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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Pre-existing PSVT and pregnancy
Answered by
Cleveland - OH
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Pre-existing PSVT and pregnancy
by compassion, Sep 05, 2005 12:00AM
Hello everyone. This is my first time posting a question and I would like to start by thanking all of you wonderful people for sharing your experience and knowledge. Sometimes that appears to be the best medicine.
I'm a 24 year old female 5’6; 150lbs. Medical history includes hypertension, controlled well on trandolopril 2mg daily, and PSVT in which I take verapamil 240mg daily. I was checked for anemia and thyroid trouble all were normal. No significant heart history in immediate family. I don't drink or smoke and have stopped consuming caffeine. Echo shows an EF of 55%, mild tricuspid regurgitation, and mild concentric left ventricular hypertrophy. I noticed my first palpitation when I was in the fourth grade and my first run of a rapid heart beat in my early teens. I have palpitations daily. Sometimes they come in groups (4-5 consecutive palpitations in a row), which makes me feel like I’m dying and my heart is going to stop. I have a run of PSVT about once a month with an average heart rate of 170 lasting around 5 minutes. Sometimes it makes me lightheaded and anxious. For some reason winterfresh gum, smoke, humidity (especially during a shower), heat, cool weather, stress, bending over, crying/laughing, and nothing at all causes palpitations and runs of PSVT. My question is I'm 24 with not kids. I would like kids but am worried it may be too much on my heart or I may become pre-eclamptic or have sustained SVT while pregnant. Some of my friends are nurses and warned me of this. What is your opinion on this matter? Would you consider me a high risk pregnancy? Thanks
I'm a 24 year old female 5’6; 150lbs. Medical history includes hypertension, controlled well on trandolopril 2mg daily, and PSVT in which I take verapamil 240mg daily. I was checked for anemia and thyroid trouble all were normal. No significant heart history in immediate family. I don't drink or smoke and have stopped consuming caffeine. Echo shows an EF of 55%, mild tricuspid regurgitation, and mild concentric left ventricular hypertrophy. I noticed my first palpitation when I was in the fourth grade and my first run of a rapid heart beat in my early teens. I have palpitations daily. Sometimes they come in groups (4-5 consecutive palpitations in a row), which makes me feel like I’m dying and my heart is going to stop. I have a run of PSVT about once a month with an average heart rate of 170 lasting around 5 minutes. Sometimes it makes me lightheaded and anxious. For some reason winterfresh gum, smoke, humidity (especially during a shower), heat, cool weather, stress, bending over, crying/laughing, and nothing at all causes palpitations and runs of PSVT. My question is I'm 24 with not kids. I would like kids but am worried it may be too much on my heart or I may become pre-eclamptic or have sustained SVT while pregnant. Some of my friends are nurses and warned me of this. What is your opinion on this matter? Would you consider me a high risk pregnancy? Thanks
Doctor's Answer
by Cleveland Clinic, Sep 05, 2005 12:00AM
, Sep 05, 2005 12:00AM
compassion,
Many people in your exact situation have completed healthy pregnancies. That said, you do have some factors that make you 'special' such as a history of hypertension and the requirement of taking daily medication. These factors make it important to work closely with your OB during a pregnancy. It would be a good idea to meet with one prior to conceiving.
Look at some of the responses, Im sure others have been in your same boat.
good luck
Many people in your exact situation have completed healthy pregnancies. That said, you do have some factors that make you 'special' such as a history of hypertension and the requirement of taking daily medication. These factors make it important to work closely with your OB during a pregnancy. It would be a good idea to meet with one prior to conceiving.
Look at some of the responses, Im sure others have been in your same boat.
good luck
As you can see my nicname is momof6 which will Lord willing change here in about 7 months to momof7! To give you some encouragement and history of myself. I have expierenced pvc and pac and little bouts of who knows what. Not every little arrythmia has been caught on tape. I get missed beats which will make my head feel a real quick short heaviness. I get burst of fast heart rate that doesnt last long but shakes you up when it happens. A gallopping feeling of a few fast beats.
Ive had all the tests done too and they say I have a healthy heart. I really didnt start this journey of everyday life with these monsters until right after my fourth baby. Before that I would have a pvc maybe once a year that I can remember never thought anything of it. I have had panick attacks since my early teens started when I lost a cousin a few years older than me. So this will be my third pregnancy to go thru with these arrhythmias. As in all pregnancies your heart rate naturally goes up a little. I do take Lorpressor and have had to have it increased during my pregnancies do to the faster hr. And I might get more pvc and pac too. I was a little nerveous with getting pg with this baby because my arrythmia has changed in the last two years since my last baby and flip-flops around more giving me that feeling of my heart beat being really irregular. Ive been doing pretty good so far with this pregnancy and then just last night I got a gallopped fast hr that only lasted seconds and then corrected itself and then a few beats later did its skipping thing and made my head feel that quick short heaviness. I decided that I can freak out and really fixate(sp wrong?) on it or let it go. Its over and IM not going to wait around for it to happen again and cause my blood pressure to go up,which isnt good for the baby. Sometimes pregnancy while your hormones are rising might make you expeirence more and then when they level out they become less. I try to focus more on the baby and the excitement that comes with that then focussing on myself and my heart. So with my expeirence these arrythmias has not controlled my life to the point to stop me from having my babies. We love having a large family and I look at each one of them and the joy they have brought in my life and am so glad fear has not ruled in my heart. Other meds Im on and have continued to take during the last three pregnancies are: Lorpressor 250mg daily, potassium20daily,Norvasc5mg once daily for mild high blood pressure,Magnisuim2-3 a day,Dyazide(water pill)to help with the blood pressure too,Metformin500mg twice daily for blood sugar,and of course my prenatal vitamin with a omega 3 gel tab which is good for the babies brain developement. I drink lots of water and keep hydrated which seems to help keep my arrythmia at bay. I have 6 healthy children and praying this one is likewise. The big question is this, pregnancy alone can bring on alot of anxieties doesnt matter if its your first or seventh and these darn arrhythmias can add an extra load of stress and anxiety. How do you handle your episodes? Im not a pro at this myself and its a one day at a time battle. I thank God each day when I dont have hardly any of them. And thank God he got me thru each episode when I do have them. My last thought is this, wether I decided to have no more children after my fourth when these arrthymias appeared or not I still would be getting them. So I geuss Im saying if your heart has been check out healthy, then I would do my hearts desire. I have no regrets only alot of Joy. And remember they do have meds that can help you! I find that I feel my best when Im pregnant too,probably because I eat much healthier. Sorry this has been so long! I just hate it when these arrythmias stop us from living! I hope the best for you.
Thank you so much for your knowledge and the valuable time you take to answer our questions. That definitely helps to ease the anxiety such a question provokes. I'm relieved to know that the thing to watch during pregnancy is the HTN and not the PSVT and PVCs. Although, I know that BP elevations are serious. At least the HTN is something, for the most part, that I can control. I will make sure, God willing, that I seek an OB doc before I get pregnant. I will also watch my blood pressure even closer than I am now and make the appropriate lifesytle changes to keep in down. Thanks again for your advice.
Anacyde:
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I wish there was a cure for palpitations. I'm not thrilled about the possibility of their increase during pregnancy, but I'll think positive and about the miracle I will soon create. Hopefully I'll have your luck and they'll tapper off during late pregnancy. I hope I will still be able to take some type of medication for the PSVT. Before I took meds, I would have runs that would cause me to almost pass out and they happened all the time. It was so debilitating. Now, on meds, the duration is shorter and they don't happen nearly as often. I'm sure there's a blood pressure medication that's safe during pregnancy that I can switch to. Your post definitely helps to ease my mind, especially knowing I'm not alone, thanks again.
Momof6:
You would make the perfect idol for all of us in this situation to turn to. You have proven that this doesn't have to control our life, and even though it worries you as well, you have maintained positive outlook that's an inspiration for us all. Sorry to hear about your cousin and I hope you've recovered from that ok. Maybe I can go on lopressor if my other BP medication is not compatible with pregnancy. I find myself often fixated on my heart, sometimes so often that I just want to stay in the house. I handle my episodes alot better on the verapamil than before I had it. It was debilitating before and I had runs all the time. Now, when I have a run I get a little anxiety but I just wait it out until the runs suddenly stops then I try to forget about it. I handle the palpitations well except when they come in groups, then I worry all over again. I keep GOD in my prayers always and that helps me try to forget about them. I'm going to try and think positive as you have and think of your success. Even though you had these bothersome heart issues going on for three pregnancies, you still didn't let it stop you from the miracle of life. I wanted several kids, but I was going to settle for one for fear that I may not even be able to have one. Now, my passion, I want at least three and I'm not going to let this nagging heart try to stop me. I love kids, and like you, I want to have several children to charish my life with. Us women have a wonderful gift and I'm not going to let it go to waste. I appreciate you long post. You gave me alot to think about and if I get discouraged, I can read it again and again. Congradulations on your pregnancy and I wish you the best painfree pregnancy possible.
Hi,
I'm a male, so I can't relate in that respect. I am not a MD, but from what i understand and to certain extent have some knowledge of, you can have a baby, just keep the B/P well monitored. The PSVT /PVCs are of limited significance in your case and the risk involving your case should be minute when followed closely by your doctor. Good luck and best wishes.