Cardiology Appt.

There were a few concerns going into today's appointment with the cardiologist. First of all, at his last Cardiology appointment back in August it was discovered on an EKG and subsequent Holter Monitor study that Lincoln was having more frequent than usual PVCs. The main worry was that these PVCs would cause dangerous heart arrythmias. At that point in time the Holter Monitor study showed no arrythmias...but there was some concern that a rhabdomyoma was developing in his heart and wreaking havoc.

The other main concern was that the new seizure medication that Lincoln was started on a month ago can have some serious heart side effects. The one the neuro mentioned was the lengthening of the Q-T interval. The cadiologiist explained that this was of concern because it could cause dangerous heart rythmns and arrythmias (which I am beginning to understand are the big bad when it comes to cardiology).

Well, we started out the appointment with a weight check. In which the nurse informed me that he had lost weight since his appt in August. I was like...yeah, thanks. Apparently in August he weighed 13.4 kilos (roughly 29lbs 8oz) and today, 6 months later, he weighed 13.0 kilos (about 28lbs 11oz). Sigh.

We then moved on to a heart ultrasound. The tech took about 15 pictures, focusing in on one area near the bottom of he heart. It always makes me a bit nervous when they zoom in! Lincoln was fascinated watching his heart beat away on the monitor. He didn't squirm or make a peep once! After awhile he drifted off to sleep, so it was a very pleasant experience this time (last time he cried throgh the whole thing). Because he was asleep, we were also able to get the full lead EKG done as well. This is what can detect the PVCs and measures the Q-T interval.

The doctor reviewed the results right away, and told us that there were some "echo-bright" areas at the bottom of the heart. But he also said that nothing appeared to resemble a rhabdomyoma, and that that area often appears "echo-bright" even on normal hearts. He then said that the EKG looked great. There were no PVCs and that the Q-T interval was totally normal. He wanted us to go ahead and do another Holter Monitor study next week just to make sure that everything looks okay over a longer period of time. But everything looked good today, and we have another follow-up in 6-months. :)