Tummy Timer

[mac3]

My daughter, 10, was diagnosed almost a year ago with celiac disease. She's been gluten-free ever since. However, if she doesn't eat at EXACTLY the right time, she doubles up with a stomach ache and it seems to take her 30 minutes to recover once she does slowly start to eat. Is this a celiac-related thing or just the way her body works? Last night she was clutching her stomach at the dinner table at 7:00...we normally eat at 5:30/6:00.

[2Boys4Me]

It doesn't happen to my son (on diet for 1 yr 5 mo). Maybe it's just how she is.

[Sophiekins]

First off, on an aside. . .Linda, I am green with envy about the bread in your photo. . .makes me wish I could eat all of the lovely gluten-free grains that went into it. . .oh how I long for a slice of REAL bread. . .

Second, on topic for Mac3: I have similar problems to your daughter with regard to eating times. . .if I eat irregularly, I get horribly nauseous, and it seems that the solution would be to eat, but I can't because I'm so nauseous, and if I don't catch it in time, I often end up skipping the meal (usually dinner) and going to bed. The next day I eat more to make up for the missed meal. I can't say whether it's celiac related or just the way I'm set up, but I talked to my doctor about it a few years ago and she came to the conclusion that I'd been nutritionally deficient so long (although my BMI and blood panels were considered "healthy") that my body was panicking when food was not forthcoming at the expected interval, thinking that the "famine" was about to start again. I started calorie counting to ensure that I was getting roughly the same nutritional intake each day, and I never, ever, ever go anywhere without a quick snack in my bag, because regimented food intake is a fact of my life (I can push it by about half an hour now, but not several days in a week). It takes some adjusting to (and she may object to it when she becomes a teenager) but it really isn't that much of a hassle once you get the hang of it.

You may find that if you have to postpone a meal, you need to feed your daughter something extra (my staples are juice and rice crackers, or half an apple sliced and dipped in peanut butter) around the time that she would normally be eating. . .don't worry, it won't ruin her appetite for the later dinner. If she's been up longer than usual you'll need to feed her an extra snack as well. . .my rule of thumb is to eat something every four or five waking hours (even if it's just a glass of juice) with my largest meal of the day being the last one before I go to bed (because it has to last me eight or ten hours instead of five).

[mac3]

It's good to know I'm not alone! I have been carrying snacks for her in my purse 'cause when we're out shopping or something, then mealtimes usually differ. Your symptoms sound a lot like my daughters...glad someone out there understands...even if I'm not sure of the reasoning behind the problem.

And yes...ditto on the bread!

[tarnalberry]

she may be having blood sugar issues. not necessarily diabetes, but hypoglycemia. it's most definitely worth talking to your doctor if you're confident that it's not just behavioral.

[Cheri A]

This happens with my daughter too!! I have also found that giving her a snack helps too.