Infant heart murmur

[skuttle]

DS had his 1 month check up today and his Dr. heard a heart murmur. She referred us to a pediatric cardiologist. The appt. is on Thursday. She said she's not overly concerned and if she was she would have sent us immediately to the cardiologist. Instead, she gave us his name and told us to make an appointment.

I've of course googled this to no end and it seems pretty common and something that should hopefully correct itself over time. When I was talking to my mom about it she said I had one when I was a baby as well.

Anyone dealt with this and/or know what we can expect on Thursday? Thanks!

 

[KPeveler]

I was born with an innocent heart murmur and I outgrew it by age 12. No big deal.

the cardio will likely order an echocardiogram (essentially a sonogram of the heart). It does not hurt and is only uncomfortable because it is COLD! They may also do an EKG, which is just a series of electrodes to measure heartbeats.

When they tell you what kind of heart murmur it is, don't overstress by reading too much online. If you don't like the cardio, get a second opinion, but don't stress too much!

 

[my3sonsagn]

My youngest son has one - they noticed it at his 2 yr check-up. Pretty much told us the same thing they did you. We went to the ped cardiologist, they did a thorough EKG and maybe one or two other tests (I don't remember exactly because what looked like one test was, I think, more than that but nothing major or even remotely bothersome to DS or us), then the Dr came in, asked us questions, and checked DS thoroughly. He said it is very minor and he'll likely grow out of it some day. They gave us a clearance letter to hang on to in case we needed a copy (our dentist required it when he started seeing them) and sent another copy to our ped. The appointment took about 40 minutes or so.

Our ped comments sometimes that he can still hear it - I'm guessing he'll tell us if/when it disappears.

Good luck!

 

[Acklander]

I was born with one - the only way it effected me, growing up, is when I went for my sports physical for school if they picked up on the murmur I was only allowed to play every other quarter, and if they didn't hear it, I could play every quarter. Mine never did close up on it's own, and only now (I'm 50 years old) are they thinking about going in and closing it (a minor procedure)

 

[sunshine1178]

I'm living just fine with mine. It's a great conversation starter when I see a new doctor, and if there's a student in the building, he/she will get to meet me too. I guess it's not that common to still have as an adult. I had two pregnancies and deliveries (one with no pain meds), and I figure that if I survived that, I'm probably good to go.

 

[disfan07]

I've been living with mine for about 21 years. I guess it was first noticed when I was about 6 months old I think.

I have many other health issues completely unrelated to it but concerning the murmur itself, it's caused no issues. I've had multiple echos, EKGs, heart monitors etc and they havent noticed any problems with it at all. It's just something else that is on the laundry list of medical "issues" I have.

 

[EdiePA]

Both of my sons had them. Theirs were more related to how their blood circulated around the heart, rather than a problem within the heart itself. The pediatric cardiologist ran all of the tests, explained it to us, and then gave us documentation so that if a physician heard the murmur during a physical, they would have an explanation and be able to play sports, join the military, whatever. Very few physicians ever "caught" it.

I know it's hard, but try not to stress until you see the cardiologist. (And kudos to your pediatrician for hearing it!)

Edie

 

[indimom]

Both of my children have two distinct heart murmurs. Their murmurs (Stills Murmur and Venus Hum) are not caused by a hole in the heart or valve issues. Just tight portions of heart tissue and/or vessels that essentially "sing" or "hum" under the right conditions. They can be louder when they are sick (or so the doctor has told us) and their Stills Murmur can stop altogether if they turn their head just right. They are common and are found in about 15% of healthy people.

Try not to worry too much. (I know you're going to worry a little.) We have had echos, EKGs, x-rays, and multiple exams. The only test that ever bothered either of my two was DD's x-ray because they had to hold her still and we couldn't be in the room, but it only took a minute and she was calm as soon as we had her in our arms.

Good Luck, hope you get a clean bill of health.

 

[luvestodizz]

My DD had a murmur at birth. Her pulmonary valve was narrow. She had a balloon procedure at 4 months and is fine. The murmur will always be there but she is able to do all physical activities.

 

[cepmom]

My Dd13 had a murmur also as a newborn. We went to a pediatric cardiologist and he told us it was a VSD...ventricular septal defect; basically a small hole in the wall between the ventricles. I guess it's pretty common and it did resolve itself without intervention.

A couple years later she was hospitialized for dehydration when the pedatrician noticed a mumur again so we went back to the pedatric cardiologist and he said it's just an innocent mumor and not to worry about it. It hasn't been a probelm at all.

Good luck at the Dr's...I know its scary thing to worry about

 

[LaughingSphinx]

I had one for most of my life, recently found out (prior to surgery) that it's down to 'trace mitral regurgitation' because one of my valves doesn't close completely. Never had any problems, even during sports. They did an EKG and (if I remember correctly, which I may not) an EEG to check it. Not painful at all, no needles, just electrodes and gel.

Hopefully on Thursday you'll find out it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

DS had his 1 month check up today and his Dr. heard a heart murmur. She referred us to a pediatric cardiologist. The appt. is on Thursday. She said she's not overly concerned and if she was she would have sent us immediately to the cardiologist. Instead, she gave us his name and told us to make an appointment.

I've of course googled this to no end and it seems pretty common and something that should hopefully correct itself over time. When I was talking to my mom about it she said I had one when I was a baby as well.

Anyone dealt with this and/or know what we can expect on Thursday? Thanks!

I have a dd with a repaired heart defect (Tetralogy of Fallot) and my other dd has a murmur.

A ped doctor is not a heart specialist. It is great that she heard it, but it takes a trained ear to listen to the heart.

They will either find something or not find something.

My oldest obviously was serious and my youngest has a murmur they cannot identify. She has had 2 echos.

Be happy that the doc heard it and is sending you to the cardiologist. Mark of a good doc. Some doc's would actually blow it off OR (ETA because it is the truth) NOT HEAR IT and I am not joking.

My oldest is almost 20 and I have plenty of stories about medical people either not hearing it or even ran into some bad cardiologists at some point.

My nephew was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and they almost sent him home when he was born. Now you think a ped, nurses, etc could diagnose the fact that THERE IS NO LEFT HEART in this baby?!! Nope, they missed it.

Oh here is a tidbit that is weird. I had a murmur when I was pregnant and then it goes away.

 

[tinytreasures]

First off hugs I am sure you are scared.
Several of the foster children that I have had have murmurs. 2 of my forever child have them. They had a Echo (ultra sound) to see what was going on right away, then again around a yr old. So don't freak out if they order tests, and get you in fast they don't mess around with a 1 month old

 

[EllenFrasier]

Ds17 had one as a baby. We were scared out of our wits. Went to the cardiologist and they did an echocardiogram. Kind of like an ultrasound of his heart. I was able to stay in the room with him and he did great. We saw the cardiologist and he said in his opinion it was the kind of murmur that a child outgrows. He said if he heard it in a 50 year old man, he would be concerned but not an infant. So our pediatrician monitored it and he outgrew it.

 

[Magpie]

My midwife heard a murmur in my daughter's heart at her 1 month check up. She said not to worry - it's very common and almost all of them close on their own. If the murmur was still there at her 6 month check up (done by a doctor), then they would probably take a closer look at that time just to make sure it's not serious.

Evidently it wasn't still there when we took our daughter in for her 6 month check up, because the doctor never said anything about it.

 

[Geoff_M]

We were told our first child had a "murmur" and we were referred to a pediatric cardiologist. The cardiologist diagnosed her with having patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). He said that it was worth noting and said that in a large percentage of kids it's "self-correcting", and he scheduled a follow-up. At the follow-up the problem was gone.

 

[tar heel]

My third son and I were all packed up and ready to leave the hospital when the pediatrician came in and said he heard a murmur and had called a cardiologist. He had a VSD, a small hole. We saw the cardiologist maybe three times over the next couple years. He could not hear the murmur at age 1 but the echo showed it was still there. At two it was gone. The cardiologist assured us that even if it didn't resolve itself, it would not be a big deal.

 

[Arielle22]

I was born with a heart murmur as was my older DD. When we get colds it can make us a little short of breath but otherwise we don't notice.

My pediatrician didn't even tell my parents about it until I was a couple of years old. He felt it was not a big concern. This was in the mid sixties. Of course, my dad was born with major heart problems (which actually killed him) so my parents were peeved with the doctor.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

My oldest son had one as well. He is now almost 24 and fine. He had to have an ecko cardiagram (*spelling) before surgery and dental work.

 

[skuttle]

Thanks so much for the information. I'm trying not to worry too much until we see the cardiologist on Thursday. I'm so thankful that we were able to get in so quickly. Our Ped told me that it make take longer to see this Dr, but it's who she really wanted us to see because he's great at explaining what's going on. I was shocked when we were able to get in this week.