How Long Does It Take For Children To Heal?

[prinsessa]

The kids have been gluten free for about 2 weeks now. In a way it is easier with DD because she knows to ask before eating things. DS doesn't know to ask (he is 3) and ate gluten a couple of times when I wasn't looking. Once was at my mom's house because she had regular crackers on her table and he grabbed one. I didn't notice until he took a bite. Next time I go I have to make sure all the gluteny food is out of his reach. The other time was at a party when he ate a Kit Kat. How long should it take for his BMs to get more solid? They do look a little better (I don't see pieces of undigested food anymore), but they aren't totally solid yet. He also has a lot of gas still (and really stinky gas).

I am thinking that milk might be a problem. Next time I go to the store I am going to buy soy milk and see if that helps. His BMs have slowed down a little. Now he won't go for a couple of days sometimes. He had D one day, but that was after DH gave him some Ovaltine (he didn't know it had malt in it or that he couldn't have malt). I am just wondering if it can take a while for kids to heal.

[Mamato2boys]

You should know that if you suspect your son is sensitive/allergic to cow's milk, there's about a 30% cross-reaction rate with soy (in other words, about a 30% chance he'll react to soy milk too). I would suggest gluten-free rice milk instead. Wild Oats carries one....it's called Pacific something or other (somebody help me out with the name here, lol). I've read that it's recommended that when you have an immune response to something (such as gluten), that you avoid all dairy too because dairy tends to trigger immune responses. That will mean avoiding the obvious and not-so-obvious forms of dairy.

I'm not sure how long it takes to improve. I'm still waiting for my son's loose stools to improve too - he's been gluten free for a little over a week. I've seen improvement in the color (it went from yellow to brown), but still isn't formed yet.

[Guest nini]

everyone is different, and if it's a dairy issue as well, once you get the dairy out you should notice some improvement. Also, go from the last accidental ingestion of gluten as to how long he's actually been gluten-free, even if he's been on the gluten-free diet a total of 2 weeks, if he had gluten (even a bite) three days ago, then he's only been gluten-free 2 days. It takes time.

[Nikki2003]

I Think it is just called pacific they have a rice milk and almond that are gluten free. My daughter likes them both also there is natures's best that is gluten free and I believe rice dream but don't quote me on that one it may have barley or something sililar just read the label.

Hope they help

[TCA]

It took my son 3 weeks for the D to stop. I also made a lot of mistakes at first. My son is 3 too. I tell him everywhere we go to only eat what Mommy says he can because some things make his tummy hurt. So far it's worked. Good luck!

[Mamato2boys]

I Think it is just called pacific they have a rice milk and almond that are gluten free. My daughter likes them both also there is natures's best that is gluten free and I believe rice dream but don't quote me on that one it may have barley or something sililar just read the label.

Hope they help

Rice Dream actually has some gluten in it.

[LoriCF]

Yes, Rice dream does have gluten. we use Vance's Foods DariFree, which has no gluten, dairy, or soy.

I'm no expert, as my son has just been off gluten for 4 months, but I'm guessing it depends on how long they've been intolerant and how much damage has been done to the intestine? My son has somewhat normal BMs, but even after being very careful for 4 months, they're still fairly soft.

Yes, if you suspect milk, also suspect soy. They often go hand in hand.

Lori

[prinsessa]

Thanks everyone! I will buy some gluten free rice milk this weekend. He drinks rice milk and soy milk at my mom's house and doesn't know it isn't cow's milk. He did have a solid BM yesterday (which didn't really smell as bad as normal) which I was happy about (the funny things people with gluten intolerance get happy about ). And his behavior has improved since going gluten free (not so many temper tantrums).

[Kibbie]

How long should it take for his BMs to get more solid? They do look a little better (I don't see pieces of undigested food anymore), but they aren't totally solid yet. He also has a lot of gas still (and really stinky gas).

My DD's BM's went from rock hard solid to mushy being off gluten she's 19 months and her pedi thinks that these look normal for her age (fortunatly DD had a BM at the Dr.s office so she was able to see it) I'd describe them as mushy like really sticky cookie dough... but no peices of undigested food.

[Yenni]

I've seen improvement in the color (it went from yellow to brown), but still isn't formed yet.

I didn't know the color change like that meant improvment??

(I am very new to this.)

[kenyonsmommy]

My son is almost three and has been gluten-free for almost 5 months. It took almost a month for them to look normal. He still goes back and forth between really bad smelly mushy poop to solid normal poop. This is probably because mistakes are made every once in a while, we just had an issue with sherbet, which he loves, but it seems Perry's has malt flavoring in it. I'm learning not to assume, but learning takes time and practice.

[flagbabyds]

I would def. try going off dairy for a while and see if that helps, i went off dairy for a year after i was diagnosed and then it was slowly re-introdiuced into my diet and it was fine (this was 15 years ago) so yeah.

It just depends on the kid, make sure that all his bath products and stuff like that are also gluten-free esp. cause in little kids they like to put it in their mouths, so if it has gluten in it he can get sick from that easially.

Yes make sure that your mother understands taht he can not have anything and she should understand why she needs to put it away.

Hope he starts getting better soon!