Looking For A Little Advice For My 4Yo

[Sarahaa]

Hi all

I'm new here please be kind!

I'm looking for some advice please. I have 4 daughters, my 3rd daughter is displaying symptoms that I have been questioning for some time. She has 'always' had periods of toddler diarrhoea, or that's what it was our down to. These periods can last from a day or 2 to maybe a few weeks. When she is in this, she is v tired, clingy, emotional. Also incredibly hungry. To the point she would eat food out of the dogs bowl

As it was intermittent I left it for a while although it's getting worse so have taken her to doctors and asked for coeliac testing. Her results are back and she has a low mcv (normal haemoglobin and ferritin though), low IgA and low IgM.

Our gp has referred us to paed for advice but I wanted to know if anyone else thinks this sounds like coeliac. Gp says he is 'unsure of the significance' of these results .

As a bit of background, I'm a type 1 diabetic and hypothyroid so have autoimmune things going on, and baby (8 months), is cow milk protein allergic and soya intolerant, but has also stopped putting weight on so possibly something else (I'm thinking maybe coeliac too?)

Thanks for reading x

[kareng]

Can you copy the celiac blood tests exactly as they are printed with the ranges?

[Sarahaa]

Can you copy the celiac blood tests exactly as they are printed with the ranges?

I haven't got a copy although can call and ask for one.

I was told her IgA was 0.37 and should be higher than 0.4 and her IgM was 0.3 and should be higher than 0.5.

I never heard the mcv, will call surgery now and ask for a copy x

Thank you for replying!

[cyclinglady]

MCV means little blood cells. I have them and so does my daughter. It is genetic. If she has good hemoglobin and ferritin, then she is fine. You can google it.

[Sarahaa]

MCV means little blood cells. I have them and so does my daughter. It is genetic. If she has good hemoglobin and ferritin, then she is fine. You can google it.

I've got a copy and actually her Mcv is just within range but her b12 is very high (810, should be between 200-690) and mchc is high too?

[cyclinglady]

Sorry, do not know anything about B-12 as I am not a doctor, just a mom!

[nvsmom]

IgA levels are only significant to celiac disease because 5% of celiacs are deficient in IgA, which is more than the regular population.  Many celiac disease tests are based on IgA testing but a celiac with low IgA will show false negative on those tests (tTG IgA, EMA IgA, AGA IgA and DGP IgA).  Because of that, you'll want to request the IgG based celiac tests (tTG IgG, DGP IgG and AGA IgG) if they do celiac blood tests on here.  The DGP IgG is one of the best tests out there for detecting celiac disease in young children, so I would definitely see if that one can be done.

 

Any celiac testing must be done while the patient is still consuming gluten regularly.  Don't try the gluten-free diet yet if you wll be seeing the ped any time soon.

 

Good luck!

[Sarahaa]

IgA levels are only significant to celiac disease because 5% of celiacs are deficient in IgA, which is more than the regular population.  Many celiac disease tests are based on IgA testing but a celiac with low IgA will show false negative on those tests (tTG IgA, EMA IgA, AGA IgA and DGP IgA).  Because of that, you'll want to request the IgG based celiac tests (tTG IgG, DGP IgG and AGA IgG) if they do celiac blood tests on here.  The DGP IgG is one of the best tests out there for detecting celiac disease in young children, so I would definitely see if that one can be done.

 

Any celiac testing must be done while the patient is still consuming gluten regularly.  Don't try the gluten-free diet yet if you wll be seeing the ped any time soon.

 

Good luck!

Thanks so much for your knowledgeable replies everyone!!

Do you think they will want to do further testing on her in view of these bloods and her symptoms?

[mommida]

Eating dog food can be a symptom of PICA (anemia/ low iron creating the craving of "non-food" items)  Keep this in mind and really keep an eye on your daughter!  Kids with PICA will eat dirt, drywall, chew ice, and will chew food and spit it out.  (overlooked symptom blamed on "picky eating")

 

Excess levels of vitamin B 12 are flushed from the body naturally. ("D")

 

I would suggest further medical testing.  It was previously mentioned, do not start a gluten free diet until all testing is completed.  Start a food journal.  Foods consumed, BMs, symptoms, and activities might show more of a pattern.

[nvsmom]

I would try to get testing - some doctors need a bit of prodding... and education.    She really hasn't had any celiac disease tests, if those results you mentioned is all the testing she had done.  She is having D, and emotional issues - that's enough symptoms to go ahead with testing. Your history of autoimmune disorders also makes it more likely that she could develop celiac disease (and you and your other kids too).

 

In celiacs, low B12 is the norm but not in all cases. I tend to have quite high B12, just like your daughter, but I've never figured out why... anyway, high B12 does not usually point to celiac disease but some celiacs do have it.

 

Best wishes.

[Sarahaa]

Thanks for your replies.

I'm going to wait a few more days and then ask what feedback our gp had had from hospital regarding results. Ultimately I want her referred and seen by a paed, for proper testing.

She has been down again this weekend with diarrhoea, tiredness, clingy and complaining her body hurts. She isn't right at all.

Will keep you updated x