Anyone referred to cardiologist for tachycardia?

angelfish10

So, otherwise my pregnancy has been healthy and baby is growing right on schedule. All labs have been negative, passed glucose test, and I'm gaining weight appropriately. Blood pressures have been normal.

I've been having these "episodes" (for lack of a better word) where I get a weird/anxious feeling and my heart starts to pound. I get short of breath and have to sit down or change position when this happens. My heart rate goes up in the 130's-140's when it's happening. Sometimes it only lasts for about 30 seconds or less, and sometimes it can last for several minutes. This has never happened to me outside of pregnancy. Of course, it never happens at the Drs office but when I mentioned it to him he wanted some lab work first (all negative) and said he would refer me to cardiologist. Most likely I'll get a halter/event monitor to wear.

So, I'm going on Tuesday to be seen. Just wondered if anyone else has experienced this? I'm not terribly worried, I trust my OB and he's not overly concerned but wants to cover all his bases....just curious if it's happened to anyone else.

BelhurstBride

It can be pretty common in pregnancy. The additional blood flow can often exacerbate a problem that had always been there.  

There's a poster on the August board who was recently diagnosed with SVT. I don't remember who it was but I bet if you page SVT posters she'll see it. 

emmanemm

I've had this since I was a teenager. It seemed to pick up in frequency when I got into my third trimester. My OB and cardiologist aren't that concerned. I wouldn't stress about it as that can make the problem worse especially if you have anxiety attacks accompanying it. As pp's stated they will most likely have you wear a monitor and go from there. T&P's that its nothing huge. I know it can be stressful and scary. C:

kuetgal

I just got back from the cardiologist for this very thing.  I have high blood pressure (chronic high blood pressure since it was diagnosed prior to 20 weeks, but I don't have it not pregnant).  I was waking up in the middle of the night with my heart racing and  it was happening throughout the day.  I was referred ot the cardiologist who did and EEG or and EKG (I always get them mixed up), of course nothing showed.  He did increase my bp meds and since then I have had no issues with it.  He is monitoring me now every 2 weeks until I deliver incase he needs to adjust my medication again.  While he did say it was "normal" during pregnancy he also said that it's easily controlled and a problem for those of us with hbp.  best of luck!

tazerae

I have been through this, just not pregnant. Mine would reach up past 170s and if I was running it would go well over 200 and then I would pass out. I would get more then one opinion just to be safe. The first dr I had went through the monitors and began drugging me with beta blockers (these suck and I can't imagine they would be ok pregnant). When it kept happening they wanted to up my dose. I was only 21 and did not want to continue this path so I went to another dr who wanted to do an ablation (fry the nerves of the heart that "seem" to be triggering the tack), and tried to tell me if I didn't do it I would just drop dead one day. Rediculous, needless to say I did not go back. Over the years I just became very aware of myself and my heart rate and managed it myself. It wasn't until 2 years ago through bone marrow biopsys they found I had a rare blood disorder, and this disorder was an explanations for many things, including the tack.

I say all this just to say that it is probably harmless but scary and annoying, and probably coming from the extra stress of baby and n your blood flow, but make sure you get more than one opinion.  If your dr isn't too concerned I wouldn't be either. Use it as an excuse to get even more rest! I hope you have a wonderful rest of pregnancy!

Monkeybutt80

I don't know if this is the same but in the beginning of my pregnancy I was experiencing what you describe.  I mentioned it to my OB at the second appt, and she sent me to a cardiologist.  a quick EKG didnt reveal anything so they had me wear a "holter?" monitor all day.  It caught several of my heart palpitations.  The cardiologist said that I have what's called Premature Ventricular Contractions; just harmless extra beats caused by possibly a slight but harmless defect in my heart.  he said it's possible that it started with the pregnancy because of the increased blood flow. At some point in my pregnancy it stopped and hasn't been a problem.  Also, I never had high blood pressure. 

davis0905

I had it for my first pg, during 1st trimester. It actually got better as pregnancy progressed (weird, huh?).  I do have a hx of high blood pressure though, prior to being pg.  Anyway, I went to cardio.  They did an u/s on my  heart, and I had to wear the heart monitor for 24 hrs.  Everything came out normal.  The cardio seemed to think that my heart was acting like this as a reaction to switching BP meds. I had to switch to a safer med since I was pg and it seemed to speed up my heart rate.  I am sure everything will turn out ok for you.  As pp said, this is a common symptom during pregnancy due to increased blood flow to baby. 

lialakacz

Hi!

 I'm the August poster who has SVT.  I had to go to the ER b/c my heart rate went up to 189, resting.  I had a few little episodes before this that would go away earlier in pregnancy, but the reason I went to the ER is b/c it was so high, and lasted 12 hours. They tried a few things to fix it before medicine.  Just to let you know what they did for me so you know what you MIGHT have to expect...It might sound scary, but in the end, it's important for your baby. And SVT is NOT fatal.  It's just a nusence for the time being and very common in pregnant women. 

First they gave me edenazine 3 times (it cuts off the signal from brain to heart to basically get your heart back on track, and a natural product). Normally this should work, and it's safe for the baby. Unfortunately, my heart was stubborn and it didn't work. 

Second, they sedated me and shocked me.  Also, baby was not effected by this at all (the baby is so well cushioned and protected in the womb), and there were no negative effects for me.  I didn't feel a thing.  This was also to reboot the heart to get it back on a normal beat. When this didn't work, i had to go to another doctor with better cardio doctors.

There I was under the care of a Electrophysiologist Cardiologist (I highly recommend going to one).  They worked with the OBs in the hospital to get me on meds that were safe for the baby.  I'm now on daily orals without having any impact on baby, or having to wear a monitor.

The meds are actually meds they give pregnant moms when the baby is the one that has SVT.  

Again, i know this sounds scary, but looking back, they did everything correctly, and number one concern was baby the whole time.  

 So..in the end, I recommend an Electro Physiologist, but if you can't find one, a cardiologist will work too. 

keriraine

Yep, I wore a heart monitor twice and had an echocardiogram of my heart done.  Everything looked good and it's pretty common during pregnancy (although how I avoided this with my other two children, I don't know!)  It's scary and uncomfortable but my doc said it should go away after the baby is born (hope so!)  Good luck!

amarissa85

I was diagnosed with this with my 2nd baby and after I delivered her I was referred to a specialist who did a heart ablation to correct the arrhythmia. I still feel slight variations in heart rate but nothing like I once did. I went in for the procedure and was out the next day. I have some very small scars from the incisions in my groin area but that was about it.

ETA: This condition was existent before my pregnancy. 

lialakacz

amarissa85:

I was diagnosed with this with my 2nd baby and after I delivered her I was referred to a specialist who did a heart ablation to correct the arrhythmia. I still feel slight variations in heart rate but nothing like I once did. I went in for the procedure and was out the next day. I have some very small scars from the incisions in my groin area but that was about it.

ETA: This condition was existent before my pregnancy. 

I'm planning on having the ablation after birth.  How long did you wait after your baby was born to do so? How was it during the procedure (I'm assuming you were awake)?  Any advice? 

amarissa85

lialakacz:

amarissa85:

I was diagnosed with this with my 2nd baby and after I delivered her I was referred to a specialist who did a heart ablation to correct the arrhythmia. I still feel slight variations in heart rate but nothing like I once did. I went in for the procedure and was out the next day. I have some very small scars from the incisions in my groin area but that was about it.

ETA: This condition was existent before my pregnancy. 

I'm planning on having the ablation after birth.  How long did you wait after your baby was born to do so? How was it during the procedure (I'm assuming you were awake)?  Any advice? 

They put you in what is called the twighlight zone. They say it isn't putting you to sleep but I slept. At one point I semi woke up and they gave me more medicine and off to sleep I went again. I don't think it is a heavy sedation as I was in and out so to speak. I want to say I had it done when she was just a few months old. There was barely any soreness afterwards.  I was BF at the time and they advised me to just pump and dump for x amount of time after but by then I had a good stash for baby built up in preparation. I am on the August board so if you have any other questions PM me. 

pnutg

This has been happening to me for months. It can be very scary and keeps me up at night, lasting for up to 8 hours. 3 OBs tell me it won't go away until I deliver.

Lil Kate

I was seen by a cardiologist. My resting heart rate during this pregnancy is around 110 and I get episodes where heart rate goes up to between 130 and 140.. Although I feel sick/weak/ shaky and have to lay down when it happens the cardiologist thinks it is pregnancy related. Will do a follow up cardiologist appt after babies are born to make sure everything is back to normal. Good luck!

hope1003

What medicaments did you get?
I had an SVT (220bpm) that was stopped by the first adenosine shot. After I remained w/ a residual tachycardia. If I lay in the bed my pulse goes from 86 to 110 and if I walk to bathroom it can jump to 120.
I'm 16w 5d and I've been dealing w/ this for 5 days already.
All heart test came out ok. Since I have low BP 90s/60s I cannot take beta blockers.