Cardiac Check, new game plan

Ever since his hospitalization last week, Dori has been irritable and sweating a lot more than normal. After having a post-hospitalization follow up with his pediatrian (Dr Wardell) yesterday she took notice of all his sweating and drew blood for lab samples. 

His white blood cell count was elevated quite a bit which means his body is still fighting infection. After conferencing with his pulmonary doctor and his cardiologist, they all agreed that the sweating is likely due to his heart working harder. 

Our options were to take him to the ER yesterday afternoon or just keep him comfortable at home and bring him in for an outpatient cardiology appointment this morning. We chose to let him rest at home and the cariology clinic very quickly and kindly accomodated all the troops to have him seen today. 

With our oxygen tanks running on low, we were able to directly connect him to the O2 they have connected to the exam rooms. Wish we could trick out our house with built-in oxygen outlets in each room! Ha ha! 

He had two different tests ran to see his heart function. Contrary to normal, he was very calm and napped through most of the testing. Here's a picture of his heart 

Dori has always had an enlarged heart with an aortic valve leak.  Since his last examinations from this past January, it really hasn't changed much in the past couple of months. But something that was new in January was a mitral valve leak, and that leaking (regurgitation) is worse this time. 

So the cardiologist gave us the options to either 1) treat it with more frequent dosing of his Lasix at home OR 2) admit him in the hospital and let them treat it with more frequent dosing of Lasix at the hospital.  We chose option #1. 

She said his lungs sound like they are still working hard to battle the viruses which haven't completely left his system but that with everything we are doing at home, the cardiology team is comfortable with our ability to bring him through this at home. 

We are very thankful for Dr Catherine Ikemba for stepping in and getting Dorian seen as soon as possible today at the heart clinic.  She worked well with Dr Lemler (our usual cardiologist) and was very thorough. It makes a huge difference when we work wirh doctors who are willing to listen, ask for our input, and talk to us like we're all on the same team, as equals. Team Dori continues to be strong and we look forward to seeing him slowly get better at home surrounded by all the crazies that love him.