O
Ohiosweetheart16
hi I have a 15 yr old daughter that just found out she has bavd but my family doctor doesnt seem concern about it 
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M
Mary
It's possible that they discovered your daughter's BAV, but are taking a "wait and see" attitude. My son has a BAV, but he is on two year intervals of undergoing echocardiograms. However, he is still asymptomatic. Has your daughter had symptoms for very long? Is she seeing a family practice physician or a cardiologist? You've come to the right place to get some questions answered and your concerns taken seriously.
Welcome!
Mary
Welcome!
Mary
MrP
Well-known member
BAV (BAVD) is very common (2% males and 1% females in general population), and many of those (if not most) with bicuspid valves lead normal lives with no need for valve replacement. And most do not develop aortic aneurysm. Hope this helps.
O
Ohiosweetheart16
Symptoms
Symptoms
She's had the symptoms for about 2 months. We went and did an echo, and it showed that she is missing one of the valves. It was a family doctor.
Symptoms
Mary said:
She's had the symptoms for about 2 months. We went and did an echo, and it showed that she is missing one of the valves. It was a family doctor.
M
Mary
Ohiosweetheart16 said:
If she went to the doctor because she's having symptoms (as you mentioned in your first post) then you might ask the family doctor to refer you to a cardiologist. Have you asked him about taking that step yet, or does he think you can wait awhile?
O
Ohiosweetheart16
Mary said:
Well, the doctor didn't seem to concerned about any of this, but yet they said she has BAVD. They're blameing her problems on stress.
Perry
Well-known member
Welcome to the site Ohio.
Sorry this isn't "JustGotBackFormMyCruise.com" but if you need to talk about things this is the place.
My only strong feeling on what you have offered is to suggest you visit a cardiologist (or two) to get the picture straight. I had a bad murmur that no regular doctor ever heard. After my diagnosis (ny a cardiologist) I told my brothers and others to get checked out by a card. Another doctor listened after I told him of my diagnosis and he said he would not have noticed the murmur.
A guy I work with who is in his late 40s was just diagnosed as having a BAV. No emergency - he now sees a cardiologist but still jogs daily. I hope you daughter does similar or better - but you need to know from someone who specializes in this area (a card.)
Perry
Sorry this isn't "JustGotBackFormMyCruise.com" but if you need to talk about things this is the place.
My only strong feeling on what you have offered is to suggest you visit a cardiologist (or two) to get the picture straight. I had a bad murmur that no regular doctor ever heard. After my diagnosis (ny a cardiologist) I told my brothers and others to get checked out by a card. Another doctor listened after I told him of my diagnosis and he said he would not have noticed the murmur.
A guy I work with who is in his late 40s was just diagnosed as having a BAV. No emergency - he now sees a cardiologist but still jogs daily. I hope you daughter does similar or better - but you need to know from someone who specializes in this area (a card.)
Perry
Mike C
Well-known member
Make the doc refer you to a cardio, just ot be safe, She is probably fine but if she has a bicuspid valve, she needs to be watched periodically throughout her life to make sure the valve continue to function well and that she doenst develop an anerysm.
hi,
my husband was diagnosed at age 12 when his doc picked up on a murmur. he had a cath back then and it was "wait and see" after that. he refused to go to a cardio for the longest time (in fact, it wasn't until he met me that he started being checked regularly...he was 30 then).
we were fortunate in that he did not need his surgery until he was 49. he was active until then (running, biking, hiking, tennis) and still does all that now after his surgery..
we have a friend who was in a similar situation and up until now is still waiting and seeing and it doesn't seem like he'll be needing surgery any time soon.... so, each case is different.
i hope things work out ok.. i agree, get a few other opinions, just to be sure.
what symptoms is she exhibiting that the doc thinks are stress related?
please keep us posted.
be well, sylvia
my husband was diagnosed at age 12 when his doc picked up on a murmur. he had a cath back then and it was "wait and see" after that. he refused to go to a cardio for the longest time (in fact, it wasn't until he met me that he started being checked regularly...he was 30 then).
we were fortunate in that he did not need his surgery until he was 49. he was active until then (running, biking, hiking, tennis) and still does all that now after his surgery..
we have a friend who was in a similar situation and up until now is still waiting and seeing and it doesn't seem like he'll be needing surgery any time soon.... so, each case is different.
i hope things work out ok.. i agree, get a few other opinions, just to be sure.
what symptoms is she exhibiting that the doc thinks are stress related?
please keep us posted.
be well, sylvia
K
Karlynn
Ohiosweetheart16 said:
This type of blame sends up red flags for me. Some doctors just seem to have a hard time wrapping their mind around anyone young having heart related symptoms and they'll blame anything else for it before they take a good look at the heart. I had a doctor prescribe Valium for me because he thought that, at 27, there just wasn't any way my mitral valve disease could be causing the symptoms I described. He was very wrong and I had my valve replaced 5 years later. Today, it probably would have been 2 years later. 15 - 20 years ago they liked to wait until they were sure damage was being done to the heart before they operate. Now they like to get in there before permanent damage is done.
If she were my 15 year-old daughter, I'd find a good pediatric cardiologist (meaning they know that it's not only old people that have heart-related symptoms) and have them take a good look at her.
Taking your daughter to a good cardiologist doesn't mean she's about to have surgery, but she definitely has a condition that should be monitored by a cardiologist and on an annual basis if they feel it's not progressing. More often if it is.
Best wishes.
My own opinion is that a lot of Family Practice doctors like to control their
pts. and keep them away from specialist as long as they can. There are
financial rewards for doing so. Get an opinion from a cardiologist, not affilated with the GP. It may cost some money, but what is peace of mind
worth?
pts. and keep them away from specialist as long as they can. There are
financial rewards for doing so. Get an opinion from a cardiologist, not affilated with the GP. It may cost some money, but what is peace of mind
worth?
G
Georgia
Like Karlynn said . . .
Perhaps stress is exacerbating her condition - but valve problems can make stress worse on the heart - and I don't think there's any reason NOT to take her to a cardiologist. When I first discovered my mitral valve prolapse, my heart over-reacted terribly to adrenaline, and of course, the overreaction caused more adrenaline to be released. I had tachycardia and arrythmia and was faint and dizzy and all of that. Medication (beta blockers & digitoxin) took care of that. You'd hate to have this kid think she's having stress/emotional/mental problems when she's actually having a cardiac problem. I don't think a gp or pediatrician should be dismissing a bav with symptoms in a girl this age.
Welcome to the site, and stay in touch.
Perhaps stress is exacerbating her condition - but valve problems can make stress worse on the heart - and I don't think there's any reason NOT to take her to a cardiologist. When I first discovered my mitral valve prolapse, my heart over-reacted terribly to adrenaline, and of course, the overreaction caused more adrenaline to be released. I had tachycardia and arrythmia and was faint and dizzy and all of that. Medication (beta blockers & digitoxin) took care of that. You'd hate to have this kid think she's having stress/emotional/mental problems when she's actually having a cardiac problem. I don't think a gp or pediatrician should be dismissing a bav with symptoms in a girl this age.
Welcome to the site, and stay in touch.
Marguerite53
Premium Level User
Welcome Ohiosweetie! This is a wonderful place where you will get tons of support and good information. The BEST information, though, will always come from doctors.
I agree with all above me, here, that you should take your daughter to a cardiologist. Please do not ever hesitate to insist on care for your child, or yourself. If your insurance dictates that you need a referral, then ask this doctor for one. he will then forward your daughter's records to the cardio after you sign a release form. If not, ask friends or look into the best hospital locally to find a cardiologist. Have your current doctor mail you a copy of the echo report. It is yours for the asking. He cannot refuse you. Keep a copy of this report for your daughter's records....they can be useful. Then take a copy with you when you go to see the cardiologist.
Please remember that it is very important for your daughter to be treated with antibiotics every time she goes to the dentist, or has any kind of invasive procedure. This will help ward off a nasty bacterial infection that people with BAV are more susceptible to. It's called bacterial endocarditis. If your doctor did not mention this to you he missed something VERY important.
Let us know!
Marguerite
I agree with all above me, here, that you should take your daughter to a cardiologist. Please do not ever hesitate to insist on care for your child, or yourself. If your insurance dictates that you need a referral, then ask this doctor for one. he will then forward your daughter's records to the cardio after you sign a release form. If not, ask friends or look into the best hospital locally to find a cardiologist. Have your current doctor mail you a copy of the echo report. It is yours for the asking. He cannot refuse you. Keep a copy of this report for your daughter's records....they can be useful. Then take a copy with you when you go to see the cardiologist.
Please remember that it is very important for your daughter to be treated with antibiotics every time she goes to the dentist, or has any kind of invasive procedure. This will help ward off a nasty bacterial infection that people with BAV are more susceptible to. It's called bacterial endocarditis. If your doctor did not mention this to you he missed something VERY important.
Let us know!
Marguerite
aussigal
Well-known member
Welcome Ohiosweetheart16 !
I agree...
you have been given great advice by those above .
That is what I did when I was diagnosed and found out that my BAV was heritable...
I just kept whinging until my Doctor said OK lets go get an echo for the kids and when 1 came back positive I went and had the others scanned as well...as you can see by my sig. we have all 3 sons affected to varying degrees...
Symptoms are probably a bit tricky in kids as in its hard to know if theyre just whinging to get out of something or if its genuine...though at 16 I would guess its easier for your Daughter to put into words what she feel and she would be capable of understanding more about her condition....
I would definately keep asking for a referral to a Paediatric Cardio ...
or you might also try one of the large teaching hospitals in your area...somewhere on this website we have mentioned some of the ones who are interested in cases like your daughter...
Maybe do a "search" of this site for "teaching hospitals" and see if that brings up the name of a local one . Any member who is from the US would also be of more help here cos I am an Aussie ...
I think we should pop up some symptoms for you to look out for as well or to ask your daughter about....
They can include
* shortness of breath (SOB)
* weird feelings in the chest- palpitations , rapid heart beats etc...
* tiredness/fatigue even after short bursts of activity -even intolerance of exercise
anyone else want to add some of the more common ones...I am vague this-morning or again use the search feature in our forum...
Mostly dont forget to reassure her that this isnt serious just yet and you are checking/worried cos all parents do this , and you want to avert possible serious complications that may occur if it isnt diagnosed properly , also that she will need to have her heart echoed every year to keep an eye on it...
I think you have less chance of her going off and forgetting about this cos shes a girl...I personally think boys are more likely to go off and do things like Weightlifting , Football and Karate etc...thats what I worry about ...
anyways...welcome to a wonderful forum with lots of mums and valve-patients who have already worn a path down this road you now travel
*
I agree...
you have been given great advice by those above .
That is what I did when I was diagnosed and found out that my BAV was heritable...
I just kept whinging until my Doctor said OK lets go get an echo for the kids
and when 1 came back positive I went and had the others scanned as well...as you can see by my sig. we have all 3 sons affected to varying degrees...Symptoms are probably a bit tricky in kids as in its hard to know if theyre just whinging to get out of something or if its genuine...though at 16 I would guess its easier for your Daughter to put into words what she feel and she would be capable of understanding more about her condition....
I would definately keep asking for a referral to a Paediatric Cardio ...
or you might also try one of the large teaching hospitals in your area...somewhere on this website we have mentioned some of the ones who are interested in cases like your daughter...
Maybe do a "search" of this site for "teaching hospitals" and see if that brings up the name of a local one . Any member who is from the US would also be of more help here cos I am an Aussie
...I think we should pop up some symptoms for you to look out for as well or to ask your daughter about....
They can include
* shortness of breath (SOB)
* weird feelings in the chest- palpitations , rapid heart beats etc...
* tiredness/fatigue even after short bursts of activity -even intolerance of exercise
anyone else want to add some of the more common ones...I am vague this-morning
or again use the search feature in our forum...Mostly dont forget to reassure her that this isnt serious just yet and you are checking/worried cos all parents do this
, and you want to avert possible serious complications that may occur if it isnt diagnosed properly , also that she will need to have her heart echoed every year to keep an eye on it...I think you have less chance of her going off and forgetting about this cos shes a girl...I personally think boys are more likely to go off and do things like Weightlifting , Football and Karate etc...thats what I worry about ...
anyways...welcome to a wonderful forum with lots of mums and valve-patients who have already worn a path down this road you now travel
*
Ohiosweetheart16 said:
Do you have a copy of the echo report? What did the cardiologist who reviewed the echo tape say? Is that why your PCP is not concerned about it at this point?
If you don't have a copy of the echo, get one ASAP. Keep a file on your daughter's health records and any symptoms. Keep a diary and record specifically any and all health complaints.
