Iron level question/iron supplement

My dd's iron reserve level is low. I need over the next two months to raise it before a scheduled blood test. This test is important bc we are checking her for a trait I carry.

I bought a liquid iron and she took it the first time bc she adores vitamins and medicine however the second time I basically had to hold her down screaming and clawing and then I cried in the shower bc I felt so horrible. I didn't even get the full amount in her bc she started dry heaving. When I was little I was forced iron too and I remember how horrible it was. It's gross.

I bought her animal parade multi chewable vitamins and she is in love. I think it's 50p of your daily dose. I don't know if that's good enough though. Does anyone else know of an iron supplement that is palatable or is chewable that they can recommend?

Prior to this she did NOT take a multivitamin ever in her life bc we were specifically avoiding iron for medical reasons related to the trait. So maybe this will be enough? Or what if I give her two a day, would that work?

Iron level question/iron supplement

My 2.5 year old gets a prescription chewable that she likes and I think it has a full dose of iron but I can't be sure bc the label doesn't list anything. I know her liquid multivitamin had iron and these were supposed to replace the liquid plus they have that lovely smell. Maybe your ped can prescribe something.

My 3 week old gets poly vi sol with iron and she hates it so I know exactly what you mean. She was severely anemic at birth so I know we just have to deal with it but I hate giving them to her and wonder if they bother her tummy or anything.

On a side note, DH has something in his family relating to too much iron and I wonder if it's the same condition you're referring to.

Iron level question/iron supplement

My DS had low iron at his 2 year appt. We put him on a vitamin with iron. You need one that specifically says with iron...the completes aren't enough. I used Flintstones. I also had him eat iron rich foods. Cheerios were the go to snack.

We had him tested again a few months later and my Dr was shocked at how much I was able to get his iron up. It't not easy to get the reserves up in a short period of time but if you change the diet and add the vitamin it can be done.

Iron level question/iron supplement

The trait I have is called thalassemia. It is common with people from the Mediterranean, and parts of the Middle East. To briefly explain it I was most recently told by my hematologist while pregnant to avoid extra iron. Prenatal was enough. My body doesn't process iron normally and even though my hemoglobin levels are like 9-10ish and 7-8 while preg there was nothing I could do short of a blood transfusion. Extra iron could be poison me.

However I JUST found out from a pediatrician that this is only true IF your iron reserve levels are normal which can only be told from an arm blood test. Which means my parents were probably poisoning us as kids bc we only had a finger prick and bc we had low hemoglobin they automatically put us on iron.

I had the trait test on DD and her hemoglobin is normal, red blood cell shape seems normal, but iron is low. Ped said I needed an iron supplement and to try with food was not enough. So that's why I have two months to really improve iron. She is an awesome eater and eats tons of spinach (I give with citrus for absorption) also raisins as a snack.

I am going to call and ask for a RX chewable, I need something tasty for her, bc the smell on the floradix was all tinny and metal smelling. Ped specifically picked it as it supposedly doesn't cause constipation problems which she struggles with from time to time.

Eta - forgot to mention test is an elimination test so I won't know if she has trait until I raise her levels. So it is important I don't half ass it bc numbers will be important to show if she is a trait carrier.

Message edited 12/8/2014 10:46:53 AM.

Iron level question/iron supplement

Okay, sounds similar but it's not the same condition. I forgot that I had originally switched to flinstones with iron chewables when DD wouldn't take the liquid anymore. She was fine with those but the ped prescribed the other ones for the fluoride. Not sure you have to go that route if you're not looking to give fluoride.

Re: Iron level question/iron supplement

I also have thalassemia minor. My son is almost 15 months old and has had borderline to low iron levels also. Since his 12 mth check up I have been using Rainbow Light Nutristart vitamin packets with probiotics. It is a flavorless powder that can be mixed in cold foods or liquids. My son has it with his yogurt every morning. The probiotics help keep him regar also. I'm hoping his levels will be in normal range at his next visit Friday or he will need further testing as well. HTH.

Re: Iron level question/iron supplement

I also carry thalessemia it runs in my family and one of my dds carries it also, I was never told iron is poison for us, although I know taking extra iron does nothing for you, it really doesn't effect me at all except any symptoms of anemia are magnified, blood tests will always be way off and I always remind the dr about the thalessemia. My ped also said give multi with iron saw it did nothing and that was that
Do you actually have it or just carry it

Iron level question/iron supplement

Wow I've never met anyone else besides most of my family members that have it. Where are you guys from (ethnically).

No I don't have he disease. I think if you have the disease you don't make it past age 1. I am just a trait carrier. I have beta thal minor. My husband was tested prior to having kids to ensure he didn't have the trait. Otherwise we could pass the disease to a baby.

I've been told so many things over the years but think dd's per nailed it down for me. If a thal trait person has low hemoglobin that is normal and don't take iron based off of that number. Next you need to check the iron reserve level which no doctors ever do! It can only be done by an arm blood test NOT a finger prick. If your iron reserve level is normal DO NOT take an iron supplement to try and increase hemoglobin. It won't work and you'll poison yourself.

My dd's ode is awesome! She compared my results with dd's today and see is positive she doesn't have beta. In order to rule out alpha we still technically need to raise her iron reserve levels and then a blood test can rule it out but she's pretty positive that she is normal and just has low iron which is great news that she doesn't carry it.

Her red blood cells are normal sized whereas mine are irregular which is why I can never donate blood. Sorry this turned into something different but maybe the info will help someone one day.