Iron Supplement/constipation/vommiting

[momma bee]

My little one is now 19 months old, was diagnosed about 3 months ago now. Her iron levels have been low since before diagnosis but were not treated as weren't "too low". We switched from milk (which we worried was making her worse anyways) to formula to add in some iron but her pulmonologust just started her on iron supplement in addition to the formula with iron. Since she has started it she is now suffering from constipation and get backed up to the point of projectile committing everything she has taken in. Then, she commits and pukes and is good for a day buy the one after that same thing occurs.

Anyone else had this problem with iron? Any ideas of how to better manage it for her? I am trying to give lots more water and juice and increased her veggies but she really is not much if an eater, especially with this tummy trouble any other parents with kids on iron with similar problems or advice?

Hate seeing her in so much pain and hate to see the food we work so hard to get her to take in to just come back out!

[Lisa]

My little one is now 19 months old, was diagnosed about 3 months ago now. Her iron levels have been low since before diagnosis but were not treated as weren't "too low". We switched from milk (which we worried was making her worse anyways) to formula to add in some iron but her pulmonologust just started her on iron supplement in addition to the formula with iron. Since she has started it she is now suffering from constipation and get backed up to the point of projectile committing everything she has taken in. Then, she commits and pukes and is good for a day buy the one after that same thing occurs.

Anyone else had this problem with iron? Any ideas of how to better manage it for her? I am trying to give lots more water and juice and increased her veggies but she really is not much if an eater, especially with this tummy trouble any other parents with kids on iron with similar problems or advice?

Hate seeing her in so much pain and hate to see the food we work so hard to get her to take in to just come back out!

Yes! please consult with your doctor.  Iron is vey hard to digest, for adults ....much less baby children.!!!  She may have allergies at 3 months, but Celiac is only on issue when gluten is introduced.  At three months, your daughter should still be on formula.  Who diagnosed her?

[momma bee]

Sorry, I might have confused it... She is 19 months old. She was diagnosed by a GI surgeon who did a scope Feb 14th while she was having an adenoidectomy and has been gluten free since we got he results early march. She has never had constipation issues, always frequent loose stools. We have yet to see a GI specialist about the celiac diagnosis, we got a phone call back telling us the results. We will apparently get a new GI specialist appointment after she has been gluten free for 6 months but so far not much medical guidance from a physician. She sees a pulmonologist about her other issues and this is who has ordered the iron as she thinks low iron is contributing to her overall health including the pulmonary and sleep issues and she still chokes a lot.

At 19 months she should be more milk and not formula but we cannot get her to take in a lot of food, she is small for her age and we wanted her to get the iron... Not sure that is the right decision but no guidance otherwise her pediatrician does not want to deal with anything celiac as he said the gi specialist will

I am presuming the iron is causing the problem since time of starting correlated but perhaps it is something else too? Maybe the being gluten free?

[stanleymonkey]

If she still chokes and vomits a lot, ask about eosinophilic esophagitis, our 2 yr old is going to be checked for it ask she chokes a lot, even on her own spit

[seezee]

This sounds like something to check with the doctor. My daughter is 14 and taking iron for low iron and they asked us to call if any symptoms like you describe. I think there are multiple forms of iron supplement. It could be an issue with sulfur if it's ferrous sulfate for example.

[pricklypear1971]

All of the above, and I personally have noticed different brands affect me differently. So, it may be as easy as switching brands. Or not...

[frieze]

immediately return to doc.  do not pass go.  she is getting NO benefit from the iron if it, and the food comes back up.  has she seen a speech pathologist to check on the chocking?  and at 19 months she shouldn't need milk or formula, though I could see that this may be the only way to get nutrition into her at this point.