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Post by jennifer2005 on Sept 16, 2005 13:59:48 GMT -5
Can anyone tell me more about these 2 defects? My DS newborn was born with these conditions
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Post by mesmom on Sept 16, 2005 14:21:32 GMT -5
Jennifer, I can send you some GREAT web sites about these that are great for the whole family, and mom and dad to understand if you want to email me at mblessed5t@msn.com. They are saved in my favorites, and have been a BIG help to me, my husband and my older children. My daughter is having open heart on Tues, so this is REAL fresh in our minds.
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Post by rickismom on Sept 25, 2005 17:11:59 GMT -5
My daughter had PDA. It gives the same symptoms as a major heart defect , but is easy to fix. Sometimes they close on their own. (Ricki's didn't, when she looked like a refugee from Biafra at 3 mo. age in acute heart failure, we operated. Recovery was quick.) In a fetus, the blood he receives from the placenta is already oxygenated. And it does not need to travel to the fetus's lungs...
So in the fetus, there is an open connection (a connecting blood vessel), called the ductus aterious (a duct) . This connects between the pulmonary artery (which goes from the right ventricle to the lungs) and the aorta (leaves the left ventricle to circulate to the body). In this way the non-inflated lungs are spared unneeded flooding by blood, and MOST of the oxygenated blood goes straight to the aorta. At birth, this vessel is supposed to close. In PDA the duct is "patent" (stayed there open) , and a lot of the blood from the right ventricle gets sifted,as it leaves on way to the lungs (As now the blood is NOT with oxygen), and goes to the aorta and the body. Thus the blood leaving the heart is with low oxygen content, and the heart has to work harder to keep up. The closure is very easy ; opening from under the ribs on the side, they go and close and clip the PDA. Symptoms before: throwing up a lot, weak, thin starved-like child. Afterwards: grow like crazy!
ASD is a hole between the two upper chambers of the heart. Severity will depend on the size of the hole. Since the pressure is greater on the left side, blood can flow to the lright side. This is fixed with surgery if it doesn't close on its own. The two defects may mask each other a bit.
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Post by laras on Dec 9, 2005 11:26:51 GMT -5
Our son had both and the heart healed its self in about two years. Be sure you see a ped cardiologist. I know it seems scary now but you and your child will get through this.
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Post by wrblack on Dec 9, 2005 13:33:42 GMT -5
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Post by daisy on Dec 11, 2005 17:11:09 GMT -5
congrats on the birth of your child!! a dx of ds AND a heart defect is a lot to take in and can be overwhelming. i have been there. but doctors are so advanced in what they can do. i trust our cardiologists completely. while we were having AV canal surgery, the nurse led us to a great website at cincinnati (sp?) children's hospital. you can search for your type of defect and follow the links to a great interactive explanation. good luck!
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Post by MaggiesMom on Apr 29, 2006 21:38:45 GMT -5
Sorry I'm late posting on this...I'm still trying to get caught up from months, or has it been years, since I posted. Maggie has/had an ASD and PDA. Her PDA is still there, although it's miniscule. Her ASD had been about the size of a quarter since she was born. To everyone's surprise, it seems to have closed last year on it's own. The cardiologist said she didn't know of children Maggie's age, 4 at the time, who's heart healed. Most heal by the age of 2 she said. Since Maggie's a walking miracle...we're waiting a while longer to see if the PDA closes on it's own too.  Why not?! If it doesn't close, the cardiologist said that it would be a snap with catherization to fix it. We like that a lot better than open heart surgery! Hope your baby does well and everything heals up on it's own. Maggie was fortunate in that her heart never gave her trouble after she left NICU at 2 months. Take care, Robin - Maggie's mom |
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Post by ALLISA on Apr 30, 2006 14:41:08 GMT -5
Welcome to the site.....Like Daisy said, it is a lot to take in and can be very overwhelming.....the internet is a fabulous tool to research and learn. My daughter had TOF ...whcich is another heart defect....same idea.....holes in heart. She had surgery at 2 moinths, a speedy recovery & declared 100 % perfect now.
It is scary when you are going through it....find a cardioligsit you like and who will expleain & talk with you. For me, her heart defect made the DS easier to deal with.....it prioritzed so much for me....health is ALL that matters.....spend a week at ANY Children's Hosptiatal and that is a lesson learned VERY quickly.
WElocem to Uno and feel free to PM me with any other specific heart questions !
Allisa
Mom to 3 .....Connor, Ty , and Erin (6 with DS)
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Post by ValerieC on Apr 30, 2006 15:39:14 GMT -5
Alethea actually had PDA, ASD, VSD, and an aortic valve weakness. Her PDA and aortic valve weakness were undetected at her 2 year check up. Her ASD is closing and her VSD (hole between the bottom 2 chambers) is significantly smaller than last year.
We were told open heart surgery would take place by the time she was 3, but after her 2 year check no surgery is needed. Because Alethea had no symptoms of heart problems her cardiologist only saw (and continues to see) us once a year and made us play the waiting game. We're so grateful that we didn't have a cardiologist that wanted to do immediate surgery as Alethea is a walking miracle as well.
JAS, I noticed your original post was in Sept. Are there any updates on your little one?
Valerie C
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Post by 2forme on Apr 30, 2006 23:08:18 GMT -5
I guess I feel kinda dumb for not knowing what exactly is wrong with my Alyssa's(2mon.) heart, but everything is so new to me. We have a cardiologist appt. on June 5th, so I guess I will be more knowledgable by then. Its very scary to just sit and wait for your babies heart to heal.......
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Post by justinsmom on Apr 30, 2006 23:41:35 GMT -5
Justin was born with the ASD and VSD but for some miraculous reason and to his Cardiologists amazement never caused him any problems. His ASD has since closed on it's own at age 3 he still however has the VSD but it's closing just taking it's dear ole sweet time and he'll be 6 in June. It was hard for awhile not knowing if and when they would start to cause problems, but alot of Prayers and Cardiology visits we made it through.
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Why not?!
jackie