Echo cardiogram and the results

I always said that this blog would be a way to keep Daddy Ernie in touch with what's going on with Alex, so bear with me while I update him on Al.

We took him for an echo cardiogram the other day. We weren't concerned or anything, but he hadn't had an echo done for quite a while and with him having sleep apnea, it was time. I guess it's a good thing we did. His right ventricle has thickened and the pressure through it is 30-ish and it's supposed to be about 14. Not good news, obviously. The doctor that ordered the echo is a sleep expert, not a cardiologist so she is getting us hooked up with a Dr. Day. I guess he is the expert here on hypertension in people with Down Syndrome. I don't know much more than that. She did say that we need to make sure his oxygen sats are at 95%+; at 92% it will stabilize and not cause anymore damage, at 95% it should help improve the damage - not cure it, just improve - and below 92% will continue to cause damage. Good thing we have a pulse oximeter!! We will monitor his oxygen levels often and we will probably put a baby monitor in his room so we can hear when he takes his CPAP mask off so we get it right back on. He's getting better about keeping it on, but obviously I wasn't vigilant enough with keeping tabs on it.

Hopefully we will hear back from the sleep specialist and she will have gotten us an appointment soon with the cardiologist. Then I will have more info to give. Right now all I can ask is you continue keeping him in your prayers. And we will keep you in touch with any info we get!!