new!!Ferritin test and iron supps???

December 10, 2008

Hi my 5 yo is going to a developmental pede for the first time in the

next month and I have a question.

He says in the packet of info he sent that while waiting for his

appointment that we should have a Ferritin test done with our regular

doctor. That the level he uses for normal is over 40. And that ALL

children should be taking a multi (not gummy...he stresses that) with

iron. That iron is important for sleep, behaviour, and attention.

This seems to be the only test that this particular doctor stands by,

as I have a friend whose daughter seen this doctor. I plan on asking

for other tests etc.

My question is about iron? We gave my son iron when he was a toddler

becasue the doctor thought he needed it becasue we are vegetarians

and I was breastfeeding, even though his iron was fine. The drops

stained his teeth pretty badly, so I quit.

I have read that iron supps may not be a good idea for kids and

adults to take as a matter of course and would love some help with

how to go about this and any and all info about it.

I want to go into this appointment as informed and prepared as

possible. My mommy instincts just kind of buzzed a little when I read

that he believes all children should be taking iron as I kind of

disagree with that. Thanks for any help.

Bekah

December 10, 2008

What exactly are you looking to gain from the appointment? What testing?

What information?

Iron supps are not good for our kids, I've read that more times than I can

count.

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of bysonr

Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 8:05 PM

Subject: [ ] new!!Ferritin test and iron supps???

Hi my 5 yo is going to a developmental pede for the first time in the

next month and I have a question.

He says in the packet of info he sent that while waiting for his

appointment that we should have a Ferritin test done with our regular

doctor. That the level he uses for normal is over 40. And that ALL

children should be taking a multi (not gummy...he stresses that) with

iron. That iron is important for sleep, behaviour, and attention.

This seems to be the only test that this particular doctor stands by,

as I have a friend whose daughter seen this doctor. I plan on asking

for other tests etc.

My question is about iron? We gave my son iron when he was a toddler

becasue the doctor thought he needed it becasue we are vegetarians

and I was breastfeeding, even though his iron was fine. The drops

stained his teeth pretty badly, so I quit.

I have read that iron supps may not be a good idea for kids and

adults to take as a matter of course and would love some help with

how to go about this and any and all info about it.

I want to go into this appointment as informed and prepared as

possible. My mommy instincts just kind of buzzed a little when I read

that he believes all children should be taking iron as I kind of

disagree with that. Thanks for any help.

Bekah

December 10, 2008

Your mommy instinct is right...iron is toxic. I think some

developmental peds are also toxic. Probably this one from what your

saying.

Mine told me to read a book about parenting odd kids because that's

all that was wrong with mine. Querky kids or something it's called.

Yes, kids should take a multi but no iron. Testing his ferretin is

fine but since he has stained teeth, this shows signs of iron toxicity

and he should not have any more.

Our developmental ped never mentioned any iron, or ferretin or

multivitamins or anything. They just evaluated his development which

is what they are supposed to do.

I'd find someone else honestly. His generalizations are not a good

thing. Because not all people should take iron. Probably no one should

unless there is clearly a deficiency and even then it's recommended

that you get your iron from food, dark leafy greens/meats because the

iron supplements are toxic and not what the body uses.

Being a vegan would not make your child need iron if he were consuming

enough greens and being breastfed, or you were consuming enough iron

and breastfeeding him. Doctors are naive about many things. This

doctor is way off and it's not likely you'll get anywhere with him

because of his " matter of fact " , " one thing applies to everyone "

approach.

If you just going to get a diagnosis for services, that's fine, but I

would not expect him to do much other than put your kid on iron since

he thinks that the cause of all problems.

Look for another developmental doctor. Honestly, though I found them

to be a waste of money. All they did was tell me what I already knew.

>

> Hi my 5 yo is going to a developmental pede for the first time in the

> next month and I have a question.

> He says in the packet of info he sent that while waiting for his

> appointment that we should have a Ferritin test done with our regular

> doctor. That the level he uses for normal is over 40. And that ALL

> children should be taking a multi (not gummy...he stresses that) with

> iron. That iron is important for sleep, behaviour, and attention.

> This seems to be the only test that this particular doctor stands by,

> as I have a friend whose daughter seen this doctor. I plan on asking

> for other tests etc.

> My question is about iron? We gave my son iron when he was a toddler

> becasue the doctor thought he needed it becasue we are vegetarians

> and I was breastfeeding, even though his iron was fine. The drops

> stained his teeth pretty badly, so I quit.

> I have read that iron supps may not be a good idea for kids and

> adults to take as a matter of course and would love some help with

> how to go about this and any and all info about it.

> I want to go into this appointment as informed and prepared as

> possible. My mommy instincts just kind of buzzed a little when I read

> that he believes all children should be taking iron as I kind of

> disagree with that. Thanks for any help.

> Bekah

>

December 10, 2008

>

> Hi my 5 yo is going to a developmental pede for the first time in

the

> next month and I have a question.

> He says in the packet of info he sent that while waiting for his

> appointment that we should have a Ferritin test done with our

regular

> doctor. That the level he uses for normal is over 40. And that ALL

> children should be taking a multi (not gummy...he stresses that)

with

> iron. That iron is important for sleep, behaviour, and attention.

> This seems to be the only test that this particular doctor stands

by,

> as I have a friend whose daughter seen this doctor. I plan on

asking

> for other tests etc.

> My question is about iron? We gave my son iron when he was a

toddler

> becasue the doctor thought he needed it becasue we are vegetarians

> and I was breastfeeding, even though his iron was fine. The drops

> stained his teeth pretty badly, so I quit.

> I have read that iron supps may not be a good idea for kids and

> adults to take as a matter of course and would love some help with

> how to go about this and any and all info about it.

> I want to go into this appointment as informed and prepared as

> possible. My mommy instincts just kind of buzzed a little when I

read

> that he believes all children should be taking iron as I kind of

> disagree with that. Thanks for any help.

> Bekah

>Hi Bekah

The below might help hopefully you can just click on it.

www.healthy.net/asp/templates/column.asp?PageType=column & ID=68

The main gist I believe is that it may be better to get Iron from

diet rather than Supps.

Kenny

December 10, 2008

I don't think a sweeping generalization on any medical issue (like everyone

should have iron) is a good thing. That's the key issue with vaccines.

Vaccines aren't safe or helpful for ALL kids.

But I know that many of the infant formulas have iron added. In fact, I gave my

daughter Similac Advance with IRON when she was little (6 years ago)... so I

know there is a theory that extra iron in infancy is a good thing in main stream

medicine. I am not sure with a toddler though...

Anyway, my two boys are both " iron deficient " for some reason They were tested

via blood work and their ferritin labs (iron stores) were low. Both were

exhibiting severe fatigue as a symptom. They were not " anemic " yet but they

were headed that way. My two year old was taking an iron supplement (because he

will not eat many green vegetables or meats) and the iron made his teeth

terribly gray for awhile. We recently stopped the supplement and his labs were

re-checked and his level has come up to within a normal limit. So thankfully

since stopping the supplement his teeth have returned to normal and he has a lot

more energy. However, I did call my dentist (while he was on the iron) and he

said that the discoloration could be buffed off, if it remained after the iron

supplement stopped. But luckily it did not.

My thought is that iron should only be supplemented in older children if it is

actually too low but that's just my opinion.

Best of luck!

From: Jan <mercurybabies2@...>

Subject: [ ] Re: new!!Ferritin test and iron supps???

Date: Thursday, December 11, 2008, 2:23 AM

Your mommy instinct is right...iron is toxic. I think some

developmental peds are also toxic. Probably this one from what your

saying.

Mine told me to read a book about parenting odd kids because that's

all that was wrong with mine. Querky kids or something it's called.

Yes, kids should take a multi but no iron. Testing his ferretin is

fine but since he has stained teeth, this shows signs of iron toxicity

and he should not have any more.

Our developmental ped never mentioned any iron, or ferretin or

multivitamins or anything. They just evaluated his development which

is what they are supposed to do.

I'd find someone else honestly. His generalizations are not a good

thing. Because not all people should take iron. Probably no one should

unless there is clearly a deficiency and even then it's recommended

that you get your iron from food, dark leafy greens/meats because the

iron supplements are toxic and not what the body uses.

Being a vegan would not make your child need iron if he were consuming

enough greens and being breastfed, or you were consuming enough iron

and breastfeeding him. Doctors are naive about many things. This

doctor is way off and it's not likely you'll get anywhere with him

because of his " matter of fact " , " one thing applies to everyone "

approach.

If you just going to get a diagnosis for services, that's fine, but I

would not expect him to do much other than put your kid on iron since

he thinks that the cause of all problems.

Look for another developmental doctor. Honestly, though I found them

to be a waste of money. All they did was tell me what I already knew.

>

> Hi my 5 yo is going to a developmental pede for the first time in the

> next month and I have a question.

> He says in the packet of info he sent that while waiting for his

> appointment that we should have a Ferritin test done with our regular

> doctor. That the level he uses for normal is over 40. And that ALL

> children should be taking a multi (not gummy...he stresses that) with

> iron. That iron is important for sleep, behaviour, and attention.

> This seems to be the only test that this particular doctor stands by,

> as I have a friend whose daughter seen this doctor. I plan on asking

> for other tests etc.

> My question is about iron? We gave my son iron when he was a toddler

> becasue the doctor thought he needed it becasue we are vegetarians

> and I was breastfeeding, even though his iron was fine. The drops

> stained his teeth pretty badly, so I quit.

> I have read that iron supps may not be a good idea for kids and

> adults to take as a matter of course and would love some help with

> how to go about this and any and all info about it.

> I want to go into this appointment as informed and prepared as

> possible. My mommy instincts just kind of buzzed a little when I read

> that he believes all children should be taking iron as I kind of

> disagree with that. Thanks for any help.

> Bekah

>

December 11, 2008

> He says in the packet of info he sent that while waiting for his

> appointment that we should have a Ferritin test done with our regular

> doctor.

This may be useful. I would consider a full body iron panel.

>>And that ALL

> children should be taking a multi (not gummy...he stresses that) with

> iron.

My son was iron toxic. Any time I tried to give him iron [or calcium,

he was also toxic in calcium], he became wildly hyper and completely

out of control.

Blanket statements like this are not good. Yes, some kids are

deficient, but some kids are also toxic.

> I want to go into this appointment as informed and prepared as

> possible. My mommy instincts just kind of buzzed a little when I read

> that he believes all children should be taking iron as I kind of

> disagree with that.

Listen to your instincts. Find another doctor.

Dana

December 11, 2008

Thanks everyone for the advice. I am going to the doctor because my son has

just recently been evaluated (by an OT) and we have just in the last several

months been having some real problems. He has not been diagnosed...the OT

believes SPD or possibly PDD or Aspergers. I just don't know because most

days he does not show any autistic like symptoms but he has some real delays

in some motor areas, and low muscle tone, and some stimming type

behaviors that started subtly when he was 2 after his MMR that just became

more pronounced as he got older. I feel as though we are living in a limbo

of not autism but theres something there we just don't know what?

We live in a rural area and have to drive quite a distance to see this

doctor...and the pedes and family doctors in our area or really uninformed

and inadequate in issues that don't involve ear infections or sprained

ankles.

So I think that we want to see this doctor just in the hopes of getting some

more info. I was hoping for some tests that I read that DAN doctors do...I

just want to know how to go about helping him.

Does anyone have some info on what tests I can request beyond this Ferritin?

I am pretty independent and usually will not do what a doctor tells me if i

disagree. At this point I think that maybe if his iron is low to try a

supplement and watch closely for side effects and be ready to stop if there

are problems??

But I would really like more test done...I just don't know what to request.

I want to know about his digestive system as he is a picky eater, is he

deficient in some nutrient. Does he have viruses or fungal infections?

Candida? toxic overload? I just want to know what so I can find out how to

help.

Bekah

On Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 8:10 AM, danasview <danasview@...> wrote:

>

> > He says in the packet of info he sent that while waiting for his

> > appointment that we should have a Ferritin test done with our regular

> > doctor.

>

> This may be useful. I would consider a full body iron panel.

>

> >>And that ALL

> > children should be taking a multi (not gummy...he stresses that) with

> > iron.

>

> My son was iron toxic. Any time I tried to give him iron [or calcium,

> he was also toxic in calcium], he became wildly hyper and completely

> out of control.

>

> Blanket statements like this are not good. Yes, some kids are

> deficient, but some kids are also toxic.

>

> > I want to go into this appointment as informed and prepared as

> > possible. My mommy instincts just kind of buzzed a little when I read

> > that he believes all children should be taking iron as I kind of

> > disagree with that.

>

> Listen to your instincts. Find another doctor.

>

> Dana

>

December 11, 2008

Bekah,

I was once in the same position as you in thinking that a developmental

pediatrician/neuro would want to help my child. They are there to diagnose

and to recommend mainstream treatments, Rx medications, ABA, etc. If you

need a diagnosis for the school district, keep the appointment, but know

that you are not going to come out of it with the answers you are looking

for.

You need to find a doctor in your area or may have to travel to find a

doctor who is open to actually helping your child. This doctor you mention

is probably not going to run the tests that you are looking for - and will

most likely tell you it's hogwash, that you shouldn't put your child on a

special diet, that food allergies don't mean anything, etc. etc.

Another thing to think about is you may think insurance will cover this

appointment, so why not? Well, if he decides to code the bill to 299.0,

most insurances do not cover this diagnosis code and you will be stuck

paying a big bill for nothing.

There are lots of people in this forum that can help you - and many are

doing this without a doctor's help.

I also suggest you find a rescue angel in your area that you can talk to

about doctors - generationrescue.org

Also check out tacanow.org for some great information to get you started.

Hope this helps,

Mom to - 4 years old - recovering from PDD-NOS

Our recovery story: http://www.recoveringnicholas.com

From: [mailto: ]

On Behalf Of rebekah byson

Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 9:51 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: new!!Ferritin test and iron supps???