thinking my 2 y/o has lead toxicity.....

Foster's got pica. almost 3 and still eating dirt, some bugs, loves chalk and erasers. it comes and goes in fx. Now I am wondering about lead....He has a speech delay, bouts of hyperactivity and he's a pale little guy w/ a poor appetite. I have felt crazy at times dealing with his behavior changes and frustrated at his persistence in eating "non-food" items not "real" food.....So tomorrow it's off to the pedi for blood work.

yup, the lightbulb finally went off over my head....poor guy. hate blood draws on little ones

anyone have any experience with lead toxicity or pica?

send some good vibes my way

xo K

[nurseunderwater]

nothing? anyone? come on guys....

[ParrotHeadRN]

I have no personal experience with either, but I do wish you and your little boy the best of luck. Please keep us updated.

[jemb]

Not my specialty, and I don't have kids that would be affected, but...

confession time :chair:

As a child, I ate dirt, mud, sand, chalk, erasers. I used to suck the dust off of rocks. No bugs, though -- at least not that I remember. I was still doing it in grade school.

I was anemic - I think it was diagnosed at age seven.

I think I was eventually started on iron supplements. But it was never a big deal, and i could probably even pass for failry normal now. (But don't look too closely!)

[Agnus]

Foster's got pica. almost 3 and still eating dirt, some bugs, loves chalk and erasers. it comes and goes in fx. Now I am wondering about lead....He has a speech delay, bouts of hyperactivity and he's a pale little guy w/ a poor appetite. I have felt crazy at times dealing with his behavior changes and frustrated at his persistence in eating "non-food" items not "real" food.....So tomorrow it's off to the pedi for blood work.

yup, the lightbulb finally went off over my head....poor guy. hate blood draws on little ones

anyone have any experience with lead toxicity or pica?

send some good vibes my way

xo K

Here is someone who is a world class expert in this area. Gary F. Gordon, MD, DO, MD (H)

You can contact him at Gordon Reasearch Institue

708 East Highway 260, Ste. C-1F

Payson, AZ 85541

[phone]

He has done extensive research on this and is considered the world's most knowlegable expert on the subject.

He can put you intouch with doctors in your area that are trained by him.

He will do telephone consults with your physician.

I have talked with many physicians who know him and his work and who consult with him. I had a chance meeting with him and his wife a few months ago. Very brilliant man.

I hope you find what you need for your little one.

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

hmmmmm... sounds like the thing to do, for sure. Get some labs drawn.

Can't remember eating dirt, but I about ate the sheetrock out of my bedroom walls when I was little ! Excavated holes in the wall next to my bed for the longest time. Had a severe ca+ deficiency as an infant, so I guess I was replacing what my body needed for the next five years...

Hope you get to the bottom of this... certainly worth checking into.

[Agnus]

Oh oh. I should clarify. Dr. Gordon's field of expertise is toxicity. Specifically heavy metal toxicity and eliminating it, from the body.

[nurseunderwater]

well they collected all fluids and solids available from the little guy. dh came with us to help hold and comfort. i should know something by tomorrow.

thanks for your posts....

agnus: thanks for the referral.....

jnette/jemb: good to know that you can eat weird stuff and still turn out "normal" :uhoh21:

[Tutti]

Sorry I don't know anything on this subject, but it made me think of my little one who had to have blood draws weekly at one time. I used emla cream to numb her arm before we went in each time. She never felt a thing and the draws were no big deal for her. I just made sure she didn't watch!

[SmilingBluEyes]

any news??? I hope Foster is ok! Let us know. Sorry, lead toxicity is OUT of my league here.....I know so little. I hope he is ok, I really do!

[nurseunderwater]

any news??? I hope Foster is ok! Let us know. Sorry, lead toxicity is OUT of my league here.....I know so little. I hope he is ok, I really do!

sorry for being so lame on reporting back.....his labs came back ok. the only odd thing was a co2 that was a little high and his phosphorus level was also high.

the pedi said the co2 could just be from the sample hanging out too long...phosphorus....i don't know?!? too much rice milk?

I guess my spirited child is just that, a spirited child. what a relief! :)

thanks you wonderful folks....i have really come to love this board.

Kate