Sunken Chest

ReneeP

New member
Good Morning Everyone...

My daughter, Kaitlyn, finally got out of the hospital yesterday. We are so happy to be home. She is far from back to normal but definately better than she was... Thanks for all the support on the two posts about her.

Now, this morning I have another question. I have a nephew (he lives 1500 miles away so I don't get to see him much), but in conversations I've had with his parents, I am so sure he has CF that it's scary. However, they have not had him tested. His mom said she did a blood test when she was pregnant and was shown not to be a carrier (the basic test, not the extended one). FOr that reason, she didn't think he could have CF. HOwever, since he was born 2 1/2 years ago, he has had nothing but problems. He has constant breathing problems (diagnosed as ashtma), terrible reflux problems, he is very small for his age, and the list goes on. He has a pot belly... I mean, everything I could think of he's got it. I explained to her that she needed to have him tested and she said she has tried but the drs will not do the test. She said they tell her she is paranoid and she needs to just relax.

THis morning she called me completely freaking out because when her son woke up this morning his chest was caved in. He still has the pot belly but his ribs are sticking out and one side of his chest is competely sunk in. She is scared and doesn't know what to do. She said he acts fine. He is not breathing differently or anything but he looks very different. She asked me if it could a symptom of CF. Well, my girls have never done that but I belive in the past I have heard other people mention it. I told her I would try to find out if it is common in CF since I really don't know.

ANyone have any info on this?

THanks much.
 

ReneeP

New member
Good Morning Everyone...

My daughter, Kaitlyn, finally got out of the hospital yesterday. We are so happy to be home. She is far from back to normal but definately better than she was... Thanks for all the support on the two posts about her.

Now, this morning I have another question. I have a nephew (he lives 1500 miles away so I don't get to see him much), but in conversations I've had with his parents, I am so sure he has CF that it's scary. However, they have not had him tested. His mom said she did a blood test when she was pregnant and was shown not to be a carrier (the basic test, not the extended one). FOr that reason, she didn't think he could have CF. HOwever, since he was born 2 1/2 years ago, he has had nothing but problems. He has constant breathing problems (diagnosed as ashtma), terrible reflux problems, he is very small for his age, and the list goes on. He has a pot belly... I mean, everything I could think of he's got it. I explained to her that she needed to have him tested and she said she has tried but the drs will not do the test. She said they tell her she is paranoid and she needs to just relax.

THis morning she called me completely freaking out because when her son woke up this morning his chest was caved in. He still has the pot belly but his ribs are sticking out and one side of his chest is competely sunk in. She is scared and doesn't know what to do. She said he acts fine. He is not breathing differently or anything but he looks very different. She asked me if it could a symptom of CF. Well, my girls have never done that but I belive in the past I have heard other people mention it. I told her I would try to find out if it is common in CF since I really don't know.

ANyone have any info on this?

THanks much.
 

ReneeP

New member
Good Morning Everyone...

My daughter, Kaitlyn, finally got out of the hospital yesterday. We are so happy to be home. She is far from back to normal but definately better than she was... Thanks for all the support on the two posts about her.

Now, this morning I have another question. I have a nephew (he lives 1500 miles away so I don't get to see him much), but in conversations I've had with his parents, I am so sure he has CF that it's scary. However, they have not had him tested. His mom said she did a blood test when she was pregnant and was shown not to be a carrier (the basic test, not the extended one). FOr that reason, she didn't think he could have CF. HOwever, since he was born 2 1/2 years ago, he has had nothing but problems. He has constant breathing problems (diagnosed as ashtma), terrible reflux problems, he is very small for his age, and the list goes on. He has a pot belly... I mean, everything I could think of he's got it. I explained to her that she needed to have him tested and she said she has tried but the drs will not do the test. She said they tell her she is paranoid and she needs to just relax.

THis morning she called me completely freaking out because when her son woke up this morning his chest was caved in. He still has the pot belly but his ribs are sticking out and one side of his chest is competely sunk in. She is scared and doesn't know what to do. She said he acts fine. He is not breathing differently or anything but he looks very different. She asked me if it could a symptom of CF. Well, my girls have never done that but I belive in the past I have heard other people mention it. I told her I would try to find out if it is common in CF since I really don't know.

ANyone have any info on this?

THanks much.
 

Alyssa

New member
No, I have no experience with what you are asking... but I would say she needs to get him to a doctor who will listen to her! That is crazy that a doctor would not even consider CF as a possibility and test for it -- it is of very little consequence that her (the mother's) screening was negative -- it is still very likely the screening missed a CF gene in her.

Whatever doctor she is seeing she needs to stop seeing -- get in the car and drive to another town if she has to but get him seen by someone else!
 

Alyssa

New member
No, I have no experience with what you are asking... but I would say she needs to get him to a doctor who will listen to her! That is crazy that a doctor would not even consider CF as a possibility and test for it -- it is of very little consequence that her (the mother's) screening was negative -- it is still very likely the screening missed a CF gene in her.

Whatever doctor she is seeing she needs to stop seeing -- get in the car and drive to another town if she has to but get him seen by someone else!
 

Alyssa

New member
No, I have no experience with what you are asking... but I would say she needs to get him to a doctor who will listen to her! That is crazy that a doctor would not even consider CF as a possibility and test for it -- it is of very little consequence that her (the mother's) screening was negative -- it is still very likely the screening missed a CF gene in her.

Whatever doctor she is seeing she needs to stop seeing -- get in the car and drive to another town if she has to but get him seen by someone else!
 

JazzysMom

New member
First of all someone needs to push for additional testing on your nephew. His symptoms & the family history should call for it alone. As far as the sunken chest.....I am not aware of it being directly CF related, but it could be a few things. He could have a collapse of some sort tho I would think he would be in pain etc. His ones could be weak if he is not obsorbing or getting the appropriate nutrition especially if he has undx CF. This is definitely something that needs to be looked into even if he doesnt "seem" in distress. Keep us updated!
 

JazzysMom

New member
First of all someone needs to push for additional testing on your nephew. His symptoms & the family history should call for it alone. As far as the sunken chest.....I am not aware of it being directly CF related, but it could be a few things. He could have a collapse of some sort tho I would think he would be in pain etc. His ones could be weak if he is not obsorbing or getting the appropriate nutrition especially if he has undx CF. This is definitely something that needs to be looked into even if he doesnt "seem" in distress. Keep us updated!
 

JazzysMom

New member
First of all someone needs to push for additional testing on your nephew. His symptoms & the family history should call for it alone. As far as the sunken chest.....I am not aware of it being directly CF related, but it could be a few things. He could have a collapse of some sort tho I would think he would be in pain etc. His ones could be weak if he is not obsorbing or getting the appropriate nutrition especially if he has undx CF. This is definitely something that needs to be looked into even if he doesnt "seem" in distress. Keep us updated!
 

coltsfan715

New member
I am not sure what exactly you are talking about - I thought I knew from the title then I read the thread itself and wasn't so sure.

I will say that I have a sunken chest - and have since birth it wasn't something that just happened overnight. For me I think it is partly the reason that my chest cavity is not really large. It is somewhat big, but nothing excessive. The sunken portion for me is between my breasts - it pretty much just looks like cleavage (thank God for that - cause I am so small chested lol). Like I said though that is something that I have always had and is not really noticeable at all since I hit puberty. Kurt doesn't even know about it he just thinks it is normal.

What you described sounds like a serious issue that needs to be addressed by a doctor, but that is just me. I don't understand how a child's chest can just become sunken overnight without having experienced sometype of trauma - that is why I say that about the doctor. I hope that they figure out what the problem is and that he is truly okay.

As for the sunken chest thing being related to CF - for me I do not consider my sunker chest to be CF Related. I also have a cousin with a pigeon chest - well that is what my family calls it anyway - his is in the same location as mine but instead of being sunken it is pooched out just a little bit - more so than it should be (at least it was when we were younger).

Take Care,
Lindsey
 

coltsfan715

New member
I am not sure what exactly you are talking about - I thought I knew from the title then I read the thread itself and wasn't so sure.

I will say that I have a sunken chest - and have since birth it wasn't something that just happened overnight. For me I think it is partly the reason that my chest cavity is not really large. It is somewhat big, but nothing excessive. The sunken portion for me is between my breasts - it pretty much just looks like cleavage (thank God for that - cause I am so small chested lol). Like I said though that is something that I have always had and is not really noticeable at all since I hit puberty. Kurt doesn't even know about it he just thinks it is normal.

What you described sounds like a serious issue that needs to be addressed by a doctor, but that is just me. I don't understand how a child's chest can just become sunken overnight without having experienced sometype of trauma - that is why I say that about the doctor. I hope that they figure out what the problem is and that he is truly okay.

As for the sunken chest thing being related to CF - for me I do not consider my sunker chest to be CF Related. I also have a cousin with a pigeon chest - well that is what my family calls it anyway - his is in the same location as mine but instead of being sunken it is pooched out just a little bit - more so than it should be (at least it was when we were younger).

Take Care,
Lindsey
 

coltsfan715

New member
I am not sure what exactly you are talking about - I thought I knew from the title then I read the thread itself and wasn't so sure.

I will say that I have a sunken chest - and have since birth it wasn't something that just happened overnight. For me I think it is partly the reason that my chest cavity is not really large. It is somewhat big, but nothing excessive. The sunken portion for me is between my breasts - it pretty much just looks like cleavage (thank God for that - cause I am so small chested lol). Like I said though that is something that I have always had and is not really noticeable at all since I hit puberty. Kurt doesn't even know about it he just thinks it is normal.

What you described sounds like a serious issue that needs to be addressed by a doctor, but that is just me. I don't understand how a child's chest can just become sunken overnight without having experienced sometype of trauma - that is why I say that about the doctor. I hope that they figure out what the problem is and that he is truly okay.

As for the sunken chest thing being related to CF - for me I do not consider my sunker chest to be CF Related. I also have a cousin with a pigeon chest - well that is what my family calls it anyway - his is in the same location as mine but instead of being sunken it is pooched out just a little bit - more so than it should be (at least it was when we were younger).

Take Care,
Lindsey
 

JennifersHope

New member
HI

A sunken chest is not a sign of CF but can be a complication of it..

That child needs to go to the dr right away, I would even say to go to the emergency room.. Sunken chest.. or the appearance of a sunken chest could mean that the child has a pneumothorax.., ( a collapsed lung) Children have the ability to compensate for that very well, (meaning they look like they are fine) up until they can't compensate any more. If he has that he can get sick pretty fast, even if his breathing is normal now.

I would highly recommend going to the emergency room and or calling his doctor. Even if it is not a pneumo.. if it looks like his chest is caved in it can also be the child having retraction.. which in a child would be a pulling under the rib cage, under the collar bones and in between the ribs... Still not a good sign..

Let us know how it turns out..


Jennifer
 

JennifersHope

New member
HI

A sunken chest is not a sign of CF but can be a complication of it..

That child needs to go to the dr right away, I would even say to go to the emergency room.. Sunken chest.. or the appearance of a sunken chest could mean that the child has a pneumothorax.., ( a collapsed lung) Children have the ability to compensate for that very well, (meaning they look like they are fine) up until they can't compensate any more. If he has that he can get sick pretty fast, even if his breathing is normal now.

I would highly recommend going to the emergency room and or calling his doctor. Even if it is not a pneumo.. if it looks like his chest is caved in it can also be the child having retraction.. which in a child would be a pulling under the rib cage, under the collar bones and in between the ribs... Still not a good sign..

Let us know how it turns out..


Jennifer
 

JennifersHope

New member
HI

A sunken chest is not a sign of CF but can be a complication of it..

That child needs to go to the dr right away, I would even say to go to the emergency room.. Sunken chest.. or the appearance of a sunken chest could mean that the child has a pneumothorax.., ( a collapsed lung) Children have the ability to compensate for that very well, (meaning they look like they are fine) up until they can't compensate any more. If he has that he can get sick pretty fast, even if his breathing is normal now.

I would highly recommend going to the emergency room and or calling his doctor. Even if it is not a pneumo.. if it looks like his chest is caved in it can also be the child having retraction.. which in a child would be a pulling under the rib cage, under the collar bones and in between the ribs... Still not a good sign..

Let us know how it turns out..


Jennifer
 
S

sdelorenzo

Guest
I agree with Jennifer. I would take him to the emergency room. Both times my kids had pneumonia the skin around their chest retracted. It means the airways are not getting enough air. My children acted normally but the lungs were having lots of problems. I had no idea they had pneumonia until I saw the retractions, then I brought them to the emergency room.
Sharon, mom of Sophia, 5 and Jack, 3 both with cf
 
S

sdelorenzo

Guest
I agree with Jennifer. I would take him to the emergency room. Both times my kids had pneumonia the skin around their chest retracted. It means the airways are not getting enough air. My children acted normally but the lungs were having lots of problems. I had no idea they had pneumonia until I saw the retractions, then I brought them to the emergency room.
Sharon, mom of Sophia, 5 and Jack, 3 both with cf
 
S

sdelorenzo

Guest
I agree with Jennifer. I would take him to the emergency room. Both times my kids had pneumonia the skin around their chest retracted. It means the airways are not getting enough air. My children acted normally but the lungs were having lots of problems. I had no idea they had pneumonia until I saw the retractions, then I brought them to the emergency room.
Sharon, mom of Sophia, 5 and Jack, 3 both with cf
 

mum2kj

New member
I definitely think a trip to emergency would be necessary, as its better to be safe than sorry!!
I hope its not anything to serious and I hope it isn't c/f.
 

mum2kj

New member
I definitely think a trip to emergency would be necessary, as its better to be safe than sorry!!
I hope its not anything to serious and I hope it isn't c/f.
 
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