Wednesday I had to take my youngest son to Arkansas Childrens Hospital in Little Rock for his annual heart check up.
He was born with a condition called Aortic Stenosis. He has a Bicuspid Aortic Value. Which is shown in the diagram below of the Two Valve Leaflets.
- Aortic stenosis is narrowing of the aortic valve, impeding delivery of blood from the heart to the body.
- Aortic stenosis can be caused by congenital bicuspid aortic valve, scarred aortic valve of rheumatic fever, and wearing of aortic valve in the elderly.
- Aortic stenosis can cause chest pain, fainting, and heart failure leading to shortness of breath.
- Echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization are important tests in diagnosing and evaluating severity of aortic stenosis.
- Patients with aortic stenosis are usually given antibiotics prior to any procedures which might introduce bacteria into the bloodstream, such as dental procedures and surgeries.
- Patients with aortic stenosis who have symptoms may require surgical heart valve replacement.
This was diagnosed when he was 6 weeks old when he was put in the hospital for the RSV virus. He is fine and doesnt have to take any medication or restricted activity other than they dont want him to do heavy weightlifting.
It was a great trip and I enjoyed the time I got to spend with him one on one. We dont get much of that together. It gives us a chance to talk and just to "be" with each other.
On the way back from his check up I was driving down the road and saw these clouds that looked like rolling ripples in the sky. I immediately thought of Mike In Tucson as he loves cloud formations and has blogged about them several times. It was trying to storm but it went around us thankfully!
We had to leave rather early in the morning to make the 2 1/2 hour trip to Arkansas Childrens Hospital. Then of course you have the dreaded wait in the waiting area. He had to have an EKG as well as an Echo on his heart and then we have to see the Doctor. The whole process takes about 2 1/2 hours.
On the way back home he of course got sleepy.
He would shoot me if he knew I posted this on my blog!
We had decided to stop at a Sonic on the way home to grab a drink since it was happy hour! Sonic is a Drive~In restaurant in the Midwest. Nothing better than a drink from Sonic half price! I used to Manage a Sonic years ago and when we pulled up to this one I was so impressed I had to take a picture of it. It was one of the cleanest, nicest Sonic Drive~In`s I have ever seen! This was in Atkins, Arkansas.
Atkins was hit by an F4 Tornado on Feb 5th 2008 and killed 4 people.
This was a fun little trip for my son and I and I enjoyed spending the time with him. I am so thankful to God that his heart condition has not gotten any worse.
Susan
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