I Want Some Advice on My Son's Heart Murmur

Hi! I do not know tons of this subject but I wanted to let you know both of my cousins had ASDs and had surgery to close them and they are perfectly fine. They has them done when they were younger as well. I can not imagine how scary it can be. But if you feel you need a second opinion I would trust your gut and get it. The most they could say is the same thing right? But just remember if your child does need surgery it seems to be a very common surgery so your child should be just fine. Good LucK!

Hi J.,
I would do what ever you can to get a second opinion. My daughter is three years old and also has a heart murmur. I took her to children's Hospital in San Diego and he said it was nothing to be to concerned about. He said many children have them and to just bring her in every year for a check up. My brother is 30 and has had one all of his life and it has never affected him.Your sons might be worse but I would hate to see him go through all of that if it is not necessary.

Hi J.,
I had a hole in my heart & it wasn't detected until I was 34 years old. I have the Amplatzer device on my heart. I had the procedure done in 2002. I can only imagine how scary it might seem for a 4 year old to go through this procedure. If it was my child I wouldn't hesitate to have the procedure done.

I hope this is helpful.

Take Care,
S.

Hi...
My son had the same problem about two years ago. He also has dextocardia which is when the heart is on the opposite side of the body. They were going to do the same procedure on him also, but lucky for him the whole closed up this past year. The only other option would be open heart surgery which I think is a little more scary. I wish I had advice to give to you, but just thought I'd let you know that if you need someone to talk to that understands what your going through I'm more than willing to be there for you. Good luck and my prayers are with you...

J.

Hello, I'm a 28year old single mother of one. When I was born I had transposition of the great vessels. I had my very first heart surgery at the age of 3 months. Then three years later after they found out I had a hole in my heart. In my case the way the doctors did my surgery they were not able to close the hole. They did a mustard procedure which is bascially a medical band closing the hole. I think if it is worth it then then get the procedure done. Yes it is a very scary. There is all this technology now a days, that can help. Yes I do have Kasier. I have my cardiologist since I was 1 month old. If you like his information to get a second doctors advice please contact me and I will be more then happy to give you his information.

If I'm not mistaken.... doesn't Kaiser also have a coverage plan, whereby you can get referred to an 'outside' doctor??? I think I heard a friend mention that once. Getting a 2nd opinion IS always a good idea. Or see what options you have...in the network you're in etc. Insist that you want a 2nd opinion. It's your right as a parent or any patient. Use any resources you have and make a wise sound decision, as you are already trying to do. You are your child's advocate. Good luck and take care! (p.s: if you go on the web, you can research it... here's one link: http://www.righthealth.com/search?t=vhealth.all&out=h...
or http://www.righthealth.com/Health/pediatric%20heart%20mur...
Try to 'google' the subject of pediatric heart murmur....or look up Kaiser doctors in your area for pediatric heart specialists, and/or the doctor reviews of them etc.
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

Hi J.
My son had a hole in his heart as well as an extra artery that was pumping too much blood into his heart and lungs which in turn were making them work twice as much as the average heart and lungs of a 7 year old normally would. We decided to get it done only because we were told that if my son went out for sports or such and his heart was overworked (hot day, sweating and running around) he could very well suffer a hear attack and die on the spot. Now at that time I had heard on the news of all the recent deaths of children and teenagers that were suddenly dropping like flies because of unknown causes,which after autopsies came back turned out they had just about the same conditions my son had, I made my choice. Plus He wanted to play soccer real bad and for some reason I had been avoiding signing him up even before I knew what was wrong. Gut feeling I guess. But if you feel the need to get a second opinion go for it, this is your child your talking about. We had our son's surgery a Loma Linda Children's Hospital here in Loma Linda,Ca they deal in mainly brain and heart stuff. Best care given to children that I've ever encountered.

It was the scariest thing I have ever been through and I have personally been under the knife 6 times myself but that day I would have traded anything to take his place on that table. Luckily he's now 12 yrs old and aside from seizures and asthma his heart is just fine and he enjoys playing soccer all year long.

It was a simple small cut in his inner thigh where a small tube went in and in that they sent in a coil of sorts and that was sent all the way up to his heart. That would block the hole and I was told grow with him so there wouldn't be any need for more surgeries best part its not all open heart like it used to be unless something goes wrong. Which God willing nothing will. They stay at the hospital overnight and can mostly go home the next day unless there is a fever or uncontrolled high blood pressure (which my son had). It is very simple.

I hope you make the right decision for your family.
I will keep you and your child in my prayers.
K.F.