Help figuring out stomach pain

[lizzie42]

Hi,

My 3 year old was diagnosed a couple months ago. We went gluten free, very strict, and everything improved. Energy, no more meltdowns, bad rash is mostly gone. She's doing great. Except she complains every day of stomach pain. She describes it as squeezing. Any ideas from anyone? 

We cut out oats and it didn't make any difference. She doesn't drink milk, though she has cheese. It doesn't seem to coincide with the cheese. She says it hurts when she wakes and then other random times during the day. 

We are SO strict with her food. We don't eat out, out whole house is gluten-free. I make everything from scratch. She eats very healthy. She's not picky and we do tons of fruit, veggies, meat, etc. we don't do a lot of processed food. 

[knitty kitty]

@lizzie42,

How are your daughter's bowel movements?  Does she have gas, diarrhea or constipation?  Does her squeezing feeling move around in her abdomen or is it consistently in one spot?  Is she dehydrated?

How much fruit does she eat?  Fruit juices?

I'd recommend cutting out the cheese for a while, till you get it sorted.

[lizzie42]

Her poop is totally normal since going gluten free. Once or twice per day.  She eats a lot of fruits and veggies. No juice. She said the squeezing is in the spot where her food goes in her belly. Definitely not dehydrated. She drinks tons of water. 

[knitty kitty]

Seems like you've been exploring all the possibilities.  Good job!   

Fructose Malabsorption might cause intestinal discomfort. You might cut back on fruit for a bit.   Gastroparesis can cause squeezing contractions randomly.  Thiamine and the B vitamins would help.

Has your daughter been checked for vitamin deficiencies?  Is she taking any vitamin supplements?   The B vitamins are mostly found in meats and liver.  Increasing B vitamins may help.  

Continue keeping track of her symptoms.  Keep us posted on your progress!

[lizzie42]

Thanks! She was taking iron and vitamin d. Iron has improved so I took her off that (that was not the source of the pain). Vitamin d was low also pre diagnosis but we didn't check b. She has blood work due at the end of the month so I can add vitamin b. She is on a meat kick right now so eating beef regularly. 

[knitty kitty]

We tend to crave foods that our bodies know contain the nutrients it needs.  Her "meat kick" sounds like she's listening to her body's nutritional needs!

Yes, do talk to her doctor and nutritionist about supplementing with a B Complex.  

Well done!

[lizzie42]

Do you think a children's multivitamin might help? I just ordered the probiotic and also multi from hiya. I'm usually not into the multivitamin as my kids eat really healthy but maybe for the ones with celiac? 

[knitty kitty]

A multivitamin is great.  Multivitamins contain lots of trace minerals we need.  My only hesitation is that many use thiamine mononitrate which is not easily absorbed nor utilized by the human body.  Thiamine mononitrate is used because it's cheap and shelf stable.  You can add in a thiamine hydrochloride or a Benfotiamine supplement in addition to the multivitamin.  

I would give a multivitamin to all the kids.  Even the ones without triggered celiac disease.  Kids do a lot of growing, even into their early twenties, and need plentiful B vitamins.  The gluten free diet can be low in the B vitamins.  The B vitamins are water soluble and easily excreted in urine if not needed.  The Recommended Daily Allowance numbers are based on minimums needed to prevent illness.  Amounts for optimal health are higher.