Overaeacting

[Nikki2003]

My mother inlaw was talking with my husband and he is also convinced from her that alivia who is 7 years old may have a tapeworm. I think they are way over reacting. She eats ALOT cannot usually satisfy her she is still losing weight. She takes food at night up to her room and hides the evidence under her bed. She does this everynight and she is on a sleep aid becasue she doesn't sleep well atall. And her hunger wakes her up. I have even tried feeding her shortlt before bed,And it doesn't help. Any thoughts on what could be going on? She is on a gluten free diet for celiac.

I am clueless.

Thanks in advance

[CarlaB]

I see from your signature that she's been gluten-free since Dec. 06. It took me more time than that to slow down in my eating (I used to eat two or three times what my 6'2" hubby eats!!) and gain weight, and I didn't have any intestinal damage at all! Be sure all the gluten is out of her diet ... look for places it may be hiding ... hopefully, they will take their determination and help you be sure she's 100% gluten-free!!

BTW, hubby still calls me a Hobbit because I eat so often!!

[2kids4me]

uh, I hope she is kidding about the tapeworm, to get tapeworms she would have to eat a mouse, or bird....(they require a secondary host).

Yes, she may need more time for her intestine to heal, but if you have concerns, please contact her doctor and mention it.

What kinds of food do you feed before bed? Protein will help slow digestion and satisfy hunger over long term - so combining a protein + starch/ fruit /vege/yogurt/ may help.

Does she show any signs of lactose intolerance?

Sandy

[shayesmom]

uh, I hope she is kidding about the tapeworm, to get tapeworms she would have to eat a mouse, or bird....(they require a secondary host).

You can get tapeworms by playing outdoors, eating undercooked meat or through being exposed to a human that has tapeworm (via infected feces on toilet seat and improper hygiene). It's really not that far-fetched....but not incredibly common either. Open Original Shared Link. There are tests that can be run to rule this out.

I suppose that you could also have a blood check done to screen for elevated antibodies (in case she's accidentally getting gluten). Or you could look into other food intolerances like casein, soy and possibly egg. It's hard to gauge how "extreme" the eating habits are unless you physically write it down and begin to look at real caloric intake and the ratio of carbs, fats and proteins. Some combinations promote weight maintenance/weight loss while others promote weight gain.

With that said, I can tell you that my dd wasn't gaining weight due to a problem with casein and soy. And with casein...her sleep habits were atrocious. Within a few days of taking it out of diet, she was like a different child and her weight started to climb. She's still a peanut...but a peanut who is growing at a steady rate that is on the growth charts.

[Generic]

It took me about 4 years to start not feeling hungry all the time and to actually start putting weight on. I could feel physically full but still have the hunger sensation.

[Nikki2003]

It took me about 4 years to start not feeling hungry all the time and to actually start putting weight on. I could feel physically full but still have the hunger sensation.

-Laurie

thanks everyone. She and nicole have a follow up with the gi dr on the 19th to redo blood work. And they have another appt on the 21st for food allergy testing. Alivia's should be interesting because not always but often after she eats anything she breaks out in a rash.

celina

[gfp]

Sorry ... but if she's hiding food then is she perhaps also cheating on her diet?

[Nic]

For the first year my after my son was diagnosed he was like an eating machine. We used to call it the feeding frenzy. He would go from one thing to the next. We thought he just liked junk so we limited him to healthy foods only (yogurt, fruit, etc.) but he ate that the same way. I think his body was just catching up. Now, 2 years after diagnosis, he eats normally but has gained a total of 15 pounds in the past 2 years and has grown 6 inches. I would say he has caught up.

Nicole

[Nikki2003]

For the first year my after my son was diagnosed he was like an eating machine. We used to call it the feeding frenzy. He would go from one thing to the next. We thought he just liked junk so we limited him to healthy foods only (yogurt, fruit, etc.) but he ate that the same way. I think his body was just catching up. Now, 2 years after diagnosis, he eats normally but has gained a total of 15 pounds in the past 2 years and has grown 6 inches. I would say he has caught up.

Nicole

all the food she takes is gluten free because she takes snacks and hides them under her bed, I totally gutted her room the other day so is she hides something I will find it.

But she went to the ped the other day and she was 49.6 lbs from 54 in nov. he wants her to eat a boost or protein bar a day or 2 a day and he wants to see her in 6 weeks to see if she is gaining or atleast maintaining the weight.

Thanks for all the info.

celina

[ptkds]

Has she been checked for diabetes? Increased appetite is one symptom of type 1 diabetes

Just a thought. Good luck!

ptkds