I'm so scared!

MrsGibb

I went to the pulmonologist on Friday and he told me I have the following:

• Emphysema
• Possibly sleep apnea
• Anxiety
• Bradycardia (low heart rate)
• Fibrillations
• Dilated aortic root

And I'm 11 weeks pregnant and can't do anything about any of it right now except an inhaler for the emphysema which so far only helps a little.

I'm so scared.  I really am. 

Country Girl in the City

Are they sending you to a cardiologist?  That is the doctor that could accurately diagnose and treat bradycardia, fibrillations, and a dilated aortic root.  You can also have a sleep study done while you are pregnant to determine if you have sleep apnea.

It does sound really scary.  Hang in there!

hollyweenOR

Wow...that's a lot of diagnoses to swallow in one blow.

 **I am not a doctor, I'm an RN, so all I can tell you is that there are questions to ask about your diagnoses, and offer some tips about how to be comfortable** Emphysema & fibrillations can definitely feed anxiety. If you're short of breath and/or you've got a fluttering feeling in your chest, those will make pretty much anyone anxious. Presumably this is based on your EKG...did they say your bradycardia was related to a block of any kind? Lots of people in their 20s and 30s (and even older) have asymptomatic, benign bradycardia, which might not be too much of a concern as long as your heart does respond appropriately to increased demand (i.e. can you go up 3 flights of stairs without getting outrageously out of breath? Obviously the emphysema can have an effect on that...). Those would be some questions for your cardiologist.

 Fibrillations...again, depending on the EKG and your lab work- could be electrolytes out of balance, which is not hard to fix (but important to do so). If you're going in and out of atrial fibrillation (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation), that's another story altogether. And the dilated aortic root...well, there's a range for that, the low end of which is asymptomatic, and certainly a host of causes. Hopefully they're hooking you up with a cardiologist and a perinatologist to help you sort out what's what here. Bring a notebook to every single appointment and have it any time you talk to a doc on the phone or are getting lab results back.

 A few tips for dealing with shortness of breath related to COPD (emphysema): use pursed-lip breathing for exhalations when you're feeling very short of breath. This will help you control your breathing for a long exhalation (good for blowing of CO2) as well as provide a bit of back-pressure to help open your alveoli. Sit up good and tall when you do this. If you're feeling anxious, try "square breathing": imagine a line drawing a square around your abdomen, breathe each line of the square for 3 seconds: 3 seconds to inhale, 3 to exhale (or better yet, make it 4), 3 to inhale, 3-4 to exhale, and you're back at the start of the square. If you breathe the square 3-4 times, you can often calm the anxiety. And finally, avoid all secondhand smoke, known allergens, fumes, etc.

Good luck w/ all this. Take care of yourself, and definitely cut back on stress right now wherever you can- Xmas and all that should be on the back burner this year. No handmade gifts, no Xmas cards, no baking- no Martha Stewart! Do only the essentials and take time to rest as much as possible.

 

MrsGibb

Country Girl in the City:

Are they sending you to a cardiologist?  That is the doctor that could accurately diagnose and treat bradycardia, fibrillations, and a dilated aortic root.  You can also have a sleep study done while you are pregnant to determine if you have sleep apnea.

It does sound really scary.  Hang in there!

I've been to the cardiologist to do a stress test..... which was fine.... but did show that I am out of shape (big surprise after having two knee surgeries in the past 6 months).... and I had a 24-hour halter monitor which is what showed the bradycardia and the fibrillations.  Actually.... I can't remember if he used the word fibrillations or arrhythmia.... or both?  I got all of these results from the pulmonolgist because although I haven't had a consultation yet with the cardiologist to go over my halter results.... the results were sent to the pulmonologist and he's the one that told me what they found.  My cardiology appt. isn't until Jan 15th which really freaks me out!  Originally the appt. was Jan 22nd... and I called to see if I could get it pushed up this morning and that's the best they could do!  I am doing a sleep study as soon as my insurance company approves it. 

Thanks for your conern.... it helps to have support

MrsGibb

hollyweenOR:

Wow...that's a lot of diagnoses to swallow in one blow.

 **I am not a doctor, I'm an RN, so all I can tell you is that there are questions to ask about your diagnoses, and offer some tips about how to be comfortable** Emphysema & fibrillations can definitely feed anxiety. If you're short of breath and/or you've got a fluttering feeling in your chest, those will make pretty much anyone anxious. Presumably this is based on your EKG...did they say your bradycardia was related to a block of any kind? Lots of people in their 20s and 30s (and even older) have asymptomatic, benign bradycardia, which might not be too much of a concern as long as your heart does respond appropriately to increased demand (i.e. can you go up 3 flights of stairs without getting outrageously out of breath? Obviously the emphysema can have an effect on that...). Those would be some questions for your cardiologist.

 Fibrillations...again, depending on the EKG and your lab work- could be electrolytes out of balance, which is not hard to fix (but important to do so). If you're going in and out of atrial fibrillation (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation), that's another story altogether. And the dilated aortic root...well, there's a range for that, the low end of which is asymptomatic, and certainly a host of causes. Hopefully they're hooking you up with a cardiologist and a perinatologist to help you sort out what's what here. Bring a notebook to every single appointment and have it any time you talk to a doc on the phone or are getting lab results back.

 A few tips for dealing with shortness of breath related to COPD (emphysema): use pursed-lip breathing for exhalations when you're feeling very short of breath. This will help you control your breathing for a long exhalation (good for blowing of CO2) as well as provide a bit of back-pressure to help open your alveoli. Sit up good and tall when you do this. If you're feeling anxious, try "square breathing": imagine a line drawing a square around your abdomen, breathe each line of the square for 3 seconds: 3 seconds to inhale, 3 to exhale (or better yet, make it 4), 3 to inhale, 3-4 to exhale, and you're back at the start of the square. If you breathe the square 3-4 times, you can often calm the anxiety. And finally, avoid all secondhand smoke, known allergens, fumes, etc.

Good luck w/ all this. Take care of yourself, and definitely cut back on stress right now wherever you can- Xmas and all that should be on the back burner this year. No handmade gifts, no Xmas cards, no baking- no Martha Stewart! Do only the essentials and take time to rest as much as possible.

Oh my gosh Holly!  Thank you so much for your WEALTH of information!  I'm so glad I posted just to get your response because it really helps me so much!

I've been to the cardiologist to do a stress test..... which was fine.... but did show that I am out of shape (big surprise after having two knee surgeries in the past 6 months).... and I had a 24-hour halter monitor which is what showed the bradycardia and the fibrillations. Actually.... I can't remember if he used the word fibrillations or arrhythmia.... or both? I got all of these results from the pulmonolgist because although I haven't had a consultation yet with the cardiologist to go over my halter results.... the results were sent to the pulmonologist and he's the one that told me what they found. My cardiology appt. isn't until Jan 15th which really freaks me out! Originally the appt. was Jan 22nd... and I called to see if I could get it pushed up this morning and that's the best they could do! I am doing a sleep study as soon as my insurance company approves it.

The pulmonologist said that my halter results showed anxiety.... and that my heart rate dips down to 49 bpm sometimes (sleeping and waking) and the fibrillations/arrhythmia is sleeping and waking too.  I don't feel heart flutters... but once in a great while I will have a fibrillation "episode" where I can literally feel my heart go crazy for a minute or so.  That happens once every couple of months maybe. 

Thank you for the breathing tips etc.  I will try anything at this point.  The only thing that I can really feel right now and that really bothers me is the shortness of breath. 

Christmas is going to be low key at best.  Plus... I have cut out all of my serving obligations at my church for the time being too. 

boymamaco

No advice here just wanted to say I'm sorry.. that is a lot to process! Big hugs to you!!

MrsGibb

lucyspeople:

No advice here just wanted to say I'm sorry.. that is a lot to process! Big hugs to you!!

Thanks!

MrsGibb

hollyweenOR:

Wow...that's a lot of diagnoses to swallow in one blow.

 **I am not a doctor, I'm an RN, so all I can tell you is that there are questions to ask about your diagnoses, and offer some tips about how to be comfortable** Emphysema & fibrillations can definitely feed anxiety. If you're short of breath and/or you've got a fluttering feeling in your chest, those will make pretty much anyone anxious. Presumably this is based on your EKG...did they say your bradycardia was related to a block of any kind? Lots of people in their 20s and 30s (and even older) have asymptomatic, benign bradycardia, which might not be too much of a concern as long as your heart does respond appropriately to increased demand (i.e. can you go up 3 flights of stairs without getting outrageously out of breath? Obviously the emphysema can have an effect on that...). Those would be some questions for your cardiologist.

 Fibrillations...again, depending on the EKG and your lab work- could be electrolytes out of balance, which is not hard to fix (but important to do so). If you're going in and out of atrial fibrillation (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation), that's another story altogether. And the dilated aortic root...well, there's a range for that, the low end of which is asymptomatic, and certainly a host of causes. Hopefully they're hooking you up with a cardiologist and a perinatologist to help you sort out what's what here. Bring a notebook to every single appointment and have it any time you talk to a doc on the phone or are getting lab results back.

 A few tips for dealing with shortness of breath related to COPD (emphysema): use pursed-lip breathing for exhalations when you're feeling very short of breath. This will help you control your breathing for a long exhalation (good for blowing of CO2) as well as provide a bit of back-pressure to help open your alveoli. Sit up good and tall when you do this. If you're feeling anxious, try "square breathing": imagine a line drawing a square around your abdomen, breathe each line of the square for 3 seconds: 3 seconds to inhale, 3 to exhale (or better yet, make it 4), 3 to inhale, 3-4 to exhale, and you're back at the start of the square. If you breathe the square 3-4 times, you can often calm the anxiety. And finally, avoid all secondhand smoke, known allergens, fumes, etc.

Good luck w/ all this. Take care of yourself, and definitely cut back on stress right now wherever you can- Xmas and all that should be on the back burner this year. No handmade gifts, no Xmas cards, no baking- no Martha Stewart! Do only the essentials and take time to rest as much as possible.

Oh.... and my aorta dilation is a 3.2

danieleandwayne

Is there a reason the pulmonologist is not putting you on a BiPAP/CPAP machine at night for the sleep apnea?!? It's not invasive and if it helps you prevent the apnea....? The other nurse (whose username I forget right now) had great suggestions as well with some of the breathing techniques.

I know it's hard not to worry, but I'd wait and get some better idea of what level your emphysema (or COPD) is before you panic too much. It's a progressive disease process that can take YEARS to progress-- I'm assuming you're not smoking? I would make sure you get your pneumonia and flu shots, too-- that will prevent you from getting illnesses that exacerbate the condition of your lungs.

As for the arrhythmia (fibrillation is a kind of arrhythmia), they're learning that so many people have it but have been living with it without having any symptoms. It can be controlled in most people with some simple medication options (which you may not be able to take right now while pregnant). Talk to your doctors, though, and see what your options are. If you're symptomatic (feeling the fluttering or racing in your chest), then you may have to way the risks of the meds versus the benefits while pregnant.

Hang in there! I've seen women have healthy pregnancies when they were doing ALL SORTS of horrible things to their hearts, lungs, and bodies. There's no reason that you can't have a similar experience!  ((hugs))

MrsGibb

danieleandwayne:

Is there a reason the pulmonologist is not putting you on a BiPAP/CPAP machine at night for the sleep apnea?!? It's not invasive and if it helps you prevent the apnea....? The other nurse (whose username I forget right now) had great suggestions as well with some of the breathing techniques.

I know it's hard not to worry, but I'd wait and get some better idea of what level your emphysema (or COPD) is before you panic too much. It's a progressive disease process that can take YEARS to progress-- I'm assuming you're not smoking? I would make sure you get your pneumonia and flu shots, too-- that will prevent you from getting illnesses that exacerbate the condition of your lungs.

As for the arrhythmia (fibrillation is a kind of arrhythmia), they're learning that so many people have it but have been living with it without having any symptoms. It can be controlled in most people with some simple medication options (which you may not be able to take right now while pregnant). Talk to your doctors, though, and see what your options are. If you're symptomatic (feeling the fluttering or racing in your chest), then you may have to way the risks of the meds versus the benefits while pregnant.

Hang in there! I've seen women have healthy pregnancies when they were doing ALL SORTS of horrible things to their hearts, lungs, and bodies. There's no reason that you can't have a similar experience!  ((hugs))

I haven't done the sleep study yet.... but the pulmonologist said he'd "bet money" that I have sleep apnea.... even though I don't make a peep when I sleep!