Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Starting To Question Celiac In My 10 Year Old Daughter

mamat78

Recommended Posts

mamat78 Apprentice
mamat78
Posted

HI everyone,

I have been here for a while because I live a gluten free lifestyle due almost entirely to skin issues. My daughter (adopted but biologically my cousin) is 10 years old and less than the 5th percentile for both height and weight. Over the summer, she has actually lost weight which is a bit of a concern for me. It dawned on me last night when she was complaining of a stomach ache, that maybe we should look at getting her tested for celiac disease. So, these are some of the reasons why I am starting to think that maybe we should get her tested: 

 

  • her bio aunt (dads sister) has celiac disease.
  • Her bio dad had IBS
  • I (bio cousin-same side of family) have DH when I am on wheat although tested negative. 
  • Stomach aches off and on that last for a few days and then fine again for a few weeks. 
  • diarrhea when her stomach is bothering her. (she complains after she eats and it hurts intermittently until she eats again) 
  • Behaviour has been really not good in the last 10 months and she is a very quiet natured sweet kid (irritable, anger outbursts etc)
  • Seems "in the clouds" and actually looking at considering add meds in the fall but holding off because I am not ready. 
  • less than the 5th percentil for height and weight.
  • Losing weight in the last 3 months and hasnt grown at all in height.
  • often feels bloated (most dinners) 

 

I guess my question is, am I questioning this too much because I am familiar or do we have good enough reasons to push for testing? 

 

 

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mamat78 Apprentice
mamat78
Posted
  • Author

i forgot to add that she has been getting headaches more in the last 6 months as well. not every day by any means but at least 2-3 times per month for 1 or 2 days in a row. 

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

I think those are enough reasons to get her tested.  Bring that list to the doctor and ask for the tTG IgA, tTG IgG, DGP IgA, DGP IgG, EMA IgA and total serum IgA.  Don't have her go gluten-free until after all testing is complete.

 

Good luck with the doctor.

1desperateladysaved Proficient
1desperateladysaved
Posted

I think you are on the right track and do hope it works out for you and your daughter.  Please do get the tests Nicole recommended as those symptoms are not normal.  There must be a reason for them.

mamat78 Apprentice
mamat78
Posted
  • Author

not sure if it was coincidence or not but dinner was the only meal my daughter managed to eat a lot of and also didnt feel sick...gluten free pasta. I am going to chart what is going on for the next little bit. We are supposed to go back to the ped doc early november so I may just bring her to our family doc and ask for those blood tests. Looking at my "list" again tonight makes me wonder how come I havent considered this before?? 

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

Make sure she is getting gluten and has been getting it before you test. We have a gluten-free house, but I manged to give my daughter gluten everyday in her lunch for months before she was tested (she tested negative, but will need follow-up testing every few years).

africanqueen99 Contributor
africanqueen99
Posted

Can you get into her Ped sooner?  If it's celiac or a gluten issue that's a long time of not feeling well when testing doesn't take too long.  Especially since she still has to be on a gluten containing diet until all testing is complete.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mamat78 Apprentice
mamat78
Posted
  • Author

I can get her into her regular gp to request it as well. Hard to get into ped but could try that route as well. 

Cara in Boston Enthusiast
Cara in Boston
Posted

Why wouldn't you get her tested?  

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,671
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Paul1567
    Newest Member
    Paul1567
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Rejoicephd
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Rejoicephd · Posted

      That and my nutritionist also said that drinking cider is one of the worst drink choices for me, given that I have candida overgrowth.  She said the combination of the alcohol and sugar would be very likely to worsen my candida problem.  She suggested that if I drink, I go for clear vodka, either neat or with a splash of cranberry.   So in summary, I am giving ciders a rest.  Whether it's a gluten risk or sugars and yeast overgrowth, its just not worth it.
    • Inkie
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Inkie · Posted

      Thank you for the information ill will definitely bring it into practice .
    • Scott Adams
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      While plain, pure tea leaves (black, green, or white) are naturally gluten-free, the issue often lies not with the tea itself but with other ingredients or processing. Many flavored teas use barley malt or other gluten-containing grains as a flavoring agent, which would be clearly listed on the ingredient label. Cross-contamination is another possibility, either in the facility where the tea is processed or, surprisingly, from the tea bag material itself—some tea bags are sealed with a wheat-based glue. Furthermore, it's important to consider that your reaction could be to other substances in tea, such as high levels of tannins, which can be hard on the stomach, or to natural histamines or other compounds that can cause a non-celiac immune response. The best way to investigate is to carefully read labels for hidden ingredients, try switching to a certified gluten-free tea brand that uses whole leaf or pyramid-style bags, and see if the reaction persists.
    • Scott Adams
      Inconclusive results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is a challenging and confusing situation. The combination of a positive EMA—which is a highly specific marker rarely yielding false positives—alongside strongly elevated TTG on two separate occasions, years apart, is profoundly suggestive of celiac disease, even in the absence of biopsy damage. This pattern strongly aligns with what is known as "potential celiac disease," where the immune system is clearly activated, but intestinal damage has not yet become visible under the microscope. Your concern about the long-term risk of continued gluten consumption is valid, especially given your family's experience with the consequences of delayed diagnosis. Since your daughter is now at an age where her buy-in is essential for a gluten-free lifestyle, obtaining a definitive answer is crucial for her long-term adherence and health. Given that she is asymptomatic yet serologically positive, a third biopsy now, after a proper 12-week challenge, offers the best chance to capture any microscopic damage that may have developed, providing the concrete evidence needed to justify the dietary change. This isn't about wanting her to have celiac; it's about wanting to prevent the insidious damage that can occur while waiting for symptoms to appear, and ultimately giving her the unambiguous "why" she needs to accept and commit to the necessary treatment. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
    • Scott Adams
      Medication

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Welcome to the community! Generally, for a gluten challenge before celiac disease blood tests, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is considered safe and should not interfere with your antibody results. The medications you typically need to avoid are those like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) that can cause intestinal irritation, which could potentially complicate the interpretation of an endoscopy if you were to have one. However, it is absolutely crucial that you confirm this with either your gastroenterologist or your surgeon before your procedure. They know the specifics of your case and can give you the definitive green light, ensuring your surgery is comfortable and your celiac testing remains accurate. Best of luck with your surgery tomorrow
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.