Palpalatations or pvcs in pregnancy

[Linzola1]

IS there anyone else that noticed they were having heart palps or diagnosed with pvcs in pregnancy? I went to my primary today and was telling her that I was having more frequent heart palps today and when she listened to my heart she noticed that I was having pvcs and has refered me to a cardiologist. She said they show up better in pregnancy and are normally begnin but could be an underlying cause of a heart problem. I am hoping there is someone out there than can give me some insight as to if this is more common and maybe some reassurance that Im not alone. I am terrified that something may be wrong with me and I will have a problem with my heart. I am so scared!

[Linzola1]

Thank you. I am now 24 wreks and this started around 11 or 12 but I have a history of anxiety. im sure this is pregnancy related... I quit smoking I havent had cafieen and began taking more potassium so hopefully in a few days once my body gets use to the changes in diet and not smoking I will see a change.

[tiredbuthappy]

I had it and saw a cardiologist in both pregnancies. It was worst in the first trimester, and faded in the second trimester. The halter showed my heart rate as high as 167 (NOT exercising either!). It is how my body responds to the hormones and increased blood volume. By the third trimester, i didn't really feel anything abnormal.

[Linzola1]

Thanks ladies. I ended up going to the ER last night because of the heart palps and they ran some tests on not only my heart but lungs. It was really scary because I kept looking at the heart moniter and somehow freaked myself out and had a panic attack and my heart rate was 165.. I felt like I was dying it was beating so fast. They did 2 EKGs and both were normal and I had a test called a XENON which is safter than at CT scan to make sure I didnt have a blood clot in my lung.. They also did a chest x ray but made sure the baby was covered. The only thing they found was that my potassium was low and started me on potassium pills to supplement during the pregnancy! Once I was discharged from the ER I was sent to Labor and Delivery where the baby was monitered and he is great.... I went for a follow up with my ob today and the babies heartbeat is great so he just wants me to see the Cardiologist but thinks this is completely pregnancy related. The hospital said strucally my heart looks great but they think I make have something irregular (pvcs) but I guess they wouldnt release me if it was anything horrible!!!

[shishka]

I actually just had Echo Cardiogram (U/S of my heart) today. I am  almost 34 weeks pregnant and I have hard time going up the stairs.
I am glad your doctor reffered you to Cardiologist. My doc said sometimes pregnancy can trigger already existing heart problem, so it is better to get checked.

Good Luck. I hope evrything will turn out just fine.

[5n1]

yes ma'am....I was one of the ones who had them...but, I didnt do any testing when I was pregnant, because we knew I had them before pregnancy...I had to wear a 24 hour home heart monitor...but, they were more noticeable during my pregnancy...I just tried to avoid alot of sugary things and sodas...I usually opted for decaf if possible to help avoid it...and if I felt my heart racing or about to start, I would try to sit down and relax for a while until it calmed down...Good luck

[sgt6852wife]

I worked in a Critical Care Unit as a Monitor Tech (someone that continously watches heart rhythms of patients in the unit) and we saw A LOT of pvcs with pregnant women! Most of the time they are benign, your doctor was right to refer you to a cardiologist. Usually while they were in our unit, we would get a baseline rhythm and count the number of pvcs/min then the doc would either start meds or just send them home with a weekly EKG. I wish you the best of luck, pvcs can be scary!