Big Tummy....still

[ssjrobbins]

My daughter was diagnosed in July 2005 with celiac disease. It was truly a wonderful day when we finally found out what was wrong with her. Since July we have done a lot of research, met with support groups, etc. and have found that our daughter truly had the classic child symptoms of celiac disease. Diarrhea, vomiting, behavioral problems, weight loss (lost 6 pounds in a matter of a few months), low-no energy, complaints of joint pains and most noticeable of all a large distended stomach.

She has been on the gluten-free diet now since July 5th and it has made a world of difference. All of the symptoms have subsided except for one that is truly bothering me, she still has a large stomach. Is this normal when eating gluten-free? Could she be getting gluten in something I am not aware or could it be something else?

Any help would be terrific!

Shannon

[ssjrobbins]

I forgot to mention that my daughter is 3-years old.

[laurelfla]

maybe it could be lactose-related? does she partake of milk products? just a thought. glad to know the other symptoms are better!

[debbiewil]

I believe that a big stomach can be caused by malnourishment, as well as gas, etc. If malnourishment is contibuting, then :

1. the villi have to heal, which can take many months or a year.

2. enough vitamins/minerals then have to be absorbed to bring levels up to where they belong.

Since she's so young, the villi should heal fairly quickly, but she may still be low on some vitamins/minerals. Is she taking any multivitamins or anything?

Debbie

[ssjrobbins]

I forgot to mention that my daughter is 3-years old. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We were wondering if it was milk-related so I took her off for a few weeks but maybe that was not long enough.

She is currently taking a multi-vitamin, she has been on it since July as well.

[shayesmom]

We were wondering if it was milk-related so I took her off for a few weeks but maybe that was not long enough.

She is currently taking a multi-vitamin, she has been on it since July as well.

In my dd's case, we discovered that soy AND dairy were also antagonists. From what I have read, it is fairly common for celiacs to have problems with both. Soy will actually inhibit the uptake of vitamins and minerals while dairy can block the uptake of iron. Not real great when there's already a malabsorbtion issue going on.

It also can take many months for the intestines to heal. You may want to look into probiotics as a supplement to help with that healing. You can find info on probiotics on PubMed, The Lancet and many other sites. It is available at most vitamin and health food stores. It worked wonders on my dd who is not quite as old as yours. There are varieties available that are safe for newborns.

[e&j0304]

My daughter is also almost 3 years old and one of her symptoms was a distended stomach. It has improved a great deal, but it is still a little distended. We had a birthday party for my son tonight and someone commented that her stomach looked a lot better, but I was thinking that it looked a little big! Sometimes I don't really remember exactly how HUGE it was before and it's hard to compare unless I look at pictures that truely tell how far she's come.

I also agree that it will take some time for the villi to heal. My daughter was very malnourished and I think that over time her stomach will continue to go down.

Good luck!

Shannon

[ssjrobbins]

In my dd's case, we discovered that soy AND dairy were also antagonists. From what I have read, it is fairly common for celiacs to have problems with both. Soy will actually inhibit the uptake of vitamins and minerals while dairy can block the uptake of iron. Not real great when there's already a malabsorbtion issue going on.

It also can take many months for the intestines to heal. You may want to look into probiotics as a supplement to help with that healing. You can find info on probiotics on PubMed, The Lancet and many other sites. It is available at most vitamin and health food stores. It worked wonders on my dd who is not quite as old as yours. There are varieties available that are safe for newborns.

Shannon-

Thank you for what you said about Ella, that is exactly what I am thinking with our daughter, Peyton. I do forget how big her stomach was before eating gluten-free was and while I am sure it is improving and is smaller than it was, it is hard to see every day!

Good luck to you and your family!

Shannon