February 11, 2009

Today Bai had a Echo of his heart done and another visit with his cardiologist. After a night with Colton taken to the E.R. by ambulance for passing out and then this we were just emotionally wiped out.

We never tell Bai where we are going as he panics.

He was told the night before he wasn't going to school he was gonna go hang out with his dad. Ok duh, Bai isn't stupid he knows his dad won't let him skip just to go hang out. But this is what Nate decided to tell him. About 2 weeks ago Bai had mentioned he got really tired while skating. Red flag for me. I questioned him about this and he said it has happened a few times. This isn't the usual kind of tired he said he was just all of a sudden ed drained could barley move. So I called the Dr. and they set up an appt. we saw his reg PCP. he said he will send the visit results to Bai's cardiologists and they will schedule an appointment if they feel it is needed.

Example of a Bai panicking -

On the way to this appointment with the PCP Bai asked me well what are they going to do cut out part of my heart? As you can imagine I yelled WHAT ! what are you thinkin? You're watching WAY too much t.v.

The view from Dornbecher's Children's Hospital

Bai tryin' to stay awake and Nate Playin' the Play Station Portable

Bai in he middle of the echo

Ok this is hard to see but there is 2 arrows the top on is showing the narrowing of the aortic vessel

Side view of the heart

(notice all 4 chanbers kind of a cool picture)

This shows red blood and blue blood

and the white is just moving faster then the rest.

Red blood is from the left side of the heart

Blue blood is from the left side of the heart

The process of air oxygenation starts with inspiring (inhaling) fresh air which has a high concentration of oxygen and a low concentration of carbon dioxide. The blood coming back from the body (blue blood) comes in contact with the wall of the air sac where it gives its carbon dioxide and gets oxygen becoming red. This fresh blood (red blood) returns back to the Left Atrium to be circulated to the body.

Dr Update

Well the Dr. said Bai was seen 15 months ago for his last echo and he has noticed some narrowing of his aortic valve in addition to the

Bicuspid Aortic Valve Stenosis

Here's some info. on this
Symptoms
Aortic stenosis may not produce immediate symptoms or signs. The first sign is usually an abnormal heart sound, or heart murmur, which may develop months or even decades before other signs and symptoms. Aortic stenosis ranges from mild to severe. As the valve narrows, more signs and symptoms develop and can include:
Chest pain (angina) or tightness
Feeling faint or fainting with physical exertion (exercise)
Dizziness, Fatigue, especially during times of increased activity
Shortness of breath, especially with physical exertion
Heart palpitations — sensations of a rapid, fluttering heartbeat
Swollen ankles and feet
Causes
Aortic valve stenosis obstructs the way blood normally flows through the heart.

Causes may be:
Calcium buildup on the valve With age, heart valves may accumulate deposits of calcium (aortic valve calcification). Calcium is a mineral found in your blood. As blood repeatedly flows over the aortic valve, deposits of calcium can accumulate on the valve's leaflets. These deposits may never cause any problems. However, in some people — particularly those with a bicuspid aortic valve — calcium deposits result in stiffening of the valve leaflets. This stiffening narrows the aortic valve. This cause of aortic stenosis is most common in people older than 60, and symptoms often don't appear until age 70 or 80.
Rheumatic fever

This complication of strep throat was once a common childhood illness in the United States. Rheumatic fever may result in scar tissue forming on the aortic valve. Scar tissue can narrow the aortic valve and lead to aortic stenosis. Scar tissue can also create a rough surface on which calcium deposits can collect, contributing to aortic stenosis later in life. Rheumatic fever may damage more than one heart valve, and in more than one way. A damaged heart valve may not open fully or close fully — or both. Many older adults in the United States were exposed to rheumatic fever as children. Rheumatic fever is still prevalent in underdeveloped countries.
Congenital heart defect

Rarely, some babies are born with an already narrowed aortic valve. Others are born with an aortic valve that has only two flaps (leaflets) — not three. Known as a bicuspid aortic valve, this deformity may not cause problems until adulthood, when the valve may begin to narrow or leak and may need to be repair or replacement. Having a bicuspid aortic valve requires regular evaluation by a physician to watch for signs of valve malfunction. Parents of a newborn, infant or child with aortic stenosis may have many questions and concerns. In most cases, physicians don't know why a heart valve fails to develop properly, and it isn't something the parents could have prevented.