Takotsubo at 27

[TCM27]

Hi all,

On the 10th of May 2022 I gave birth to my son, a few minutes after delivery I felt an intense pain in my chest which felt like a heart attack. It took a while to get to a diagnosis (initially I was treated for PPCM which is extremely similar) but I have been diagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

I am showing good signs of recovery and have been told there is a slim chance I will have another episode. I wanted to ask if there is anyone on the forum who has had a similar occurrence and if they have experienced Takotsubo more than once?

Please feel free to get in touch, I would love to discuss further with anyone who can shed some light on Takotsubo.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello TCM27

Welcome to the forum.

I am sorry to hear you have experienced an episode of Takostubo Cardiomyopathy/syndrome.

There is a very supportive Facebook group

facebook.com/groups/Takotsu...

Also some information on Cardiomypathy UK

cardiomyopathy.org/about-ca...

There are a couple of forum members who have a lived experience of Takostubo syndrome and hopefully they will be along to share their experiences with you soon.

Ramilia

[TCM27 in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi Milkfairy,

Thank you for your response, I have just joined the Takotsubo support group on Facebook, thank you so much for recommending!

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to TCM27]

It's a lovely supportive group with lots of really knowledgeable members.

[Nevea in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi. I had takasubo in may of 2021 I had no pain of any kind . Only when they did angio that it was found. The echo. Grams. Now show heart back to proper size & shape. I’m on lot. Of meds but haven’t any symptoms of a heart condition. I was 86.

[Gumbie_Cat]

York Cardiology has an interesting interview about this - youtu.be/D6KSG-BzlkA(Not working as expected?)

[Gumbie_Cat in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

I should have added the very best wishes for you. It sounds like you have made an excellent recovery.

[TCM27 in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

Hi Gumbie_Cat,

Thank you for your kind words and for sharing this video, I have already started watching it and it’s very informative!

[Silvertail]

It's also known as stress cardiomyopathy, previously known as 'broken heart syndrome'. It's not common to have more than one, however I have just had my fourth. The first two were from severe psychological stress when having to get my daughter away from a very toxic partnership and the next two from physical stress after falls - landing face down on concrete. I hope you don't get any more episodes.

[Silvertail]

I forgot to say there is a Facebook Group - Takotsubo Support Group - which you might find helpful.

[Ramilia]

Hi TCM27,

I'm sorry you've experienced a Takotsubo, especially at such a young age. You've had good advice already, but I just wanted to mention a very helpful website: takotsubo.net/

[Jeekee9]

Hi TCM27, I had my first Takotsubo attack Nov 3, 2007 - the day that my father died. Back then, the doctors here in North Carolina were not familiar with this type of heart issue and they diagnosed it as non-obstructive myocardial infarction. Several years later they told me it was officially known as Takotsubo Syndrome and also called broken heart syndrome or apical ballooning or stress cardiomyopathy. Since then I have been hospitalized with three more attacks. In 2016, one day after an emergency appendectomy using a drug which I am highly allergic to (Fentanyl) caused severe side effects. Then in 2020 after a highly stressful phone call with a close relative who was just diagnosed with terminal cancer. And most recently, July this year I met with a new doctor and had another attack while describing some highly emotional and terrifying childhood experiences. All of these episodes began the same...with nausea and severe chest pain. With all episodes, my Troponin levels were extremely high and I ended up having heart catheterizations with all showing a strangely shaped heart and reduced heart function which eventually returned to normal. Also, I am now 68 years old and I now have a pacemaker to help with my lower heart rates.

You are so young and I wish you the best. I know life is stressful especially for a young mother. Be well and be happy. Best of luck to you.

[Cymrucurious in reply to Jeekee9]

How are you now? Checking in to see that you are feeling string x

[Jeekee9 in reply to Cymrucurious]

Thank you for asking. I am doing good and I hope you are. It will be one year this August since my last episode of Takotsubo, but I do still continue to have Afib flutters and heart palpitations. I now realize the importance of making every effort possible to control my stress as much as I possibly can. I try to meditate and get out and walk in nature every day. Also, deep breathing and listening to music calms and relaxes me so much. I read as much as possible about our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. It is amazing how our hearts are affected by all of this. The following link provides interesting detail about the relation this has to Takotsubo:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Best wishes to you...

[Cymrucurious]

I was diagnosed with takosubo cardiomyopathy last month and would be facinated to hear how you are feeling now? Ive read that happy events as well as traumatic ones can often be linked to takosubo... i think mine was caused by a particularly long seizure but i confused the pain with the grief of being bereved

I hope you are looking at a full recovery? ... my cardio team have told me that takosubo has

a good prognosis and to try to keep positive. I'm learning breathing techniques developed by cardio nurses that help me considerably.

I hope being a new parent is a wonderful experience and helps you through what is a life altering and really quite frightening experience ( if mine is anything to go by) Ionwards and upwards for us both

Sending warm hugs and the very best of wishes

[Cymrucurious]

How are you feeling now?Hope your recovery is in full swing ... I've been discharged from cardiac rehab and feel quite seriously relieved!