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Children's health

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Original poster

DD 7 weeks arm went black for 5 minutes on saturday - please any advice would be appreciated , any paeditricians or anyone

17 replies

mummytopebs · 15/03/2010 21:26

DD 7 weeks has been having a problem with her left hand going a bluey colour when she feeds this has been since birth.

On saturday when she was having a poo her left hand and half way up her arm went black then a deep purple. I took her to a and e, thankfully i had took pictures on my phone and she was admitted to hospital. She has had heart scans and chest x rays and blood tests which all came back ok.

We are now home with a follow up appt in 2 weeks. My confusion is the consultant who did the heart scan said it was something with a really long name which i should have asked him to write down think it began with auto. He said it was a syndrome where by if extremities get cold or when feeding or get stressed the vessels and nerves constrict and shut off the blood supply, he said it could spread to other limbs as she gets older and be painful, he said he wanted to arrange further tests. He must have been convinced it was this cos he asked me to send the pictures to his phone so he could show his medical students.

Anyway a different consultant came to discharge us and she said she didnt think it was that as it was rare for a baby to get it and it would be affecting all her limbs now!!

Who do you believe? I have tried to look on google but cant remember what he said. I am stressed to bits just want a reason for dd arm going black

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bruffin · 15/03/2010 21:33

My DS's hand did the same when he was about 5 weeks, I remember because I mentioned it at his 6 week checkup. Never happened again afterwards and he 14 now and fine.

Was it Reynauds syndrome he mentioned?

LackaDAISYcal · 15/03/2010 21:36

I think you need to callthe ward and ask for advice and get them to have the consultant call you rather than worrying yourself silly for the next two weeks.

they will be more than happy to talk to you over the phone I'm sure

nigglewiggle · 15/03/2010 21:39

I have had a similar thing with DD2. She ended up admitted to hospital when she was 7 months old. Her feet and hands would go dark purple, often after feeding.

She had various tests and they decided that she had something akin to Reynauds Syndrome. It was also described as "unusual perfusion." It was explained to me as constriction of the blood vessels due to cold or stress. I don't remember anything beginning with auto... being mentioned.

The good news is that she is 2 in may, and this winter we have hardly noticed it. It used to happen every day and looked dreadful, though it didn't seem to bother her. Now it is very occasional and not as pronounced.

We were advised that she may grow out of it, so fingers crossed. I hope this helps, but I will watch this thread with interest.

thatsnotmymonster · 15/03/2010 21:40

That sounds horrible and confusing for you

Hopefully it will not be as bad as consultant is saying and maybe some more MNetters will have some more experiences to share with you.

Sorry I can't be more helpful but just wanted to reply to your post x

Original poster

mummytopebs · 15/03/2010 21:53

Nigglewiggle and Brufin did they go black? Did it go up the arm? No definitly not rayanuds cos my friend had mentioned that. Thanls for responses it has put my mind at rest a bit

OP posts:

nigglewiggle · 15/03/2010 22:03

I have found a good photo on my computer, will see if I can add it to my profile.

Original poster

mummytopebs · 15/03/2010 22:12

That would be brilliant. Mine are on my phone and havent got the lead to put on computer

OP posts:

nigglewiggle · 15/03/2010 22:19

It's not working . I would be happy to email a picture to you.

nigglewiggle · 15/03/2010 22:22

Just another thought, did they mention the autonomic nervous system? I believe that is what controls the dilation and constriction of blood vessels in the skin.

Original poster

mummytopebs · 15/03/2010 22:26

I havent got the settings on mumsnet to give email address out

did they go black at all? or extend up the arm?

OP posts:

bruffin · 15/03/2010 22:29

DS's arm did go very dark but probably purple. It was when he was feeding and yes it was up his arm. The GP thought his arm may have got squashed when he was feeding, but anyway thankfully it didn't ever happen again.

nigglewiggle · 15/03/2010 22:34

Will try again!

They didn't go black, more purple. It only extended to about a third of the way up her forearm and stopped at her ankle. She would have small areas that were bright pink in amongst. The first time I noticed it on her wrists, I thought it was bruising.

I took her to hospital when her lips went blue, but that rarely happened. I also took in my camera to show them the photos and they were all quite curious about it. It's obviously not very common.

AnyFucker · 15/03/2010 22:49

when my dd was a baby, precisely half her face used to go purple when she was feeding or crying

you could see the demarcation straight down the middle of her little face

the doc put it down to "Harlequin Syndrome", said it was due to immature blood vessel control and that she would grow out of it

she did

nigglewiggle · 15/03/2010 22:50

Right, it should be there now. The file was too big apparently?

I hope this is helpful to you. I remember the worry I felt at the time and the fact that lots of medical staff were scratching their heads and not really sure of a diagnosis didn't help. She is now a very active and healthy toddler and the symptoms have all but disappeared.

Original poster

mummytopebs · 16/03/2010 11:58

Thanks for the photo nigglewiggle it looked like that after about 20 mins, but was proper black for around 3-5 mins.

Brufin they told me it was prob getting squashed when it had been going blue.

Anyfucker they did mention harlequin syndrome in passing but googled that and it was to scary to read.

Nigglewiggle maybe that is where i got the auto from.

It is scary and musnt be common hence the consultant asking me to send himn the pictures for his lessons with the medical students. There has been no colour change today except to a bluey again when she has fed and her fingers are like ice

OP posts:

nigglewiggle · 16/03/2010 14:02

Did you get a discharge letter? When DD was discharged we got a pink form which was one of about 4 carbon copies of the discharge notes. One went to HV, one went to GP and another one stayed on her file I guess.

You could also ask to speak to the original consultant just so that you have all of the information.

I hope you get some satisfactory answers and your DD grows out of it as mine seems to be. Please update this thread because I will watch it with interest.

nigglewiggle · 16/03/2010 14:28

I have just dug out our letter. Under main diagnosis it reads - Peripheral cyanosis to Vasomotor instability.

I think the first part refers to the extremities turning blue and the second part describes how they then turn flushed and red after an episode. It is more of a description than a diagnosis, but it may help you.

I will remove the picture soon incase people start to wonder why the only picture I have on my profile is of my DD's feet!

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