VSD~~~UPDATE 11/28/11

[katie0620]

 My 9 week old has a moderate sized VSD. He's been to Children's Hospital three times already to have it checked. His cardiologist gave us the symptoms to watch for and said that problems usually occur around 6-8 weeks of age. Well, he's doing wonderful and is gaining weight well. No bluing around the mouth or anything. The only thing is that he breathes fast. She said it was high, but still in the normal range. He goes back next week for another EKG and check. 

Question: Has anyone else had a little one do well and then start having problems as they got older? The cardiologist said once they get past that 6-8 weeks point, chances are it will not require intervention. Just curious! Thanks Ladies!

~~~UPDATE~~~~10-20-2011~~~~

We went to the cardiologist this week for his routine visit and the murmur is gone! We will go next month for an echo to verify that the VSD has closed on it's own.

~~~Update Nov. 28, 2011

Joshua went for his echo last week. His doctor called this morning to let me know that the hole has closed on it's own. He has been declared HEART HEALTHY and he doesn't need to do any fallow up visits. Kind-of sad because we had been to the heart clinic 7 times in 8 months and we really got to know his Doctor and nurses.

 

 

[Stacie03]

Sorry I haven't been through that situation, but that's good to hear that he probably won't need any type of intervention. Good luck

[MommySteph06]

My 19 month old had a moderate-large sized VSD. He was diagnosed at 2 days old. He too used to breath fast (and sweat a TON), but his cardiologist was never concerned. His VSD is slowly, but surely getting smaller. He's never needed meds or anything. He went to the heart clinic quite often when he was younger but at about 3 months or so, he started going every 3 months, then every 6 months, and now yearly.

[katie0620]

 

Quoting MommySteph06:

My 19 month old had a moderate-large sized VSD. He was diagnosed at 2 days old. He too used to breath fast (and sweat a TON), but his cardiologist was never concerned. His VSD is slowly, but surely getting smaller. He's never needed meds or anything. He went to the heart clinic quite often when he was younger but at about 3 months or so, he started going every 3 months, then every 6 months, and now yearly.

 Thank you! This is what his cardiologist is thinking is happening with him, also. He will go for an echo in a few weeks to confirm.

[singlemom52011]

what childrens hospital are you at

my son has a VSD that he is going to have to have fixed in about 6 months

 

[katie0620]

 Cincinnati

[picturemom24]

My daughter (now 5) was diagnosed with VSD at her 2 month check up. We went through all of the tests and were told that as long as she continues to grow and doesn't have any major symptoms that the hole would likely close on its own. She was closely monitored by our pediatric cardiologist, and at the age of two she weighed 19lbs and echo showed an enlarged heart. We were told she would need the repair immediately. In Nov of 2007 she underwent open heart surgery. She is now a healthy and active, still a little small for her age five year old. :)

[singlemom52011]

my son now 12 weeks old has a very large VSD and is going to have open heart sug. soon can i ask were you live

[katie0620]

 I live in the Cincinnati area.

[singlemom52011]

ok we go to the one in kc mo

[cranmer8]

Hi Katie,

I don't get on here often so just seeing your message now.  When my son was little he also had a medium sized VSD, that was corrected in 2004.  He never had any symptoms like your little one, but he didn't gain weight as well as other children.  He did get pneumonia once.  But he was 2 years old before that happened, and we were told it was quite common for children with a VSD to get it quite often.  He had his surgery when he was 2 1/2 and his weight gain improved greatly, he gained 2 lbs in the first 2 weeks after his surgery and he has done well ever since.  He is now 10 and is definitely a tweener.  So while the docs always let you know the symptoms and they say this is how they will experience it.  Some kids are just normal kids and I guess we just need to be thankful.  I know when we were going through this journey with our son, my brother knew a couple with a child with the same diagnosis and he said their son was tired all the time and listless.  I felt bad for them, but thankful my child wasn't that bad.  That would be so hard.