Niece Is Symptomatic

[medaidemom]

I'm looking for some opinions/support here.  I am the mother of two celiac boys.  Both diagnosed a year and a half ago.  One has Crohn's as well. We are convinced that the Crohn's was triggered by undiagnosed Celiac, but that is another subject. 

 

My niece is 13 and has all the symptoms of celiac.  They did a trial of no gluten and all her abdominal symptoms and skin rashes subsided.  However, once I was told of this I encouraged them to get her tested and that she'd have to eat gluten for the accurate results.  So, today she had the blood work done and we are anticipating an endoscopy.  The endoscopy won't be done until May due to not wanting to miss school. 

 

My question to all of you is this: What should she do between now and then?  Can she completely go off gluten until shortly before the endoscopy, can she jus eat a small amount daily? How much does she need to keep eating to keep positive results?  If she minimizes her consumption will it make a difference in her symptoms? For example instead of eating gluten at every meal, if she just ate one cracker a day would it continue the damage ( and thus a positive result) but not make her feel so crummy all day. Or would eating a cracker cause her to feel just as bad so she may as well eat whatever?

 

Thanks, Kris

[mushroom]

I'm looking for some opinions/support here.  I am the mother of two celiac boys.  Both diagnosed a year and a half ago.  One has Crohn's as well. We are convinced that the Crohn's was triggered by undiagnosed Celiac, but that is another subject. 

 

My niece is 13 and has all the symptoms of celiac.  They did a trial of no gluten and all her abdominal symptoms and skin rashes subsided.  However, once I was told of this I encouraged them to get her tested and that she'd have to eat gluten for the accurate results.  So, today she had the blood work done and we are anticipating an endoscopy.  The endoscopy won't be done until May due to not wanting to miss school. 

 

My question to all of you is this: What should she do between now and then?  Can she completely go off gluten until shortly before the endoscopy, can she jus eat a small amount daily? How much does she need to keep eating to keep positive results?  If she minimizes her consumption will it make a difference in her symptoms? For example instead of eating gluten at every meal, if she just ate one cracker a day would it continue the damage ( and thus a positive result) but not make her feel so crummy all day. Or would eating a cracker cause her to feel just as bad so she may as well eat whatever?

 

Thanks, Kris

 

No, she cannot completely go off gluten, because in the absence of gluten the antibodies disappear and healing starts taking place.  She does not need to eat gluten at every meal; a couple of crackers or a slice of bread should be sufficient to maintain the antibody production.  She may find that doing this makes her feel just as bad as a full gluten diet, however, since the reactions/responses are unique to us all.  Trial and error is the only way of knowing.

 

Welcome to the board, Kris, and let us know how and when we can help. 

[nvsmom]

Welcome to the board.

 

I agree with everything Neroli said: your niece will have to eat some gluten to continue the damage - she doesn't need to eat it every meal but she does need to be eating it.  Perhaps she could use that time to say good-bye to her favourite "glutenous" treats like oreos and doughnuts, or even kraft dinner.