Heart Palpitations Forum

Heart Palpitations Forum
http://palps.chemicalforums.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
Heart Palpitations Forum >> Symptoms and other concerns >> Pregnancy and ectopics
http://palps.chemicalforums.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1187814610

Message started by billycat on Aug 22^nd, 2007, 1:30pm

Title: Pregnancy and ectopics
Post by billycat on Aug 22^nd, 2007, 1:30pm

I just wondered if anyone has had experience of becomming pregnant and how this affected their ectopics or palpitiations?

I am currently trying to concieve and am just about to start taking Clomid (literally - tonight!!) and whilst I am really excited about the thought of getting pregnant (and very scared too because of my struggles with health anxiety), I'm really worried about the effect it will have on my ectopics.

I've heard conflicting views on this, one endochronologist doctor told me that my ectopics will probably GO if I become pregnant (because of an increase in heart rate or something); and then a cardiologist once told me that they are likely to get a lot worse because of the heart having to work harder!!

Aaarrrgghhh!!!

RLR - what is your opinion?? And ladies - have you had experiences of this (or men, have your partners?)

I really don't want the stupid heart feelings to get in the way of trying to enjoy a pregnancy when like I said, I struggle with Health Anxiety at the best of times!!

Thanks,

Title: Re: Pregnancy and ectopics
Post by beadbabe on Aug 23^rd, 2007, 12:41am

Hi Billycat
Best of luck with it all.

I have two little boys aged 5 and 3, and I never had ectopics or palpitations until the youngest was about 2. So I can't say about pregnancy and its effects on the body as I never had a single problem until a year ago. I just seemed to wake up with the heart problems one day. (At first I thought I must be imagining it because every other thing that had been going wrong with me I had been told was nothing too.)

Anyway, I think the fact you have been given two different opinions is fairly typical of British medical practice. I have been told two completely different things about my palpitations and ectopics - the cardiologist I saw told me that was just how it was going to be from now on and I would have to get used to it. My GP says if I can conquer anxiety then they will dwindle. It hardly fills you with confidence when doctors are disagreeing over your symptoms. And it makes life very difficult for anxious types.

Now I don't know about hormones and how they affect ectopics, but certainly the stress of looking after a newborn and the tiredness that comes with it may mean an increase in symptoms. Looking at myself I never had a problem and my body coped fine with two births and pregnancies and it wasn't until after that when I got worn out with my children (as they are a bit highly strung for my liking) that I started getting problems with palpitations.

Title: Re: Pregnancy and ectopics
Post by beadbabe on Aug 23^rd, 2007, 12:43am

PS. And don't worry about pregnancy - it's a lovely time. I have health anxiety and blood phobia but do you know I sailed through both pregnancies and really enjoyed those times in my life. I even coped with the birth bits just fine. You will too. I think hormones take over and relax you for the pregnancy at least!

Title: Re: Pregnancy and ectopics
Post by angiebaby on Aug 23^rd, 2007, 3:27am

As we all know, anxiety can just fuel the palpatations and ectopics. I have had three children, two natural births and one c section - while i was awake!!
Now, i didn't develop ectopic heart beats until my second child was one year old and i have a massive shock. And i still went on to have another child. I can honestly say that i never had any problems through my third pregnancy and it was the easiest pregnancy that i had! I believe that hormones can play a big part in palpatations and ectopics, but i didn't have any trouble at all. And believe me when it came time for my admission to hospital the day before, to plan for my c section, i was petrified and being so scared you would think that i would have had lots of problems, but i did not have any at all. No ectopics, no palpatations, bp fine and i had a 'text book' recovery according to the nurses and doctors. I think that you have got so many other things on your mind at this time that you don't think about your own health, ectopics etc, and it is a very exciting time too. Congratulations on you trying for a baby and i do envy you as i have my three children now and won't be having anymore.
I also truly believe, and have said so to my family, that if i could have another baby then i don't think i would be this way anymore. I would have another little life to concentrate on and wouldn't have time to think about myself at all. I think this would be a wonderful thing and would help a lot. I do agree though that the only thing that i think may worsen your ectopics would be the lack of sleep after a while. So i will say what everyone says to mothers to be - sleep when they sleep! I wish you all the best and please let us know how you get on, good luck!xx

Title: Re: Pregnancy and ectopics
Post by saab on Aug 23^rd, 2007, 6:11am

After being diagnosed with ectopics I was scared to find I had to have a major op a year later - but the fact that I got through it just fine helped to reassure me that my heart 'problems' are insignificant (medically anyway). Hospitals are used to dealing with women who have massive heath problems and are pregnant - they will be fine about benign ectopics. If anything they will probably keep a better eye on you.

I sometimes find that my anxiety lessens when I have someone else to worry about, eg the kid's are ill. It may be that pregnancy gives you another focus. Concerning hormones, many women comment that they feel their ectopics are related to their period or the menapause - I haven't heard anyone say they started during pregnancy. I am on hrt - it doesn't have any effect on my ectopics.

Don't let health anxiety put you off trying. Best wishes.

Title: Re: Pregnancy and ectopics
Post by billycat on Aug 23^rd, 2007, 12:32pm

Thanks so much everyone for your replies!! They have made me feel quite a lot better about things.

I keep getting excited about the thought of being pregnant - but then a little jolt of anxiety shoots in a dampens things for me again!! I have chronic problems with my back too, so I like to alternate between being scared because of the potential impact on my back and pain etc, and then swinging to the ectopics and general health anxiety. Joy!!

Ah well - I will definately keep you posted :D Thanks again for your good wishes all

Title: Re: Pregnancy and ectopics
Post by Kathryn on Aug 28^th, 2007, 12:30am

Hi

I have 3 children, all c sections 3rd a planned one so was understandably anxious, but I can honestly say I only had couple during my 3rd pregnancy, and I was really active, I even used the heavy petrol mower to mow the lawn.

I think because you have more blood pumping around and because your hormone levels do not fluctuate as much each month that you don't get them.

Enjoy it stress with only delay the falling pregnant process, your egg is released between 14 - 15 days of your normal 28 day cycle, so your best chance is then, if your egg doesn't get ferterlized within 48 hours it starts to make its way out, not that you can't get pregnant then as obviously you can.

Good luck

Kath x

Title: Re: Pregnancy and ectopics
Post by beadbabe on Aug 28^th, 2007, 12:46am

Billycat
forgot to say - both my births were natural ones (ie.not c-sections) and that is supposed to be quite an effort for the heart and no problems at all seeing as my body was working its way towards its current state of constant ectopics. So best of luck.
bead