Is It Celiac?

[Californiamom]

Three years ago after seeing a naturopathic doctor for possible allergies she told us my daughter (then four) had a wheat allergy (not celiac)among other airborn allergies (pollen, mold, grass, etc). She had horrible rashes on the inside of her arms and behind her knees and would have a horrible time sleeping, sitting still etc. We pulled her off wheat immediately and her skin and other symptoms cleared up except when things were blooming in the spring.

Once we moved across country she didn't have the allergies to the stuff in the air and we thought to see if the wheat was really a culprit. Sure enough after a breakfast of pancakes and lunch of grilled cheese and dinner with pizza she had the rash and was miserable. We eventually discovered that she could handle a certain level of wheat (max two pieces of pizza) in a day. She didn't have any stomach problems with it...it was all skin problems, sleep issues, and behavior.

Recently she ate two pieces of pizza and six hours later instead of a rash she was throwing up. Now it seems that any pizza, bread or pasta makes her tummy hurt and anything more than one piece/serving makes her throw up. Has her "allergy" changed into celiac? She does fine with just avoiding breads and pastas, cookies, etc. Eating chicken fingers, fish sticks, or other small amounts of wheat/gluten doesn't seem to trigger the stomach ache.

So is this celiac or the beginning of it? Will she eventually be unable to tollerate the chicken strips, etc?

Thanks.

[RiceGuy]

Well, the truth of the matter is; once gluten intolerant, always gluten intolerant.

Many report that after being gluten-free for awhile, the sensitivities increase. It is the opinion of many that the immune system has had time to recoup, so it is stronger and more capable of reacting to the offending substance. Also without a constant irritant, subtle reactions can be more easily noticed.

So yes, I believe your child should never eat any gluten - not ever again, and the sensitivity will likely increase over time.

It's really not so bad though, so please don't feel sorry for her. Being gluten-free is not limiting when you avoid the trap of the typical American tunnel vision on diet. I see the gluten-free diet as liberation - freeing me from the pains and suffering gluten brings.