Diagnosis

Monday, April 12, 2010
by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford

We recently went for our munchkin's annual check-up. As you know from one of my recent ramblings (www.planningfamily.com/blog/surviving-the-doctors-visit/), going to the doctor isn't one of my very favorite things. Despite having some butterflies in my stomach, I do look forward to hearing about the positive aspects of my child's growth and development.

During our recent check-up, all was looking good, then our pediatrician got out her stethoscope. She listened. Then, she listened again. Looking up, she said, "Did she have a heart murmur before?" I looked puzzled. My husband answered "No." My mind started to whirl with questions like, "What did this mean?" Then, the pediatrician started typing and chatting: "I'm referring you to a pediatric cardiologist." "Huh?!," I am sure I looked shocked, "What?"

Our pediatrician continued, "Most times these are innocent or functional heart murmurs, but I refer them to a specialist just to be sure. They will get you in within a week for an appointment." A pediatric cardiologist? This sounded serious. A week of worrying about the what-ifs? This is where development can be scary. It's out of my (and your) control.

So, we waited the week. Then, we went for the appointment. We took the favorite toys. We rode the elevator to my kiddo's delight. They had cool toys in the waiting room. Then, they stuck monitors on her chest and I hovered over her making a "shhhh" sound while she weeped. I stayed brave and positive. I smiled. Inside, I was quaking. They took her blood pressure on her arm and then on her leg. Then, we waited. Next up, an echocardiogram.  The echocardiogram took nearly 20 minutes. I layed beside her on a bed in a darkened room while they took an ultrasound of her heart (remember the day you had an ultrasound and had a first glimpse of your baby?).  She was scared, but the episode of "Blue's Clues" helped her through.

Back to the waiting room we went. Finally, the doctor came in. The good news was that this was an "innocent," also known as a "functional" murmur. No further treatment was neccessary. The weight had been lifted. The sun shone and the birds sang (really, I don't remember the weather, but that is how it felt).

Through this experience and much "googling," I've learned that 50%-75% of infants, toddlers and preschoolers will have an audible murmur at some point in their early childhood. That fact got me through. Here's another couple of articles that have good information if you should cross this bridge at some point in your child's development too:

www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/heart/pages/Heart-Murmur.aspx

www.dukehealth.org/health_library/advice_from_doctors/your_childs_health/heart_murmurs

Dealing with a diagnosis can be scary and overwhelming.

Have you had to deal with any uncertainties in your child's growth and development?

How do you deal with working through these "bumps in the road?"

As one of my college professor's used to tell me, "Maintain." That's exactly what I intend to do, even when faced with things in my child's development which I have no control over.

Hang on...the ride is crazy at times!

 

 

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