SS & Raynauds in children?

[Mariposa]

8) Hi everyone,

Tomorrow, I take my 9 year-old son to his follow up appt. His doctor (FP) will be requesting a blood sample to check mainly on his anemia problem. But I'm concern about other problems as well. :ermm:
For example, he is constantly rubbing his eyes despite the allergy medicine (zyrtec) he takes everyday. He says his eyes feel dry or like there is something in there that he can't get out. So, I put eye drops in his eyes almost daily because he asked me to and he says that his eyes feel better after that. Another thing, his mouth is always dry, even though, he drinks plenty of water and he also, puts chapstick on his lips everyday. In addition, his fingers and feet are usually cold and sometimes during the summer he complained of been cold when it was so hot around here. Those times I've checked his temp and it was always his normal temp. :shrug:

Now, back in April, my son got referred to a rheumy at the children's hospital because of his blood test (anemia). Once there, the rheumy's main concern was my son's ANA results. The result of that came back negative, so the rheumy reassured us not to worry because a +ANA is the main factor or "red flag" in a diagnosis like Lupus. Other blood tests were not ordered because I was told it was not necessary at this point.
As far as the anemia problem, he told us that it would resolve on its own because my son could be going through a growth spurt and that anemia can play a part in that. :what:

Could my son have SS? or Could he have Raynauds? or Am I just worrying about nothing? :ermm:

I'd appreciate any advise you can give me.

Thank you, 8)
~Mariposa ~

[balla]

So sorry to hear about your son's problems my 2 daughters started at 13 with raynauds, and my eldest with b12 defiacancey. there feet and hands are always cold no matter the weather and my eldest daughter now 20 is so bad she is always burning her hands without feeling it... she don't know when the water she is geting a bath in is to hot.Her skin is so red when she gets out its a wonder her skin asn't fallen off.they have vasculitis in there legs also so when they both stand (daughter 14,and oldest 20) there legs go blue patches as blood aint getting into them properly.My eldest as b12 injections every 2 months and been told this will be for life. Now the doctors are saying it could be linked to my illness Sjogrens and lupus.Wish your son and you the best of luck in your hospital appointment.
God bless sue xx
p.s if you need to ask anything else please get in touch.

[Courtney93]

I have Raynauds... but that doesnt seem like what raynauds would do. I usually AM cold when I say I am. I am also very young, 13. If the fingers/toes start turning different colors such as purple, blue, white or bright red you may want to worry... otherwise I think its normal. When I didnt have lupus or Raynauds, I got cold and/or hot and i took my temp and it was normal.. it was just a feeling I had. I hope you both will be alright, and hope you dont have to worry about anything. Sorry I'm not much help.

Xx~Courtney~xX

[Lily]

Hi Mariposa,
It's awful watching our little ones suffer from ill health and I sincerely hope they can help sort your little man out :sad:

Zyrtec is an antihistamine and by its pharmacology can cause dry mouth, its made to do that, so maybe thats the problem and its quite prominent in your son. I'd definitely mention it to the doc though because there may be an adjustment in dosage needed or perhaps there is an alternative med that wont affect him so badly.

I'm not sure about the cold fingers and feet, but with Raynauds its the colour changes that are characteristic of the disease. Red/White & Blueish-purple.

Good luck and I hope they can get the anemia and everything else sorted out for him.

Sending hugs,

love
Lily

[Mariposa]

8) Thank you
Balla, Courtney and Lily.

Your help and advice is greatly appreciated by this worried mom,me. 8) I'm running a bit late this morning...I guess is one of those :yawn: days. But I'll get back to you later today.

Hugs 8) ~Mariposa ~

[Mariposa]

8) Hello again,
We had our appt. but it was only 5 mins. with the doctor because the clinic was running behind schedule and we got bumped to the back of the line even though, we had an appt.:unsure: So after a long wait we got sent to the lab and the doctor told me that she would call me later this evening with the results.

Oops, the phone is ringign gotta go. I'll be back.

[Mariposa]

No changes from his previous test three months ago.:ermm:

1. The doctor is going to put him on an iron supplement that's in liquid form. She told me not to continue giving him his daily multivitamin and that she wants to see him in 2-3 months for another set of blood tests.

2. As far as cold feet/hands, she said it was due possibly to his anemia. She wants me to keep an eye on the change of color in the skin; if any new things come up. The dryness in his eyes and mouth could be due to the Zyrtec(Just like you said Lily). She wants to keep him on Zyrtec because Claritin makes him more sensitive in the sunlight and he just got switch from Claritin to Zyrtec not too long ago.

3. His weight is a little below normal, but I was not surprise because of his anemia; even though my kid eats for two :lol:.
She asked me if he usually got tired or exhausted and I told her that a couple of his teachers mentioned it to me a couple of times but that was it. Then, my son told me that he fell asleep in class quite a few times, but that he didn't tell me because he didn't want me to worry. :sad:

Well, I guess now, all I gotta do is wait, hope, and pray this iron liquid supplement works and nothing else comes up. :calm: She said if this doesn't work, then we go to plan C and that I don't know what it could be. :huh: She didn't want to say anything until she has to.

Uuuff! It's been a long day :faint: and I can feel that I'm starting to pay for it now. :oops: But before I finish this message, I want to let you know...

Balla, Thank you for your reply and for sharing your family. I'm sorry to hear that they are ill and that they go through things like we do. :( My thoughts and prayers are with you and your daughters.

Also, Thank you Courtney, because believe it or not, you were/are a big help. Don't under estimate yourself. Your input was very helpful and sweet too. :yes: Sending you butterfly hugs.

Lily, Thank you too.:bow: Once again you're there for me, when I'm running like a scared and confused chicken. :blush: Bless your heart.

Love, Mariposa8)

[Raglet]

it's always sensible to get kids screened for ctd if they have relevant symptoms and a lupie for a mother !

Having said that, I have SS and get both dry eyes and the gritty eye things, and I find them quite separate.

I have allergy drops for my eyes that get rid of that horrible gritty got something in my eye (meds like zyrtec don't do it for me). The liquid tears type stuff will help short term, but if it is allergy it won't get rid of it. My allergy drops (sodium cromulgrate) if used regularly totally zap my grittiness so I don't have it at all. I am still left with dry eyes because of my sjogrens, but I in my experience they are two different things and need two different treatments.

hth

raglet

[frono]

I too am on Zyrtec and I have the dry gritty eyes but it's from my allergies mostly. Like Raglet, I have presciption eye drops for that called elestat. They work wonders. Are you sons eyes red?

I hope they get things all figured out for your son and peace of mind for you. I am a mom and we worry desperately about our children and don't want them to end up sick.

Tiercy