Heart rate, palpitations and dizziness

[XenaTheWarriorPrincess]

Hi everyone,

So I'm 30 weeks pregnant and the last couple of weeks have been really rough. Some days, I can't even sit/stand up and I'm having dizzy spells, shortness of breath and my heart rate is going through the roof with minimal or no activity, with heart palpitations and dizziness/vertigo to the extreme. Also having a gair few splinter haemorrhage under my nails, which are painful and pop up out of nowhere.

Friday was my last midwife appointment so I mentioned it as I was convinced I must be anemic. She took blood which has just come back as 'normal' (hb 10.7), blood pressure was also normal and no protein or sugar in urine.

So what the hell is going on? I know that increased heart rate and palpitations are normal, but not like this. This is not right.

But no one will DO anything about it. I called for a GP appointment and they insisted it had to be with the midwife. So she called me and basically said it was normal, go to a&e if you get chest pain, otherwise just rest.

I can't rest! I have so much tidying and organising to do, I have no choice but to do it but I legit thought I might die from slowly screwing in a screw a few days ago, so how the hell am I meant to do anything?

I am pretty sure that what is going on is not normal, it can't be, I'm completely debilitated by it, so how do I go about getting someone to listen? Do I just turn up at maternity triage? Or normal a&e next time it happens? I very nearly called an ambulance the other day it was so bad, but my heart rate went down after a few minutes and I stopped feeling like I was going to die, should I just call one if it happens again?

Also has anyone else had these symptoms so severely? And if so, what was the issue?

That sounds awful for you, yes call 999.

I think you need a thorough assessment by a doctor. Did the midwife check your ferritin? (Stores of iron). I would expect the GP to at least want to do an ECG. I would call them again and if they won't see you, attend your maternity triage or A&E today.

@CheeryBiscuit ferretin is on the badger notes but the result hasn't been recorded, so I'm guessing it wasn't checked.

Yeah I think I'm gonna just turn up at triage when it happens again.

Looking online at nhs and NICE, it looks like my HB levels are JUST high enough to not be considered anemic. But considering my 9+5 week levels were 13.3 that seems quite a drop.

I'm basically just going to take over the counter iron supplements for a week and see if it helps at all. If I have another severe episode I'll just turn up at triage (if within their operating hours) or a&e if overnight.

I had this and it was anaemia. It was terrifying. I had to get my GP to give me ferrous sulphate as MW was a bit rubbish.

Good luck x

According my blood results I'm not anaemic though @GingerLiberalFeminist

Close, but not quite low enough.

It might be that your ferritin is low. That can cause similar symptoms. And you've had quite a drop in your haemoglobin, so you're body is having to cope with a fair bit less than its used to. Its normal for it to drop in pregnancy, but that's quite a lot and close to the threshold, as you said. Your GP might be happy to prescribe you some iron tablets based on your results and symptoms. When you are anaemic you need quite high strength iron to make a difference, rather than the over the counter doses. I would speak to your GP, these symptoms need to be reviewed thoroughly to get you feeling well in time for baby to arrive :)

@XenaTheWarriorPrincess I happened to have a high heart rate last week when I went for a consultant appointment they took it very seriously and I was almost admitted.
Maternity triage will see you first and do the observations needed they can also do an ecg. I was referred to cardiology and now awaiting an echo gram to check all ok. I would call triage go in and then they can refer you to the right departments don't wait any longer x

Hello, sorry to hear you're feeling so crappy!
My hb was 10.1 and ferritin at 9. I called my maternity unit directly and they booked me in that week for an iron infusion.
A week or so later my symptoms were worse, my heart rate was around 110-120bpm, breathless whilst just lying in bed so I went to the GP who put me on an ECG. Everything was fine, but they referred me to urgent care anyway just to rule out blood clots & check oxygen levels.
It does sound like they are fobbing you off a bit and I would push for more tests to rule out anything more serious.
It can take up to 4 weeks+ for iron supplements / infusion to clear up symptoms unfortunately.

@CheeryBiscuit I can't get in with the GP until the 4th March unfortunately and the midwife won't do anything because the hb levels aren't below the threshold for intervention.

Thanks @Busylizzie85 I'll see if I can get a lift to the hospital for tomorrow and just turn up probably