Introduction

I am a very private person so you can probably imagine how hard it is for me to start a blog.  It is especially hard since Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a very new and sensitive topic for me.  I am not a writer but I am going to do my best to convey my thoughts and feelings in each post. 

My first reason for starting this blog is to chronicle this time in my life and to give myself a place to express my feelings.  Secondly, in my opinion, there aren't many resources for women with PPCM.  I will say that I have found stories from other women online.  Some are scary and some are inspiring but most don't provide a daily look into what it's like living with PPCM.  Also, I had never heard of PPCM until I was diagnosed and I think that most other women would agree.  Not only are we (pregnant women) not warned or told about PPCM but most health care providers are not aware of PPCM and are missing diagnoses left and right.

For those of you that stumbled upon this post and have never heard of PPCM, the American Heart Association describes PPCM as follows:

 

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), also known as postpartum cardiomyopathy, is an uncommon form of heart failure that happens during the last month of pregnancy or up to five months after giving birth. Cardiomyopathy literally means heart muscle disease.

PPCM is a dilated form of the condition, which means the heart chambers enlarge and the muscle weakens. This causes a decrease in the percentage of blood ejected from the left ventricle of the heart with each contraction. That leads to less blood flow and the heart is no longer able to meet the demands of the body's organs for oxygen, affecting the lungs, liver, and other body systems.

PPCM is rare in the United States, Canada, and Europe. About 1,000 to 1,300 women develop the condition in the U.S. each year. In some countries, PPCM is much more common and may be related to differences in diet, lifestyle, other medical conditions or genetics.

I will discuss the specifics of my symptoms and diagnosis in my next few posts but the American Heart Association lists the following symptoms.

• Fatigue
• Feeling of heart racing or skipping beats (palpitations)
• Increased nighttime urination (nocturia)
• Shortness of breath with activity and when lying flat
• Swelling of the ankles
• Swollen neck veins
• Low blood pressure, or it may drop when standing up

I will post at least once a week but I hope to be able to share more often.  I also hope that my experience will help someone and that others will share their stories with me. 

See American Heart Association for more info.