Heart Murmur :(

[monster]

It turned out that they were doing free medicals for middle school sports teams tonight at the same time and place that we had managed to secure for our swim team tonight (see uttertly totally pissed off thread for more on that once I've calmed down enough to post....) so, after 2.5 hour practice, took 10 yo daughter to get hers done. It's been just over a year since her last physical, so the doctor's office couldn't just send in the form, and her next physical is scheduled in three weeks, so I figured get it done now in case she changes her mind and decides to play basketball which happens between now and then. Seeing as we're there anyway.

They marvelled at her pulse, especially given her recent exercise (in a good way), And then they heard a heart murmur. So she didn't pass and I get to worry all night until i can speak to someone and probably beyond that until I can get her to se someone. I told then she was only 13 months since her last exam and scheduled for her next in a couple of weeks, hoping they'd say that's fine, they can check it then. But no. He said well if you call them, they'll probably be able to move it up because of this. That does not sound good.

[Griff]

There's a fair chance they don't know what they're hearing. Good luck with her.

[DanaC]

Honey, that sounds careful. Not bad, careful.

Most likely it will be nothing serious. Whatever it is, getting it early is one of the benefits of regular checks. Try not to look for clues in the doctor's manner; they'll treat every murmer seriously, even though most won't turn out to be anything worrying.

*hugs* pointless telling you not to worry yourself sick...but if you feel like venting you know where we are.

[jinx]

Who is "they"? I hope it's nothing and would personally assume it's nothing until I got it checked out for real.

I was coerced into having an u/s with my 2nd pregnancy, had it done on a thursday. On friday my midwife left me a voice message saying that the tech "could not visualize a spinal cord or brain in the fetus" and I would need to see a neonatologist on tuesday. That was a shit weekend.

I also knew a woman thru school who discovered at her pre-op mri that she didn't actually have the brain tumor they planned to remove. Freed up her schedule bigtime...

What a pisser though.

[Aliantha]

They have to investigate anything that doesn't sound quite right. Try not to worry too much though if you can help it. There's a very good chance that it could be nothing, or at the most, something not too serious. There are so many things it could be, but it's almost certainly not the worst thing you're thinking of.

I hope she's all fine in the end.

[Cicero]

I've had a heart murmur since I was born. I'm fine. In fact, I'm healthier than a lot of people my age...I never even think of it anymore. I've never seen it as a big thing. It never effects me adversely, it's just different.

I just read on a website that most murmurs are normal and nothing to worry about. That makes sense, since I've never had heart problems.

So try not to worry too much monster! Just get it checked, but I wouldn't assume the worst.

[monster]

Thanks all. yeah, I'm not overly worried, but I still have that mom voice that says "what if she is that 0.1% that appears extrememly healthy and suddenly drops dead on the pool deck?"

Mom beats logic every time, even for the non-maternal math nerds like me.

My logical side says it's nothing, it was a free medical after all, he's inexperienced, unsure and needs to be careful... and the back up is that many people have a "murmur" and are fine. her pulse is awesome, she won the 50 free last week and was barely out of breath.... she should be fine...

but still....

[monster]

My RN friend (and prez of the swim club) just emailed that it's not abnormal for a slight murmur to be heard after exercise so guessing careful as well, bUt still go to the doc befor the next swim practice.... she's careful too...

[classicman]

They have to tell you to have it checked out - they don't wanna be responsible in the EXTREMELY unlikely event that it is something. I'm sure its nothing to worry about. Just take her to the specialist and when he tells you all is fine breathe a big sigh of relief.

I'll say a prayer regardless.

[lumberjim]

heart MURMUR?
what does the heart say?

is it a murmur like...."kill your brothers" or just something like.."stay tuned for traffic coming up after these words"


sorry.....I hope this is BS like most of the medical alarmist crap tends to be.

[Clodfobble]

Oh monster, I know having to wait around on something like this sucks hairy donkey balls. To add another "they're full of crap" anecdote to the pile, I had one nurse in the hospital assure me that my daughter had a murmer as an infant, and three minutes later another nurse came in and told me no, she didn't at all, the first nurse just didn't know what she was listening for.

[Cicero]

Why do you sound like you've never heard of a heart murmur Jim?

I don't think it's medical alarmist crap-sometimes it's a sign that a valve is or is going to collapse, and sometimes (mostly) your heart just sounds different than everyone elses. I don't feel like there is anything alarmist about it.

I do think people over-react when they hear about a murmur.

[Cloud]

get it checked out. If it's something bad, then you'll know and be able to deal with it.

Chances are it's nothing. I have a heart murmur, and all my kids and grandkids do too. An "innocent" heart murmur. All of us are healthy.

[TheMercenary]

Sounds like she needs an Echo at least, an EKG, and given that she is already an athelete I would not worry much. Now if she was suddenly not performing as she had in the past, was more tired than usual or had symptoms during exercise that would be worse. No need to worry about something that you don't have any information about. Many people have murmurs, they are asymptomatic, they exercise, and it changes nothing in their life. The biggest thing that happens is they fall into a group of people who need antibiotics with dental work or invasive procedures, but that is about it. Please don't worry at this point but I would recommend you see a peds cardiologist to remove all your fears.

[monster]

Thanks Merc and all. she's "performing better than ever" so I'm, really not terribly worried, but the mom thing says: perhaps you should be, maybe you missed something....", so I guess right now my pain is more guilt for thinking i's probably nothing....