Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

I Think My Daughter May Have Celiac

goob

Recommended Posts

goob Newbie
goob
Posted

My daughter is 6 years old and I believe she may have celiac. On Easter vacation she began to have a horrible stomach ache. After about 4 days we took her to the hospital. They x-rayed her and only found that she has a huge amount of air in her stomach and intestines. After many more days of distress we went to her pediatrition who said she had a sinus infection because of her constant runny nose and flem in throat. Next we went to our family doctor and he said to take her off dairy. Her nose cleared up but still had stomach aches. Another trip to him and he said to take her off gluten. She has been off for about a month now and is feeling better. We took her to an allergist and she tested negative for everything in blood and scratch test. He had told us it didn't matter that she had been off gluten for a month before the test and gave her an antacid. She has had problems with constipation since birth, is very skinny, has leg cramps, fatigue, moodiness, mouth sores, anxiety and an endless appitite. All have subsided since on the gluten-free diet, except for the endless hunger. She is 6 and has weighed #40 for the last year. I would just like to hear if anyone has had a similar situation and if there is anything else we should do?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


TCA Contributor
TCA
Posted

If the diet is helping, you're doing great. She may need some vitamin supplements, so get a good gluten-free vitamin. My son loves gummy vites and they say gluten-free on the package. I'm glad you figured this out so easily. Most of us have horror stories! Welcome to the board!

wolfie Enthusiast
wolfie
Posted

Glad that she is doing better!!! Sounds like you found the problem and took care of it. I hope that she continues to feel good! :)

mamatide Enthusiast
mamatide
Posted

I'm certainly no expert, but at 8 1/2 weeks gluten free, my 5yo daughter's appetite has only just begun to subside. At the height of her symptoms she could seriousl put away as much as me, despite her 36lb frame. In the last week to 10 days, she has cut back seriously on her intake but is maintaining her +1 1/2 lbs of weight.

It takes a while for the intestine to heal an begin to absorb the nutrients - so it may take a while for her hunger to subside somewhat.

Oh, and for the first 10-14 days of the gluten free diet it seemed that her symptoms were exponentially worse than ever. But after 2 + weeks she started feeling better and better. So hang in there!

On that thought, does anyone know when the belly pain will end? My DD is pain free now -- so long as you don't push on her belly. That pain is still there and will make her cry if she bumps into something or if she's hit there accidentally. Just wondering.

mart Contributor
mart
Posted

Goob, your experience sounds so much like ours. Our son went from hospital to hospital with severe stomachaches last year at age six. No one could figure out what the problem was. He stopped growing at age 4 and was super skinny. His stools were somewhat formed but were gray in color and horribly smelly. He had severe leg pain and lots of ear infections resulting in ear tubes.

It took months for him to start to heal. Unlike your daughter, his appetite is not good. In any case, stay gluten free and you'll see, she'll get so much better. Good luck!

Kris Fisher Rookie
Kris Fisher
Posted

I'm glad she is feeling better. My 6 year old daughter stopped eating last year because it hurt her tummy. She lost 4 lbs in 2 weeks. we took her in and they sent her to a gastro specialist. They scoped her and came to the conclusion she had gastritis. Now that I'm diagnosed with celiac I brought her back into a regular Dr and he suggested putting her back on prilosec for 3 months to see what happens. I'm now going to make an appointment with the gasto specialists to see if she really has celiac or not. My gut says she does. My middle daughter is skinny like yours and has an appetite of a man. Her bowels are crazy hugh and 9 times out of 10 plugges our toilets. Sorry if thats gross to some. I read that bulky stool can be a sign as well, so I asked my Dr and he suggested putting her on stool softners. It's not working. She had e-coli when she was 4 so going to the hospital for a procedure is out of the question as far as she is concerned. Does anyone think my Middle child should be tested as well?

Smunkeemom Enthusiast
Smunkeemom
Posted
On that thought, does anyone know when the belly pain will end? My DD is pain free now -- so long as you don't push on her belly. That pain is still there and will make her cry if she bumps into something or if she's hit there accidentally. Just wondering.

you should take her to the doctor for that. It might be that she has another problem in there caused by the celiac since her belly was sick for so long, something might be not quite right.

I still have a little tenderness in my belly, but my doctor says it's from scar tissue from surgeries, he said that if I hadn't had the surgeries though he would be suspect of a problem with my intestines.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Scott Adams
      0

      Celiac Diner Sues Olive Garden After Gluten Mix-Up Leads to Medical Emergency (+Video)

    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to pothosqueen's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      16

      Positive biopsy

      In the study linked above, the little girl switched to a gluten free diet and gained enough weight that that fat pad was replenished and surgery was not needed. Here's the full article link... Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Final Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6476019/
    3. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Jordan Carlson's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      1

      Fruits & Veggies

      Hello, @Jordan Carlson, So glad you're feeling better. Tecta is a proton pump inhibitor. PPI's also interfere with the production of the intrinsic factor needed to absorb Vitamin B12. Increasing the amount of B12 you supplement has helped overcome the lack of intrinsic factor needed to absorb B12. Proton pump inhibitors also reduce the...
    4. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to pothosqueen's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      16

      Positive biopsy

      @pothosqueen, Welcome to the tribe! You'll want to get checked for nutritional deficiencies and start on supplementation of B vitamins, especially Thiamine Vitamin B 1. There's some scientific evidence that the fat pad that buffers the aorta which disappears in SMA is caused by deficiency in Thiamine. In Thiamine deficiency, the body...
    5. Scott Adams
      0

      Inmate with Celiac Disease Wins $630,000 After Jail Denies Gluten-Free Food

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,024
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Sunset Blue
    Newest Member
    Sunset Blue
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Positive biopsy

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      In the study linked above, the little girl switched to a gluten free diet and gained enough weight that that fat pad was replenished and surgery was not needed.   Here's the full article link... Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Final Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6476019/
    • knitty kitty
      Fruits & Veggies

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Hello, @Jordan Carlson, So glad you're feeling better.   Tecta is a proton pump inhibitor.  PPI's also interfere with the production of the intrinsic factor needed to absorb Vitamin B12.  Increasing the amount of B12 you supplement has helped overcome the lack of intrinsic factor needed to absorb B12. Proton pump inhibitors also reduce the production of digestive juices (stomach acids).  This results in foods not being digested thoroughly.  If foods are not digested sufficiently, the vitamins and other nutrients aren't released from the food, and the body cannot absorb them.  This sets up a vicious cycle. Acid reflux and Gerd are actually symptoms of producing too little stomach acid.  Insufficient stomach acid production is seen with Thiamine and Niacin deficiencies.  PPI's like Tecta also block the transporters that pull Thiamine into cells, preventing absorption of thiamine.  Other symptoms of Thiamine deficiency are difficulty swallowing, gagging, problems with food texture, dysphagia. Other symptoms of Thiamine deficiency are symptoms of ADHD and anxiety.  Vyvanse also blocks thiamine transporters contributing further to Thiamine deficiency.  Pristiq has been shown to work better if thiamine is supplemented at the same time because thiamine is needed to make serotonin.  Doctors don't recognize anxiety and depression and adult onset ADHD as early symptoms of Thiamine deficiency. Stomach acid is needed to digest Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in fruits and vegetables.  Ascorbic acid left undigested can cause intestinal upsets, anxiety, and heart palpitations.   Yes, a child can be born with nutritional deficiencies if the parents were deficient.  Parents who are thiamine deficient have offspring with fewer thiamine transporters on cell surfaces, making thiamine deficiency easier to develop in the children.  A person can struggle along for years with subclinical vitamin deficiencies.  Been here, done this.  Please consider supplementing with Thiamine in the form TTFD (tetrahydrofurfuryl disulfide) which helps immensely with dysphagia and neurological symptoms like anxiety, depression, and ADHD symptoms.  Benfotiamine helps with improving intestinal health.  A B Complex and NeuroMag (a magnesium supplement), and Vitamin D are needed also.
    • knitty kitty
      Positive biopsy

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @pothosqueen, Welcome to the tribe! You'll want to get checked for nutritional deficiencies and start on supplementation of B vitamins, especially Thiamine Vitamin B 1.   There's some scientific evidence that the fat pad that buffers the aorta which disappears in SMA is caused by deficiency in Thiamine.   In Thiamine deficiency, the body burns its stored fat as a source of fuel.  That fat pad between the aorta and digestive system gets used as fuel, too. Ask for an Erythrocyte Transketolace Activity test to look for thiamine deficiency.  Correction of thiamine deficiency can help restore that fat pad.   Best wishes for your recovery!   Interesting Reading: Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Final Diagnosis of Celiac Disease https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31089433/#:~:text=Affiliations,tissue and results in SMAS.  
    • trents
      Positive biopsy

      By trents · Posted

      Wow! You're pretty young to have a diagnosis of SMA syndrome. But youth also has its advantages when it comes to healing, without a doubt. You might be surprised to find out how your health improves and how much better you feel once you eliminate gluten from your diet. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that, when gluten is consumed, triggers an attack on the villous lining of the small bowel. This is the section of the intestines where all our nutrition is absorbed. It is made up of billions of tiny finger-like projections that create a tremendous surface area for absorbing nutrients. For the person with celiac disease, unchecked gluten consumption generates inflammation that wears down these fingers and, over time, greatly reduces the nutrient absorbing efficiency of the small bowel lining. This can generate a whole host of other nutrient deficiency related medical problems. We also now know that the autoimmune reaction to gluten is not necessarily limited to the lining of the small bowel such that celiac disease can damage other body systems and organs such as the liver and the joints and cause neurological problems.  It can take around two years for the villous lining to completely heal but most people start feeling better well before then. It's also important to realize that celiac disease can cause intolerance to some other foods whose protein structures are similar to gluten. Chief among them are dairy and oats but also eggs, corn and soy. Just keep that in mind.
    • pothosqueen
      Positive biopsy

      By pothosqueen · Posted

      26F!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.