Enterolab Tests Vs. Blood Test?

[dawnd]

I've been reading your posts and you all seem to understand gluten intolerance and other allergies very well. I need some advice for my 2 1/2 son. He has Down syndrome and his first 18 months he always had a rash, seemed to zone out a lot and was not progressing as well as our other friend with Downs. I took him off Gluten and the next day his rashes cleared and he started crawling (we had been working on that for 6 months). Two months later I took him off casen and he showed some more improvement although not as drastic. We had his blood tested 4 months after being off gluten and 2 months after off casen with the following results: Celiac AB Profile Antigliadin Abs, IgA = 2 and IgG = 10. IgE for food allergens (including milk and wheat) less than 0.35. According to many of the posts I have read, if he has Celiac I have to watch his playdough, finger paints, soap and so many things that would make things even harder than he already has it with Downs. I am to the point that I need to know as definitively as possible about the gluten and casen. His GI doc said we can do the upper endoscopy for biopsy to know for sure. IThat means putting him back on gluten. I am afraid to do that - he is in school and it would break my heart to see him regress. I have also been reading about enterolab's stool tests. I don't want him to be on this diet if he doesn't have to be. Please, if you have any insight I would appreicate your time and knowledge. I want to make things easier for him if I can. Maybe one of the allergies were coincidence (maybe that's just wishful thinking, but I need to know for him).

Thanks in advance.

[chewymom]

Hi,

I can't really answer your question, because I'm still in the exploration stage myself, but I wanted to say hi as another mom to a son with Down syndrome! My son is almost 16. I noticed the link for a Lowcountry Down syndrome association--are you near Hilton Head/Savannah? We lived in Savannah for several years when my son was younger, and my mom just sold her Hilton Head condo--our vacation spot for 15+ years!!

[dawnd]

The Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry is in the Charleston, SC area. Love, love, love Charleston!!! I've never been to Hilton Head but I know it is nice. I'm sure you will miss your vacation spot! How is your son? Does he have any food allergies? Dawn

[chewymom]

My son is great! Very healthy as far as we can tell. And quite outgoing and friendly, I might add. That's him in our itty-bitty family picture on the side--in the center, lying down.

We aren't aware of any food issues, but we do (finally) have an appointment with a dermatologist in October. I am a little suspicious of DH.