). I would mention the PVCs to your doctor, but it is likely a direct result of your pregnancy.
There is not link or connection that I know of between PVCs as a teenager and young adults and heart attacks later in life. The PVCs people often get after heart attacks or with cardiomyopathies can be different than normal heart PVCs.
I don't think you have anything to worry about but you should mention your concerns to you're doctor.
Good luck and thanks for posting.
Congratulations on you're pregnancy. PVCs can increase or decrease with changes in hormones (like pregnancy or menstrual cycles). I would mention the PVCs to your doctor, but it is likely a direct result of your pregnancy.
There is not link or connection that I know of between PVCs as a teenager and young adults and heart attacks later in life. The PVCs people often get after heart attacks or with cardiomyopathies can be different than normal heart PVCs.
I don't think you have anything to worry about but you should mention your concerns to you're doctor.
Good luck and thanks for posting.
I have three children, nearly all grown now, but I wanted to let you know that hormones (pregnancy, PMS, peri-menopause, etc) seem to trigger pvcs/pacs in some people, me included. There are a number of people on the Forum that have noticed an increase in pvcs during pregnancy. Although my pvcs were prevalent during pregnancy, they did not cause any problems with L&D.
When you said that you have stopped your RX, I understood that to mean the antidepressants. Is that correct? I'm not sure what medications are considered baby-safe during pregancy so I wouldn't take anything until you check with your doctor(s).
Perhaps your doctor will suggest a follow up EKG and holter to see how/if the pregnancy is affecting your heart's rhythm.
My dad also has a pacemaker, but for an entirely different problem. Try not to worry. Check with your doctor on what, if anything, you can do to get the extra beats to "calm down." He/she may suggest you just "deal with it." Or, he/she may suggest a baby-safe medication. I remember taking Inderal (beta blocker) during part of my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies. It's kind of like a bad cold...that goes on and on and on....You can't really take much medicine for it when you are pregnant, so you kinda just shuffle through it. Of course, this is once you know there is nothing more signicant going on...Unlikely, but some follow up tests might be helpful.
Best of luck! I hope you have a peaceful and wonderful pregnancy!!
Connie
You mentioned that people in your family have had fatal heart attacks? Was there ever any mention of a rhythm problem in connection with the death? Maybe the heart attacks were related to CAD and not a rhythm disorder.
The only time you should be concerned is if there is a strong family link of young death from heart disease when people are younger then the age of 50, and especially under the age of 40.
The first pregnancy, I only had to deal with blood disorder - ITP (low platelets). I think was the long term on medication caused my blood disorder.
Problems with the second pregnancy. I had a chest infection. Dr prescribed me amoxil. (Now I was told that not allow to take this if pregnant.) My cervic dilated 6cm at 18 weeks pregnant. Had stitches put in (under GA) and caused infection. 3 kinds of antibiotic went in at the same time. Ventolin 4mg 3 times a day. (not for asthma, it's for cervic not to dilate) Told to take this till full term. (If I can keep it) Can all these drugs given to a pregnant women? They went ahead if needed. They just bypass what shaw at the drug interactions or precautions. I told them my heart went mad. (Palpitations BACK!) I was crying. Told me stayed on bed. Palps were caused by ventolin. (Anyway, only allowed to get down from bed once a day. Time to the toilet. If can't make it, had to wait for tomorrow!) Eat, vee and wash all laid down on a upside down bed for few weeks. It was much harder than after the ablation sta