O/T - Children

nikkinikki113 · March 2011

I'll post here as well -

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.

Zuznana · March 2011

You are her mum and you should do what you think it's best. Our daughter had murmur and they done a scan and she had a "hole in her heart"....few months later, she was ok. So we panicked over nothing. But she was always on target with her weight and height, so I really don't know what to tell you. Only that if it was me, I would go and have her checked by paediatrician cardiologist . I hope it's nothing. Sending you hugs, it is an awful situation you are in. :flowerforyou:

Forgot to say, she was only few months old when they found the murmur.

nikkinikki113 · March 2011

Thanks a million

Scncartist · March 2011

I'm a Nanny, not a mom. :-( Yet anyway. :-)

And I think I'd feel exactly like you do if I were in your situation.

Let me ask you this: If your daughter is fine, if she doesn't need that other doctor's appointment, would you stop worrying until you knew for sure? I sure as heck wouldn't. I'd make that appointment lickity split! I would also do my darnedest not to worry, as worrying never solved anything or made me feel better.

If you aren't quite ready for that then go back to her pediatrician and ask him what he thinks. Bring up what you've discovered on the internet and ask if this is a concern. Yes? No? Why or Why not?

I hope this helps! My thoughts are with you!

Tarah1357 · March 2011

My sons pedi noticed a mild heart murmur when he was about a year old. We consulted with a pediatric cardiologist and they said it was very "weak" on the murmur scale which meant it wasn't much to worry about and just to go back every year. He's 3 now. We have an appt coming up but in Sept his pedi did say that he still heard it there but it hadn't seemed to be worse. Nothing was ever brought up to me about it having an effect on their growth. I also had a heart murmur when I was younger and grew out of it. They say it's very common in children and that most of the time they do eventually grow out of it. However, you mentioned psychically your daughter being a little behind. My son was also like this. He was a later crawler & walker and after he turned a year old he went from being in the 90th percentile in height / weight to the 40th so maybe it does have an effect? I'm going to ask the cardiologist when we go in May. It doesn't hurt to go and have another opinion either. Maybe seeing the cardiologist will make you feel a little better about it. Like I said, I was told by a few different medical professionals that it IS common in little ones and that it's usually outgrown. Good luck with everything! Hope it all works out. I understand how you're feeling!

SevenisHeaven · March 2011

My now almost 3 year old son was diagnosed with a "heart mummer" at his 5 day check up. My doctor scheduled an appointment with a pediatric cardiologist. He was diagnosed at 2 months with a "Pulmonary Stinosis" which means-his pulmonary artery coming out of his heart is narrowed. We have had to have an EKG, Sedated EKG, etc every 6 months. So far it has NOT been a problem. It hasn't gotten any better in 3 years, but hasn't gotten worse either. The only problem we will have is when he is older-playing sports, he will have to take breaks more often...

If your ped didn't seem "worried" enough to make an appointment with the pediatric cardiologist, I would just wait it out. Unless you notice things such as around the lips are blue when exerting energy, etc...

HTH

denise980 · March 2011

I was born with a hole in my heart and a heart murmur. My parents kept monitoring it and had the doctor check it out periodically. By the time I was two it closed up on it's own and I'm healthy now. It may be something similar to that.

Was she born premature. I was born a month early and that's one of the reasons why I had the hole in my heart.

I hope this helps.

chelekaz · March 2011

I can completely understand your worry but please know that this does not always create a problem and many children outgrow them. I did. I was in 4th grade when my doc found mine. I had to be careful, any dental work, surgery, etc I needed to be on antibiotics to decrease risk of infection.

What I would do this weekend is make a list of questions for the doctor and then call on Monday and ask if you can speak with then regarding your concerns. Explain that you were (rightly) overwhelmed and concerned and now you would like to find out what they are going to do. Will they do an ultrasound and echocardiogram to confirm that there actually is a murmur and severity? How often will then follow up? What should you watch for?

I'm sure that everything will be fine but as a Mom I know how concerned you are right now and am sending positive thoughts to you and your family.

RachM · March 2011

My little sister who is 5 now (yes, there are 16 years difference between her and I) was born with a heart murmur, and still has it to this day. Shes tall, but petite for her age and the doctor has not been concerned about it, though does monitor it. To be honest, as long as the doctor is monitoring it, I would try not to worry about it, and I would also seek a second opinion

tammy200678 · March 2011

My oldest daughter was born 10 and half weeks early I was holding here hand in the incubator and she stopped breathing turned out she had fluid around her heart and brain they had to do two major surgeries at the same time very scary she is now almost 14 and very healthy anyway what iam getting at kids r tough u do what u feel is right get her the best treatment and pray it will work out good luck God bless u and your family u all will be in my prayers and thoughts

sylvia1970 · March 2011

the worst thing you can do is search on the internet. That will certainly give YOU a heart attack.

Being a mum for the first time is in itself bewildering as you meet milestone after milestone. Not all heart murmers are bad. Wait for the experts advice and calm down. You know your child better than anyone so don't worry about other childrens progression.

You are doing a fine job!

jillbarnes · March 2011

I'm RARE because my daughter turned 2 in December and weighed in at 19.5lbs! (No typo on the weight.) It's been as if I'm pulling teeth with our Pedi for him to 'admit' her size has to do with genetics instead of a problem. She has followed my growth consistently and guess whose baby book registered the exact same weight at 2, ME! My child eats a lot and also plays hard, my husband has a crazy metabolism (not me). Abigail is 50% for height and less than 3% for weight...but I have my baby book to back my genetics.

I don't have any experience with heart murmurs. I think it would be good to consult a pediatric cardiologist, if nothing else but for more educational knowledge and someone to answer questions you may have after doing research. This doc will have more information about the condition compared to your Pedi. I'd hope the specialist would be able to give you more information about what to keep an eye out for in your child's behavior, how the condition could possibly affect her growth and if she could 'outgrow' it.

I think you must be a great mom for doing the research and getting your own information about this condition. Docs have so many patients we have to be more responsible for our health and our family's health. Sending lots of well wishes your way!

O/T - Children

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