what to get him tested for once home?

[rachie]

We are in-country, just had our court date and adoption approved!  Gotcha day should be October 7th!!!  We hope to arrive home near October 12th.

We are in Eastern Europe.  I think our doctor would know some things to get him tested for (parasites?) but just in case - does anyone know of things we should specifically make sure our pediatrician tests for?  And  then if he does have any issues that require meds - are there any typical things that we should watch out for?  Like aren't meds for parasites usually quite strong - especially since he's only 2?  I don't want to "mess" with anything serious but if there are effective natural treatments I'd rather go with more gentle approaches first.  

I'm trying to find a "list" somewhere online but haven't found one yet.  And these are just "typical" minor things I'm talking about.  We already know some more major things we must have them check out.  

[rachie]

http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/medical_adopt.html#

Found that - that's typical of what we've been told to possibly expect - but I wanted to just clarify my question which is - anything to add to this typical "list" and has anyone adopted before dealt with some of these health concerns in an effective but natural means?

[Smithie]

Congratulations!

Test for everything your ped can think of. Seriously. There are so many chronic diseases (Hep A, B, C, TB, HIV) that can be very well managed by a family with access to first world health care - but you can't know to be managing them until you test for them! 

[Vallere]

Rachel!

I've got nothing to add since we are just at the very beginning of our adoption journey, but I just want to say another CONGRATS! I'm so stinkin happy for you guys! I keep trying to post a reply on your blog and I always get error messages, so I'll just have to gush over you guys here and elsewhere

[rachie]

Thanks!  I am thinking for sure I want him tested for heavy metals - any and all possible ones.  

[RedOakMomma]

We were warned not to go too test-heavy at first.  Kids need to know you're a safe place, and if the first thing you do is haul him off to a doctor where they poke him with needles and take blood, it's going to violate the sense of trust you're building with him in those first weeks. 

If there's something wrong that needs medical attention, that's one thing.  But very little is so urgent that it needs medical testing in the first few weeks.  With dd, who was extremely traumatized and insecure when she came home, we waited six months before going to the doctor.  She had excellent medical care in Korea, so we knew she was fine, but I've read that waiting can be beneficial with almost all adopted children.

And I wouldn't "test for everything."  That's too much blood, too much scariness, too much trauma.  Talk with your doctor.  Most international adoption doctors are very conservative and cautious in their testing and will suggest way more tests than you need, but if you talk with them they can test for the most vital things first.  Then, when your child has had some time to get secure and feel safe, you can try to test for the smaller stuff.

[rachie]

He does have some health issues that have to be addressed the moment we arrive back, they cannot wait.  But as far as testing I think we'll only do what is absolutely necessary and most important first and the rest can wait.  I really wish we were able to have him home for awhile before we take him to the doctor.  I hope to at least have a few days home first but as soon as we can get him in it will be a must for specific and serious health issues that we are already aware of.  

[Smithie]

I'm so sorry that there's an immediate health issue  I do agree with RedOakMomma that tests can be scary, and that for most things, a wait of a few months doesn't make a lot of difference in terms of lifelong prognosis. For instance, I would wait on TB if there are no symptoms of an active infection. 

FWIW, though, if your child is having blood taken anyhow for his current medical issue, probably the least traumatic way to deal with that standard battery of chronic-disease tests (HIV and the Heps, possibly some parasites depending on what he's most at risk for) is to have a couple of extra vials taken at that time. And fecal tests, if required, can be done completely without his awareness - just save some poop from the diaper. I think there's a difference between doing the tests as part of the normal course of business, and adding a bunch of extra doctor visits and radiating a whole bunch of stress solely due to testing. 

[christophersmom]

Within two months of DD1 coming home to us, she had to be hospitalized for severe respiratory distress. I think it actually ended up helping the bonding process. Not sure I would worry about it too much if there is an immediate need.

[rachie]

He's on anti-seizure meds (and they just upped his dose - they started him on this med after one febrile seizure and continued giving it to him after).  We want him seen asap by a specialist who can determine if he really needs to continue on this specific medication and if not how to wean him off safely or what to switch him to, etc....  We also want to make sure there is no other cause for the two seizures (other than the meds, which we've read can actually cause seizures) he's had since being on the medication.  

We have also been told that he was having circulatory issues (he's an amputee), which we also feel needs to be checked out asap.  

I also want to rule out another infection I think he may have been born with (but the symptoms he's having could also be from protein deficiency so go figure - I just want to make sure he's not going to have serious complications from it or be contagious).  

Other things/tests, can probably wait but if he's there anyways, like someone mentioned, and they can just take an occasional extra vial of blood to squeeze in the other tests to rule out other things then I don't mind that.  I can only imagine how afraid he'd be if he had to go through a scanner of some type but that's what we are potentially looking at him needing, I think.