My four year old son is exhibiting the below symptoms:
stomach discomfort
need for rest / fatigued often
syncope episodes (he's had two - most recent a few weeks ago)
heart palpitations
short of breath when doing normal 4-year old activity.
Am I crazy, or does this seem like he needs to be evaluated by a cardiologist? He is currently seeing a neurologist for the syncope episodes. Also, he has had Celiac testing done by his pediatrician. I can't seem to get anyone on board to take a look at all of these symptoms combined.
Thank you.
Thank you all for your responses. We saw a pediatric cardiologist pretty much right after I posted this question. All is fine. We recently did a 24 hour, video monitoring with his pediatric neurologist. All if fine on that front too. We had Celiac testing done, it came back negative. We are stumped. No clue at this point.
Add an endocrinologist to the list, I had most of these symptoms when diagnosed with a thyroid condition as a teenager.
Absolutely, he needs to be seen by a cardiologist. Whether he has a cardiac condition, we can't say, but he needs to be seen. And even if there was no indication of a possible cardiac issue, you would have the right to request a referral. That's just your right as a mom.
If you haven't done so already, I recommend giving everyone the list you've typed up right here, with as much detail as possible (dates of syncopal episodes, duration of each episode, etc.). Don't just describe it verbally; give it to them in writing.
Best wishes to you!
Mira
So neither the neurologist nor the pediatrician has been willing to look at this whole list of symptoms together? Have you told each of them about everything you list here? Have you mentioned a cardiologist when talking to the pediatrician? Many primary care doctors including pediatricians tend to want to avoid referring patients to specialists and your doctor might resist any further referrals if he or she already referred you to a neurologist. Don't let the doctor get away with that, if you feel that's the case.
I'm not sure which of those two doctors to tell you to do this with, but I would write out the list with as many specifics as possible (dates/times of fainting, exact descriptions of stomach issues (be graphic), how you know he's having "heart palpitations" (unless you're a doctor yourself, they may not be taking you seriously when you tell them that -- did you take his pulse?) and so forth. Then go to the doctor and tell him or her you want a referral to someone who will look at the whole picture -- not just one thing. The neurologist is looking at fainting; the pediatrician focused on digestion; you need someone to look at all of this at once. Do not ask for a referral; insist on it politely but very firmly. If there is a children's hospital in your area, consider whether that is the place to evaluate your son.
You know that already, of course, as you note, but it sounds like it's time to get - frankly -- much tougher with the doctors. They are there to work for YOU, and you need to let them know that you expect them to refer you to someone by date X.
Heart defects are the most common birth defects.
Insist on seeing a cardiologist!!!
My cousin went undiagnosed until he was 14!
My son has the same CHD as my cousin and we knew about it before birth. His pediatrician said he really doesn't think he would've caught it by examining him, even with his murmur. My son was in heart failure by 6 months even though he had an initial repair done at birth.
I'm not saying this to scare you, but just so you know that YES, you have the right to make your Dr refer you to the cardio!
Sometimes, if kids have a normal pulse ox, they assume their heart is healthy, but that's not always the case. My son was always 99/100.
My son is doing great now btw, but please! please! Push this issue with his doctor!!!
Have his thyroid levels been tested?
I agree with Leigh and the others who say you need to get tough. Unfortunately it's what you need to do with doctors sometimes. Go and insist he get evaluated by a cardiologist immediately. That needs to be ruled out. Do not leave until an appointment is set up.
Keep demanding further referrals until someone diagnoses your son.
I agree these symptoms can be thyroid-related, but I'm not sure that would be the case in someone so young.
I had a list like that and it was Vitamin D deficiency. Did you give this list to the neurologist? Personally I'd start over with the pediatrician saying that you don't think anyone is really listening to all the symptoms to figure out what the issue really is. If you keep dragging him from 1 specialist to another they are just going to test the things they want to test and may not really help.
take the child to a heart doctor,if the childs doctor balks or refuses to write out a recommendation for the child to see a heart doctor, say the word, "LAWSUIT" and "MEDICAL MALPRACTICE", and bring a newscrew with you when you go to ask the doctor for the recommendation, they will quickly decide to see things your way, rather then end up on the six o clock news . you also need to talk to your extended family to see if there is any history of heart problems. K. h.
