Yesterday, I brought DA to the pediatrician for his regular visit. The doctor did the usual checkup.
(Song from Disney Junior’s Doc McStuffins)
Time for a Checkup, time for a checkup!
I’m gonna check your ears, check your eyes, find out how much you’ve grown…
Time for a checkup!
Then I listen to your heart beat…
And listen, and listen, and listen, and listen….
The doctor seemed to be taking a long time listening with her stethoscope. She moved it up on the chest, listened, then down, then listened, to the left, to the right. Uh-oh, is something wrong?
She looked up at me and said that she heard a murmur and that I should have it checked with a specialist, just to be sure.
Oh my! That sounded serious…
She referred me to Dr. Charles Cuaso, a pediatric cardiologist a few floors down. It’s a good thing that it was a Thursday and the doctor had a schedule that day. We had to wait a couple of hours though before his clinic started.
When the doctor finally arrived, he sat DA up on the exam table and started listening to his heartbeat with a stethoscope. Oh, but he noticed the stamps on DA’s hands first and commended him for doing good (assuming that the stamps were indeed because he was good haha!) He listened for a long time. I had to hold my breath that long as well.
When he finally finished, he confirmed that there is a murmur. Uh-oh! But it sounded like an innocent one, he continued. “Innocent” sounds good… He further added that there is nothing to worry about and that it’s not something that would require treatment.
Whew!
I asked him if it would eventually progress to something not innocent and he said that it won’t.
Another whew!
While I was already satisfied with what the doctor said, the topic still warranted a search online. Here are a few facts about it:
What is Heart Murmur?
It’s basically abnormal or unusual sounds heard during a heartbeat. While a normal heartbeat has a lub-dub-lub-dub consistent rhythm, a heart murmur may sound different. It is generated when blood flow within the heart is not smooth and turbulence occurs. As with DA’s case, it can be heard using only a regular stethoscope.
What it Sounds Like
I was curious about how it sounded like so I searched for audio clips. I found some from the website of University of Washington Department of Medicine. Their site has a demonstration of different heart sounds and murmurs. For quick reference, here are what normal heartbeat and innocent murmur sound like.
There are so many different kinds, which makes me think of how hard it is to study cardiology!
Types of Heart Murmurs
- Innocent Also known as functional heart murmurs, these are not caused by heart problems. They occur when blood rushes through the heart quickly during normal function. These murmurs are common in healthy children. The doctor added that it also occurs during situations where the heart beats faster like during a fever. They tend to disappear when a child reaches adulthood, although some adults still have them.
- Abnormal
- Congenital Abnomality. These can be heard in the newborn baby and may be caused by abnormalities in the valves, arteries, or veins, or all. While some may resolve on its own, some may require surgery.
- Acquired Abnormality. These are caused by abnormalities in the valve acquired as a result of infections, diseases or aging.
I’ll stop now as I am not a doctor. I just wanted to give a little overview, in case you’re curious or worried, or both. 🙂
Sources:
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/heartmurmur/
MedicineNet.com http://www.medicinenet.com/heart_murmur/page2.htm#what_causes_a_heart_murmur
University of Washington Department of Medicine http://depts.washington.edu/physdx/heart/demo.html
whoa sounded scary there for a moment! I would have fretted the entire two hours while waiting for the specialist! good to know it’s nothing serious! 🙂
I was trying hard to keep the boys preoccupied during the wait that I forgot to fret hahaha. Really big whew there! 🙂
it’s good to know that it’s nothing serious. I’m sure it was pretty scary for you or any other mom, for that matter. Take care.
Thanks Mommy Michelle 🙂
Whew, I’m relieved to hear that! You must have felt 10x as relieved hehe. So it won’t affect naman the child in any way?
Thanks, it really is a relief! From my understanding, no naman 🙂
Good thing DA is ok mommy cheryl 🙂
Oo nga, thanks! 🙂
Parang suspense naman ang peg ng post mo mommy cheryl, but it’s cool that your baby DA is healthy anyways! And thanks for the mini research on heart murmurs, that’s a new addition to the mother’s book of knowledge 😀
Hehehe 🙂 Glad to have added a page to a mom’s book of knowledge. 🙂
Good to know your son is ok. I do the same thing, even doctors say nothing is really wrong, not that I do not trust them, it gives me a little peace of mind knowing something about it thru research.
Thanks 🙂 A little more knowledge gives us more peace of mind 🙂
That was so scary to have to wait a few hours to finally find out it the murmur was serious or not. But thankfully it wasn’t! Thanks for sharing what you researched about the topic. I was enlightened. 🙂
Thank God! 🙂
Good to know that DA is okay. Nothing serious, pero kung ako makarinig nun baka panic mode abutin ko. Thanks for sharing mommy, sa next visit ni Rhian papacheck up ko nga lahat.. btw, san ka pala nagpapa check up? and sinong pedia nya?
Ooh, quite scary. Thanks for the information, truly helpful. 🙂
Oh, I thought it’s something different. Mabuti na lang you’ve discussed it by giving types of heart murmur. It’s scary for a parent though.
Yup. Glad to share the info 🙂
For a moment there I thought it was something serious! That’s what I love about the way you blog though, story-telling talaga. Anyway, I’m really glad it’s nothing bad!
Thanks Nicole! 🙂
may i ask po un number ng secretary ni doc may mitral stenosis po baby ko..tnx
Hi, local 2155 and 2157 at cardinal santos, 727-0001
Sa chinese general hospital po sna un number po ng secretary nya dun and also how much po un t.f nya and also kelngan ba paschedule or pede n po un walk in
I’m just basing this from Chinese Gen’s website:
7114141 Local 264
🙂
Parang 800 yata yung consultation fee niya last time we went.
Hope that helps. 🙂
un labtest po kaya 2nd opinion po kc kme ndetect kc un 2yrs old baby ko na may mild congenital mitral stenosis & enlargement of left atrial..ngpa2decho n po kme twice ee..gnun p din ..bali taking sya propanolol
Better try and set up an appointment with the doctor nalang.
Hoping for the best for your baby. 🙂
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