In the third trimester of my second pregnancy I started experiencing dizziness, shortness of breath if I exerted myself, and felt on the verge of fainting if I stood in one place for longer than a couple minutes. My doctors (and I) had attributed to being pregnant/gestational diabetes.
After delivering a beautiful baby girl via cesarean (second pregnancy and second cesarean), the OR nurse noticed that my heart rhythm had constant PVCs. It was a strange experience for me because I didn't feel any different -- in fact I felt totally fine (apart from all the medications for the c-section). I was sure that it was just an anomaly, but after several tests the day after my delivery, the cardiologist determined that my EF was 40-45% and I had PPCM.
At my last doctor appointment the EKG showed that the PVCs are continuing (I still feel nothing). I return to check my EF (and receive other testing) in a few weeks. For now, I am not medicated because I am still nursing. But, if the next round of tests do not reveal an improvement, then I will be put on medication and will have to stop nursing.
Overall the experience has been surreal (because I haven’t had any symptoms after delivering) and eye-opening. I had no clue that PPCM even existed before this happened.
My Details
- Date Diagnosed: 23/08/2015
- Child: 1
- Initial EF: 40-45%
- Current EF: 40-45%
Story By Courtney Topić
