Question For Those Of You With Excessive Hunger As A Symptom

[e&j0304]

My dd also was ALWAYS hungry. That was actually our biggest concern since she was eating such huge portions of food, yet not really growing. Now that she is gluten free, she is growing and is almost caught up to other kids her age. However, she still seems to be a little more obsessed with food than other kids. She is a million times better than she used to be, but I still wonder if maybe she is still getting traces of gluten from time to time and it is affecting her. She will also often complain of her stomach hurting her.

It used to be that she could not/would not even play at playdates with other kids because she would either stand by the kitchen and cry for food or sit on my lap and cry for food. We are so far beyond that now and she is able to be social and play normally with other kids.

Anyway, if your symptom pre-gluten-free was being always hungry, does that come back when you are glutened? Do you also have diarrhea and vomit because she doesn't usually have that with it. She will say her stomach hurts and she will seem extra hungry.

Thanks for any insight!

Shannon

[anerissara]

Yep, I get crazy food cravings and want to eat everything in sight when I get glutened. I'm actually going through that now, and it's not fun! It has gone away, a few months after going gluten-free it was much better. It comes back if I get glutened.

[e&j0304]

Thanks for your response. Just out of curiosity, do you have other symptoms of being glutened other than hunger? I know that everyone is different, but sometimes I just don't think she can tell me just how she feels and what's wrong. She doesn't usually get the diarrhea or vomiting, which would be more obvious.

Thanks!

[anerissara]

Other symptoms...yup! I get tired, eczema-type rashes, bloating, anxiety (usually happens at night...I wake up feeling panicked with my heart racing), and get grouchy. This might be due to all of the symptoms I just listed, though ;o) I also get D really bad.

My son gets grumpy and hyper and overly emotional, and also will get heartburn.

Hope this helps!

[covsooze]

Yes, if I'm glutened I do get very very very hungry! I hadn't actually thought about it until I saw your thread title, but it is definitely a sign to me that I've been glutened. I did used to get very hungry before going gluten-free. That's improved a bit but I think there's a way to go yet. Other symptoms on glutening - v urgent bms bordering on the big D, GERD, feeling hungover, brain fog, depression, to name just a few! I think different people react differently. Maybe someone else who's watched their kid grow up with this will be able to give you better insight - speaking off the top of my head, I'm guessing symptoms might change with age, and also your DD might seem to exhibit more symptoms as she gets older, just because she's becoming more aware of her body

I'm worried about my DS now. He's been complaining all this week of his stomach hurting and he's been ravenous....his coeliac panel was clear and he's 95 centile for weight and height, so the doctors don't think he's got coeliac...

[kalanfan]

you know one thing i have noticed since going gluten free is that i dont eat nearly as much.....i used to be able to eat SOOOOO much and people used to say i had a hollow leg.....but now i actually get full......ITS AMAZING...lol

[Luvs to Scrap]

I'm worried about my DS now. He's been complaining all this week of his stomach hurting and he's been ravenous....his coeliac panel was clear and he's 95 centile for weight and height, so the doctors don't think he's got coeliac...

My DS was diagnosed with celiac in June and he has always been at 95 percentile or higher on his height and weight too. Dr didn't think we needed to test but due to excesssive D and stomachaces we insisted and now I am glad we did. I wish that drs realized that "healthy looking" kids can have celiac too.

Are you thinking of trying the gluten-free diet to see if it helps your DS?

Kendra

[Kaycee]

My first thought on this question, was, no I don't feel hungry after being glutened.

But then I looked at the issue harder, true I am not immediately hungry, as I feel absolutely yuck. But then in the days following I get hungry, but food seems to taste pretty bland, and I just want something sweet and filling, and then some more.

I am in this cycle at present, which means I am doubly beating myself up, as I have been glutened and I am eating too much, which will not do the waist any good! Then it gets me down. A bit of a vicious circle to say the least.

Cathy

[e&j0304]

I just wanted to share a little something. Today was dd's first day of pre-school and she was no longer the smallest child in her class!! She is pretty much right in the middle. It used to always be that she was the shortest/tiniest kid in her classes and it's so good to see how well she's growing. There were plenty of kids smaller than she is and it makes sense because the tiny kids are the one with short parents. My dd on the other hand has me who is 5'9 and dh who is 6'5 so she really shouldn't be short!!

I was just really pleased that we can see how far she has come. Also, her hair looks great now and you can really barely tell that it was falling out so badly. She has come so far this past year!!

Just wanted to share!

[covsooze]

That's brilliant news Shannon Has it made a difference to her energy levels?

Thanks for your post Kendra. My DS has always had fairly loose stools. They are often fairly light in clour and very very smelly (which I think has contributed to him being too scared to poo in the toilet/ potty - he still has to have a nappy for poos). the other thing that bothers me is he is always complaining about being tired. Our GP took one look at him though and said he's obviously healthy because he's doing great developmentally. So was I at that age!! I'm left not knowing whether I'm being over sensitive and paranoid that DS will develop coeliac, or whether I've got good cause to be concerned

As his bloods were negative and I wouldn't want him to go through a biopsy, deitary challenge must be the only way forward. If I do do this, how long would he have to be gluten-free for at his age to notice a difference such that I could convince the drs?

Shannon...sorry, I didn't mean to hijack your thread

[Luvs to Scrap]

Thanks for your post Kendra. My DS has always had fairly loose stools. They are often fairly light in clour and very very smelly (which I think has contributed to him being too scared to poo in the toilet/ potty - he still has to have a nappy for poos). the other thing that bothers me is he is always complaining about being tired. Our GP took one look at him though and said he's obviously healthy because he's doing great developmentally. So was I at that age!! I'm left not knowing whether I'm being over sensitive and paranoid that DS will develop coeliac, or whether I've got good cause to be concerned

As his bloods were negative and I wouldn't want him to go through a biopsy, deitary challenge must be the only way forward. If I do do this, how long would he have to be gluten-free for at his age to notice a difference such that I could convince the drs?

Luke has been on the diet since mid June and is having some more solid stools but has a way to go in that department. (of course he has gotten glutened a couple times too by accident) I'm not sure how long your son would need to be on the diet--my DH said he was feeling noticeably better after 6 months which is forever with a kid! How old is your son? Mine will turn 4 in Sept and because of the D we are still having pooping potty training issues.

We haven't done genetic testing but would that be an option too? Then you would know if he has the celiac gene. Good luck. Kendra