Help! How Do I Know If The Diet Is Successful?

[DianeByrd]

Our family has been gluten-free for thirteen days, except for an accident four days ago (malt in the chicken broth we used for homemade soup). Our 2 1/2 year old daughter is the only one who has been tested through Enterolab. Her results indicated that she not only had antibodies for gluten but also for casein. Can I hope to see improvement without eliminating milk? How long should we be gluten-free before trying to remove milk?

When she had a trial gluten-free diet a year ago, she was also off soy because the doc thought soy was a more likely culprit than gluten. Would a soy allergy cause failture to thrive?

What about the rest of our family; my husband, our 9-year-old son, and I all have suspicious symptoms?Would it take longer for us to see results for ourselves than for our daughter? Do certain symptoms clear up quicker than others?

I really want to believe the results of Enterolab despite the doctors' doubts, but I can't feel committed to this lifestyle for the long haul without seeing positive change.

Thanks for any input.

[nettiebeads]

Have you seen any improvement at all? Is your dh still getting exposed to gluten through toiletries or supplements? If she has tested positive for casein intolerance, then milk and milk products must be removed from her diet also. Enterolab has had nothing but positive responses from other posters at this site; many trust the lab a whole lot more than their own drs. And what suspicious symptoms do your family members have? And remember, if one family member tested positive, then all the first degree relatives have a much higher chance of having celiac and casein intolerances also.

Annette

[Electra375]

If she is sensitive to casein, then yes dairy needs to be eliminated to see improvements.

You can check out www.gfcfdiet.com for help in that area.

As for results -- it depends on the symptoms. My ds2's diarrhea was gone almost immediately going gluten-free, except for the accidents. His behavior was slower to change, maybe 2 wks for my noticing, then 4 wks for others to notice.

It's hard to have toddlers tell you how they feel. But what I've heard from adults is that they feel better all over in general being gluten-free, even those not sensitive to Gluten (as the case of one husband to help his wife, elderly couple).