I am 17 weeks pregnant with my 3rd child, and I was diagnosed with MVP in 1985.
I have been sick for 3 weeks with a virus that left me with bronchitis and two
middle ear infections that did not clear with antibiotic treatment. My heart
started racing last week. It ranges from about 90-110 when resting and it
suddenly jumps to 140 beats per minute when I stand up and I have shortness of
breath and I'm dizzy. A couple of weeks ago my family doctor had put me on and
albuterol inhaler for the bronchitis cause I couldn't breathe, and some other
decongestants. I didn't know I wasn't supposed to take decongestants with my
heart problem and it started racing after about 2 weeks of taking them. So I
went to a cardiologist and he told me to stop taking the medicines. So I stopped
taking them over the weekend and my heart rate slowed down but was still a
little higher than normal but I attributed that to the pregancy. Then, Monday I
had an obstetrician appointment and I felt fine, and then I went shopping for
about 30 minutes and I come home and my heart is going beat beat beat skip beat
beat beat skip beat beat beat skip....and then it stops. The next morning my
heart rate is back at 140 when I stand up and about 110 when I sit down. Then
after lunch my heart rate goes down to 107 and about 90 when sitting. A couple
hours later it's back up again and goes back down after dinner, and then goes up
again before bedtime. This morning it is at 140 anytime I stand up and do the
slightest thing like try to wash a dish or change a diaper. My heart doctor
called back and wants me to take an anemia test with my O.B. and last night he
told me to drink two bottles of gatorade for my blood volume. I'm trying to get
in with my O.B. and I've called twice and he has not called back yet and I'm so
frustrated. I'm wondering if anyone else here has had palpitations with
pregnancy??? I haven't had a problem since my 1st pregnancy when I went on
disability but these palpitations seem much worse....and I have to take care of
a 6 year old and a 3 year old and I CANNOT go on bed rest. According to the
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for my age of 34 my heart
rate is not supposed to exeed 111 BPM while pregnant after 30 minutes of
exercise....and mine is going nuts while sedentary. I just don't know where to
turn. No one seems to be taking me seriously.

Dawn T.




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