OK Moms I am freaking out right now and need to hear from some of you please. I just got off the phone w/ my daughter's pediatrician. I had taken my daughter (age 5 yrs and in kindergarten) for a blood test because her iron level was always a little low. The pediatrician says the results show that her iron level is normal and blood count is ok but has mild anemia. He mentions that it's not normal for a child of her age. I went to webmd.com to get info on anemia and it mentions some symptoms that I noticed in my daughter as leg cramps and tiredness and rapid heart rate when exercising.
The pediatrician wants me to take her to a hematologist and informed me not to get nervous when I go to the office because most of the kids there have cancer and that is not why he is sending us there. That's a relief but still worries me. I also need to take a stool sample. I'm so worried right now about my little girl's health. Any words of wisdom or stories of the same experience will be appreciated. Thank you so much in advance.
Hi W.,
I am 34 years old and have been anemic since I was a baby. Hemotologist do many things, going there is routine for anemia. Don't stress to much, she probably just needs extra iron in her diet.
Good Luck
LeeAnn
Hi W.,
I have a great liquid iron enhancing natural herbal remedy that your daughter can take daily and you will see her strengthen her hem #. It helped my Twins within one month their number each went up! Buy it at any health food store and a doctor will not believe it until they see it! My doctor was stunned! We refused to take the big fat iron supplements that she recommended and the bad tasting liquid iron supplement that you can get at the health food store. The product is Taheebo extract or also called Pau D'arco...It is Spanish for the Taheebo plant. It is liquid and it is only $9-$15 about at ANY HELATH FOOD STORE! GET SOME!! (cost might be a bit moretoday, but it is NOT an expensive product)Good Luck and great health! M.
IS your daughter taking vitamins? They help with iron when you have anemic. Also, eating meats and peanuts in her diet is helpful as well. Good Luck!
i am 32 years old and I have been anemic for as long as I can remember. When I was child the pediatrician told my mom to give me flintstone kids with iron. After the birth of my third child my anemia got worse and I am still on prenatal vitamins and they seem to be keeping everything where it should be. I would take her to the hematologist just to make sure there is no underlying cause of th anemia. Sometimes it can be as simple as increasing iron enriched foods and adding a vitamin to her everyday routine. Good luck and let me know how you make out. I know it is tough when one of your children are "sick".
Hello W.,
Your pediatrician most likely is sending your daughter to the hematologist to find out what kind of anemia your daughter has so that it can be treated properly. Anemia can be caused by a number of non-fatal reasons, such as pernicious anemia, which means the digestive tract does not make enough intrinsic factor, an enzyme needed to absorb Vit B12. Pernicious anemia is easily treated with B12 supplements. I have pernicious anemia. My 10 year old son is also anemic, he takes iron supplements and is doing fine.
Hang in there,
Sarah
p.s. The internet can be filled with a lot of scary, false information, try not to get too caught up with what you read on the net.
I've been anemic my entire life and it really isn't that big of a deal to go to the hematologist, even as a small child. My Mom and Dad were always really nonchalant about the whole thing when they spoke to me about it and I therefore didn't worry about it. It was just part of my everyday life. Make sure you keep up with what the doctors are telling you to do (don't skip appointments!) and talk to a nutritionist (they'll probably suggest you do so). Green leafy veggies are my best friends when it comes to feeling well, especially since I do not eat red meat. Since your doctor doesn't seem to be overly concerned I would try not to be either. I'm now 30 years old and carried twin boys to full term without any complications over a year ago. Anemia, when monitored and cared for, is not that bad. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!
Unfortunately I can only give you advice on stool collection, as we just recently had to do this for our 3 yo son. Put plastic wrap under the toilet seat in order to 'catch' it. Worked like a charm, as he couldn't really see it so it didn't bother him.
My heart goes out to you. I too have been in a situation of getting distressing news and having to wait to be better informed of what we were dealing with. To me, the unknown is the most terrifying. This too shall pass - you are being proactive which is the best thing you can do for your child.
Best of luck!
Hi, W.. Your poor daughter. My son was born sick and ended up having heart surgery at 3 months old after being misdiagnosed several times. After 2 groups of pediatricians, several ER visits, SEVERAL hospital stays, we finally went to CHOP (Childrens Hospital of Phili). I don't know where you live, but I stongly suggest going to a pedi specialist, like CHOP. We have had our share of DR's, walk in places and many different ER's. I don't play around anymore. I'm an 1.5 hrs from CHOP and I've done the drive so many times, I'm on auto-pilot. Something this serious, get her to the best. Find your local childrens hospital and take her. I'm also anemic and it's the worst feeling in the world. I'm 34, so I can't imagine being 5 and going through this. If the Dr's want to give her iron, ask about Slow Iron and if you can start her out every 2-3 days. It will constipate her a bit, but not as bad as the regular iron which is given everyday. I wish you the best of luck. And, I hope that poor baby of yours feels energetic again. Take care.
Dear W.,
I was anemic as a child and I am going to be 49 next month and have not had any problems in my adult life. My daughter who is now nineteen was a cheerleeder all throughout school and in her senior year she began black and blueing very easily. When I took her to the doctor they said she was anemic and needed to go to a hemotologist. She was diagnosed with ITP I can't pronounce the medical term its too long. I know how scared you are feeling, bad thoughts went through my head as well. What ITP is is a low platlet count, which basically determines your blood clotting ability. When she was doing stunts during cheerleading any type of hit would immediately turn into a black and blue. There is treatment for it if the blood count is extremely low, however we have been able to keep it under control with Iron tablets. They still don't know the cause however it can sometimes come from a virus that attacks the blood cells. After speaking with other parents its not really as uncommon as I thought, most times you can grow out of it, however my daughter has had it for a while so they consider it cronic (any time it last longer than six months its cronic). It has not hindered her life in any way, she lives away at college, is very active and you would never know she has this unless she told you. Anemia can normally be treated with iron tablets so I am sure she will be fine. Just in case the diagnosis should be the same as my daughter I did't want you to be upset its really not as bad as it sounds. After a visit to a hemotologist in a childrens cancer ward I was happy that was all it was. I will pray for you and your daughter. Good Luck!!
