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Kim LalaKimmie@aol.com age 21 married to Brian 2 daughters |
I was diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy in August of 1998. I was 21 years old. My husband and I had been married for 10 months and we had just had our second daughter on July 4th! We also had a 4 year old daughter. I felt like I was on top of the world! I was feeling great and was enjoying being home with my children.
Five weeks after having my daughter, I began waking up in the middle of the night with shortness of breath. When it wasn't relieved by my inhalers (I have asthma), I began to worry. I drove myself to the ER, which is only 2 minutes away. they treated me with nebulizers for "asthma exacerbation." I was also given a 3 day course of Prednisone, which interrupted feedings for my baby. The next day I visited my family doctor, who told me to finish the Prednisone and to lose weight.
Three days later I awoke with the same problem. It was early morning and I took myself to the ER again. I was treated with nebulizers, as usual. This time, the doctor decided to do some blood work, which showed my potassium level to be low. A chest X-ray was also done, which showed some fluid in my lungs. I questioned why I had fluid in my lungs and was told that it could just be a "fluid shift from pregnancy." Yeah, ok. I was given Lasix and sent home to follow up with my family physician. At this point, I knew something was going on with my heart. My mother, who is also a nurse, was by my side every step of the way. In the meantime I had seen an internist (my pulmonologist was on vacation) who recommended that I be checked by a cardiologist just to be sure everything was fine.
Two more visits to the ER proved to be fiascos as well. The same doctor treated me both nights (back to back) and swore to me that nothing was wrong and that my chest x-rays were normal. I was set up to see the cardiologist, who at first blamed it on bronchitis. After physically listening to my heart, he became concerned. My resting heart rate was 145 and the EKG was very abnormal. I had an echo done the following day but wasn't able to get the results until a week later. What infuriates me is that the technician could see how weak my heart was (my EF was 10%) but would not tell me anything and would not contact my cardiologist with the results. I understand that all results are confidential but my life was on the line.
The following day I was taken to the ER by my mother because I woke up choking on fluid. It had been 10 days since the onset of my shortness of breath. My cardiologist admitted me to the hospital until we found the problem. Sure enough, an echo with quick results showed my heart to be severely enlarged with an EF of 10%. I spent the next week in ICU between 2 hospitals. It took a year and lots of medication for my EF to increase to 55% but it did. I am feeling well but will remain on Coreg, digoxin and Vasotec for the rest of my life.
June 13, 2000 - I began a Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Support Group in March of 1999 for women with this condition. The number of members has grown tremendously since then and continues to. I thank the Lord every day for healing me and allowing me to be with my family and children. He has provided us with trials to learn and grow from, and has given us blessings to prove His love and dedication. I am so grateful to all the women I have met through the PPCM web site. Knowing others in the same situation makes things a whole lot less scary!
My children are now 6 years old and my youngest will be 2 this summer. My husband Brian, has here through thick and thin, and I love him dearly. Keep the faith and believe that prayer changes things. God bless.
Kim -- January 7, 1999
All information on this site is opinion only. All concepts, explanations, trials, and studies have been re-written in plain English and may contain errors. No one here is a doctor. No information on this page should be used by any person to affect their medical, legal, educational, social, or psychological treatment in any way. This web site and all its pages copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Jon C.