Diagnosis ?

[jaysmom]

As I am new here I have tons of questions, but did learn a lot from reading past posts.

My question deals with my 9yo son who we felt was just Lactose intol but now with new symptoms I've been trying to find the "right" answer. We have a yearly physical next week and would like advice on what to ask for beyond a bood test.

Symptoms:

constant gas--really smelly

diarrhea -dialy and frequent

more gas in afternoon and evening

stomache discomfort with vomit feeling

always hungry--

weight gain mainly in gut area despite good diet

rash on face--now worse and always red/itchy----is treated but not working anymore

tired

I know symptoms alone do not equal a proper diagnosis but does it seem like I'm on the right track?

We tried no dairy due to lactose issue but still gas and stool issue.

Oh he's up again with stomache issues--gotta go!

Thanks for your input.

[lorka150]

Hi there,

Just a little confused. Does your son have celiac? Or is that what you're searching?

His symptoms certainly sound like it. Definitely get the bloodwork - make sure he has been (and still) eats gluten at the time of it.

[GFmum]

I feel for you....

They are definately gastrointestinal symptoms from something? I would ask for a referral to a gastroenterologist firstly so that a specialist can determine which GI disease it may be. If there's ceoliac disease in the family mention it. I know someone who's lactose intolerance subsided once her coeliac disease was diagnosed and treated (ie once the bowel healed and wasn't sensitive to lactose anymore). The itchy red rashes screams allergy to me. You say it's treated. If by a dermatologist I would suggest you go to a peadiatric allergist to treat the cause rather than the symptoms.

Good luck and let us know what they say/find.

[happygirl]

Make sure that your doctor runs the FULL Celiac panel (which includes the tTG test) Many doctors only run one or two of the labs, because they are not up to date on the Celiac research. Ask him specifically if the one he is running includes tTG.

Good luck!

[jaysmom]

Thanks everyone.

I know there are so many things that it could be since the gasto area can have symptoms that fit a lot of illnesses. For him the "symptoms" seem to fit celiac the most but will do as suggested and get a referral to a gastro doctor and get the blood work. Also a trip to the allergist would help as severe food allergies (me) are in the family but I do not know of anyone with celiac directly.

The rash is excema related but the flare ups are worse.

Thanks again and will post any news after Tuesday's appt with pedi.

[happygirl]

You don't need an appointment at the gastro to have the Celiac blood work done. You can have it done at your pediatricians.

[girlfromclare]

Hi and poor you... I feel for you and your son.. Well, it certainly sounds like a gastro issue and could well be celiac disease. OUr son is dairy intolerant too and at first we had just eliminated dairy (have to be strict and check labels on everything when doing this and include caesin as it also causes problems re:dairy) But what I was told (prob here on this board not sure) was that the enzyme needed to break down lactose, is actually produced at the tips of the villi in the intestine, the very part of the intestine that suffers damage as a result of celiac disease... so it would add up that most celiacs are dairy intolerant also as a result... some find that this goes away as the villi begin to heal while on the gluten-free diet, others dont... but it certainly explained the diary problems to me. My son also has problems with sugar... which I also believe is related to celiac disease... good luck anyway.. and as the others have mentioned, make sure your son is on gluten until such a time as you have had him tested - that is if you want to have him tested as it is a personal choice but if he does come back negative, perhaps try the diet anyway as false negatives seem to be common - my son was and yet his life changed on the diet.. and so did ours!

best of luck

Liz Ireland