Name: countrymom401 | Date: Mar 12th, 2008 3:10 PM
we went for wyatts one year check the other day. Well it turns out he has to go see a pediatric cardiologist due to a heart murmur. I have spent the last few days on line trying to find out more information. Of course when I was at the doctors I asked no questions. It felt like being hit in the face with a bat. I have since made another appt to see his doctor to get some more info and hopefully he can answer some questions. I am wondering if any of you ladies know anything about this condition and what it could mean? His doctor did say it could be not much at all or it could be serious. According to some sites it is somewhat common. If any of you know anything please share. I won't be able to see the specialist for a few months. I don't want to spend that much time in fear. Thank you for any advice or information.. ↓
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Name: Malica | Date: Mar 13th, 2008 11:54 AM
I don't know anything about infant heart murmurs but since you have no replies yet I figure any reassurance is better than none. I have both a heart murmur and skipped beats (my heart literally doesn't beat every tenth beat or so). I have been for an echo cardiogram and someother test that I don't remember the name of and both came back saying everything is fine. It's impossible for a doctor with a stethoscope to tell which valve isn't closing properly and causing the murmur, or how bad or in which way it doesn't close properly so further investigation is needed, but my doctor reassured me in most cases it turns out to be a rather harmless condition (for me, I notice the skipped beats when I'm stressed and that's it. The murmur has given me no problems). Obviously if they thought it was a serious condition they wouldn't make you wait months to see the specialist (even as busy as specialists are, they will put you to the front of the line if it's serious enough). So hang in there, I'm sure it'll turn out to be nothing to worry about, but it's worth investigating to just to make extra sure. ↑
Name: britt_m | Date: Mar 13th, 2008 11:59 AM
I also have a heart murmur and it skips beats. I've had it since I was very young. In most cases its no big deal most children even grow out of it. I agree if the doc thought it was more serious you'd be in to see the specialist pretty fast! ↑
Name: catgiggles | Date: Mar 13th, 2008 12:51 PM
One rest assured that if your sons condition was very serious you would not have to wait months. It would really suprise me for them to make you wait 2 weeks. I have delt w/ cardiologist for years and they just do not drop the ball. Ask your dr to have his nurse call and set the appointment up for you that will get you in much sooner than you trying to call. Since at this point he just hears a mumur it is hard to say what it would be and if it would be serious. I have a birthdefect that causes a murmur. Mine is more on the serious end which will one day require a total valve replacement for my aortic vavle. They keep thinging it wont be long and here I set 29 years old and still have not had to have it done yet. I have echos done routinely. My aortic valve is bi-cuspid (should be tricuspid). The leakage at this point is considered severe. From the perssure of that valve leaking I also have leakage in my pulmonic (mild to moderate) and in my mitral (slight to mild). (they call it regurgitation but I can't really spell that word correctly lol) This was not caught for me for years. Until I got very sick as a teen (which Crohn's Disease had nothing to do w/ my heart). I always played sports and was fairly good at it. Good enough to start never close to the "star" of the team. Once I got sick in 10th grade that was the end of my sports. I tell you this to let you know even if it is something major (and chances are that it is not b/c many more ppl have mumurs that they don't even know about.) N e ways, even if it is something somewhat major he can still have a perfectly normal happy healthy life. If you have any questions you wanna ask me just ask. It will be easier for you to know what to research once you really know whats going on. ↑
Name: MrsShelton217 | Date: Mar 13th, 2008 1:27 PM
I am not sure about it in infants... But I have a MVP (Mitral Valve Prolapse) and a heart murmer. I was diagnosed around age 8 or so with this. The Mitral valve doens't close properly when the heart beats, therefore allowing what is known as 'regurgitation'. This just means that some of the blood that should be pumped out of the heart and into the rest of the body, doesn't get out. The only thing that I have had trouble with is my heart skipping beats. If I am overly tired, stressed out, or..well... pregnant, it skips more. About every 4th beat or so. Anyway, the murmer I have is thought to be caused mainly or only by the MVP. Go to WEBMD dot com or something of that nature and read up about it. Good Luck ↑
Name: GloriaD | Date: Mar 14th, 2008 3:53 AM
I actually had open heart surgery back in 2001 to fix different types of holes between the chambers in my heart. Some had been there since infancy and if I had had a heart murmur would have been discovered and fixed sooner in my life. Unfortunately I found I had these holes when I had a stroke in July 2001. Going through all of this I learned a ton about this stuff. Approximately 20% of people have a murmur or holes or some defect and they live productively and will never have an issue, but a few will not. Most of the time as an infant there will also be a failure to thrive if there's a more immediate issue. If your son is happy and healthy and doing good I think the murmur just turns into something that they monitor to see if it ever gives him problems. Please keep an upbeat attitude and I'm sure if you call the cardiologist's office and let them know how you're feeling they'll talk with you and put your mind at ease. Like catgiggles said, if it were something very serious they wouldn't make you wait months to see the cardiologist. ↑
Name: countrymom401 | Date: Mar 16th, 2008 12:39 PM
Thank you for your replies. I have made another appt with his family doctor to ask him a few more questions. His office called me the other day and they are booking the appt for me with the cardiologist. I will have to get a chest x-ray and ecg done before hand. I have asked them to send me to the capital city . They come closer to my home but only once every month . It shouldn't take as long this way to get in. I have decieded not to get upset about this as I have no control over what is happening and might as well enjoy him and every day we have. Not that I think it is serious but if it is I love him no matter what! As for failure to thrive. He has followed his curve for the most part.He has always been on the small side and fits in the 10% group. he is 1 and weighs just under 20lbs. So I don't think he is not thriving. He is in the 49% for height. I am also small.Well was before I got pregnant ....LOL. . Thank you again for your responses it is nice to know you are all well and doing good with your conditions it makes me feel much more secure in knowing that he will most likely be ok no matter what......THANK YOU!!!!!!
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Name: countrymom401 | Date: Apr 6th, 2008 11:37 AM
well his x-rays didn't turn out very good and so now I wait till june 25 to see the pediatric cardiologist. His family doc told me that his heart is the shape as a boot which means its not functioning properly. bulging in places it shouldn't but that he can't tell me any more then that as he is just a family doctor . I am so worried. I look at my little angel and sometimes i just cry. He doesn't seem sick at all. If they never heard a murmur I would not know anything was wrong . I know that worring about it doesn't help but i cant stop. When i look on line about boot shaped hearts I get info on something called tetralogy of fallot. I guess that is is comman in downs babies and fas babies. Just for the record i never drank or smoked at all while i was pregnant. Any way this condition is almost always requires surgery. So i am scared and june won't come fast enough. I'm sorry for venting and releasing but I am really having a hard time. My dh has been gone for 6 weeks now and so I am really all alone on this. I haven't told our parents because I think we should do that together and I have enough problems with his folks. I am sad. ↑
Name: kimberly | Date: Apr 6th, 2008 2:03 PM
Oh Countrymom, I am so sorry! Stay strong for your little guy! I am sure if he does have the surgery he will pull through just fine! I know as a mother is it so hard to see your little ones hurting or sick and I am sure it is very hard to have to wait to see someone again. Is there noone else in your area or even close out of your area that he can see sooner? I think the wait would be to hard for me. ↑
Name: catgiggles | Date: Apr 6th, 2008 11:48 PM
I am so sorry to hear that you did not get good news. As soon as I read your reply I said a prayer for him before I even typed this. I know it is so hard not to worry. I have about drove myself crazy worrying over ds. So far everything has ended up working out well for Caden but I too have sat and cried fearing the worse. I know there are really no words I can provide that will really give you comfort but vent anytime you need too! Take Care! ↑
Name: countrymom401 | Date: Jun 25th, 2008 5:27 PM
So you ladies who might be interested. We went to the cardiologist today. No real news except that he thinks it is not an innocent murmur. We have to take him in and get one more test done then they will know. He will be sedated and they take pictures of how his heart functions. He thinks it is a narrow valve , But cannot tell without the test. So that will be in a few more months. But he is very healthy so it is not an emergency or anything. He gave us some more signs to watch for. But he is asymptomatic so he is doing well. I seen such sick babies when I was their today and am still thanking my lucky stars that he is not sick from it. ↑
Name: kimberly | Date: Jun 26th, 2008 4:06 PM
Gosh, I am glad you are getting some answers. Great to hear that he is not ill from it right now! I will keep him in my prayers! ↑
Name: catgiggles | Date: Jun 27th, 2008 10:42 PM
Glad you are starting to get answers. I know it must be very stressful. It is stressful for me and I think the stress would be far worse if it was my son w/ the problem. I hope I stumble upon your updates b/c I have moved to the toddler forum and rarely come back here. ↑
Name: margie | Date: Jun 30th, 2008 4:51 PM
im so sorry that you are going through all this. i hope that everything works out well, it is a blessing that they found out so soon instead of later in life. it seems like babies recover much easier from this stuff, they are very resilient. i hope that they are able to identify the problem quickly so they can fix it quickly. please update us on wyatt when you find out more! ↑
Name: sarah21 | Date: Jun 30th, 2008 8:29 PM
I am so sorry you are dealing with this. I totally know how you feel though. I had an emergency c-section 3 months ago because my daughter's heartrate was in the 270's. It took a few weeks before she was finally diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome and will need surgery to fix it. She has since been hospitalized with it once and is on meds daily. So I know exactly how you're feeling and it is awful. The good thing is that you've found the problem before it becomes a big problem for your little one and that is the most important thing when it comes to heart problems. Keep your chin up-- it will get better. ↑
