O/T - Children with heart murmurs?

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nikkinikki113
nikkinikki113 Posts: 279 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Sorry to post this here, but I can't help but worry...And you guys are so positive in my weight loss life that I'm hoping for some encouragement here.

My daughter is almost 18 months old - just took her to the doc today for a follow up on her 2nd tube insertion and adenoid surgery from Monday. So, as he's checking her out, he stops at her heart with his stethescope and lingers for 5 minutes. Then, he asks me to hold her upright and listens, again for about 5 minutes. When he finishes listening, he starts asking me how much she eats, and if I've noticed any trouble breathing in her after playing. At this point I'm freaking already because he's listened to her heart for 10 minutes, as if he's trying to find the damn heartbeat. I answer his questions and he tells me "She's got a heart murmur, I'd like to keep a close eye on it." Being the overprotective mom that I am, (as most are the first time), I come back to work and immediately start googling any information I can find...First thing that pops up is "If your child's doctor has noticed a heart murmur and he/she is small for their age, consult a pediatric cardiologist. She's been the same weight and height for about 5 months now. Developmentally, she's a damn genius (no bias here). But physically, she seems behind. Her cousin who is 16 months is nearly 4 inches taller and several pounds heavier. Her other cousin who is about a year younger is only about 2 inches shorter and about 4lbs lighter.

Please offer any advice or personal experience you may have in this department. Should I be considering taking her to be safe? Or am I one of those "OMG - is she really freaking out about that?" moms?

Thanks a bunch.

Replies

  • MissAllison
    MissAllison Posts: 33
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    I'd take her to the Cardiologist. I'm sure the Doc who did her tubes/adenoids isn't a heart specialist as well. It often takes a while to get in with a Cardiologist, so just go ahead and get it scheduled. Even if it's nothing (which it probably is), you'll feel better knowing for sure.
  • nikkinikki113
    nikkinikki113 Posts: 279 Member
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    Thanks a million for your response - I've been on hold since I posted :angry:
  • MissAllison
    MissAllison Posts: 33
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    ...I've had a couple of friends whose daughters have also had this happen around 18 months. They've both had to wear a monitor for 24 hours at home, just for the dr to get a general sense of what's going on. And in both cases it turned out nothing was wrong.

    Pediatric Cardiologists are amazing doctors and will put your mind at ease. My daughter was born with a heart defect (which was successfully repaired when she was 4mo old) and, although scary, the cardiology staff really supported us.
  • alebalestra
    alebalestra Posts: 25 Member
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    My 31 years old was diagnosed with heart murmur when she was seven or eight month old. Immediately, a Pediatric cardiologist saw her and he said that is was nothing dangerous. I was in Argentina, my native country, when it happens... and I was living in a small town, but we can see the cardiologist fast. She is doing well, every year she is doing a regular doctor visit, and everything is normal. So, do not scare, just ask for an appointment with a specialist.

    Best.

    Alejandra
  • iplayoutside19
    iplayoutside19 Posts: 2,304 Member
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    My son had the same thing happen when he was a little over 2 years old. We went to a cardioaligist (or how ever you spell it)

    She told us 7 out 10 children that age have heart murmers, and almost all of them outgrow it.

    But I would go get her scanned just to be sure it's nothing more serious than that.
  • Teebowen
    Teebowen Posts: 78 Member
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    Same here... my daughter is almost 28 now and although she still has a murmur it has not been considered serious....but I am of the adage of always checking it out...my prayers are w/ you and your family!
  • ethel64
    ethel64 Posts: 91
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    personally i would take her to see the doc if for no other reason because it is always better to be 100% sure then to have it on your mind constantly and not know...

    my youngest son had a heart murmur diagnosed when he was 7 months old, i was told to see a specialist to "rate" the severity of the murmur the rating was from 1 to 4, 4 being the worst...they rated him at 2 and i was told that most (not all) in this range would outgrow this condition, i had him checked faithfully every 6 months for the first 4yrs and the murmur was less noticeable every time we went in..by the time he was 6 they couldnt find any problems at all, hes now 16 and a healthy young man with a healthy strong heart...
  • MrsGaff
    MrsGaff Posts: 42
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    Was she premature at all?

    I have 3 kids, all of whom were prems, 37 weeks (although at birth they thought more like 35, consternation over due dates), 32 weeks, and 28 weeks - all of whom are small for their adjusted age, ie. when my daughter who was born 2 months early was 4 months, she was considered to be 2 months. Naturally they have all had regular check ups with paediatricians and when I have expressed concern that tell me not to worry and kids do things at their own pace, and not to worry unless they stop eating to a major degree, slow up developmentally or appear ill. My eldest is 3 and she is only 28lbs... but very advanced developmentally and will eat when she wants to (not at dinner times when Id like her to do so!). She's been a very similar weight for ages and ages now. My middle daughter is nearly two and has been the same weight for around 8-9 months. Kids' weight gain slows dramatically after the first 12 months.

    I dont know anything about heart murmurs, but I'd be tempted to try a second opinion with a general paediatrician, or even the cardiologist - to keep your own mind at rest.

    Good luck with it all :)
  • bonnienm
    bonnienm Posts: 329 Member
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    I think for most cardiologists you need a referral from your primary care physician. I would ask your PCP what kind of murmur he thinks it is and if you need to take her to a cardiologist. My son had one when he was young and had surgery to repair it when he was 16. He showed no symptoms with his breathing or anything else other than he was a pale color. You could always go for a 2nd opinion and ask that doctor about a cardiologist visit if necessary. Good luck, but I'm sure she'll be fine:)
  • AnneGenevieveS
    AnneGenevieveS Posts: 441 Member
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    I worked on a pediatric open heart surgery floor for 4 years. Most heart murmurs in children are benign - They live with the murmur for their entire lives without ever causing any problems, and never needing any sort of restrictions or surgery.

    They will do simple testing and monitoring... like an echo (ultrasound), EKGs (just sticker on her chest), and oxygen saturation (another sticker with a light). The cardiologist will tell you if she will have any restrictions with exercise or none at all, and whether it is small or large. Don't worry until you talk to him. If she has had no problems growing and acts fine, then its probably something they will monitor and she will be just fine :)
  • katdanash
    katdanash Posts: 1,390 Member
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    I was in your shoes myself my daughter at 18 months still only wieghed 18 pounds . He reg doc sent her to a peds cardiologist. She did (does) have a heart murmur. One they call a non-vibrant heart murmur. She also had a pen sized whole in her heart. The cardiologist told us the she would be fine the only cuation he gave us was anitbiotics when going to dentist. She is now 13 years old and healthy.
    I say go see the cardiologist and get it checked. You will be thankful knowing what exaactly is going on. IN the mean time . My prayers are there for you. Very stressful on the parents. God Bless.
  • nikkinikki113
    nikkinikki113 Posts: 279 Member
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    Was she premature at all?

    I have 3 kids, all of whom were prems, 37 weeks (although at birth they thought more like 35, consternation over due dates), 32 weeks, and 28 weeks - all of whom are small for their adjusted age, ie. when my daughter who was born 2 months early was 4 months, she was considered to be 2 months. Naturally they have all had regular check ups with paediatricians and when I have expressed concern that tell me not to worry and kids do things at their own pace, and not to worry unless they stop eating to a major degree, slow up developmentally or appear ill. My eldest is 3 and she is only 28lbs... but very advanced developmentally and will eat when she wants to (not at dinner times when Id like her to do so!). She's been a very similar weight for ages and ages now. My middle daughter is nearly two and has been the same weight for around 8-9 months. Kids' weight gain slows dramatically after the first 12 months.

    I dont know anything about heart murmurs, but I'd be tempted to try a second opinion with a general paediatrician, or even the cardiologist - to keep your own mind at rest.

    Good luck with it all :)

    She wasn't premature - born at 39.5 weeks. Her father was a small child until about 2nd grade.

    I so much appreciate all of your responses. We will be seeking a referral for a pediatric cardiologist. :smile:

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