Food Challenges

[Nic]

I posted a couple of weeks ago about my son continuing to have syptoms even though he is gluten free. Some very smart people here asked if it is possible that he has other intolerances (I wonder why the doctor never thought of that ). Anyway, I spoke with my Ped. and she suggested that I try taking him off lactose and to use Acidophilus (a probiotic) to help move his system along (constipation is his symptom). So I followed her advise and also had his blood tested for milk, egg, soy, etc. allergies. I am still waiting for the results of the test but I believe I see some improvement with the lactose free and acidophilus. He is going to the bathroom almost everyday and when he doesn't go a day, he doesn't feel the urge to (he used to be back and forth to the bathroom trying to go all day). His stool is more formed and appears to be a normal amount rather than filling the toilet with more loose poop that I thought was from his stool softener. He appears happier and is less emotional and argumentative. It has only been 2 weeks, is it too soon to be hopeful that this is working? I fear that he is just having a good 2 weeks at the same time that I happen to be trying this.

Nicole

[fourkiwis]

Hi Nic, My son has been gluten free since November 2005, he was luckily not lactose intolerant with it, but my husband is and may never be able to have lactose again. You will probably find that it was lactose giving your son the extra symptoms, most kids are able to go back on lactose after 3 months on the gluten free diet as the villi have healed enough to break down the lactose in dairy ( the tip of the villi are the part that produces lactase, which breaks down lactose, and is that is damaged then the breaking down activity can't occur). Also it was about 10 days - 2 weeks before we saw a difference with Matty (my son) after he went gluten free, and even now if he inadvertently is exposed to gluten it takes this amount of time for him to recover.

Good luck with the diet and stick to the dairy free for the 3 months then reintroduce it slowly - of course seek advise from your doctors as well. This advise is given to the parents of newly diagnosed children here by the doctors (NZ)