I'm putting myself out there today. I decided that, with tomorrow (29th September) being World Heart Day, I'd tell my story to raise awareness about the link between pregnancy complications and heart problems.
Cardiologists told me that although my ankle surgery five years ago triggered my arrhythmias, there would have been an underlying propensity for it to happen at some stage. It's very likely that the preeclampsia I had during both pregnancies is the link.
It's a chicken and egg situation - medical experts don't know if the pressure pregnancy puts on the body in some women creates changes that affect them later in life, or if it unmasks something that was "pre-destined" to happen down the track.
Thanks for the video! Being male and not an MD, I am probably the last person you would expect to talk about preeclampsia. In fact, many of the women will be in a doubt what it could be, but I have studied this pregnancy problem for a long time and, yes, you are right, preeclampsia and heart issues have the common cause. They both count to Dysautonomia, meaning the disturbance in functioning of Autonomous Nervous System. But they are not alone, there are other related health issues (asthma, Lupus, IBS, GERD, ...) which have the same cause - Dysautonomia.
The problem is, the MDs are not knowledgeable enough to deal with ANS since it is sooo complex, that dealing with it is similar to trying to understand a technology of an alien spaceship. It seems to me that, until now, nobody has had the courage to deal with ANS in a serious way. If you Google Dysautonomia International, you will see that the research is funded by the donations of the citizens, pretty poorly, and that the problems that are dealt with are limited, without grasping the broadness of the Dysautnomia in general.
Good video Kaz with a great message which might also be helpful to other communities on HealthUnlocked. Also nice to put a voice and a face to a regular contributor……
Thank you FlapJack - as I said I was a bit nervous about putting myself out there but I do videos for work without worrying so I thought, “I can be brave” 😉
Thanks Jalia. I posted it on another social media platform and was contacted by a woman who’d had pre-eclampsia three times and has heart issues and was not aware of the link. Happy to do my bit in educating people.
You look good. I have no problem public speaking but hate seeing myself and all my annoying foibles and nervous ticks. That I seem to look like my father these days doesn't help either!
Thanks for sharing, I had pre-eclampsia when I had twins over 6 years ago I had to stay in hospital for a week to try and get my blood pressure down after.I had a emergency c section which was pretty traumatic.
My Cardiologist seems to think my heart stretched a bit when I was pregnant as I went 39 weeks with twins and I was huge!
Hi Stookie15 - they do say that pregnancy is the ultimate pressure test for the body and having twins places so much extra load on all the organs as well. I delivered at 35 and 36 weeks with little babies (5lb 7oz and 6lb 8 oz).
I found that very interesting Kaz. I had pre eclampsia before my son was born at 36 weeks, and, like you, I had to lie on the table for hours after the delivery, but until I saw your video, I didn’t know why. That was 45 years ago, and I miscarried the other three, one before and two after him. Very informative, thankyou. Oh and I have had high blood pressure ever since.
I’m glad to help raise awareness. In the first comment on this post I have put a link to a page on the Australian Heart Foundation that speaks in further detail about pregnancy and the heart. Xx
Hi Kaz. Hadn't realised it was World Heart Day. I'm just sitting around in the foyer of a hospital that hasn't woken up yet waiting to have my pacemaker fitted, so hopefully it's a good omen...
Thank you Kaz and the people who replied. This is so very interesting and I feel connected to so many experiences here. Your experience Kaz almost mirrors mine What an informative and supportive place this is.
Wow that's really good for thought. I've had 4 babies, all of who were overdue and induced, with long labours. I was huge each time, putting on 4stone for each. My 4th baby was a hefty 11lb. It's certainly good for thought. Thanks for sharing
So interesting Kaz, well done for highlighting this. My daughter had threatened pre-eclampsia and went into hospital early with her last pregnancy (and she was on blood pressure medication). Her baby was under 6lbs too. Later, and I can't remember where I read it, the advice was that mothers in her situation, and indeed mothers who had had pre-eclampsia should be followed up for some time after the birth, and stay on blood pressure tablets and have regular checks to avoid problems later in life. This has happened in her case.
Thanks for responding Irene. I’ve also read that daughters of mothers you have preeclampsia, especially if they are the first child born after a pregnancy with preeclampsia have an increased risk of hypertension or preeclampsia in their pregnancy. My girls don't have kids yet but I’ve said if they do they will need to be extra vigilant.
In doing my family history I discovered that one of my great grandmothers died from kidney problems soon after giving birth which is connected to preeclampsia.
It’s sobering looking at family history. My father was the first male in his family ever to retire, all the others died through various causes. But interesting to note your great grandmother died of causes related to preeclampsia. Yes, we must warn our daughters.
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