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Kids With Headaches?

Ruth

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Ruth Enthusiast
Ruth
Posted

Have your children ever had headaches associated with celiac? My 6yo son has been having headaches for almost a year now. In addition to the pediatrician, we have seen allergists (he has many allergies), opthomologists, dentists, and neurologists. All his CT Scans and MRIs have come back fine (thank God) and everyone says he will outgrow the headaches. I have had a gut feeling that he, like me and my daughter, has celiac. His blood work was negative a year ago.

He also is small for his age, always has been, although he has grown consistently.

His headaches seem like sharp pains that come-and-go all day. I don't see any association with stress, reading, light, need for attention, or time of day.

Any similar experiences out there?

Thanks.

Ruth

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dana-g Newbie
dana-g
Posted

I'm a grown woman with celiac disease who had a headache almost every day until I stopped eating gluten. I, too, saw allergists, neurologists, had CAT scans, MRIs, the whole nine yards. I almost never get headaches now, and it's been almost six months. I've read a lot of books about celiac disease and a lot on the internet, and there is definately a connection between headaches and celiac disease...exactly what that connection is??? All I know for sure is for me, no gluten, no headaches. Hope that helped.

lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

I remember having many headaches as a child and although I was normal size and didn't have diarrhea, I can look back now and see I had celiac disease then. I also had headaches every day as an adult until I went gluten-free.

richard

kaylee Rookie
kaylee
Posted

My little guy clearly had headaches although he was too young to say so (went gluten free at 16 months). He used to rub his hands across the top of his head and forward and make long blinks that were not normal. This hasn't happened once since he has been gluten free!

Best,

Kaylee

KAthyB Newbie
KAthyB
Posted

My daughter had all the neuro tests - normal- but was diagnosed with migraine disorder not linked to stress or diet. The gluten-free diet did not change the headaches and after trying many meds - she is still on a few for the headaches - we tried accupuncture and it worked. After 3 years of headaches almost daily, she went one month without. I do believe the celiac disease, her ehlers danlos syndrome, and vaso deperessor syncope all tie in with the headaches but gluten does not seem to have any effect. I highly recommend the acupuncture by a doctor of Chinese medicine. We were referred by our pediatrician. Good Luck!

KathyB

Connie R-E Apprentice
Connie R-E
Posted

I've been gluten-free for 6 years, and I've found that other foods can cause headaches. For me it is honey. It causes a small swelling at the top of my spine and as long as it is swollen I have a hummdinger of a headache! It starts 24 hours after I've eaten the honey, so it was kinda difficult to figure this one out.

Maybe your little guy has an additional food allergy...

If you can keep a food/symptom diary, you may be able to figure it out faster!

Good luck!

Connie

  • 2 weeks later...
Ruth Enthusiast
Ruth
Posted
  • Author

Thank you all for your responses!

My son just had his 6-year check-up... we are going to have his blood tested for celiac again, and then, regardless of the results, I'm going to try the gluten free diet for 3-4 months and see if it helps his headaches. Based on your replies, it seems like there could be a connection. Also, I like the food diary idea... I will start one immediately to see if any other foods seem to be connected to his headaches.

Thanks again, I'll post an update in a couple of months!

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  • 2 weeks later...
coldkelly Newbie
coldkelly
Posted

Headaches were the only symptom my daughter had. She was just diagnosed a few weeks ago and has hardly had a headache since then.

hsd1203 Newbie
hsd1203
Posted

Gluten daoen't give me headaches, but casein and soy especially sure do! THe second one is a little tough b/c soy is in EVERYTHING, but not feeling like my head is in a vice is worth the extra label reading. :)

Just my experience.

Ruth Enthusiast
Ruth
Posted
  • Author

Hi.

ColdKelly, just wondering.... how/why was your daughter diagnosed? Was she tested because you or another family member has celiac, or did a doctor conclude that her headaches may have been a sign of celiac disease and therefore tested her?

Thanks for the responses!

Ruth

  • 2 weeks later...
DawnI Rookie
DawnI
Posted

Ruth

did you get The results back yet from The bloodd test? my DD tested neg. last year on blood and biopsy.....this year tested way higher on blood....we are doing a biopsy tomorrow am.....

what a difference a year makes...

Dawn

  • 4 weeks later...
Ruth Enthusiast
Ruth
Posted
  • Author

Hi,

We never ended up having my son's blood tested for celiac again. He caught the chicken pox right after his 6-year check up and then we left on vacation.

So... we just put him on the gluten-free diet to see if it would help his headaches.

He started the gluten-free diet on June 27th. His complaints about headaches have been drastically reduced. Previously, he would tell me all-day-long (no kidding) every day that his head hurt. This week I have only had him mention that his "head hurts" twice. Quite a change! I have not checked his height or weight yet.... based on the way his clothes are fitting and his appearance I don't think there has been much of a change. We will continue the diet and hope for continued improvement.

Thanks for all your responses! I'll continue to update his progress, just in case any one else finds themselves in a similar situation.

Take Care,

Ruth

flagbabyds Collaborator
flagbabyds
Posted

Good he's feeling beter.

  • 1 year later...
Ruth Enthusiast
Ruth
Posted
  • Author

I just wanted to post an update...

My son has been gluten-free for almost 2 years now. Headaches are gone! In addition, his excema, asthma and nut allergies are gone too!

I have no idea if this is related to going gluten-free or not. This was a child that was on all sorts of allergy/asthma medications and using a nebulizer with albuteral/pulmucort for four consecutive days a month (like clockwork!) and missing school b/c of it.

Now, he olny uses his albuterol inhaler if he comes in contact with a dog or cat, and has only used his nebulizer once a year ... when he has had a bad chest cold.

I just wanted to share his success story...

He was never "formally" diagnosed with celiac and never had classic (gastro) symptoms.

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