Pott Trained Having Accidents All The Time

[AmyTopolski]

Hi,

My daughter was potty trained in June and diagnost with Celiac about 3 weeks ago. I started the diet about 3 weeks before I got the tests back and she had been doing woderful since then. For the last 2 weeks she has had no accidents and then her church sunday school was not paying attention and gave her ghram crackers! Well, her tummy isn't sick anymore but her mood is uncontrolable and the accidents have started again. She doesn't even realize she is going potty. Has anyone else had this problem? Is it just the confusion from the gluten in her system? If anyone has thought or suggestions, all will be very appreciated!

Amy

[Guhlia]

I have not personally had this problem with my daughter, but I have heard of that happening before. I think I saw it on a tv show on the discovery channel or something. It was about a 3 year old that would have accidents every time she was glutened. Hope it gets easier soon.

[Ursa Major]

Those accidents make perfect sense. Because gluten will affect the nervous system, she apparently cannot sense a full bladder any more. Once the gluten has cleared out of her system, I'm sure she'll return to going to the bathroom on time. It must be distressing for her as well, though, poor little one.

You may need to get her a t-shirt that has reminders on the front and the back about what she can't eat, to wear to church (or large stickers to put on her while in Sunday school). Vincent (Vydorscope is his name here I think) has had to deal with the same thing, and his little guy is 'labelled' in Sunday school, too. You may want to contact him to find out how he dealt with this problem of little Timothy getting glutened in Sunday school.

[Nantzie]

When my symptoms were at their worst, I would have about 30 seconds notice to RUN (!!!) to the bathroom. There were several times where I had to push my children out of the way just to get to the bathroom 10 feet away. And there were times when I didn't make it. There's no holding it at ALL. It just comes out with no sense of it being there until it starts.

Makes perfect sense to me.

Nancy

[Michi8]

Wow! I'd never considered that bladder problems could have to do with gluten. My son is having stomach trouble...he has had chronic constipation since he was a toddler, and it led to having trouble holding his bowels and bladder last year (He's 8 now.) It's not uncommon to lose bladder sensation when you are chronically constipated, and it has improved since starting laxatives (since the fiber and water in his diet hasn't helped!) Although he has had a couple of accidents since starting this newer laxative (polyethylene glycol.) The doctor figures it's just the way his system is, but I believe that there is more to it...and I bet it's something in his diet (and I wouldn't be surprised if it's gluten and/or casein.)

Now he's complaining of stomach upset and nausea, so we're going back to the doctor to do more investigation. His previous celiac panel came back negative though and the xrays & ultrasound simply found his system to be distended with stool (which has cleared up since starting the laxative regime), so I'm not sure what direction the doctor will take.

With myself, I've had bladder issues since having my last child, and it seems to be worse when my stomach is upset...wouldn't it be something if it's gluten-related! I'm still waiting for my biopsy date. I so hope it reveals some answers, because then I would have a concrete reason to pursue further testing for all three of my kids.

Michelle

[Fiddle-Faddle]

My 5-year-old does not have diarrhea or constipation--but she does have problems knowing when she needs to go pee. I always thought it was because she was either too involved with what she was doing or just a little lazy, but now I'm wondering....

[AndreaB]

My oldest son will be four next week and hasn't even potty trained. He will go occasionally. I think he's being lazy but I'm not sure and don't want to push him if there is a problem. He's been gluten free for 3 months and did have mild malabsorption so I don't know if that would cause him any problems or not.

[gfp]

When my symptoms were at their worst, I would have about 30 seconds notice to RUN (!!!) to the bathroom. There were several times where I had to push my children out of the way just to get to the bathroom 10 feet away. And there were times when I didn't make it. There's no holding it at ALL. It just comes out with no sense of it being there until it starts.

Makes perfect sense to me.

Nancy

I agree and the thing is with number 2's.... I have the feeling I need to go for hours..... when Im glutened its like never wanting to be more than 10' away from a loo and I get nervous when I see a queue....

In other words its like I know Im going to need to go urgently BUT it just drags out and them BAM! 10 seconds walking with my heels together!

In other words I think she is putting up with the feeling because she can't go and then accidents happen.

I can't think how to say this without being gross: Basically if you have lots of associated gas it gurgles through and you think you need to loo...you try but at best you pee outa your #2 ... go back top where you were and then all of a sudden that passing gas is passing D....

Its horribly embarassing for an adult.... it must be so horrid for her. PLEASE.. don't make a big deal (I don't think you will but no harm in saying it?)

[jerseyangel]

In her case, I think it's just the normal course of events.

When I was first on the diet, I would also get the urge to go very quickly--and have only seconds to make it to the bathroom in time. Luckily, I could be home most of the time, but anywhere I was, I tended to position myself so I could get to the restroom quickly! It can still happen, if I eat something I'm intolerant to.

She may be having cramps and stomach gurgles, and it might be confusing her--you can feel this pretty much all the time, then when it comes, there's almost no warning. Poor thing--it's hard enough for us adults--let alone someone who has only been potty trained for a short time.

[TCA]

My son is this way. He has #2 accidents when glutened. He's fine otherwise.

[Nantzie]

Yep. I was referring to #2. Maybe your daughter knowing that it has nothing to do with HER, but that it's part of the disease process will help him feel better about it a little. I know when I found this board and discovered that I wasn't the only person on the planet with that symptom, it helped a lot. Maybe her knowing that if a grown-up person with celiac if they had gotten glutened would have the EXACT same problem and the EXACT same amount of time to get to a bathroom, it will help.

As far as what to do about it, as far as I know there's nothing. I was very lucky that it never happened to me in public, but I always carried some flushable wipes with me just in case. Honestly, I would make sure you always had a change of clothes accessible at all times.

Nancy

[fullofhope]

My son loses all ability to tell that he's peeing when glutened, and his potty abilities go out the window. I felt so bad when I realized that it was the gluten, as I had been chalking it up to lack of motivation or defiance. He can't feel when he has to pee and doesn't even realize when he's peeing. Weirdest thing. Also happens if he gets dairy.