Heart trouble and time of the month!!

[Benchster]

Hi there.

Has anybody noticed a worsening of symptoms such as breathlessness and palpitations during their period? I have a slightly leaky mitral valve after it was repaired due to severe regurgitation 7 years ago.

[gal4God]

I’ve just had a heart op so been put on the pill to protect my heart. So I guess I’m looking forward to breathless at the time of the month wen I come off the pill.

[Spatz76]

Hi yes definitely. My palpitations are much worse and I get light-headed and sometimes breathless. I know it sounds stupid but I didn't realise it was happening in a regular cycle, it's taken me a while to connect the dots. It's very annoying isn't it.

x

[Benchster in reply to Spatz76]

It seems to be quite a common thing then. I thought I was going to have to go through all that surgery again but it always calms down after the end of my period!!!!

[Benchster]

Me too. In fact when we're going up a hill and I get breathless, my labrador walks with his head touching my leg!!!!

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Although I can have no personal experience one thought does occur to me. Both conditions can cause fluid retention and fluid retention can cause the symptoms described. It may be that if this is the problem a mild diuretic is needed for a few days or if you ae on one the dose needs increasing for the duration. A parallel is that angina is more easily triggered in cold weather.

[lauraindurham]

Hi! I totally can relate - my palpitations increase during that time of the month, and as a consequence I tend to feel more flustered (combined with hormones, it isn’t a great mix!). Hugs. Xo