Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Heart rate is normal but I feel like it's super fast, what is happening.

55 replies

babayhaga · 24/07/2023 17:51

I'm 21 weeks pregnant and I've been on the sofa for the past few hours. I however have had an this feeling whereby my heart is racing really fast and I know it's not - I have a finger monitor.

Is this anxiety?

I now have the feeling that I can't breathe and keep on gasping for air, is that related to the stomach acid or due to a suspected pulmonary embolism? The scans couldn't say there wasn't a clot but at the same time they couldn't do a CT scan so treating me like I do have a blood clot.

AIBU - it's anxiety
Not being unreasonable - see doctor

OP posts:
Original poster
babayhaga · 25/07/2023 22:09

Greybeardy · 25/07/2023 21:50

Have you/someone actually taken your pulse while you’ve got symptoms. Sats probes (if that’s what you’re using) have limitations and don’t always give an accurate pulse if it’s abnormal (same with BP cuff).

I've been using the finger monitor thing. It was reading my dads at higher than mine a couple of minutes after testing mine so it's
Working in that way ;/

OP posts:
Greybeardy · 25/07/2023 22:25

If it’s an sats probe rather than an ECG monitor they have significant limitations and don’t always give accurate numbers at fast heart rates. It matters not one bit what your dad’s pulse was. If you have symptoms you should see a real life HCP.

Original poster
babayhaga · 25/07/2023 22:59

Greybeardy · 25/07/2023 22:25

If it’s an sats probe rather than an ECG monitor they have significant limitations and don’t always give accurate numbers at fast heart rates. It matters not one bit what your dad’s pulse was. If you have symptoms you should see a real life HCP.

What are these limitations?

You know the doctor will just prescribe Propranolol whereby I would rather have a more holistic angle.

OP posts:
Greybeardy · 26/07/2023 13:10

sats probes depend on differentiating pulsatile from non-pulsatile flow and at fast rates where the pulse pressure may be low, or with an irregular heartbeat where the pulse pressure may be different with each beat, then that becomes difficult. If it's a monitor that shows a waveform as well as a number and the two match then that's reassuring. If it just gives a number that needs interpreting with caution if it doesn't fit with the symptoms. It may be that your sats probe is accurate and things are fine but it's not a given and no one on here can tell you what's right (and given that you're pregnant and having treatment for a PE it'd be daft to suggest otherwise). If you have new symptoms you need to talk to an HCP.

Original poster
babayhaga · 26/07/2023 16:02

Greybeardy · 26/07/2023 13:10

sats probes depend on differentiating pulsatile from non-pulsatile flow and at fast rates where the pulse pressure may be low, or with an irregular heartbeat where the pulse pressure may be different with each beat, then that becomes difficult. If it's a monitor that shows a waveform as well as a number and the two match then that's reassuring. If it just gives a number that needs interpreting with caution if it doesn't fit with the symptoms. It may be that your sats probe is accurate and things are fine but it's not a given and no one on here can tell you what's right (and given that you're pregnant and having treatment for a PE it'd be daft to suggest otherwise). If you have new symptoms you need to talk to an HCP.

I've received a call from the hospital and they don't think it's a PE now. So blood thinners stopped.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page