Finally spoke with Caleb's nurse, right before she left for the day and found out that the cardiologist had been by. I am sure they are very busy on Monday's, but am thankful that he finally made it to Caleb before today's nurse went home. Apparently, the cardiologist feels that Caleb's flucuating oxygen levels are a part of his Down Syndrome, not his heart defect. He said that if the oxygen issue was a part of his heart condition, then he would not respond to the increase in the oxygen. In other words, if it was the heart causing the oxygen problem, then an increase in oxygen would not make a difference. The heart would still be causing low oxygen, whether he got an increase or not. So, the cardiologists said it is Caleb "hypoventilating". Not hyperventilating, but hypo-. He is taking very small, shallow breaths. This certainly occurs most when he is sound asleep. This means when we bring him home, he will probably come with an oxygen tank as well as an oxygen monitor. Certainly nerve-racking, but helps to know that it is part of his DS, not his heart condition.
Nurse also said that his oxygen need was down to 40 vs. the 75 that it was earlier in the afternoon when I was there. I guess he finally got a good enough nap, that he didn't need to hypoventilate anymore. :)
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