post-pregnancy fast heart rate/palpitations

[ezpalmmom]

I started to have irregular heartbeats after the birth of our 2nd boy. I also was diagnosed with anti-phospholipid syndrome during this pregnancy. I'm 28.  My mother has been getting the same "fast heartbeat" her whole life so wondering if it's hereditary? I never have had any problems with this until 4 weeks after the birth of our 2nd boy. Went to the ER for dehydration and found my heart racing in the 130's. They did everything to slow it down, nothing seemed to work. Finally, after 4 doses of cardizem they sent me home. Heartrate started to slow down the minute I got home. Now I've had 4 other episodes since then. I can seem to tell when they are coming on and it feels like a "switch" or "thump" triggers the fast heartbeat. Then, the anxiety takes over and I swear it gets worse. Sometimes I have felt like a "quiver" feeling in my left breast muscle or "spasm", but then it goes away. What could all this be? I tried Zoloft for anxiety but it gave me loose bowels and I didn't care for it. I'm thinking of seeing a cardiologist today because I can't take the anxiety anymore. I'm a stay at home mom and feel I can't even be a good mom because I sit around and worry when my heart is going to race. I often even go into town and go to my in-laws house just to be around people. My huband works long hours, 60-70hour weeks, so I get nervous being by myself at home with the boys. I guess my question is should I see a cardiologist or is this something that is just post-partum related?

[Cleveland Clinic]

ezpalmmom,

Thanks for the post. You have a lot going on and Im sure at times it can seem quite overwhelming. For this reason alone, I would suggest you see a physician if nothing else to set your mind at ease.

To further look into your palpitations and tachycardia an event or holter monitor would be helpful.  

It really seems that stress is contributing to your symptoms and rightfully so. However, there's nothing wrong with seeing a physician to make sure everything is ok.

good luck

[Rachel's mom]

Hi,

Starting this year I began having very fast heart rate while in bed at night and this only happens during my period...MY heart rate was monitored at 160 bpm...So scary...my cardiologist put me on Atenenol 25 mg and told me to take during my period and it has been a godsend.  No racing at all and even took away all my skipping beats.  I am tempted to stay on it everyday as it makes me feel so normal.  Ok hope this makes you feel better that there is something out there that can help.  My doctor feels mine is hormone related and yours probably is too.  Good luck to you.

[momof6]

hi,have they checked your thryroid? some times especially after a pg our thyroid can get out of whack. Also common after pg and birth is that we get low on our minerals. YOu could be low on iron, potassium and magnesium. The latter two make the heart beat smoothly and at a good pace so important in heart health. Ive had these darn palps, they come in many different forms from your common pvc, pac, to where itll beat really fast but normal rythme to eratic and gives me that quiver feeling you mentioned. Sometimes I feel like all the blood from my heart empties out and I get this weird sensation in my chest and  then the heart will go into a erratic beat like its trying to catch up with itself and refill with blood. So many different sensations can come from these beats. One thing I did learn from my Cardiologist is that, that feeling of adrenaline I feel during some of the pac,pvc's is the heart filling up with blood before it does the big thud. All that to say they are all scary feelings but try not to get to freaked out about it and let it control your life. I did for a while, I was so afraid to go anywhere where their wasnt some kind of medical help close by. BTW I started getting my palps and fast beats right after my fourth baby was born. So Ive had them for 10yrs. and in the last 2yrs. have found out that Ive had low potassium and magnesium, since taking those two mineral every day its much better, much less corky scary beats just a few palps a day. Im not a doc but I would get some blood work done and make sure everything is in good balance. Make sure you see the test results as the hospital would say mine was all normal but then my more concerning doc found that while my numbers fell within normal it was almost off the normal level, low enough to cause the heart not to beat at a good pace and smoothly. Ive also have lost alot of blood with a m/c I had last year and it caused my heart to beat fast 160bpm when just standing up and when at rest was 110. The heart had to beat that fast to get more oxygen pumped to the body. I was on iron thereapy for a few months afterwards to rebuild my iron level, boy was I tired! I hope you get some answers soon so that you can rest and enjoy  your blessings. IM sure with a new born, toddler, being up all night with the baby and also worrrying about these darn beats your are physically and emotionally drained. Being overly tired can make it worse too! Try and get some rest when you can and drink plenty of fluids. Congratulations on your new baby boy! I have five boys and one girl, they are all such a blessing! I pray your heart will settle down to a good rythme so you can enjoy your blessing too! hang in there!!

God Bless,
Debbie

[momof6]

Im sorry I missed spelled your nic name! Hope the doc can help you soon!

Blessings~Debbie

[anacyde]

I'm assuming they did a chest x-ray?  Do you have any other symptoms besides your fast heart rate and palpitations?  And no, it's not typical to have tachycardia as a normal part of the postpartum period.  

If it were me, I would see a cardiologist.  In fact, I had similar symptoms and I did go to a cardiologist.  It could just be your body adjusting with hormonal changes, especially since you have a family history of rapid heart rates.  Still, a Holter couldn't hurt so you're 100% sure what you're dealing with.  Your symptoms could be nothing at all, or they could mean something is up.

[anacyde]

I also responded to you in the post below, after I replied here ;)

[Fionajnz]

There are some very good thoughts being posted to you.  

I am recovering from a post partum cardiomyopathy, my main symptoms were breathlessness, tachycardia (elevated heart rate) and swelling of my lower limbs (pitting edema).  This happened after giving birth to our third child, but it took me 6 wks to bring my symptoms to my PCPs notice and I had the symptoms during the birth hospital stay, during an ER visit for something else and in the third trimester. No one else thought much of the symptoms at the time....OBs especially.  

Anyway I guess my point is, that anxiety could be part of the picture (but when you are post partum it can be a chicken or egg type picture....you feel anxious but it can be that you feel anxious because you feel so crappy...KWIM?), but you need to exclude other causes, thyroid function is the one to get whackiest after delivery and is a common post partum problem, it  can make you feel very anxious, crappy and can elevate your heart rate.  Its a panel of bloodwork to have it checked.  The other thing is heart related issues, your PCP or GP can do an initial check of things, by ordering a holter and perhaps an echocardiogram (like an ultrasound), plus you do need to check iron levels and basic stuff like that before you jump to the conclusion that its post partum anxiety or depression.  If it ends up being a post partum depression then don't just try one drug, there are many out there to try out, I found Zoloft which I took after our second child, kept me awake and had horrible side effects. In the last 3 yrs+ they have researched lexapro for use post partum and I took it about 5 mths after this delivery.  Its well researched with breast feeding and I personally have had NO side effects at all.  So I would start there if that is the track you end up going down.  

With little home support and two young children, being a SAHM is no easy job.  It will get easier I promise, but you do need to get on top of whatever is happening with you right now.  Its hard enough without feeling lousy to boot.  Hang in there, it will get better.

Fiona