A lot has happened since last October. A LOT!
Breydon's apnea monitor downloads had been showing episodes of high heart rates which are called 'Tachycardias'. These aren't just slightly high heart rates... his monitor is set to go off at 230bpm. That is high in itself, normal is 80bpm-210bpm. The alarms have gone off six times, with the highest recorded heart rate being 272. Which is a problem. When his heart beats that quickly for a long time, it weakens and can cause conjestive heart failure. So we were sent to Lutheran Children's Hospital in Ft. Wayne on Monday, for an Echogardiograph. Then we went to a pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Ghazali, yesterday.
The Echo showed a small hole in his heart, which is 2-3mm in size. It was explained to me, that when babies are in utero, there is a 'flap' in the heart that stays open because the mothers body is pumping the blood. When the baby is born, that flap is supposed to close, and their own body takes over pumping the blood. Breydon's flap is MOSTLY closed, but hasn't completely closed yet. This is NOT what is causing the fast heart rates. Just an added bonus. :) In a year, we will do another Echo and check to see how the hole is, but the thought is that it will close on its own.
As for the heart rate issue, Breydon has SVT (Super Ventricular Tachycardia). Everyone's heart has a 'pace maker' that regulates how much the heart beats. Breydon has TWO 'pace makers'. The majority of the time, the correct one is in control and he is fine. But OCCASIONALLY, his second one kicks in and takes over, causing his heart to beat really really really fast. This isn't something that he will outgrow, as the second 'pace maker' will always be there. But it IS something that his body will eventually learn to control on its own. In the meantime, Breydon takes medicine 2 times a day to make sure that it doesn't happen. So far, he is on 1/3 of the lowest dose of the medicine. So he's not even taking the full lowest dose.
Right now, it seems controlled, which is good. Hopefully he won't need to have that increased, but if he does, there is still LOTS of wiggle room to work with. Breydon has weekly check-ins with Dr. Ghazali, monthly appointments with Dr. Ghazali, and monthly EKG's. He is still on his apnea monitor which will detect if there are any SVT episodes. In a few months, the doctor will discontinue the use of the monitor and have us just looking for visual cues that it is happening. Things seems pretty much under control, we just have to make sure we watch it, and are diligent with checking up on it. Hopefully in a year there will be no more problems!!
On a lighter note, Breydon saw his pediatrician today and she said that she cannot tell at all that he was a preemie. He is 15 pounds now, and 23.5 inches long. Such a big boy, for being such an early boy! :) We are proud. :)
Thanks for the prayers!
