Good news! The PFO is no longer an issue, it has closed. There is no more heart murmur! The pulumonary valve was also not opening and closing properly. With every visit we have been told it looks better, and this last visit was no exception. The cardiologist confirmed that the incident had nothing to do with his heart conditions.
The pediatrician also suggested a swallow study since we have had ongoing issues with feedings.
We had the swallow study this Tuesday. He is in fact aspirating and the formula is going into his windpipe. They tried different consistencies of formula, and found one that he didn't seem to aspirate. We are thickening his feeds to the consistency of honey. They also observed NPR, which means formula is also going up into his nasal cavity.
The Speech Language Pathologist (Colleen) at Phoenix Children's Hospital really helped us with the base doctor, and we know have an appointment with a GI doctor on Wednesday in Mesa. The base said all the GI doctors at PCH were booked until October.
The folks over at PCH also recommended we eliminate everything from his diet but formula and the thickening gel they prescribed. His ezcema is HORRIBLE lately. We've resolved to putting the poor guy in long sleeves when we are at home to keep him from scratching at his arms. PCH suspects this is the result of an allergy, and this is something we had already talked about with our pediatrician.
Colleen suggested that the GI doctor would likely request an allergy test in the course of Ethan's visit.
We are just praying for some sort of answers so we can have a completely healthy little man. :)
