Finally, a Diagnosis!!

As many of you know, when Ethan was 8 days old he stopped breathing and turned blue after being placed on his back to have his diaper changed. It took about 10-15 seconds before he could inhale again. We called his dr. and were told to bring him to the ER if he did it again. Well later that evening, he had 3 "episodes" back to back after again being placed on his back to have his diaper changed. We called 911 because of the duration of the episodes and the lethargic way he acted afterwards. At the ER we were questioned by various doctors and nurses. He had an ekg, x rays, and various tests done. No one could give us a solid diagnosis and we were told it could be gas or just a severe reaction to reflux and to see his pediatrician that week. As his Mama, I KNEW it wasn't gas or reflux. But no one could tell us what it was. So we took him home, bought a breathing monitor, and watched him very closely.

He continued to have these episodes, but we just learned how to handle it better (Flipping him on his side, patting his back and blowing in his face to stimulate breathing).  It continued to scare me half to death, but we just "dealt with it". He was also a very noisy eater and would choke easily, and make scary wheezing noises as well. When he was 10 weeks old, we moved to CO and he got a new pediatrician. At his 4 month appointment his new pediatrician listened to his symptoms and told us she thought he had reflux and a weakened airway. However, we didn't know for sure and weren't given a firm diagnosis.

Just recently Ethan was at the hospital for a minor procedure and during his pre-op check in, his nurse listened to his symptoms and told us that she had been a NICU nurse for 15 years and that he had something called Malacia. After further consultation, we now know that officially that Ethan has laryngomalacia.  His airway was weak at birth which causes a number of symptoms including:

• Noisy breathing (stridor) — An audible wheeze when your baby inhales (breathes in). It is often worse when the baby is agitated, feeding, crying or sleeping on his back.
• High pitched sound
• Difficulty feeding
• Poor weight gain
• Choking while feeding
• Apnea (breathing stoppage)
• Pulling in neck and chest with each breath
• Cyanosis (turning blue)
• Gastroesophageal reflux (spitting, vomiting and regurgitation)
• Aspiration (inhalation of food into the lungs)

Ethan had many of these. We are so thankful that he is now doing well and only seems to have a few residual symptoms. The treatment for this is usually reflux medication, time to let the airway mature, or surgery. Thankfully we have avoided the major surgery. His first 4 or 5 months of life were pretty rough, but now he is a happy, pretty healthy little boy and we are so glad to have him in our family!