Pericarditis as a result of pre-eclampsia

[Janeism]

At the end of my pregnancy in 2021, I developed severe pre-eclampsia. This led to pulmonary oedema (fluid in my lungs) and pericarditis (an infection of the lining around the heart), as well as extremely high blood pressure. Due to this, my baby was born 4 weeks early by C-section and I was treated with medication for the high blood pressure and pericarditis over several months. I have since had a heart MRI and a heart monitor placed and both have come back showing the pericarditis had no lasting impact for now

I am from a family of heart conditions - my dad had his first heart attack aged 49. I am 32 and have recently found out that both pre-eclampsia and pericarditis increase your risk of heart disease later in life, and combined with my family history, I am now frightened that I will develop further heart problems in my 40s. I want to change my risk by getting healthier, eating better, and losing weight, so I can watch my daughter grow up.

Has anyone else had this experience of pre-eclampsia, fluid in the lungs and pericarditis? Did the anxiety impact you as it is me? I do want to change my lifestyle but I’m scared of the challenge of doing this while trying to deal with a baby and working full time. How do other people manage these lifestyle changes at this point in their lives?

[Cee-Cee1]

Hi Jane - Welcome to the forum. I'm really sorry I can't help but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable, and with more experience, will be along soon to help with your query.

I also just want to express my utmost admiration for you. How anyone manages to work full-time, look after a tiny little one and a home etc together with health concerns really is beyond me - you're a superstar! I live alone, no children, work 3 days a week at a relatively easy admin desk job which is only 10 minutes away from home and I'm still knackered when I get home from work!

Take care and don't forget to look after yourself too! - Carol xox (63yr old female, fit & well after heart attack / triple by-pass Jan/Feb 2022)

[Qualipop]

74 y ears ago my mum had full blown eclampsia when having me and again later with a second baby which died 6 hours after birth. Back then there was no treatment for her at all. She was told she'd developed heart failure but literally the only thing she was every told was to never have a general anaesthetic. She never did get any treatment her whole life but she lived to 67. She had a hip replacement by epidural. It's now 32 years since she died . Treatment was still non existent. Nowadays she'd have lived much longer . Apart from getting a bit breathless on gentle hills it never affected her lifestyle and she continued smoking Woodbines all her life. Don't believe anyone who tells you eclampsia isn't hereditary. Her sister died at 24 from eclampsia and complications from TB. I also had eclampsia and spent 4 months on bed rest with baby born weighing 2lbs at 31 weeks. He's now 34 and luckily I didn't have any heart problems afterwards.

[Janeism in reply to Qualipop]

I’m so sorry to hear about your family history of eclampsia. It really is a horrific thing to go through and must be awful to have lost others to it.

[Qualipop in reply to Janeism]

Yes it's been bad but remember that was 70 years ago and 34 years ago. treatment is far far better now. My premmie son was fine, I was fine, the son of the aunt who died was f ine. My mum did lose her second baby but despite the damage it did to her, she was completely fine without any treatment at all until the heart damage caught up with her in her late 60s. Treatment has come on in leaps and bounds, not just for eclampsia but also for heart damage. I just wish they wouldn't try to insist that eclampsia isn't hereditary because the earlier it's detected the better the treatment.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Qualipop]

Midwives now routinely ask when taking the history of a newly pregnant woman whether there is any history of pre eclampsia or eclampsia in the family.

It is also accepted that pre eclampsia runs in families.

nhs.uk/conditions/pre-eclam....

[Qualipop in reply to Milkfairy]

That's very good to know

[Janeism in reply to Qualipop]

there’s no history of pre eclampsia in my family, but they do routinely check for it at every midwife check up. Mine was discovered when I went in for my weekly growth scan, my pregnancy had a lot of problems, and unfortunately that was another one added to the list. When I developed the fluid in my lungs and the pericarditis, they dismissed my inability to breathe or lie down as ‘the baby squashing my lungs’ so sent me home! I ended up right back a few hours later. Thank goodness I did or else when it turned into eclampsia I could have died

[Qualipop in reply to Janeism]

Well I was 40 when I had mine so it wasn't re ally a surprise after how mum and her sister were. Mine wasn't discovered until protein showed up. I was allowed home every weekend with huge bottles to collect every drop of pee, but my GP visited every Sunday morning to make certain I was ok.I must have been massively bloated because when, after being kept in a coma for a week ( BP wouldn't go down), I finally got to see m y son in ICU, , the midwife who had looked after me asked my husband how I was doing. She didn't recognise me at all when the fluid had gone. The one thing I had to really insist on getting checked was a broken rib from coughing. That,they said, was also him lying in a funny position. Lots of lead aprons and an x ray proved me right.

[Captain_Birdseye]

Hi Janeism,That's a lot to have to go through and I hope you're getting the support you need. It's totally understandable that you have these concerns and you want to do something about it.

I haven't had the pregnancy/pre eclampsia issues... I do have myopericarditis though. It sounds like that side of things has cleared up for you which is brilliant!

There's loads of information out there (including the BHF website) about heart healthy lifestyles... the Mediterranean diet is the most common one, and folk tend to have success with that. Have a look at anti inflammatory foods as well. I find reducing refined sugars helps me, some reduce dairy or gluten.

Diet and exercise is such a personal thing, what works for someone may not be ok for someone else. But anything you decide to go for, take it in small steps that you can easily substitute in to your life, and add bits on as you become used to it. The results won't be quick, but you're more likely to stick to it and hit the long term goal of being as heart healthy as possible!

[Swalecliffe88]

Hello Jane. To your question. Yes I suffered something very very similar. Sudden very high blood pressure and suspected preeclampsia and heart issues. Also strong history of family dying early from heart issues. Father being 39. We spent a year my GP and me after pregnancy to find right drugs and he once said I would have 20 years if I lived a quiet life and then it would probably be a transplant. Yes that hit me hard at the age of 23 with a baby and I struggled like you to accept this fate. BUT !! thankfully that was over 40 years ago. Yes you will need to take medication and yes you will need to just treat your heart with a little more respect than you would have done. Only in last 7 years have I started having issues, with bypass 7 years ago. But I am 68 now and still going strong. Please don’t let this diagnosis wear you down. There is amazing treatments out there now. It is not a sentence like it was. Just enjoy your life and your family and worry about the outcomes after you’ve had a great many years and times.

[Ewloe]

yes the anxiety will impact you. It’s normal with everything that has gone on. On top of that your a busy working mum.

Don’t put pressure on yourself with a diet, change the way you eat/ what you eat to something that you can live with eating long term. It’ll take longer but be patient it’s more successful than a diet. Don’t rush. Gradually build up any exercise starting with a walk. Pushing a buggy can be exercising especially if hills are involved. Increase your walking pace. You will get there.

Pre eclampsia is a tricky one if you’re planning more kids get as healthy as possible before hand but yes you will be more at risk. BUT you would be closely monitored with early treatment if needed.

You can make the changes your a strong woman.