Good News

I am happy to report good news today.

Although we don't have completely clear answers yet, we have a better idea of what's going on with Max.

Unfortunately, the swallow study was not his most successful.  The little stinker would not take a bottle.

He must be too spoiled since I have only ever nursed him, except for the previous swallow studies.

  He's too old now and KNOWS what he wants.

We practiced and practiced for a full week, and he either screamed at the bottle or played with it, depending on his mood.  It was very stressful and we didn't know what to do, except pray a lot.

However, during the study we were able to give him baby food laced with barium and a sippy cup full of the same delicious, chalky stuff.  He loved sitting up like a big boy in that seat. 

The therapist and technician could not get enough of him.  

He was so adorable as he spewed food from of his mouth and all over the x-ray machine.

This therapist noticed that was his tongue and frenulum were somewhat tight.

She said that it could be effecting his swallow and making it difficult to move food to the back of his mouth.

It could also explain why he still continues to gag and choke while he is nursing, even though he's 8 months.

The ENT checked his frenulum and also thought it was tight, that he was somewhat tongue-tied.

Every baby is different, and even though it was minimal (4 mm too long), it may make all the difference for him.

So she recommended clipping the frenulum, which is a simple procedure (he would be under anesthesia). 

Then we discussed some other issues we've been concerned about.

He has gone from one cold to the next since the beginning of January, yet he's never had a runny nose.  

And he has been so congested, but we can never suction anything out despite using saline drops.  

He has such a croupy cough at night, he doesn't sleep well and he is a mouth breather.

She decided to perform a nasal scope to check and see if his adenoids were enlarged.  

They were 30% enlarged, but not enough for her to be concerned.  

However, as she was trying to put the scope down his nose, she ran into so much mucous and flem she had to suction him out with a hose.  She said it was horrible, and typical of children with very bad re-flux.  

Max has been treated for re-flux off and on since our ENT found cobble-stoning on his airway during his bronchoscopy and surgery six months ago.  The mucus and flem may also be the cause of his problems.

He's a baby who can hardly breath because he's always so stuffed up, and trying to coordinate breathing and eating is extremely difficult.  She put him on a nasal steroid for a few weeks to dry out his sinuses.

And then, we will determine if it is necessary to have his tongue clipped.

We were relieved by this news, and although we don't have all the answers yet, we are so happy that it wasn't worse.  We were imaging some very, very horrible scenarios.  This is nothing compared to our fears.

Thank you to our family and friends who called, texted and commented over the past few days.  

It was so sweet and we know how much you all care.  Thank you again for your concern for Maxwell.