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I Immediately Think Every Symptom Is Caused From Gluten...

Happyw5

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Happyw5 Explorer
Happyw5
Posted

I have been gluten free for about two years, and it has made a dramatic change in my life. (I won't get into all the symptoms and issues I had) I have five kids and they each have there own set of issues and I believe that most of their symptoms stem from gluten intolerance as well. I also have brothers and sisters that I believe have issues. I was never diagnosed celiac, so I think that is why I never completely take my kids off gluten. Our home is gluten free, but they eat lunches at school and so on. Does anyone else feel like they jump to gluten being the cause of symptoms?

My son came home from basketball practice tonight (12yrs) and said he could hardly run, because his body and head hurt so bad. He has many stomach issues that come and go and is sent home from school often for headaches. He does have many other unrelated issues, like a kp rash on his arms and face (but maybe they are all related) Dr's don't seem to worry, because he is overall a healthy child! My other son won't eat for days at a time because he feels like something is stuck in his throat (had throat study done and came back fine) My girls all have different issues as well.

Just thought I would see if anyone else has become obsessed with gluten symptoms?

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nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

I don't think I became obsessed... I saw the symptoms more often in people but I could be right. Right?

I saw GI symptoms in 2/3 of my kids. I made them gluten-free and those symptoms have largely improved. I think the only way to know if your kids are celiac is to test them, and likewise the only way to know if they are non-celiac gluten interant is to follow the gluten-free diet strictly. Perhaps give it a try and you'll be able to stop wondering. :)

Best wishes to you and your five.

Cara in Boston Enthusiast
Cara in Boston
Posted

I have one son with celiac and one without. My celiac son complained for a YEAR of not feeling well (fatigue, joint pain, etc.) and I assumed it was from gluten - somewhere in our gluten-free house. We restricted his diet even more (no processed foods that were not specifically gluten-free), no eating out, etc. etc. I was at the point were I was going to hire someone to come in to my kitchen and find the elusive gluten. Turns out he had lyme disease. Now I know better than to just assume it is the gluten.

My poor older son, I am constantly asking about his bathroom habits. He still gets tested every two years, but sometimes I feel we need to go in sooner. Mood swings, headaches, fatigue, etc. All PERFECTLY NORMAL for a 10 year old . . . but I still wonder.

Cara

roomorganizing Rookie
roomorganizing
Posted

I totally understand how you could relate every symptom to gluten! After reading hundreds of posts and stories on this forum as well as dozens and dozens of medical articles, I have come to understand that celiac disease can be the ROOT of so many other conditions and symptoms. And it can be so frustrating when most doctors want to treat superficially and only what they see on the surface. We were fortunate with our oldest son -- our primary care physician was in the early stages of TRULY learning about celiac when I took our 16-yr-old for his physical. He was 5'3", in the 10th percentile of his peers, was not growing, had delayed puberty, but no other symptoms (that we recognized at the time). My concern was the short stature (pituitary? thyroid? just the card he was dealt?). Our doc wanted to run blood work, but emphasized that he was ordering a celiac panel. Tests showed tTg of 70 (<20 negative), so endoscopy was ordered. The GI doc said visually everything looked normal -- but the biopsies came back positive. We immediately went gluten-free with him and he grew over 7 inches in less than two years!

In the last two weeks, our daughter has presented with itchy blisters on her legs that broke open, got progressively larger and more angry looking, and now look like open sores. Of course, our new doc (we moved last summer), says it may be impetigo. I insisted that she be tested for DH, but he wanted to give it a week of treatment and go from there. I said I didn't want to wait a week. So we are moving ahead with the antibiotics in case they are infected, and I take her back in in a few days for the skin biopsy. Personally, with our family history, I prefer to rule out celiac before we run the gamut of every other condition it COULD BE! He was not as convinced, obviously, but reluctantly agreed to what I wanted.

That's a long story just to say "go with your gut!" Even with just a little bit of research on celiac disease, it's hard to not to see every symptom as related. I share your obsession Happy!

Happyw5 Explorer
Happyw5
Posted
  • Author

I am taking my oldest son to his dr tomorrow. I am going to have them run a cbc and a celliac panel. He comes home constantly with headaches and bellyaches. He is constantly in the bathroom, and says its normal bm, but i no it's not... He also has had little bumps on his arms and face for the longest time. It may be nothing but I need to know!!!

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      You've done an excellent job of meticulously tracking the rash's unpredictable behavior, from its symmetrical spread and stubborn scabbing to the potential triggers you've identified, like the asthma medication and dietary changes. It's particularly telling that the rash seems to flare with wheat consumption, even though your initial blood test was negative—as you've noted, being off wheat before a test can sometimes lead to a false negative, and your description of the other symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, stomach issues—is very compelling. The symmetry of the rash is a crucial detail that often points toward an internal cause, such as an autoimmune response or a systemic reaction, rather than just an external irritant like a plant or mites. I hope your doctor tomorrow takes the time to listen carefully to all of this evidence you've gathered and works with you to find some real answers and effective relief. Don't be discouraged if the rash fluctuates; your detailed history is the most valuable tool you have for getting an accurate diagnosis.
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