Gerie
03-07-2005, 06:27 PM
Hello everyone! I'm new to the board. I just found you today via Serena Welsh (thank you so much)! Like everyone else, I was going to the other site.
Anyway, here's my story...
I just found out I was pregnant 4 weeks ago, an "oops", but happy and scared since I was told that I shouldn't have anymore children. I was 20 weeks this past Friday!
My husband and I had struggled with infertility and abnormal menstrual cycles since we were married, so I never figured I was pregnant when I was. I was 16 weeks along when we first found out, so I was concerned because of the medication I was on during those 16 weeks. As soon as we found out, my husband, Tony called my cardiologist and they took me off of Aldactone and Lisinopril. We had an immediate US with my HR OB scheduled the Friday after finding out, and that's when we found out we were 16 weeks. We couldn't believe it! We could literally count the 2 times we had intercourse without protection in 21 months, and 1 was in October. With the infertility problems, we never thought we could get pregnant again, anyway!
Anyway, we saw the cardiologist the following week, and he pretty much said that we need to make a decision whether or not we were going to keep the baby because we were so far along, and that most likely I'll get PPCM again. When I got diagnosed last time, it was so acute that I had to have an emergency C-section, and was intubated and had 3 central lines. My EF was 10%. When I left the hospital, it was 20%. 6 months later, it was the same, but I was feeling physically fine. I was very sad when we were told not to have anymore children. When we saw my HR OB the next day, she pretty much made our decision. We were keeping the baby, with a scheduled C-section between 32 and 36 weeks. Kyla my almost 2 year old was 34 weeks, but you can't tell today that she was a premie.
Around Christmas time, I had experienced many heart palpitations that I knew it wasn't normal, so when I saw my cardiologist, they put me on an event monitor to record every palpitation. I had an ECHO done (approx. 1 year after my last) and my EF rose to 55%! We were ecstatic! Then I had some type of "stomach" thing for 5 days with cramps and loose stool. I saw my family doc, and while I was there decided to do a pregnancy test b/c my last cycle was in October, but I wasn't worried, because my previous cycle was in August, and the one before that was in April, but I figure to check, incase I had to get my cycle "restarted" with prometrium. It was a shock to find out that we were pregnant! I was terrified!
When we saw the cardiologist about the pregnancy, he was also surprised at the rise in EF, that he had my ECHO reread by another MD, who concurred with the original results. I recently had another ECHO done last week and there is no change, so my cardiologist was really pleased, so... so far, so good.
On top of the PPCM, I also have Type 2 Diabetes,, so I'm being monitored for that as well. I'm seeing my cardiologist 1x a month so far with an ECHO at each visit. My OB every 2-3 weeks.
Finding this site gives me so much hope, especially when I read about subsequent pregnancies. I can't imagine leaving my husband and beautiful daughter.
Anyway, I'm sorry this is so long, but I was so happy to find individuals with my condition who are also pregnant, and are doing so well.
I too am going to have a scheduled C-Section- between 34-36 weeks, and we are praying that my pregnancy goes well, and our new baby boy, Anthony, is healthy. Thank you for taking the time out to read about me. It's great to be able to share my experience! :)
Anyway, here's my story...
I just found out I was pregnant 4 weeks ago, an "oops", but happy and scared since I was told that I shouldn't have anymore children. I was 20 weeks this past Friday!
My husband and I had struggled with infertility and abnormal menstrual cycles since we were married, so I never figured I was pregnant when I was. I was 16 weeks along when we first found out, so I was concerned because of the medication I was on during those 16 weeks. As soon as we found out, my husband, Tony called my cardiologist and they took me off of Aldactone and Lisinopril. We had an immediate US with my HR OB scheduled the Friday after finding out, and that's when we found out we were 16 weeks. We couldn't believe it! We could literally count the 2 times we had intercourse without protection in 21 months, and 1 was in October. With the infertility problems, we never thought we could get pregnant again, anyway!
Anyway, we saw the cardiologist the following week, and he pretty much said that we need to make a decision whether or not we were going to keep the baby because we were so far along, and that most likely I'll get PPCM again. When I got diagnosed last time, it was so acute that I had to have an emergency C-section, and was intubated and had 3 central lines. My EF was 10%. When I left the hospital, it was 20%. 6 months later, it was the same, but I was feeling physically fine. I was very sad when we were told not to have anymore children. When we saw my HR OB the next day, she pretty much made our decision. We were keeping the baby, with a scheduled C-section between 32 and 36 weeks. Kyla my almost 2 year old was 34 weeks, but you can't tell today that she was a premie.
Around Christmas time, I had experienced many heart palpitations that I knew it wasn't normal, so when I saw my cardiologist, they put me on an event monitor to record every palpitation. I had an ECHO done (approx. 1 year after my last) and my EF rose to 55%! We were ecstatic! Then I had some type of "stomach" thing for 5 days with cramps and loose stool. I saw my family doc, and while I was there decided to do a pregnancy test b/c my last cycle was in October, but I wasn't worried, because my previous cycle was in August, and the one before that was in April, but I figure to check, incase I had to get my cycle "restarted" with prometrium. It was a shock to find out that we were pregnant! I was terrified!
When we saw the cardiologist about the pregnancy, he was also surprised at the rise in EF, that he had my ECHO reread by another MD, who concurred with the original results. I recently had another ECHO done last week and there is no change, so my cardiologist was really pleased, so... so far, so good.
On top of the PPCM, I also have Type 2 Diabetes,, so I'm being monitored for that as well. I'm seeing my cardiologist 1x a month so far with an ECHO at each visit. My OB every 2-3 weeks.
Finding this site gives me so much hope, especially when I read about subsequent pregnancies. I can't imagine leaving my husband and beautiful daughter.
Anyway, I'm sorry this is so long, but I was so happy to find individuals with my condition who are also pregnant, and are doing so well.
I too am going to have a scheduled C-Section- between 34-36 weeks, and we are praying that my pregnancy goes well, and our new baby boy, Anthony, is healthy. Thank you for taking the time out to read about me. It's great to be able to share my experience! :)