how to treat

[momtofourboys]

Hi Again.
I want to thank you for your feedback that you have been giving me.
I have written that I  have a 4 year old son who had heart surgery in the past. I have also stated that he is cyanotic many times, especially in warm water. they dropped at any given time there is nothing that sets it off. his heart rate aslo can go as low as mid 50's to high of 180.(when it goes to 180 then it drops to mid 50's) he also is very low when in warm water.
we have come to the conclusion that it could be his pulmonary stenosis and his shunt.
My question is how do they treat these things.
Thank you again
Michelle

[momtofourboys]

I also have to admitt, that trying to convince his cardiologist htat there is something giong on and making him listen to me and other doctors is hard. I have told his cardiac nurse that Chris turns blue/grey when in warm water she insist that it is due to his head being above the water and he is just cold.
His cardiac doctor thinks all of this is on asthma and I can't financially seek out another doctor for him.. I am not trying to knock this doctor but how can I make him listen to me about what is going on with my son. I would love to be able to go to a bigger clinic with him. I guess I will have ot find the money, but in the mean time how do I get him to really listen
thanks
Michelle

[noahh5]

Pulmonary stenosis and shunting can both definitely cause cyanosis. Warm water can cause a persons vessels to vasodilate, which means that the blood vessels open up or get larger causing blood to pool in the extremities, thus allowing less blood to the lungs and heart to get oxygenated. This could explain why he looks blue in warmer water. This doesn't mean of course, that you shouldn't bathe your son. I would be concerned about a heart rate of 50 in a four year old if it is sustained... last longer than a few seconds. The point is that none of this will change until the shunt is fixed, which requires surgery.

[Cleveland Clinic]

As far as the cardiologist is concerned,  I don't really understand why he is ignoring you.  This seems very unusual.  I would urge you to find someone else who will be interested in taking care of your son.  Maybe the doctor taking care of him now has no experiece with these types of problems.  Where are you from?  As long as your son has insurance he could come to the Cleveland Clinic where the pediatric cardiologist would love to take care of him.  In terms of correcting his defect.  He will likely require surgery for the defects that you describe.