Heart Fluttering, Some Dizzy / Lightheaded

Hello. I am 29 years old ( yeas overweight but not to to bad) I had a baby 4 months ago,, perfect pregnancy and delivery. I had a complete check up like 3 weeks ago. MyBlood pressure is perfect like 107/78 resting heartrate around 77 and cholesterol perfect, thyroid perfect. I have been having like fluttering or it feels like my heart is playing like catch up to catch up a beat or something. 2 years ago I had a holter monitoring I wore for 24 hours and my cardio. said it was PAC. Sometimes my muscles around my chest / heart get a little tight but I have had fluttering and litghheadness sometimes. When I went to the Dr. he put me on Zoloft which I am to scared to take and gave me a RX for Valum cause I have a panic attack. He said I worry way to much that I have no signs of heart disease or nothing just stress. Sometimes also my face will get tiggling... he said stress can do that.  Have you ever heard of that? Please help before I make myself go crazy!

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

Stress can cause the numbness and tingling in the face (especially lips), hands and arms.  It is common for people to have palpitations around the time of a pregnancy (hormonal changes can trigger them).  It is also common for new mom's to be anxious or depressed after giving birth.  Being a new mom is hard, you are sleep deprived, and you are probably are a bit stressed at the responsibility of having a living being completely dependent on you.  This is enough to increase anxiety in everyone.

If I saw someone like yourself in clinic (and I do very frequently), I would order an EKG, a holter monitor and an echocardiogram (ultra sound of the heart).  When they come back normal (and they will), I would reassure you with evidence that your heart is fine.  Being scared is normal, learning to live with can sometimes require learning some new coping skills.  The tests will often help calm the nerves because now their are tests that show you are fine.

I hope this helps.  congratulations on the new baby!