Going Gluten Free

[betsy7]

Hi, Everyone.

My son has been Gluten free for a week now. He's 18 months old and ALWAYS had mushy poops. His main other symptom was slow growth. We're still awaiting his biopsy results, but will be gluten-free for a long time even if it's equivocal in order to see if his growth improves... thus proving it is celiac (his father has been "fully" diagnosed).

We're trying out best and have cleaned out our cupboards of foods w/gluten, but I'm sure it's possible that we're eating something that we found on a list (at whole foods, trader joes, etc..) that may turn out to be contaminated. Rather than starving, we decided to start with the lists that existed and a few weeks in call/e-mail the companies for the foods we like... It's just too many to call right now... so we're trusting the Clan Thompson service and whole foods / trader joes lists.

A week in, he's having many much firmer poops, a few mushy ones and occasional diarrhea. He's also pooping more often that he used to. His appetite has increased -- he wasn't eating much at all for the last few weeks prior to going gluten-free. And, he is napping a little better than he used to nap.

How have your children's symptoms changed after placing them on a gluten-free diet? How long did it take to start seeing improvements in growth (if that was an issue)? Did diarrhea often turn out to be the result of your child eating something with gluten in it -- i.e. something that was cross-contaminated?

Thanks,

Betsy

[skipper30]

Betsy

My son was diagnosed at 2 1/2. Hehas been gluten free since the beginning of the year. We noticed a huge change within a week or so. He is a happier, easier and pain free child. He was origingally diagnosed with Chronic diarhea and we finally had to change doctors. It really was amazing how fast he changed. We no longer have mushy bowel movements and he is able to completely empty his bowels much easier now. He was complaining of his tummy hurting every day- 5 and 6 times a day and that has gone away almost complerely...except for those times when he has been glutened.

Our biggest hurdle is trying to help the other boys (6 and 2) to keep from cross contaminating things. They are trying real hard to help the 3 year old.

Good luck...Dallas

[mommida]

In the first two years of the diet, any gluten accident ended up with vomiting or "D". If my daughter has an accidental gluten exposure, her belly bloats and she doesn't feel well but not as noticeable.

*****Keep emergency wonderful gluten free treats on hand ALL the time!!! Something your child LOVES. People offer kids all kinds of stuff, all the time, everywhere, and to keep the negativity of a gluten free diet, be ready to trade safe treats.***

L.

[VydorScope]

We started out toddler at 18ms or so gluten-free too. We noticed changes with in the first week, but took mcuh longer for stools to come undercontrol. IMO gluten-free for a toddler is about the hardest part there is to this diet... buecase the toddle becomes your worst enemy in the gluten-free fight. They will pick up ANYTHING htey find and stick it in thier mouths.

Caught mine drinking out of the dog's water a couple times this week!

[marja]

hi

our son almost two now(friday) has been on the diet now for a month and after one week we've noticed the differents:he was so happy,painfree and sleeping went perfect...the screaming in the daytime stopped and now after a month we see a totally different child..allt he time from 4 months old he have'd pain and diarree and all the energy wne tto that part .Now he is gluten-free his enrgy goes to his development..he starts talking more plays more ...I am so happy!!!!!!!!!

[wonkabar]

Hi Betsy! My 3 year old started a gluten-free diet 8 weeks ago. We saw a change in his poops in a few days, and after a couple of weeks they were solid and much less frequent. His behavior changed too. He was far less irritable and the crying/screaming for no apparent reason stopped. He's sleeping much better, too. He was frequently up during the night for a couple of hours.

--Kristy

[Dietcokehead]

Hi Betsy! My son was 3 1/2 when diagnosed. His bloodwork was negative but biopsy was positive. He had severe anemia, lethargy, diarrhea, stomachaches, was irritable and always hungry. He was in the 3% for weight and 10% for height with giant bloated belly as well.

Since going gluten free he is like a completely new child! I am so grateful we were able to figure out the problem when we did. He has grown at least 5 inches this year. He has his checkup next week so I will know totals then. He's gone from 25 lbs to 37 lbs and is super-energetic like any 5 year old boy should be! His attitude change is amazing as well. He was reluctant to try anything new, very clingy, etc. Now he's Mr. Social Butterfly. I think a lot of his issues were that he never felt well, but didnt KNOW he didnt feel well since that was always the way it was, you know?

I would give your son 6 mos- a year to really see the changes from going gluten-free. I am going to try and post some before/after pics of my son to show you- the pics are about 7 mos apart. I cant get them to show up but you can click on them to see and I think they will work!

Good luck!

Annie

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/annie...oatedbelly1.webp

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/annie...ellysmaller.webp

[JakeARoosMommy]

The hardest thing about going gluten free with my toddler son is the other kids, esp. at the babysitters and my older child. They could not understand that gluten is not just wheat and that they couldn't just feed him anything that they were eating, b/c of the hidden gluten in things. Jake is just beginning to get used to this and he hands things to me before he eats them, as if he is checking all the food through me first. My sitter only feeds him what I send with him. I provided her with a list of forbidden ingredients, but she really doesn't have a need for it, b/c I provide all his food. I'm becoming an expert chef as far as the baking goes.

My son's behavior was the first to change. He wasn't as cranky and seemed overall happier. I guess that gluten free diets are recommended to parents with Autistic kids. So, gluten must play a role in behavior.

As for the stool, it has taken awhile. It took like two months, before his loose stool became formed. He has set backs ocassionally, whether it is due to cross containmination or my learning curve to the gluten free diet. He is also intolerant to milk, so I have to pay special attention to that as well.

[betsy7]

Thank you all so much for your advice and experiences! Based on all of your feedback, it sounds like I should wait a few months.

It's been almost three weeks now and he's still having slightly mushy poops, but they are better. Right after going gluten-free, his poops were significantly better -- not mushy at all. Within a few days, they were mushy, but better than before gluten-free. I can't believe how much we've begun to overanalyze poops....something I never thought I'd be saying before becoming a mom!!

He's also sleeping much better. Before gluten-free, he probably napped 45 minutes max a day and when he was younger his napping was even worse (I was always jealous of everyone else whose children napped a few hours a day -- he NEVER did). Now, he naps 90 minutes to two hours. So far, that's the biggest change that we've seen.

Also, he had a rash that kept slowly spreading for a few weeks prior to gluten-free -- two doctors said it was eczema. It went away competely within 2 days of going gluten-free.