Friday, October 31, 2008

Melamine & infant formula-China

You haven't heard from me in awhile & here is why:
As you may or may not have heard, there is a big issue going on with China’s formula. Here is a link that explains more about it, if you care to read about it. http://www.who.int/csr/media/faq/QAmelamine/en/index.html
But in a nutshell, the milk producers in China were watering down their milk that they had gotten from the farmers. In order to get a higher protein count, they added melamine to it, so it would pass. Then it was sent to other producers of milk products-formula, candy, etc.
Doctors are not sure yet of what, if any, long term effects there are from the melamine in formula. It has been shown to cause kidney stones & even more serious renal problems.
There is a pediatric international adoption specialist who is on this yahoo group for the china milk issue. She is recommending that every Chinese adoptee be tested with a urinalysis, some blood work & a renal ultrasound. She feels all 3 of these need to be done, as some of the tests come back fine, yet stones are found on the ultrasound, and these are on kids that don’t have any symptoms.
I have spent the last week & and a half trying to get our pediatrician to authorize these. The only thing we finally got was a urinalysis (& it turned out fine). Trying to get that specimen is a whole other story!!
Maddie has not really had any symptoms, but the reason we wanted to have her tested was because sometimes she wakes up from her nap like she’s in pain. She’s crying & arching her back. We thought maybe it was a gas bubble or something & then after a while she is fine. But maybe she is having pain when she tries to urinate. But the pediatrician is not concerned. So I guess we have to leave it there, for now.
I will admit I am frustrated with this. But not sure what else I can do. I guess next time she has one of those episodes, we just head to the ER. Not sure what else to do.
Thanks for listening to me “vent”!

2 comments:

Rachelle said...

Ok, I listened, now where are your Halloween pictures : )

Anonymous said...

Dr. Long specializes in pediatric nephrology- kidney problems. That's why we chose her to be our pediatrician for Tyler back when he had his kidney stuff going on. I think that's who Kelly H. usus with Jane, too. I wouldn't settle for waiting for something to happen. Try getting in touch with Dr. Long, tell her your story. She was very thorough with Tyler- he had several renal ultrasounds over our course of time with her. Plan B- the next time Maddie wakes up in pain, CALL Dr. B. Every time she wakes up like that, CALL Dr. B. Abby had a fever for a couple of days and seemed to have some pain when she peed, so I called and got a urinalysis done that day. I'm a squeaky wheel. It works! Good luck with that.
Now... what were your kids for Halloween?? :)