Emery Bowman

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My name is Emery Bowman and I am 23 years old, I had a tough time getting pregnant due to polycystic ovarian disease. Then I finally got pregnant, it was a great pregnancy no coplications throughout the entire 9 months. I didn't have pre-eclampsia not even morning sickness. They decided to enduce me 3 days before my due date because I was having regular contractions and they said that I was dialating so I was admitted to the hospital. They tried everything to try to enduce labor to no avail. On the second day they broke my water and had me push on and off for close to 3 hours only to find out my sons head was in the wrong position. So on October 13, 2005 (My sons due date) they decided it was time for a C-Section. Everything was fine for the first 2 days, then the doctor's discovered I had a uteran infection that had gone into my blood and my fever of 104 was not going down. The 3rd day after my son's birth I was so swollen that I asked if there was anything they could give me such as Lasix of something along those lines and every doctor told me it was normal because I had surgery. That night I started complaining That I was short of breath and coughing alot, they gave me cough syrup and told me it was fine. Then it really started there was a code called and I was having such a hard time breathing they were suggesting intubation, my O2 sats. were at 72 and everytime I took a breath I was struggling and felt the water rising in my throat. That went on for 4 hours and they finally called in a cardiologist they were wondering how a 22 year old can go into heart failure. After being put on blood thinners and having every test known to man done they finally diagnosed me with PPCM with an EF of 15% after 2 weeks in ICU I was released with an EF of 32% and sent home on meds. I was so weak andshort of breath and nervous about what was going to happen to me it was a day to day struggle.I went for follow up a month later and my EF had gone up to 55% and I was taken off of all my medication. I was told by 2 cardiologists not to have anymore children so I had a 10 year IUD put in and before that is done my husband is getting a vasectomy. I am greatful for being alive and I am greatful for my son. My husband stuck by me in the hospital through all of the crying and worrying he was strong and I thank him almost everyday for it. I cry alot now about anything having to do with babies like TLC's a Baby Story or when I hear a freind is pregnant partly because I get worried for them and partly because I know I will never be pregnant again. My husband and I are taking about adoption in the future but at the moment I am so happy with the healthy son I have that it only gets brought up once in a while. I believe I would be far too worried if I ever was to be pregnant again, and that is not good for anyone so I don't even think about it anymore.
I enjoy each day as a gift because truly that's what it is.