Punctuating the vacation posts to let you know that Allison's echocardiogram was mostly normal.
You may be thinking: Wait - Allison had a echocardiogram? I had no idea!
And you'd be right, because I didn't really mention it to anyone, because we didn't really know anything was wrong and it sounds super scary to have a heart test and the doctor didn't really think it was a big deal - but still he ordered a test. So, clearly, there could be something wrong.
So, the story goes like this: Allison has to go into the doctor's office every 6 months for a med-check because she's on ADHD medications. We have not changed her ADHD medications in .... 3 years maybe? But we go in anyway because they are controlled substances. All was well, though it's increasingly awkward to talk about your child's problems in a room containing your child. This was easier when she was 5 and relatively clueless. Or 8 when I could talk about her and use language that made it seem like I wasn't talking about her. Anyway.... none of those problems will be solved with ADHD medications - so perhaps it's neither here nor there.
So the doctor checked her heart - and heard "something" with the valves not being quite in sync. He had not heard it before and thought it would be good to have it tested. He was not like "oooo - we must have this test tomorrow," which was good because "tomorrow" we were leaving for Europe. I assumed he wanted to test it because ADHD medications have cardiovascular effects; but I did ask if this would have been "caused" by the medications and he said No.
So, off we went on vacation with instructions to schedule it when we returned. Then I threw it into the category of heart murmur, though I don't really know what that it and the doctor didn't say that. He knew more than I did because I was wrong. But lots of people have heart murmurs, so there's context there.
So, I feel like I should start this paragraph off with the word "so."
The test was last Thursday, and it took about an hour+ with this very nice guy and a student observer. Allison did well through about the first 30-40 minutes and then the rest of the time she spent asking how much longer it was going to be. I asked the technician if he found whatever it was they were looking for and he said yes, that it was not a heart murmur (which is apparently not a general term for weird heartbeats), but that we should not worry too much, but wait for the report - the cardiologist may or may not think it's a thing.
So, (back to it) when the doctor actually called me the next day, I was initially a little freaked out. He called! But what it is is a valve (the mitral valve - I think I have that right) that separates the two left side chambers of her heart is "flat." Honestly, I don't know what it normally is, but I guess not "flat." This is not a problem as long as it doesn't prolapse, which means it becomes a door that swings both ways rather than a door that swings only one way. This was what he was hearing during the med check.
The cardiologist recommends another echocardiogram in 2-3 years to see if there are any changes as she grows. I find comfort in the long time frame for a recheck - it's not like, come back soon. Also, between checkups, med checks, visits to the endochrinologist - she has medical professionals listening to her heart about every 3 months.
So that's that. More vacation pics to follow!
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