Withdrawal From Gluten Causing More Behavior Probs?

[ptkds]

My dd#2 tested positive for Celiac, so I of course put her on the gluten-free diet. She has been gluten-free for nearly a week and she has been having HORRIBLE temper tantrums. I have a feeling that the gluten is causing behavior problems, but these are sometimes even worse than before. Could it be a withdrawal from gluten?? I was hoping that she would be better by now, but she just seems to be worse.

Thanks!

ptkds

[tarnalberry]

I see from your sig that she's around 6 years old. Any chance she's acting up because she thinks she's being punished? Or that she has other food intolerances that are 'visible' now that gluten is out of her system? Some people do, however, think there is a withdrawl period where things get worse before it gets better, that you may just have to wait out.

Good luck!

[zachsmom]

This is never easy.... But I have heard that people who .. just want to go off gluten.. have troubles.. I think that there is a cleansing and a period of withdrawl... But can you explain to her that its going to be fine and that the new food is going to be just as good or better because its not going to cause her belly harm? And let her help get the new foods.

I am busy telling my 14 month old no ... that food you cannot have. right now he is the only one on gluten free. But it is not easy.

[celiacgirls]

I've read here about people suffering from withdrawal. None of us did and we all felt better within the first week. One of my daughter's behaviour problems showed a lot of improvement at first but we kept thinking she had had some gluten somewhere. Then we eliminated casein and it turns out that behaviour was due to casein. It seems to me that gluten makes her irritable and casein makes her mean and aggressive. Without these in her diet, she is a different child. So, at some point, if gluten free only isn't helping her behaviour, you might want to try eliminating casein too.

[shayesmom]

I've read here about people suffering from withdrawal. None of us did and we all felt better within the first week. One of my daughter's behaviour problems showed a lot of improvement at first but we kept thinking she had had some gluten somewhere. Then we eliminated casein and it turns out that behaviour was due to casein. It seems to me that gluten makes her irritable and casein makes her mean and aggressive. Without these in her diet, she is a different child. So, at some point, if gluten free only isn't helping her behaviour, you might want to try eliminating casein too.

We also experienced the same issue and it was due to both casein and eggs. It took some serious revamping of our diet to accomodate a Gluten-free Casein-free diet, but it's been more than worth it. These days, I KNOW when dd has been exposed to casein or eggs based solely on her mood and behavior. It never takes long to backtrack and find a source of contamination. Uggh! But what do you do?

Personally, we do the diet because not doing it is too much to handle and I know that not feeling well has got to make dd upset as well. These days, she is very adamant about no dairy, soy, eggs or gluten. If in doubt and given the option, she will just tell whoever that she doesn't want a certain food as she doesn't want to "risk it". This is coming from a 3 year old! She passed on the colored sugar sprinkles to decorate her cookies with at school yesterday. The other moms were dumbstruck!

I would definitely recommend that you continue a food journal and test for other intolerances to the BIG EIGHT allergens. It will take a bit of time, but you will have some answers and possibly some direction as to what you need to do to overcome this.

Good luck!