I had to go to emerg. with a heart rate of 230 yesterday.

17 years ago

The same thing happened to me during my last pregnancy (at 35 weeks last time - I'm 27 weeks now). It's SO scary!

We had just sat down at a Vietnamese restaraunt and were looking at the menu when I felt it. I hopped up and said "Gotta go!" and Claude knew what it was because we had just talked about the possibility of this happening again a few days ago. We got the kids strapped into the van as fast as we could and booted it to the hospital. On our way there, I tried holding my breath, and I tried "bearing down" - two things that I've read can help, but they didn't.

When they registered me at the hospital, my heart rate was over 230. The nurse caled for a wheelchair and they wheeled me into a rescusitation room and got me hooked up to an IV and oxygen and an ecg machine. They kept asking if I had chest pain, but other than a crazy nutty fast pulse and being scared out of my mind, I felt fine. They gave me a shot of Adenosine which made me feel hot and like I was sinking into the bed, and then watched my pulse for a couple of minutes. It didn't change so they gave me another dose. Shortly after that, my heart rate dropped to about 110-120 and stayed there. They monitored me for about 1/2 hour and then sent me up to the labor ward for a non-stress test to check on the baby. Everything was fine, so they sent me home.

The frustrating thing is that no one could answer any of my questions (about how dangerous this is for the baby and me, how likely it is to occur again, if there's anything I can do to prevent it, how long can my heart stand beating that fast before I'd have a heart attack or something....). The Emerg. doctor told me to ask the Obstetrician when I got upstairs. Once I got upstairs the nurse didn't know anything about SVT. After my test she was about to send me home and I said "The emergency doctor said I'd be seeing an Obstetrician up here" and she said "Oh, I just showed her the chart and she's satisfied that the fetal heart rate looks fine and you're good to go home". I told her I had a bunch of questions to ask and she looked apologetic and said "Sorry". So I ended up leaving the hospital in tears.

My next prenatal appointment isn't until next Tuesday, and I don't know if I'll be able to get in sooner or not. Today's a holiday so I can't call until tomorrow.

Anyhow, I'm a little shaken up. If you could spare a thought, prayer or hug, I'd really appreciate it. :)

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Comments (29)

alisande
17 years ago
You got all three, Nicole. I know how scary that feeling is because I experienced it twice after taking Naprosyn (Naproxyn . . . Alleve). I remember being surprised I could still be alive with my heart beating that fast!

How frustrating about the lack of answers to your questions!!

(((Nicole)))
grittymitts
17 years ago
No wonder you're afraid! I'd suggest you call your OB just as soon as you know they're back - bet time will be made to see you immediately.

Meantime, try to concentrate on staying as calm as possible. I send hugs and will say prayers for you!

Suzi
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itsmesuzq
17 years ago
Nicole...I will be thinking of you (and the baby.) I hope you get the answers you are looking for. I can't believe they just sent you home without the OBGYN looking at you!! I have never had what you describe, only the rapid heart beat for a short period of time (I always cough to get it to stop) but I can imagine how scary that must feel.

Stay well and blessings to you and baby.

~Susan
User
17 years ago
Nicole, I am sorry to hear about your troubles. I am sending you my prayers to keep in good health.

((((((((((Nicole and baby)))))))))))))

God bless both of you.
lydia1959
17 years ago
((((((Nicole))))))) Sending good thoughts for you and baby.

Here is a link that might be useful: Could it be this?
Linda Wayman
17 years ago
Nicole, prayers and good thoughts for you. Alleve does the same thing to me, bt I can take other brands of Naprosyn. The doctors suggested it might be something in the coating of Alleve. It's a horrible feeling. I thought I was going to die.

I think you were treated badly at the hospital and I'm sorry you had to go through that.
Lots of hugs to you and the baby.

Linda
ivamae
17 years ago
It is so scary Nicole. I know!! I had a problem a bit over a year ago and went by ambulance to the hospital. Mine was 192. They couldn't get it down for a long time. They kept me there for about 8 hours. They called the cardiac team in twice during the night. They called my family in and said the possibility of stroke was very high.

I've had one episode since but it didn't last more than 15 or 20 minutes,

I saw the caridiologist several times and had echograms, etc. done. After this second one, he said if it lasts 1/2 hour call the ambulance. He advised me to tell diferent groups I belong to, of what could happen, and what they should do if it did.

I now carry my cell phone, attached to my clothes, all day, so that I can phone someone for help no matter where I am.

The big thing is, I wasn't pregnant and didn't have that huge concern along with it. Thank goodness the baby is all right.

It is wonderful that Claude was with you and that you and the children weren't some place by youselves. It is such a wierd feeling when it happens.

Hopefully you don't have anymore and I certainly will be saying prayers for you, and here is a big hug ((( Nicole)))
wildchild
17 years ago
Oh Nicole I am so sorry they treated you so shabbily at the hospital. I'm sending good thoughts for you and the babe. Hopefully this will be a one time event and everything will proceed smoothly from now on. Has the SVT been something that is directly related to your pregnancies or have they checked out your heart between pregnancies to see what's causing this?

Since there was an OB at the hospital he/she should have taken the time to see you and alleviate some of you anxiety. Shame on them. (((Nicole and baby)))
ivamae
17 years ago
Lydia, 1959 - mine was diagnosed as atrial fibrilation. I'm on beta blockers to help control it and also on blood thinners.

I hope, Nicole, that you can get in to see someone sooner than your regular appaointment.
Kathsgrdn
17 years ago
((((Nicole)))) I'm sorry you're upset, I would be too. The doctor should have come in and talked to you.
pattico_gw
17 years ago
Gosh Nicole that would have scared me to death...

I absolutely would be on the phone tomorrow,calling your doctor. You need some answers.

Hug to you...

I bet that scared Claude too.

patti
heather_on
17 years ago
When this happened with our babies sometimes ice on their foreheads worked to bring the heart rate down. If your baby wasn't doing okay they wouldn't have let you leave. Did you stay a nice pink colour throughout this episode? Babies can withstand quite a bit and turn out absolutely normal so try not to worry. 27 weekers are pretty resilient!

Sending you special thoughts that the rest of your pregnancy is uneventful.
jannie
17 years ago
This just sounds so scary-glad you got the okay for release. Hope this doesn't happen again and the rest of your pregnancy goes well! Prayers and hugs!
jaybird
17 years ago
Nicole, if you can, grab a cloth full of ice and bury your face and upper chest in ice! Sounds awful, but works better than anything else I have found. DB, DGD and I all have this problem. Holding your breath or blowing up a balloon are the next best things, but ice packs work the BEST. I have even been known to pour icewater over my face and chest if I am in a public place such as you were.
Hugs to you!
nodakgal
17 years ago
(((Nicole))) and mighty special prayers for you and the baby.
sandy_in_ia
17 years ago
Scarey! Sending lots of hugs and prayers!
irishdancersgram
17 years ago
I can understand how it can scare you to death...Mine happens even if I'm laying in bed reading...My heart doctor doesn't seem too concerned but we do keep close tabs...I do have valve problems but he doesn't think this is related....
Best of luck to you and your new baby.....
anettemartinrn
17 years ago
if no ice is available, try splashing cold water in your face. that triggers a response in your cardiac system to slow your heart rate.

best of luck, and keep us updated please.

anette
lynne_melb
17 years ago
Nicole, keeping you, the baby, and the entire family in our thoughts and prayers.
joyfulguy
17 years ago
I'm sending some more good thoughts and prayers, to add to the others', Nicole.

(((((((Nicole, babe ... and Claude)))))))

ole joyful
FlamingO in AR
17 years ago
I'm glad you're OK, Nicole. I've had this happen, too, and once it lasted for a couple of hours, the only thing that would stop it was a cold shower. I tried all the other home remedies (that usually worked for me) and that was the only thing that worked. Cold shower at 3 AM, not fun at all. lol

I hope you get the answers you need and that the baby is fine and dandy. Good luck, sweetie!
barb_from_pa
17 years ago
Sorry for your scarey experience and REALLY sorry that they blew you off at the hospital. Hope you remain feeling well and that your doctor can get to the bottom of your problem. Isn't it terrible that a hospital would send a pregnant woman home when she was that distressed?
Toni S
17 years ago
How are you today? Are you feeling back to normal?

I've had only one episode like that. It was during a boyscout camp out when the temps dropped to below freezing. I was buried in my sleeping bag when it happened, out of the blue. One of the scariest things to happen to me ever. I found out various family members have what doctors call panic attacks, although we are not panicked. It's like a rush of adrenaline that won't stop. The doctors have no answers why it happens and no easy way to stop them completely. A real mystery.

Hopefully this will be the last one for you and baby. I'm sure it's double scary in your condition.
carla35
17 years ago
I developed the condition Lydia posted a link for when I was pregnant called POTS. It severly increaded my heart rate. It pops up during pregnacny because of changes in blood volume. Although, if you had it you would probably have a lot more symptoms than an increased heart rate from time to time.

Were you by chance standing in line at the restaurant for a while before you were seated? Does standing still in line or while doing something seem to increase your heart rate? Was it overly hot and your blood pressure could have lowered increasing your heart rate? Do you seem out of breath if you do something with your hands over your head?

Try to pin point what you are doing (physically) and what the surroundings are like (hot, cold, humid) and your state (no sleep, stressed out, nervous) when you are having these attacks. Could they be anxiety attacks? It may help you pin point what is going on.

I hate to hear no one cared to try to answer your questions. I would guess everything was fine or else they wouldn't let you go home. Good luck. I hope this was the last of it.
summer_tx
17 years ago
(((((((Nicole)))))) I can certainly understand your fear and concern for your health and the baby's Nicole. I hope that your regular OB/GYN can answer some questions for you Thursday. Also hoping that you don't experience that condition EVER again.
teresava
17 years ago
I also hope you and Baby (Jeremiah?) are doing well!!

I don't mean to be funny, but POTS is what the Greg (The yellow one) from the Wiggles has and why he had to drop out of the group.
jemdandy
17 years ago
Unfortunately, you were in contact mostly with the nursing staff, not the doctor in charge of your case. Nurses are not allowed to dispense medical advice unless directed by the doctor, so they have to hold (bite) their tongue as you fire away with questions about your concerns, thus, you go away confused, concerned, and a bit angry.

You were given the information that the fetus was fine and that was important to know.
girlsingardens
17 years ago
Nicole,

I feel for you, it must have been a bad time last week for us pregnant mamas. I started having contractions on Thursday, I am a week behind you at 26 weeks and had to go into the hospital, they said that they were caused by me having the flu. Then on Friday I had a headache all day which turned into a migraine and had to go to the Dr. again and she sent me to the hospital to get a shot and take blood to make sure it wasn't preeclampsia. So I know how you are feeling and having these things happen so early on is sure scary.

Stacie
girlsingardens
des_arc_ya_ya
17 years ago
Hope both you pregnant girls are feeling better. No more scares/symptoms until those babies get here healthy and happy - now do you hear!? LOL

((Stacie and Nicole))

I had to go to emerg. with a heart rate of 230 yesterday.

Comments (29)

alisande

grittymitts

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