[Mama Bee]

DS had his bi-annual cardiology visit yesterday. They the entire work-up, this time... weight, height, BP, EKG, cardio/echogram, etc. Everything looks good. He still has some leakage from the repair but it hasn't increased any in the last six months.

He was quite a little wiggle worm this time! Every other time we've been through this particular battery of tests, he's always been very calm and complacent. This time he wasn't having any of it! He was taking the EKG probes off faster than I could get them stuck back on. I would get one reattached and he'd pull three more off. The echogram was just as much of a challange- lay still for that... no way! My little baby is growing up to be a full-of-beans toddler!

When the nurse first started putting the little stickers for the EKG probes on him, I think about 12 in all, I had a bit of a panic attack.... way too much baggage. My heart started racing, my hands were shaking and I couldn't catch my breath. For a very brief moment I had a very strong feeling that they would find something seriously wrong and we'd have to go through open heart surgery all over again. It was about that time that DS decided he liked pulling the probes off and I didn't have time for panic attacks anymore. So much for paranoid self-indulgence.

:

Anyway, just wanted to share with people who would understand. ~ Brook

 

[heartmama]

What a great post. I am happy to hear your little guy is doing great. I remember the sweetest little guy Samuel, who had OH surgery when ds did the second time, and he had Down's. I think he was only in ICU for 3 or 4 days. His mom almost never put him down.

Hugs to you and glad your little guy is telling everyone where they can stick those EKG leads

 

[indiegirl]

Brilliant!

 

[chrfath]

I can totally relate. DD had her AV canal repaired 3 months ago today. Tuesday was her second follow-up visit. I thought I would be okay but got more nervous as the appointment approached.

Unfortunately - DD's heart is still enlarged. More lasix for her and probably an echo at her next visit if the x-ray doesn't show some improvement. The cardio isn't sure if her valve leakage is worse than it sounds. But he doesn't think that is the case as she is growing so well and doing great.

Thanks for sharing your story. It seems like it was forever ago now that DD had her surgery. What a joy to be able to lift her under the arms again. She really likes it too!

 

[SunRae]

IlaBrook - how old is your little guy? Sounds like quite a challenge! My Sammy has started the pulling off already, too (ten months old). We just went in for his echocardiogram, and he will need a cardiac catheterization in the next few weeks. Then they will do the big repair - Sam has Tetralogy of Fallot - probably in December.

Has anyone else's baby had cardiac catheterization, and can you tell me how it went? Are the little ones in much discomfort during or after? I am really dreading this.

On the bright side, the Infant Development Specialist said that if Sam is *this* strong and active with his O2 Sats in the low 70's, there will be no stopping him after they repair his heart!

Heartmama - was that baby Samuel in Vancouver, last January? I wonder if that was my little guy! He had a B.T. shunt put in; they did the operation "open-heart".

 

[Mama Bee]

He's 20 months now. He has had two heart cath's with no problems. He was a lot younger though so I don't know if he just wasn's as aware or if it really didn't bother him. Please keep us posted on how things go for Sammy! Take care, Brook