Carnation/Krista

[momoftwoboys]

I just got done reading all about your surrogacy experience. I found it very amazing how unselfish and awesome you were. I was just curious about and wondering how your IM is doing with her PPCM. Was she totally recovered from PPCM when you became pregnant with the twins? What was your EF in the beginning? How long past diagnosis are you now and what is your EF now? Sorry if I'm asking so many questions, but I am just so curious.

[Carnation]

Hi Tera!
Thanks for your kind words! My intended mom has never fully recovered from her PPCM. When we did invitro-fertilization, she was 3 years post diagnosis. I'm not sure of her EF when she was diagnosed but when we met her EF was 45% and holding. She is and has been for a long time doing very well with her PPCM.
I was diagnosed with PPCM in my 32nd week of pregnancy with the twins. I was feeling very tired, dehydrated, SOB and my BP was elevated a little. My OB thought I might be developing preeclampsia so he admitted me in the hospital. He ran test after test, everything came back fine. The next night I developed a wheez, in came an x-ray. It showed my heart was slightly enlarged, this is actually normal in some pregnancies-- plus I was carrying twins. Everyone in that hospital (including nurses, residents, other doctors) were in disbelief that my OB wasn't sending me home, I mean-- I was pregnant with twins...all of the symptoms I was having were pregnancy related! Right?!?!?! My AWESOME OB was relentless...he was determined to find out the problem. In came an echo, my ef was 45%. My Perinatologist, OB and now Cardiologist were all dumbfounded that I was carrying for a PPCM mother and now I developed PPCM. It was actually a sight to see. 3 grown men, intelligent, excellent at their profession-- standing around with their jaws dropped. I delivered the sweet little twins on February 23rd, 2004. I had a complete recovery. My ef went up to 55% and all was well. I had been completely asymptomatic once I delivered the babies. 6 months after my diagnosis I went off my meds. At the beginning of March I started feeling bad again, TONS of PVCs (which was a new thing to me), SOB, fatigued. After another echo it showed my PPCM is back. My cardio said my EF must have been from being on the meds, I had a "false healing". Now I'm 14 months post diagnosis and back to where I started. I'm VERY lucky to have a mild CM, having been reading about PPCM from the very I was diagnosed....it could be MUCH worse! I'm extreeeemly thankful for my life and what I have!! :)
Thanks for your interest in my story!

[momoftwoboys]

Crista~ Did you talk to your IM about your symptoms much and did she ever tell you those were the same symptoms she had when she found she had PPCM? Does she know about this website?