Doctors Stumped

  : My son, whom is to turn six months in a couple of days, has apnea and bradycardia problems.  He was 6 weeks premature and after coming home from the hospital had blue spells.  He was placed on a monitor being diagnosed with apnea of prematurity.  His spells continued for three more months and they then changed his diagnosis to apnea caused by reflux, but they never did any tests to support this diagnosis.  His spells came almost to a holt, with only having a slight spell once a week.  Then within the past 3 weeks it has came back.  They did an EEG to make sure it wasn't seizures, which was negitive.  They also tested his CKP levels, for RSV virus, and an EKG.  He has just been released from the hospital where they looked into the reflux diagnosis (which I thought was odd because he isn't a spit-uppy baby) they did a upper GI, a PH probe and a sleep study which showed nothing and disproved there reflux theory.  They now say they don't know what it could possible be, so they are going to just let it be.  I feel very uncomfortable with this and since I am in a very small town I though that you might have some more ideas, I am aware that you don't have all his information so it might be hard, but please try to help.
  : Thank you for your time.
  : Sarah

[HFHS.RN-AM]

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Dear Sarah,
Please refer to my answer to Kellys question about Infant Apnea written on 7/7/98. It sounds like the doctors did all the right tests - sometimes they turn out negative even in the presence of a very real disease. Try the GE Reflux precautions - and be sure no-one smokes in the house. If you live in the Detroit area, you may call Pediatric Gastroentelology at 313-876-3121, or contact the closest children's hospital for a referral.
I understand how scary this can be. I hope this is just developmental and
he outgrows it soon!
HFHS.RN-MD
*keyword:  apnea, GE Reflux