I was just wondering if you can tell me some signs of any heart conditions? My daughter is 14, and there is cardiomyopathy in the family. Within the last 6 or 7 years, she has been getting this white splotchiness to her arms, legs and now her abdomen. She has been gaining alot of weight in the last few years (about 50 pounds in the last year and a half), gets short of breath easily, and now, this last saturday night, she was running with some friends, and her chest started to hurt pretty bad. When she sat down and rested, it went away after around 10 minutes. I have had her to a cardiologist a couple of years ago, and they did an EKG (I think) and he said it was fine. That they could also do an ultrasound to make sure, and at the time I told him that was fine. Anyone else have these symptoms? I have asked a couple of nurses about the splotchiness to her skin (which is worse when it is colder out, and less noticable when it is warmer) and 2 have told me water retention, and 2 have told me poor circulation. Any suggestions?? Thanks, and God bless, Shelley

Hi SgtDimples: Have you looked up Reynauld's (sp?) Disease? It's a circulatory condition that afflicts younger women and it results in white (parchy) skin color when person is exposed to cold or emotional stress. Usually affects the fingers, toes, ears - basically all distal parts of the body. You didn't specify where on your daughter's body these areas were affected, but it sounds like Reynauld's. The chest discomfort may be the result of deconditioning (due to extra weight), or if your daughter was especially active prior to weight gain, and she has a predisposition towards HOCM, there is the possibility her heart has become enlarged. Best to have her see a cardiologist to assess this possiblity as soon as possible.
Good Luck
Nancy

The white splotchiness is on her arms, legs, and now moving to her abdomen! I have had her to a heart specialist around 3 years ago, he did an ekg and said her heart was fine, but he didn't do an ultrasound. She has never been really active, but has always been short of breath, and I think that is the main reason. Thanks, Shelley

My 15 year old daughter was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in December. While I am still learning about this, she has never had these white patches that you are talking about. She is on the heavier side too, but she has always been active in sports, she is a 3 sport athlete with softball being played year round. She has just recently had episodes of shortness of breath, but these come when she is not active. When she was in the hospital they actually had her walk the halls for several minutes at a brisk pace to try to make her out of breath and her heart actually functioned better. I would definately take her to a peds cardiologist. Has anyone tested her thyroid. Maybe you want to do a search on hypothyroid and see if this is a symptom. May account for the weight gain too?

I also have a 5 year old who does get the symptoms you mentioned with the white patches. She has had them all her life. Sometimes she will also swell up and get a rash along with them. Depends on how cold she gets. It is a form of Reynaud's. I was told that in children they can be born with it, and it can go away at age 4, if they have it after 4, they may lose it at puberty. If they have it after puberty, they will have it probably their whole life. So I am wondering, if I was told my daughter could lose this at puberty, could your daughter have acquired it at puberty?

Good Luck.

Hello! I have looked up Raynaud's, and I don't really think it is that. She started getting these spots when she was about 8 years old, and really started gaining weight then too. She has always been on the larger side, she was born at 10 lbs. and 15 oz. and was 21" long. I have had her thyroid checked around 4 years ago, but am thinking I need to have it rechecked. She doesn't swell up, or have a rash with this. I have talked to 4 people in the medical field, and 2 say it is water retention, and 2 say poor circulation. Not sure what to think. Thanks for your help. Shelley