Chest pain in a child - posting here,too

[annemayer]

My 13 year old has been having bouts of severe chest pain for the past few months. She does have asthma,as well as other issues,but the asthma is the only one that would at all relate to this. Her asthma is well controlled,and she has had multiple EKG's to check for heart trouble. I've taken her to see her doctor twice over this,and each time he does an EKG,and says it's fine. It is definitely not musculoskeletal in origin,and it's not costochondritis. She also has these episodes where she says she feels suddenly like her heart is racing,and I have confirmed this - she will be sitting around,not doing anything to exert herself,and her heart will be racing - I listen with a stethoscope - faster than I can keep count. And then it is gone. I've considered a valve problem,but there is nothing on the EKG,or any "extra" sounds on the scope. But this morning,we are outside letting the dogs run around,and i see her on the ground. Knowing she is allergic to everything I was shocked she would just plop down like that and she said she was suddenly so dizzy she had to sit. Something is not right here,and I plan to get her up to Childrens to see a cardiologist - she has an appointment this week,but have any of you ever experienced this as an adult or with your own children?

 

[bresamil]

Haven't had that experience with a child - which sounds terrifying - but a friend had this issue. My friend has ventricular fibrolitis (I may have misspelled this). This may be what your child has. So glad you are taking her to the cardiologist. I would guess they'll put the harness on her to monitor for a few days. No matter what I wish you the best and I'll keep her in my prayers that they discover whats going on and can find a remedy.

 

[annemayer]

She's had a lot of health issues in the past,and some congenital defects,so one in her heart would not be all that odd of an idea. They say one defect leads to another,and she has had multiple ones manifest themselves over the years. I am going to push hard for an event monitor rather than a holter,now that I think about it,because an event monitor is good for weeks,or a month,whereas a holter is worn a day or two. I know she has been extremely stressed lately,and things have gotten worse recently,but I don't think it is all stress related,and I can't imagine any amount of stress causing this to happen as sporadically as it does. She will sometimes be just sitting reading a book,and all of a sudden just get this panicked look on her face and hunch over,holding her arms around her chest. The aggravating thing is,if this were my 4o-something year old husband,doctors would have ordered a monitor by now,but because she is female,and a kid,they act like a heart problem is just impossible.

 

[bresamil]

She's had a lot of health issues in the past,and some congenital defects,so one in her heart would not be all that odd of an idea. They say one defect leads to another,and she has had multiple ones manifest themselves over the years. I am going to push hard for an event monitor rather than a holter,now that I think about it,because an event monitor is good for weeks,or a month,whereas a holter is worn a day or two. I know she has been extremely stressed lately,and things have gotten worse recently,but I don't think it is all stress related,and I can't imagine any amount of stress causing this to happen as sporadically as it does. She will sometimes be just sitting reading a book,and all of a sudden just get this panicked look on her face and hunch over,holding her arms around her chest. The aggravating thing is,if this were my 4o-something year old husband,doctors would have ordered a monitor by now,but because she is female,and a kid,they act like a heart problem is just impossible.

Well they need to take it seriously. Sounds exactly like my friend, because its not activity related, the muscles in the heart just don't contract normally.
When is the appointment?

 

[desertrat]

Well they need to take it seriously. Sounds exactly like my friend, because its not activity related, the muscles in the heart just don't contract normally.
When is the appointment?

Hope she gets some competent care. There's a problem and it they can't fix it it'll be, let's try this med, no? how bout this? Hmm maybe a pacemaker?

 

[annemayer]

This is why I am taking her back to Children's. They are already familiar with her other problems,and they see kids with heart problems every day,so they won't be so skeptical as to what it could be. I guess when you are a small family practice,it is rare,but at Childrens it is just same old,same old.

 

[annemayer]

Well they need to take it seriously. Sounds exactly like my friend, because its not activity related, the muscles in the heart just don't contract normally.
When is the appointment?

My daughter is going up to Childrens on Wednesday.

 

[bresamil]

My daughter is going up to Childrens on Wednesday.

Good! The sooner the better.

 

[surfer1]

If they haven't already have them check her thyroid too as Hyperthyroidism does cause rapid heartrate.

 

[sunflower]

She should have an echocardiogram to check out her heart and valves... Childrens is the BEST

 

[Geek]

My daughter is going up to Childrens on Wednesday.

You are going to the right place!

Your girl's symptoms sound very similar to my sister's condition. She too developed it in her early teens

Mitral valve prolapse: Symptoms - MayoClinic.com

She had medication she could take for the symptoms and did grow out of it. We were told to pour cold water on her or turn her upside down during an episode if her meds were not nearby to get her heart to stop racing.

Please don't try either of these thing until/when/if your daughter's new doc advises you to.

And another suggestion, write down all your questions, even the ones you never thought you would forget. Take notes of what the doc says as well, you will be surprised what you can forget if you are nervous. You might even want to bring a video camera and ask permission to video his findings.

Praying for you and your girl tonight.

 

[annemayer]

MVP was my first thought,and before even making an appointment with our primary doctor,I took a listen - I'm a nurse. I didn't hear anything unusual,there is a sound kind of like a click generally heard with that. I mentioned this to the doc,who also listened,but didn't hear it either. Not saying you'll always hear it,but MVP was the absolute first thing on my mind when she first experienced this. With your sister,was it diagnosed by listening first,then confirmed with echo?

 

[LadyCoyote]

I'm so sorry and I hope that they can get some answers for you at the hospital. I would also ask about hypothyroid -- I had a racing heartbeat
(160 bpm) that was discovered when I was around age 11. (I had hypothyroidsim).
I hope you'll update us on what they have found out. Prayers going out to you and your child.

 

[annemayer]

Update: Went up there,saw the doc,who seems to think it is indeed a valve issue. Did some bloodwork,and she's currently wearing the event monitor. Echo had be scheduled,so no news with that.