UPDATE: My baby's (12m) lead levels

[danalyn]

Need some advice: my baby had his lead test on Friday (finger poke). It came back at 12.3, and his hemoglobin was a tad low. I have the # downstairs, can't remember ATM. We went back today for an arm blood draw. He did a great job with that. I was told that "normal" has a "high of 9.9". What do you think?

ETA: Update: Yesterday (Wed) they called me back w/ the results of my baby's second test..... lead level went down, Praise God, to 7.7. They're saying this is "normal". Now that i'm thinking about this, it DOES INDEED bother me that there is lead in my child's system/blood. I have NEVER thought about this before, after having 6 kids. I don't remember any of my other kids being tested for lead. I suppose they have but all the tests have always come back "normal", and I would think that "normal" means "no lead present at all". I'm sorry, but this doesn't help my poor attitude toward the "medical system". yes, doctors are good when we need them, really need them, but hopefully YKWIM..... thanks, ladies, for the good advice in response to my initial post.....

[sbgrace]

I think I'd be doing what I could to identify lead sources (where it's coming from) and reducing his lead levels. Research shows that actionable/affecting the child levels are well below 9.9 so that wouldn't be ok with me.

Vitamin C can lower his levels and I'd start that now. Adequate iron and calcium levels and inhibit absorption but likely the lead is impacting iron absooprtoin. Start supplementing with ferrous bis-gylcinate to improve that level. Kirkman labs sells some in their biomax line. It's a capsule but it's the form of iron you want to correct fast with no side effects that other iron supplements can have. I believe Maxi iron is a liquid version of that form--it's also called ferrochel in addition to ferrous bis-gylcinate. It's the form you want.

You want to use lead cleaning procedures (wet dusting, dispose of paper towels, don't vacuum potential lead dust, etc.) and lots of hand washing.

Again, lots of vitamin C to lower that existing lead level and identify the lead source ASAP (most common is going to be paint or construction/remodeling but water or soil or even bathtubs and any number of things can be your source). I don't believe he's at the age when lead levels tend to peak (reach their highest) so act on this as quickly as you possibly can.

[danalyn]

Thanks, I appreciate that info.... I'm eager for Wed. to see the results of his test yesterday....

[staceychev]

No amount of lead is "normal." What they mean by "normal" is "we don't send the county out to your home, we don't remediate, we don't hospitalize..."

Rachelle has some great advice. Also know that there are a lot of mamas here who have experienced this. There's a very long thread here with lots of BTDT experience and advice.

One thing I'd caution is that the finger prick is much less accurate than the venous draw. Don't panic, but especially don't panic until after you get your results tomorrow. (And, come back and tell us how it went.)