Feeling faint and heart palpitations 29 weeks

[Rita1003]

Hi all,

I've had a pretty hard pregnancy so far. Nausea and sickness from week 6, and still ongoing to some degree now. However in the last month I have been suffering from extreme weakness/fainting episodes. I can be sitting it standing when suddenly my heart rate goes up really high which makes me breathless. This will sometimes be accompanied by pins and needles in my left hand. Then I will feel hot and faint and I have to immediately lie completely flat in my left side to stop fainting. I will then be unable to walk or move much for up to an hour. After they I will be shattered and sometimes need to sleep the rest of the day. It is not my iron levels, bloods have been checked. My BP is normal, although towards the lower end. This week I actually had an episode at the GPs when I was going for my midwife appointment. My GP shrugged it off but the midwives were quite concerned about the regularity of these episodes. The midwives called immediately for a consultant appointment for me for next week. It has become quite debilitating. I can't go places alone and I am currently signed off work. Anyone else had anything like this?

My BP is fairly low and at my 24 week appointment, my mw warned me that I might get a bit faint towards 28 weeks. Apparently there is a big increase in fluid levels then, which can lower BP further. I haven't had any episodes yet but I'm standing back from the platform edge on my commute just in case. Your symptoms seem to go a bit beyond low BP though. I hope your consultant appointment will give you some answers.

I've had similar episodes from abt 28 weeks am now 33. Eventually I got so low mood wise that the midwives sent me straight up to the hospital to see a consultant. I knew something was wrong but not what ( think she thought I was depressed) saw loads of docs and each had different ideas but one sent me for a scan of my legs to rule out blood clots dvt. I had no pain/ swelling etc. they were surprised to find clots and have started me on injections. Still having the problems breathing/ fainting/ dizziness - pretty much stuck in the house but at least am on treatment for the clots that are causing it. I'd ask them if I were you as better to have a scan and find nothing than ignore it. I just felt I was being treated like an over anxious mum before that.
Hope you feel better soon x

New blood rest results came back. They said my ferritin levels are very low. 11 when they should be 30. Started me on iron tablets. I am also having a 24 hour heart monitor attached to check my heart. It is the heart palpitations which are the worst right now because they always lead to faintness, dizziness. My GP does not think an increase in my iron levels will stop the fainting and heart issues. I am really down about being stuck indoors. Never thought about blood clots :-(

Sounds like SVTs to me - supraventricular tachycardia. I had them in my second pregnancy (but not this one thank heavens). Basically saw a cardiac consultant (as obs consultant knew F all about it), had an ECG to check my heart was phsyiologically normal after a 24 hour trace. Trace showed an SVT (I made one happen by bending over to pick something up as I was worried one wouldn't happen in the 24 hours). I normally have excellent blood pressure and lowish iron. At any rate, the consultant said it was mostly down to increased blood volume and the stress of pregnancy, and that it would resolve after the pregnancy and there wasn't much he could do. I also had a note on my notes that I wasn't to push for longer than an hour (pushed for six in my first labour) to reduce any stress on my heart. I was able to give birth in a midwife led unit (attached to the hospital).

I was completely fine after delivery, and I haven't had any problems in this pregnancy. That's not much use to you now, but things I found helped were lying down straight away with my knees up, deep calming breaths, no strenuous exertion, drinking lots and lots of water and eating regular small meals.

Thank you mummytomog. It is really hard to know what to do - I don't want to risk it being a clot and me still being ill after the baby is here. I am also worried I won't suffer an attack during the 24 hour period. I fine it really frustrating when the doctors can all have completely different attitudes ranging from "I can't be bothered I will just jab you with the whooping cough jab whilst you are laid down feeling faint" to the midwives who are quite concerned. I am going back to my GP Friday and will push for a scan to check DVT just in case. Feeling low :-(

:( Here's the NHS page on SVT

www.nhs.uk/conditions/Supraventricular-tachycardia/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Does it sound familiar at all? You could take a copy with you to the GP if it does, and show him. For me, bending down to pick up something often triggered one, so I did it on purpose. If you have a postural trigger, than maybe try to set one off (with someone handy to help if need be) while you're being monitored. And maybe try the vagal thing, and see if that helps?