32 replies to this topic

[Birdie19]

I am in complete shock!

Yesterday just to see, I limited as in cut out gluten in my kid for the day. I wasn't optimistic that anything would change I just thought ah hell let's try it.

The results were actually, SHOCKING!

She did have waffles for breakfast (trying to eat through our pantry before we do the switch). But then the rest of the day she had nothing with gluten in it. The results were astonishing. She took a 2 hour nap, something that is INCREDIBLY rare in our house. We didn't argue about anything because her behavior was REALLY GOOD! Today at daycare she had a relatively gluten free diet and daycare said the same thing. She took a nap, no arguing no tossing and turning nothing.

I am converted that is it. I am ready right now to start a completely gluten free diet. She was a TOTALLY different child! I can't believe it!

Even my husband is 100% convinced. We are doing it! YIPEE! A calm healthy happy child, I can't wait!

[Cara in Boston]

Good for you (and GREAT for her)

Be prepared for some ups and downs in the first few weeks. There can be withdrawal symptoms that look worse then gluten symptoms. Don't assume that the diet is not working and give up on it. Also, after a period of time being gluten free, your daughter is likely to become more sensitive to even smaller amounts. When you see symptoms again, don't assume the diet is not working, first look for possible cross contamination - even tiny amounts can cause problems.

Keep a log so you can revisit getting a "real" diagnosis later - when you show your doctor you were RIGHT.

Cara

[Birdie19]

Thanks, Cara! We are starting a diary. I told daycare, if it happens that she gets gluten it isn't a HUGE deal but I do want to know because we are keeping a journal of her symptoms and things that we see happening.

Who knows if it was the diet or a myriad of other things but today she is a different kid still. This morning she went into daycare, sat down at the breakfast table ate her breakfast and wasn't wiggling around and moving all over the place like usual and like the kid next to her. She sat calmly at the table for 15 minutes and ate her breakfast. That's another thing she wasn't shoveling food in like normal. She does that, she shovels it in so fast she can't possibly chew.

Who knows what is going on but the results I am seeing already are amazing!

Can it be that immediate? In theory if her body was so activated by the allergen, the immediate removal of an allergen would deactivate her system right? But it will take weeks to get the residual out of her system I am sure.

Thank you to everyone for the feedback while we made the decision to go gluten-free, it was extremely valuable!