Re: Darla/Iron deficiency anemia

[Guest guest]

Darla,

I do know that Carsen's iron was 18.

Everthing else was low too.. I'd have to look them up. I also know his percent saturation was only 5% initially. Last we checked it was up to 9%.

Did she not have the full iron studies?

She should have also had a transferrin, TIBC, % SAT and RETIC % count.

PERCENT OF IRON SATURATION:

Measurement of iron in serum. This is a mathematical calculation that relates to iron and TIBC

http://www.biodia.com/test219.html

http://www.biodia.com/test212.html

Our hematologist has called in some chocolate chewable iron supplements. We should have them by Tuesday.

The iron drops will be thrown away! I can't imagine what they must tase like!

Dr. Whiteman will probably suggest against supplementing unless it's really necessary.

Iron "can be" a mitochondrial toxin.

He had mixed feelings about Carsen's supplementation.. He kinda wanted to wait until it showed up on CBC and it's likely to any time... but...also wanted him to have normal levels.

However, our hematologist, had no reserves about it and DOES know the possible side effects regarding mitochondrial disease. She highly suggested we give him iron because of all of the research suggesting an impairment in cognitive developement in children who are iron deficient. She said it's not like she's going to give him too much or make it high.. She just wants him to be up to where he should be ( normal levels ). She very, highly recommended we supplement. I had convinced her to wait till Carsen was on his pancreatic enzymes a month. So, we did and rechecked and there was very little improvement, so we decided to go forward with it.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

Krystena R.

Re: Iron deficiency anemia> --Hi Krystena> I haven't given the iron drops orally but we've had iron deficiency> problems too. never absorbed it so it was a waste. > gets IV iron and that has worked really well but lots of kids are> allergic to it. Oops, I remember, my second child took them> for a while. I think that some brands worked better than others.> Have you tried brands and generic? Iron is pretty cheap. The drops> are more concentrated then ferrous sulfate elixir, which is> prescription. Ferrous sulfate elixir contains alcohol. Could that be> what he's saying is burning his tongue?>> As far as the iron drops, have you tried giving them in some sort of> puree rather than juice? Or maybe in hersheys syrup? That always> worked for yucky meds with my other kids. I think iron drops are the> med that stains teeth Maybe that's the reason for giving them with a> full size drink. The staining comes right off if you scrub the teeth> with a paste of baking soda and water (almost as much fun as getting> the meds in!)>> Depending on his dose, maybe you could crush an iron tablet and give> it in applesauce? Check with your doctor because iron is poisonous> even if he gets just a little too much. Different iron preparations> can have different mg strengths and vastly different amounts of> elemental iron depending on the type of pill.>> Good luck!> Heidi, 's Mom>>> ->>>>> Please contact mito-owner with any problems or questions.>