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Children's health

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Original poster

Pectus excavatum - funnel chest. Does anyone have a child with it or themselves or dp?

23 replies

foxinsocks · 16/04/2011 19:49

I have discovered ds has this. As he grows it gets progressively worse.

I know there is a possible op when he's older. He's quite a sensitive lad so I'm not sure how he'll react as he gets older.

Both dh and I are quite unphased by conditions like this - both of us have skin conditions that can sometimes make us look different that have never bothered us and I'm really hoping we can manage to get ds to feel the same about himself even if he looks slightly different.

Just wondering how you are dealing with it as your dc get older or how it is for you if you have it!

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Original poster

foxinsocks · 16/04/2011 20:08

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babster · 16/04/2011 21:15

Ds has it - my brother has it too as did my grandfather (apparently). Ds is too young to be bothered by it yet, but I know my brother has found it embarrassing and doesn't go round with his shirt off in summer. I just had a look at the Wiki page about it and had to wince at the description of the ops... hope they've developed something less invasive by the time/if ds wants to correct it.

Original poster

foxinsocks · 16/04/2011 21:18

Yes tbh, I would not be keen on it but I guess we will see how ds feels when he is older and how bad it is.

How old is your ds now? Ds is 9 and you can just see it starting to get worse as he gets older and starts developing. Apparently this is the age when it starts to show.

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largeginandtonic · 16/04/2011 21:21

My ds is almost 4. He has it. Was diagnosed when he was just a baby.

I had no idea what it was and was quite upset, dh was away at the time. I was on msn and one of dh mates popped up for a chat. I told him and it turned out he had it too!

He is 30 now. Said it was never really an issue. He remembers being embarrased when he was a teenager but is not anymore at all. He showed me the next time we saw him and i could barely notice tbh.

He was offered the op but said nope. He is happily married now.

I am hoping my ds is as chilled about it all as he seems to be. He is one of dh best mates so hopefully he will still be around when ds is older and perhaps more bothered by it.

HTH

Original poster

foxinsocks · 16/04/2011 21:26

Yes I think it's the teenage years that will be a challenge.

Thanks lgat. Yes I was upset for ds because he is quite sensitive and I can see this bothering him. Dd (older by 15 months) told him that if anyone teases him she will punch their lights out lol. Not quite what I would have wanted but I think he feels he has someone on his side at least!

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babster · 16/04/2011 21:27

Ds is 6 - it was obvious when he was a baby so crikey, now I'm worrying about how much worse it's going to get! He's a skinny thing so the dip doesn't show through clothes. School has commented that he lacks strength and core stability so I'm wondering if his chest has anything to do with that... he's in the process of being referred to the Child Development team (?) so I hope they can recommend some exercises to improve upper body strength.

Original poster

foxinsocks · 16/04/2011 21:31

I thought ds had it before this but never did anything about it as it didn't appear to be getting worse.

But he's now developed a very obvious hole and dent iyswim.

Ds is also very skinny, struggles to put weight on and is also not particularly strong.

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GoldenGreen · 16/04/2011 21:31

Dd has it. She is only 11 months so I can't really help but I have the same worries as you about the teenage years. I can only hope it's not that noticeable, or if it is, that she doesn't mind too much.

largeginandtonic · 16/04/2011 21:32

Haha! Excellent response form dd there! Ds is #6 so he has 5 older siblings that will jump to his defense and a very tiny but fierce younger sister.

It is barely noticable on ds atm. Dh's mate said his was the same till he was about 13. I was a bit wibble about it at first but barely think about it anymore.

Honstly you drag bring them up and still at 9 they stop you dead in your tracks eh?

Original poster

foxinsocks · 16/04/2011 21:33

Don't worry babster - I'm sure it affects them all differently.

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largeginandtonic · 16/04/2011 21:35

Hmmmm ds is also skinny thing. Pretty strong though. Climbs trees at an alarming speed anyhoo.

Dh's mate is skinny chap and funnily enough the entirety of his family and huge. He looks like the odd one out. Wander if there is something in that?

Original poster

foxinsocks · 16/04/2011 21:36

Lol lgat, my goodness forgot you had 6!

Yes I know what you mean re dcs surprising us! In a way I was relieved as I thought it might be something v sinister whereas this doesn't actually do any harm which is a relief!

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largeginandtonic · 16/04/2011 21:36

Oh and Babster ds was diagnosed when he was about 4 months i think. It was noticable then. It hasn't changed at all really and he is almost 4 now

largeginandtonic · 16/04/2011 21:38

7 now Fox...

DD was diagnosed with Turner's syndrome when she was 7 and half so nowt has compared to that so far. They do surprise us!

Original poster

foxinsocks · 16/04/2011 21:38

All the pictures of funnel chest, the people all look v slight!

Ds plays a lot of sport but most boys the same age as him are broader if that makes sense. Ds always reminds me of Flat Stanley (in the nicest possible way!).

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largeginandtonic · 16/04/2011 21:42

Beau has v broad shoulders and long arms. Looks a bit gorilla like. Arf. Cute gorilla obv. Tbh he is exactly the same shape dh was when that age just a more slight build.

Original poster

foxinsocks · 16/04/2011 21:42

7! That must have happened when I wasn't looking ;-)

Turners syndrome must have been a big surprise. Do they diagnose with a genetic test for that?

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largeginandtonic · 16/04/2011 21:45

They do Fox. She had been referred to a paed for being mini. I am mini so hadn't given that a second thought!

The things they do to keep you on your toes. Honestly.

largeginandtonic · 16/04/2011 21:46

Oh and i was barely paying attention when i had #7. She surprised us all!!

Original poster

foxinsocks · 16/04/2011 21:49

Lol

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Original poster

foxinsocks · 16/04/2011 22:00

Babster, if it's any consolation, ds is still not bothered by it at all despite doing swimming and sport at school. I am hoping in primary school, the other children won't really notice or if they do, it will be brushed off.

I have spoken to ds about it and explained what it is and said really it's just like having a different shaped nose ie his bones just growing in a different shape. Hopefully that will do for now.

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babster · 17/04/2011 00:39

Thanks foxinsocks. Tbh, dh and I were both a bit weedy and unsporty as kids so it would have been more of a shock to have produced a muscle-bound hunk :)

JoandMax · 17/04/2011 21:08

Glad I've seen this, DS2 was found to have this at 11 months (he's now 13 months) and it threw me a little bit. He is very skinny so it's not been that obvious, was only noticed by a cardiologist who was looking for other heart defects, which thankfully there were none so perhaps I should be pleased after all!!

He also has Prune Belly Syndrome so a big ball of a tummy, am thinking going shirtless in summers may not happen for him..............

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