Twin Two Year Olds Just Diagnosed With Celiac

[twinmommy]

I have twin two year old boys who were just diagnosed with Celiac Disease a few weeks ago. I took them off gluten immediately but have then taken them off of casein. We are in the third day of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. The beginning portion of the diet has very little fiber. What I am concerned about is that one of my boys has not had a bowel movement in three days.

Is anyone familiar with the SCD? Is it normal to go a few days without a BM in the beginning of the diet? Thanks, Dana

[Smunkeemom]

I have twin two year old boys who were just diagnosed with Celiac Disease a few weeks ago. I took them off gluten immediately but have then taken them off of casein. We are in the third day of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. The beginning portion of the diet has very little fiber. What I am concerned about is that one of my boys has not had a bowel movement in three days.

Is anyone familiar with the SCD? Is it normal to go a few days without a BM in the beginning of the diet? Thanks, Dana

I tried it and wasn't able to stick to it. I don't know that it's ever normal to go that long without a BM unless that's his normal rythym.

[twinmommy]

He did finally go. Thanks. Now my big problem is getting them to eat the foods that I offer without a huge show!

I tried it and wasn't able to stick to it. I don't know that it's ever normal to go that long without a BM unless that's his normal rythym.

[Smunkeemom]

He did finally go. Thanks. Now my big problem is getting them to eat the foods that I offer without a huge show!

I found when my girls first went gluten free that it was easier to get them to eat the food if I came at it from a "wow, this is so good, I really like <insert food here>" rather than a "this is what you can eat now" thing.

example (happened today)

"I'm really digging these corn muffins, you want a peice?"

instead of

"here is a corn muffin"

it's all about presentation.

[shai76]

My son, also 2, has been on an elimination diet since he was born, which means he is alway seating less allergenic foods. I don't know anything about a specific carb diet, but he eats rice and lots of potatoes, and rice pasta, which he likes a lot. I offer him raisins here and there, but what I found helps with constripation is to give him lots of water and some juice every day. Pears or pear juice really helps too, if they won't drink prune juice. Too much fruit can make my son really gassy though, so that's something to be aware of.

[ravenwoodglass]

I have twin two year old boys who were just diagnosed with Celiac Disease a few weeks ago. I took them off gluten immediately but have then taken them off of casein. We are in the third day of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. The beginning portion of the diet has very little fiber. What I am concerned about is that one of my boys has not had a bowel movement in three days.

Is anyone familiar with the SCD? Is it normal to go a few days without a BM in the beginning of the diet? Thanks, Dana

I am just curious why are you doing the SCD with your two year olds? Have you talked to a dietian about how to deal with the gluten intolerance, eliminating gluten does not mean they have to limit carbs and at their age they need them for energy and growth. You might want to try upping their fruit and veggie intake to increase the fiber.

[twinmommy]

From all of my research the Specific Carboyhdrate Diet is the best diet to help heal the damaged digestive tract and kill a yeast overgrowth. It is a progressive diet. So, as healing takes place, new foods can be added. We are committing to this diet to a year and then will probably move to gluten-free/CF.

I am just curious why are you doing the SCD with your two year olds? Have you talked to a dietian about how to deal with the gluten intolerance, eliminating gluten does not mean they have to limit carbs and at their age they need them for energy and growth. You might want to try upping their fruit and veggie intake to increase the fiber.

We are waiting on our pediatrician to set us up with a nutritionist and are basically on our own to do research right now.

From all of my research the Specific Carboyhdrate Diet is the best diet to help heal the damaged digestive tract and kill a yeast overgrowth. It is a progressive diet. So, as healing takes place, new foods can be added. We are committing to this diet to a year and then will probably move to gluten-free/CF.

[Smunkeemom]

From all of my research the Specific Carboyhdrate Diet is the best diet to help heal the damaged digestive tract and kill a yeast overgrowth. It is a progressive diet. So, as healing takes place, new foods can be added. We are committing to this diet to a year and then will probably move to gluten-free/CF.

The SCD diet is pretty rough to start out with, from what I understand it's the last resort, you might want to try gluten free/dairy free first and see if they feel better. I know the book says that you are supposed to do the SCD to heal and then add food back in, but people heal fine on the gluten free diet.

[bluejeangirl]

I did try the SCD diet for a week and decided it wasn't for me. I think I could go back on if I worked on the foods that work and eliminate the foods that don't. I don't know how you can heal with this diet though if your not eating yogurt. I was making the yogurt like they say but I would mix it with some gently cooked fruit and it was too high in carbs for me to function. The yogurt also gave me intestinal cramps. The other problem was it seems like you eat alot of carrots and I don't tolerate them. Anyway if you can make the yogurt with an alternative source like goat milk (which is what I'm going to try next ) or coconut milk it would really help. And of course if you don't have the blood sugar problems like I do (sigh) those are the only problems I see with it.

[twinmommy]

I just made the goat yogurt over the weekend. First time ever for me to make homemade yogurt! I ordered the yogurt starter from GI prohealth because you have to be careful about what type of cutures it has in it. You do not want Bifidus because it does feed the bad bacteria.

I am trying my boys with it today, but have read to start them off very slowly. I will be giving them 1/4 teaspoon today and working up from that and will probably just mix it in their juice.

I did try the SCD diet for a week and decided it wasn't for me. I think I could go back on if I worked on the foods that work and eliminate the foods that don't. I don't know how you can heal with this diet though if your not eating yogurt. I was making the yogurt like they say but I would mix it with some gently cooked fruit and it was too high in carbs for me to function. The yogurt also gave me intestinal cramps. The other problem was it seems like you eat alot of carrots and I don't tolerate them. Anyway if you can make the yogurt with an alternative source like goat milk (which is what I'm going to try next ) or coconut milk it would really help. And of course if you don't have the blood sugar problems like I do (sigh) those are the only problems I see with it.

[corinne]

I've been on the SCD for four months and it's worked for me (gluten free alone did not). I can't tolerate any dairy or until recently nuts, but I get calcium through calcium citrate. This diet is very restrictive and you have to be careful to get all the vitamins/minerals you need. For kids, particularly fussy eaters, it might be better to just go gluten free for a month and see if there is any progress. If there isn't, try eliminating dairy, soy, corn etc with the help of a dietician. The SCD is sort of a "last resort" and I'd be hesitant with kids, who are growing and really need a balanced diet to use this diet unless necessary.

Texture and appearance matter a lot to kids; things like jello jigglers made with fruit juice etc. can entice them to eat.

[twinmommy]

Hey! Thanks for the advice. We actually will not even be set up with a nutritionist until September. So, we have basically had to do all of our research on our own.

I have actually found some foods that my boys will eat. Homemade applesauce with chicken pureed into it. They like cooked carrots, cooked green beans. They love the homemade jello. Love the homemade yogurt. They love eggs. They love chicken and seem to enjoy several of the recipes that I am finding at pecanbread.com. We have been blessed with two boys that are not as picky as the typical two year old, but before finding out about their Celiac, we were feeding them 100% whole wheat bread (now a no-no), beans of all types, and several types of vegetables, chicken, etc. So, the big change has just been eliminating the grains. They miss bread, but are doing well without it.

Thanks again, for the advice.

Dana

I've been on the SCD for four months and it's worked for me (gluten free alone did not). I can't tolerate any dairy or until recently nuts, but I get calcium through calcium citrate. This diet is very restrictive and you have to be careful to get all the vitamins/minerals you need. For kids, particularly fussy eaters, it might be better to just go gluten free for a month and see if there is any progress. If there isn't, try eliminating dairy, soy, corn etc with the help of a dietician. The SCD is sort of a "last resort" and I'd be hesitant with kids, who are growing and really need a balanced diet to use this diet unless necessary.

Texture and appearance matter a lot to kids; things like jello jigglers made with fruit juice etc. can entice them to eat.