Member Profiles
CARA RANDALL
I had a tickle in my throat right after the
birth of my baby. I figured I had picked up something in the hospital, and I
felt fine otherwise so I took my baby home. Pregnancy is ALWAYS hard on me. I
lose a lot of weight, I get very sick the whole time, very tired, but this time
was extra tiring. I thought it was just that this is my third child and I'm 32,
but I noticed that I was sweating a lot and had that silly cough even before the
baby was born. It was so slight I didn't notice much.
Two weeks after I was home, I noticed that when I did things around the house I
got out of breath. My lips turned a little blue from lack of oxygen, and I was
SO tired. I wasn't bouncing back from the birth like I should. Also, my cough
was worse. By three weeks I could not sleep lying down because water literally
rolled up from my lungs. I had to sleep sitting up in a chair. I felt HORRIBLE.
Tired, somewhat weak, my back hurt. Finally I decided I probably was getting
pneumonia, so I called my doc. First they said I had bronchitis, but the meds
they gave me didn't help at all. Then they said I probably had some kind of
virus along with pneumonia. They sent me for a chest x-ray and gave me more
meds. The meds or something started to make me feel better, so I though I was
finally getting over it. But they called me to tell me that my x-ray showed my
heart was enlarged. They said it was dilated cardiomyopathy.
Well, after looking that up on the computer I was in shock and terror! There is
not a lot of good news regarding dilated cardiomyopathy on the net! But I kept
reading about how there is one kind that happens during or soon after pregnancy
that can reverse. I prayed that's what mine was, if I had to have it. It turned
out it was! I was placed on beta blockers, ACE inhibitors and digoxin, and have
steadily improved since. At first my ejection fraction was 16%...I don't know
yet what it is now, but it's surely much higher. I feel just fine and normal.
One side line was that I have always had irregular heartbeats. They were worried
that with cardiomyopathy and irregular heartbeats, I might go into a bad rhythm
and not come out. So I entered a study and got a defibrillator implanted. It
will save my life if I get a bad rhythm. I'm not thrilled that it's there, but
on the other hand, it gives me a lot of peace now. I don't know if I will have
it forever, or until I heal from PPCM, and I WILL heal.
So that's my story. I have created a support list for women who have PPCM to
come and laugh and cry, and learn to deal with and cope with PPCM. We are not
only going to support each other, but do things and projects for others who are
suffering and scared. Because WE know what it's like to scared, don't we? My
list is called Bighearted, and is on Yahoogroups.com. Please come see us if you
need support and friendship through this time in your life. Don't go it alone!
Thanks,
Cara Randall
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