8 Year Old - Behavior Issues And Anxiety

[missdiamondbc]

Hi  

 

My daughter is 8 and is being diagnosed Celiac.

She is having growth issues (hasn't grown any in 3 years) so the ped did some blood work.  Growth hormone and thyroid levels are normal.  The blood test was positive for Celiac.  We went to Johns Hopkins pediatric GI clinic, where they said that her level was 100, which made them 99.9% sure she is positive.  She goes for the endoscopy at the end of next week. 

She is also going for a neuropsych eval next week.  She is severe ADHD (meds since she was 4) and possibly mild Asperger's.  On the spectrum at the very least.  

That all being said, she has massive self-esteem issues.  She doesn't make or keep friends very easily.  She is horribly worried about being singled out because of the this.  She won't be able to eat breakfast with her class in the classroom (all bagels, muffins, and cereals).  She won't be able to have birthday cake or pizza (if she ever gets invited to a party).  

I told her this is fact of life.  God made her this way.  We will get everything figured out.

For a kid like her, who needs to know every detail about everything and get very obsessive, that's just not good enough.

[africanqueen99]

My oldest is a super social kid that can make friends with a brick wall.  She was also so worried about this stuff.  You're going to become a pro at making gluten-free pizza for parties...and gluten-free cupcakes.  Michael's has an awesome cupcake decorating class so they look fancy like a pro shop.

 

Sorry about the possible DX, though.  Those first months suck!  Come hang with us in the parent forum.  You'll get a lot of BTDT advice.

[nvsmom]

Welcome to the board.  

 

Yep, the first few months are tough but then you find your substitutes and get used to bringing food everywhere, and it seems easier.  Truly it does.  Plus behaviour issues often improve after a few months gluten-free.  My oldest, who we think has Aspergers but we never finished the diagnostic process, went gluten-free and his behaviour and focus improved quite a bit.  Once that happes, it makes staying gluten-free a bit easier.  

 

Try not to let her get singled out by her school mates.  Send gluten-free bagels, muffins and cereals with her to school. There is no reason she can't have those things too, you just need to change brands.  Make her food a bit better than the average kid's food so she feels good about it rather than like she is going without.  Make sure she has really good treats on hand at school for when treats are brought in, or make a promise that you owe her one after school if she has to miss out for whatever reason.  As for the parties, bring good gluten-free food for everybody at the party and she'll feel fine about it.  The last party my boys went to, I brought gluten-free brownies, chips, and some fruit for everybody. They ate and shared everything and came home happy, plus I had some gluten-free candy on hand to exchange for their loot bag treats they couldn't eat.  

 

It really will get easier.  Hang in there.

 

And make sure your whole family gets tested every two years or so for celiac disease if they continue to eat gluten.  Chances of a first degree relative developing celiac disease is somewhere around 1 in 10 to 1 in 15.

 

Best wishes.  

[sunny2012]

Personally, I'd hold off on any psych evals until her stomach heals - if she has Celiac. My most notable symptoms are all first neurological then stomach later. 

 

One of mine is OCD. I have to tell them you can't have OCD about this right now. They have to learn to manage like any other challenge. When she feels better, that may start to subside

[missdiamondbc]

I've had this appointment for the neuro psych eval for 6 months.  I just want some answers.  It's getting to the point where I can't handle her anymore.  Hopefully cutting the gluten will make it better.  Though the doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital told me that research does not support the correlation between gluten and behavior...

 

Thanks for the advice

[LauraTX]

I've had this appointment for the neuro psych eval for 6 months.  I just want some answers.  It's getting to the point where I can't handle her anymore.  Hopefully cutting the gluten will make it better.  Though the doctor at Johns Hopkins Hospital told me that research does not support the correlation between gluten and behavior...

 

Thanks for the advice

 

This doctor was probably referring to the people who put children with autism on a Gluten Free Casein Free diet and say it makes their children better.  There is not science that supports that.  However, when untreated Celiac disease is present, there absolutely can be psychological symptoms.  Here are a few links, maybe the last paper you can refer the psych specialist to if they deny this is the case.  Obviously, treat what is happening now, and be very strict with the gluten-free diet and you may see some very great improvements as healing happens.

 

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

[cristiana]

I can't say I have had any experience of knowing any children with celiac disease but what I did want to say is every time I read the word 'anxiety' on this forum I think back to my own diagnosis, when I was feeling so anxious, and they discovered I was extremely anemic and my B12 was also low.   Almost as soon as I was put on supplements I felt vastly better.  I am quite sure that these levels were affecting my mental wellbeing.  I don't know if this would be the case with children, too, but perhaps worth exploring if there are any deficiencies.