Guest guest Posted February 14, 2011 Report Share Posted February 14, 2011 Anyone ever find that this played a role in their child's apraxia? I feel so dumb that we never really did any blood tests...he's not been to daycare so we never had to do the lead test until just recently since we are now on Medicaid, they required the test. My ped called me today and left a message that he is borderline anemic. It makes sense, he won't eat pretty much any red meat or any meant unless it's very highly processed and green leafy vegetables are a rare thing for him to accept. I am waiting for a call back to see what I am supposed to do as far as supplements go. We had been on Nutriiveda for about a month, prior to that he had taken Flinstones for a long time and he was still breastfeeding partially up until this past July. I checked out the NV though and saw that it does not include iron. I never gave him any iron supplements back then because usually breastfed babies get enough from the milk because it is highly absorbable...but maybe my iron is low? I don't even know, it's been so long since I've had bloodwork done. As I am reading up on iron deficiency anemia it says it can cause developmental and behavioral problems so I am immediately thinking/wondering if this is my fault. Anyone ever have similar experience, or any nutrtion gurus have any helpful advice? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Hi, My daughter has had several bouts with iron deficiency, however, I do not believe that it contributed to her apraxia. The issue with my daughter was that she was drinking a lot of milk. She does not like any type of juice and would not drink water (now however, she drinks water but still no juice). So, in the summer time, she would constantly drink milk as she was thirsty with the hot weather. Milk binds to iron and prevents iron from being absorbed by the body. After her second bout with iron deficiency, we had to limit her daily milk intake to 3 to 4 sippy cups of milk a day (8 oz). THat has been the key and she has not had another incident in the last two years. There is a difference between iron deficiency with the hemoglobin which causes anemia, and the iron storage in the body (ferritin I believe). There are two different types of blood test for it. In addition, if your child is borderline, I think it just means your child is at risk for becoming anemic...which is probably why your dr. wants you to supplement. Be warned that liquid iron is nasty tasting and you can have your pharmacy add flavoring to it, but it is still nasty. My child cannot swallow pills which is why we had to do the liquid route. When anemia came up again the second time, I ended up finding an awesome strawberry flavored liquid iron which my child was willing to take. Its called Ferretts IPS Liquid Iron Supplement by Pharmics. As for the developmental and behavorial problems, I think that comes from long term iron deficiency at very low rates, not with boderline. Lori > > Anyone ever find that this played a role in their child's apraxia? I feel so dumb that we never really did any blood tests...he's not been to daycare so we never had to do the lead test until just recently since we are now on Medicaid, they required the test. My ped called me today and left a message that he is borderline anemic. It makes sense, he won't eat pretty much any red meat or any meant unless it's very highly processed and green leafy vegetables are a rare thing for him to accept. I am waiting for a call back to see what I am supposed to do as far as supplements go. We had been on Nutriiveda for about a month, prior to that he had taken Flinstones for a long time and he was still breastfeeding partially up until this past July. I checked out the NV though and saw that it does not include iron. I never gave him any iron supplements back then because usually breastfed babies get enough from the milk because it is highly absorbable...but maybe my iron is low? I don't even know, it's been so long since I've had bloodwork done. As I am reading up on iron deficiency anemia it says it can cause developmental and behavioral problems so I am immediately thinking/wondering if this is my fault. > > Anyone ever have similar experience, or any nutrtion gurus have any helpful advice? Thanks! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Hi: My daughter was just diagnosed with verbal apraxia at 3.6 years old. At her 1 year well visit she was discovered to have low hemoglobin and was given Polyvisol. Still 3 months later she was still low and she was put on Ferrous Sulfate and still low after a couple of months for which the pediatrician recommended to see a Hemtologist. He gave her a prescribed syrup which did work but he also advised to reduce milk amount at that time (she was 18 months) to no more than 10 ounces a day because she was filling up with it ( she was getting between 16-20 ounces a day) and was preventing her from eating other nutritious food. I started watering down her milk which made her hungrier and eager to eat. Started also given her more spinach and red meat until her hemoglobin reached an acceptable number. He also recommended to give the iron prescribed syrup with orange juice as the vitamin C helped absorb better the iron. He also said that he did not think that the low iron was the cause for her delayed speech at that time. Good luck!!! Arlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 I meant to answer this when I first read this topic, but yuck to both the memories of the iron rich diet together with my celiac diet! I too it seems was always low in iron as a child and my mother used to make me eat liver and onions (oh for those of you that have trouble with NV- you can't imagine what I was forced to eat!!) I did like the Blackstrap molasses -other than the good and the bad I don't recall the other iron rich foods pills I needed to eat or take. I just know I used to bruise so easily -even if I banged my leg just a bit. Sometimes my legs looked like someone beat me up -but as children we were never spanked. Oh but keep in mind I was on a highly restrictive diet due to my being in the hospital from infancy and almost dying until they figured out I had celiac which back then they said was very rare. The diet kept me out of the hospital and I was able to gain weight but I hated it. But point being I'm sure I had other nutritional deficiencies being on such a strict diet. Good news is that I overcame this too -and neither of my children have any issues with iron, or celiac -all tests well! And no never put either on a special diet. Would have if I had to. Good luck with it! Oh -PS I had lots of nose bleeds too -is that an issue? I used to have to go to the hospital so they could cauterize my nose. Another memory I'd rather forget! ===== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Thanks for the responses today. I had meant to cancel the NV (It is helping I think but my husband is unemployed at the moment and we are doing good to be able to buy food and pay our most important bills) but forgot to do it before we renewed it so we have it for another month. So of course I want to keep giving it to him. I went to a couple stores in search of a supplement but all I can find is the Poly Vi Sol which is a multivitamin or Flinstones with Iron...but I need just the iron. Plus I am not sure how much to give and the pharmacist said it needs to be closely monitored. I have a Dr appt tomorrow so we will talk about it. He does get some bruising, but never any bloody noses. is just turning 3 next month so he cannot swallow pills either; I assume the liquid stuff was probably pretty gross as I know I tried to give my older son the Poly Vi Sol when he was little and he always hated it. I kind of had an " ah, ha! " moment today when reading a ADHD book (to educate myself on my older son's disorder) during P's therapy. It suggested getting tests done for other medical conditions that can " look " like ADHD including anemia. Then it made me wonder if P's self directedness and distractablity might be due to his iron deficiency. It is a problem we have fought in therapy since he first started although fish oil has helped alot with it. Also apparently protein helps our body make the neurotransmitters needed in the front part of the brain that helps with self regulation......and I am sure have something to do with the neurotransmitters that help with speech as well. I have always thought that both my son's disorders' must come from genetics, even though we haven't had genetic testing done....my father has Parkinson's disease, which of course also relates to neurotransmitters (specifically dopamine, which is also a key player in ADHD). My older son also has fine and gross motor problems/delays, and P has the speech motor problems....I see it all as a manifestation of the same issue of neurotransmitters. I and my mother and sister also suffer from depression/anxiety issues which is also related.... I wish there was something I could give P to help him through his diet. He does like milk, he usually gets like 3 sippies/small cups worth a day....he takes the NV in chocolate milk which he really loves so I have no problem getting him to drink it. I am thinking that is not a high amount for an almost 3 year old...but he does also like other dairy products so usually gets at least 2 servings of cheese or cottage cheese or yogurt each day too. Is this too much? In between the NV and his bedtime milk I always give water or juice (although when I give water most of the time he gets angry with me and throws his cup). Up to this point I have kind of encouraged the milk thing because since he doesn't eat meat I worry that he doesn't get enough protein. I stocked up today on some breakfast foods with protein for my older son but I know P probably will not eat most of it. Maybe I will look into the molasses for iron. Trying to balance all these little issues on top of the stress and uncertainty of unemployment and a possible long distance move is becoming a little overwhelming these days but I am *trying* to take one day at a time and not beat myself up about what I am able or not able to do. Thanks for sharing your experiences. > > I meant to answer this when I first read this topic, but yuck to both the memories of the iron rich diet together with my celiac diet! I too it seems was always low in iron as a child and my mother used to make me eat liver and onions (oh for those of you that have trouble with NV- you can't imagine what I was forced to eat!!) I did like the Blackstrap molasses -other than the good and the bad I don't recall the other iron rich foods pills I needed to eat or take. I just know I used to bruise so easily -even if I banged my leg just a bit. Sometimes my legs looked like someone beat me up -but as children we were never spanked. Oh but keep in mind I was on a highly restrictive diet due to my being in the hospital from infancy and almost dying until they figured out I had celiac which back then they said was very rare. The diet kept me out of the hospital and I was able to gain weight but I hated it. But point being I'm sure I had other nutritional deficiencies being on such a strict diet. > > Good news is that I overcame this too -and neither of my children have any issues with iron, or celiac -all tests well! And no never put either on a special diet. Would have if I had to. Good luck with it! Oh -PS I had lots of nose bleeds too -is that an issue? I used to have to go to the hospital so they could cauterize my nose. Another memory I'd rather forget! > > > ===== > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2011 Report Share Posted February 20, 2011 I don't think there is a link between speech and anemia either. My sister was anemic as a child and she has always had the biggest mouth I know! LOL Kate > > Hi: > My daughter was just diagnosed with verbal apraxia at 3.6 years old. At her 1 year well visit she was discovered to have low hemoglobin and was given Polyvisol. Still 3 months later she was still low and she was put on Ferrous Sulfate and still low after a couple of months for which the pediatrician recommended to see a Hemtologist. He gave her a prescribed syrup which did work but he also advised to reduce milk amount at that time (she was 18 months) to no more than 10 ounces a day because she was filling up with it ( she was getting between 16-20 ounces a day) and was preventing her from eating other nutritious food. I started watering down her milk which made her hungrier and eager to eat. Started also given her more spinach and red meat until her hemoglobin reached an acceptable number. He also recommended to give the iron prescribed syrup with orange juice as the vitamin C helped absorb better the iron. He also said that he did not think that the low iron was the cause for her delayed speech at that time. > Good luck!!! > Arlene > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2011 Report Share Posted March 23, 2011 I have seen this with anorexics eating low calories( suboptimal malnutrition). Probably because the body is trying to increase the iron in the blood for survivial. Debra Brown-Grossman, M.P.H.,R.D.,C.D.E.62 So Fullerton Ave.Montclair, N.J. 07042973-655-1335/973-655-1336(fax) Iron Deficiency? I have a patient 3 m s/p LSG. The vitamins she is currently taking include:adult MVI 1/d Geritol Complete 1/d (has 16 mg Fe)Metanex (Folate, B6, B12) 1/d (PM)K+Her most recent labs: H/H 11.4/36.1, RBC 4.16, MCHC 31.6, Ferritin 225Any idea why the Ferritin is elevated while all others are indicating depleted stores?Thanks!Kate Rountree, RD, LDNLafayette, LA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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