SVT, Tachycardia, PVCs, Bigeminy -pregnant, help!!!

I am a 24 year old female, in good health, no drinking, no smoking, etc. 4 years ago, I was diagnosed with SVT and put on Atenolol. 6 months later, I started feeling my heart pause in my chest, which I learned was from PVC's. I finally wore a 24 hour heart monitor and lots of short runs of SVT and PVC's were caught. I was told I had an irregular heart and to have a nice life. After pushing, I finally got to a cardiologist and had all of the normal tests, EKG's, Echo, Stress Test, Event Monitor which showed Sinus Arrhythmia and Sinus Tachycardia as well as PVC's. I was referred to an EP for a possible ablation. The EP said he believed the abnormal rhythm was coming from a spot too close to my SA node but he wanted to do another event monitor and take me off of my beta blockers to see the worst case scenario before he decided to do an EP study. Well, while trying to wean off of my medicine, my husband and I found out we are pregnant with our second child! I am terrified. I had to come off of the beta blockers for the pregnancy and the cardiologist do not want to put me on anything else for risk of hurting the baby. But I can't stand this! I don't notice a fast heart rate much, but I get 5-10 PVC's per minute of every hour (unless I'm working out, then I don't get them) and I have started going into Bigeminy, a very bad feeling, a few times every hour as I'm lying down. It really feels bad, like I"m dying. My heart is structurally normal and the EP doctor said all of my tests were outstanding and everything was benign but it doesn't feel that way. Has anyone else ever had bad problems like this and carried out a successful pregnancy? Pleaes, I need assurance!

[Mom2four85]

They could do another holter just to make sure what's going on; but increases in hormones during pregnancy, menses and even spikes at menopause is very common.  I question whether a few years ago when mine increased if it wasn't the start of menopause and I noticed surges in hormones/emotions, then decreases etc...mine increased to roughly 50,000 pvc's daily with no known cause.

If you're young, have a normally structural heart and all else ok (blood levels electrolytes etc) you should be ok just ask for another holter to see and make sure you tell your OB about the pvc's.

Another good sign is that they decrease with exercise =) that means they're probably nothing to worry about and the increases in HR are a good thing and your heart's healthy, Just watch for symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting etc which could be caused by pregnancy also. I've had arrhythmia's since I was 9, went through 4 pregnancies...with 2 in my mid 30's and noticed the farther along; I got more symptomatic.

Try to keep a journal with dates, times, symptoms if you have any and watch your bp/hr with a good bp monitor.

[DeltaDawn23]

What does your obstetrician say?  I'm wondering if you should seek a second opinion, if you're still worried.   In the meantime, it sounds like you and the baby are in no immediate danger.  If you've been cleared by the cardiologist, try to relax.    

[DeltaDawn23]

Sorry to be so brief and general in my comments, but it sounds like you are being proactive and doing all the right things.

[Hwilson]

Thank you for your reply DeltaDawn. I can't see my OB for a few months. They won't see me till I'm at least 2 months along and we just found out a few days ago I was expecting. My heart problems are driving me crazy though! The nurses at the cardiologists office keeps acting like it's nothing but I'm not sure if they understand how much worse my problems have gotten. I know it's just the hormones but I'm scared. I went from a thousand PVCs per day to probably over 20,000, along with bigeminy which is pretty new to me! Sorry, just venting! Thanks for your reply though!

[Mom2four85]

They could do another holter just to make sure what's going on; but increases in hormones during pregnancy, menses and even spikes at menopause is very common.  I question whether a few years ago when mine increased if it wasn't the start of menopause and I noticed surges in hormones/emotions, then decreases etc...mine increased to roughly 50,000 pvc's daily with no known cause.

If you're young, have a normally structural heart and all else ok (blood levels electrolytes etc) you should be ok just ask for another holter to see and make sure you tell your OB about the pvc's.

Another good sign is that they decrease with exercise =) that means they're probably nothing to worry about and the increases in HR are a good thing and your heart's healthy, Just watch for symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting etc which could be caused by pregnancy also. I've had arrhythmia's since I was 9, went through 4 pregnancies...with 2 in my mid 30's and noticed the farther along; I got more symptomatic.

Try to keep a journal with dates, times, symptoms if you have any and watch your bp/hr with a good bp monitor.

[bbxx]

Awe, I am sorry to hear you are going through this. It is very scary feeling I know. I have a lot of pvcs also and some other stuff. I understand how you feel with the 10 a minute. I have days with 20-30 pvcs a minute. Bigeminy is not fun, but then again none of these are. Just know so many of us on here deal with this and have been a very long time complaining of the same old stuff, and repeating our stories so new people can see we are still here. Hang in there! :)

[Hwilson]

Thank you so much for your reply Lisa. Originally, I was getting another event monitor off of my medicine in a few weeks anyway so I'm guessing the EP still wants to do that. Since he wanted to see the worst case scenario, this is it I guess lol. I do have a lot of dizzy spells and light headness. All of my doctors disregard it when I tell them and act like it's normal. I do suffer from anxiety too so when I'm home alone, I notice the dizzy and light headedness is worse. I have a constant fear of dying daily. I can't go anywhere alone, for fear that I'll fall over and no one will help me. I just feel helpless when i'm by myself. It is definitely very hard to deal with all of this and it does comfort me to know that so many other people deal with the same thing, and a lot worse cases, and are still here! Thanks for your advice, I will def keep a journal and am planning on taking all of my medical records to my first OB appointment! Do you think this will make me a high risk pregnancy or anything? Just wondering. I carried out my first pregnancy 4 years ago without any problems but then again, I didn't have them then, or at least didn't notice them. Thanks so much!

[Hwilson]

Thanks for your reply BBXX, I truly appreciate it. You have no idea how much comfort it brings me to know I'm not alone in this! I always feel so isolated and lonely when it comes to this stuff but this site truly helps with all of that. Though I would never wish this stuff on anyone else, it's always comforting to know other people understand what you're going through. All of my family and my husband think that since the doctors have all told me it isn't dangerous and it won't kill me, I should just move on, but that doesn't mean it still isn't uncomfortable and scary! Thanks so much for your post!

[Mom2four85]

I dont think this will put you in a high risk pregnancy because what they say you have is benign and your heart structure is ok, as always it's best to keep notes and ask your dr.  The dizziness etc is probably all due to the ANS autonomic nervous system and your body needs with being pregnant blood volume increasing, but to be safe just keep an eye on it and report any changes to your dr.

It's always great knowing others know how we feel when most of the time doctors/nurses don't seem to empathize with our situations.  Try to avoid any triggers such as anxiety, stress caffeine sleep problems etc.

if you need to talk, vent or ask more questions this is a great community for that =)

[Hwilson]

Well thank you for your reassurance Lisa. I did experience lots of dizziness and lightheadedness before I was even pregnant but the doctor's always acted like I was crazy. They even did a CT scan of my head just to double check everything. All of my tests have always been excellent. I just freaked out one day at work because I woke up dizzy and almost passed out randomly and I automatically connected that to my heart. The Dr. thinks it was just lack of sleep, dehydration or low blood sugar more than likely since I don't have any dangerous arrhythmia's. I'm a very paranoid person though if u can't tell. I love this site though. Reading other's stories makes me feel more assured than anything. Thanks again!

[Mom2four85]

There are some doctors when you say ANS they look at you like you grew 2 heads hehehe But really they should all know about it and how it affects our systems because it controls virtually everything "automatic" in our bodies.  

Anything that will make our brain miscommunicate with heart, blood vessels etc can cause dizziness, fainting etc  

Sometimes, just knowing information can help calm our fears of what's going on - it's the unknown that spurs fear...here's an easy and very informative explanation by the leading authority on ANS -http://www.ndrf.org/NDRF%20Patient%20Handbook/SecA_pp17-58.PDF

Every time I read "the central nervous system is like a lollipop on a stick, the brain is the candy and the spinal cord is the stick" I chuckle because I never thought of it that way. The booklet has some illustrations too that explain so much of what our bodies do.

[andie3330]

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know that I started having PVCs/PACs during my pregnancy - it was very distressing to me - especially because I was also coping with anxiety disorder. I continued to have the irregular heartbeats throughout the pregnancy and for the first 6-9 months post-partum.  Both my cardiologist and my OB/GYN told me that everything was fine, despite how scared and miserable I was.  I was sorry to hear that you are now in a similar situation, but i can assure you that it is ok to have these benign arrythmias during pregnancy - my pregnancy was otherwise uneventful and I had a perfectly normal labor and delivery - and a healthy baby girl.  After all the heart issues of my first pregnancy, I was hesitant to get pregnant again, but my cardiologist told me that she wouldn't even give the PVCs/PACs a second thought and that I should go ahead and get pregnant again if I wanted to.  Best wishes to you!

[Hwilson]

Thank you for your reply. I didn't just develop these problems however, I first noticed them a few months after having my first daughter. I've had them about 4 years and we always agreed on getting my heart "fixed" before we had another. Well, accidents do happen lol. Thank you though for your comment. It makes me feel very reassured to know that someone else went through this and had a healthy delivery. Thank you so much!

[mommymoment]

Okay so I was admitted to the hospital last week with shortness of breath from what I thought was bronchitis..well I had bronchitis but was also told I have SVT.  I'M 16 weeks pregnant and they kept me for 4 days to monitor.  They put me on beta blockers 3 times a day. I went to my ob today and they told me I have bigemini and need to see my cardiologist ASAP.......I am so scared.  I have anxiety already and always think something us going to happen to me.  Hwilson how did everything turn out for you??

[michellepetkus]

I would seek the council of a cardiologist but it sounds like from the other posts that you and the baby should be fine.  The more you stress out about this the worse you will make the pvcs.  They feed off of stress.  For the sake of the baby do whatever you can to work through your worry.  Take care and keep us posted on how you are doing.

[mommymoment]

Thank you Michelle.....I went to the cardiologist today and they said my heart was healthy and looked good but I have svts and pvcs that can be fixed with ablation but I would need to wait until after delivery. In the meantime they will continue to keep me on the beta blocker and also monitor me every 2 weeks. He said the issue is more of a nuisance and irritating to me more than anything else. The big thing is like you said remain as calm as can be because anxiety fuels these issues.  Thank you.....I love this site people really do understand and I don't feel crazy because I can relate to different individuals on here.