Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Can Anyone Help?

tj1604

Recommended Posts

tj1604 Newbie
tj1604
Posted

Hi there - boy, am I glad to find this site...I have an 8 month old son whom I suspect may have celiac (my maternal grandmother and an uncle both have celiac, and my husband's cousin also does).

The reason for my suspicion...my son started having darker green, almost black bowel movements shortly after introduction to foods (he began eating rice cereal at 4 months and progressed through the other cereals shortly thereafter). With a voracious appetite he began eating 'real' foods by about 6 months. Since that point the bowel movements changed. He would have some gas and mild cramping occasionally, but I really noticed that any pasta definitely caused indigestion problems.

Upon doing some research about the dark green, nearly black poops I found that may be indicative of bleeding in the intestional track. Also, he started out at 75% percentile for weight, and by 6 1/2 months was down to 30-40%. He has still gained weight, but much more slowly (and he is a very active kid...at 8 1/2 months he is already on the verge of walking which could account for the slowed weight gain too).

Last Sunday we decided to cut out all breads, pasta, etc to see if it made any difference and within 1 day his poop had changed to a more 'normal' shade and the odour wasn't as bad as before. We cannot get in to see our doc for 2 more weeks...what kind of tests will they do? Can they even test anything at his age? Does the change in poop colour really indicate anything?

Any feedback is much appreciated - thanks!

(This site is awesome...some of the reading I've already done makes me suspect that my husband may be gluten intolerant as well...guess we'll have to do some more investigating!)

P.s....we're in Canada if that makes any difference.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


mouth Enthusiast
mouth
Posted
Hi there - boy, am I glad to find this site...I have an 8 month old son whom I suspect may have celiac (my maternal grandmother and an uncle both have celiac, and my husband's cousin also does).

The reason for my suspicion...my son started having darker green, almost black bowel movements shortly after introduction to foods (he began eating rice cereal at 4 months and progressed through the other cereals shortly thereafter). With a voracious appetite he began eating 'real' foods by about 6 months. Since that point the bowel movements changed. He would have some gas and mild cramping occasionally, but I really noticed that any pasta definitely caused indigestion problems.

Upon doing some research about the dark green, nearly black poops I found that may be indicative of bleeding in the intestional track. Also, he started out at 75% percentile for weight, and by 6 1/2 months was down to 30-40%. He has still gained weight, but much more slowly (and he is a very active kid...at 8 1/2 months he is already on the verge of walking which could account for the slowed weight gain too).

Last Sunday we decided to cut out all breads, pasta, etc to see if it made any difference and within 1 day his poop had changed to a more 'normal' shade and the odour wasn't as bad as before. We cannot get in to see our doc for 2 more weeks...what kind of tests will they do? Can they even test anything at his age? Does the change in poop colour really indicate anything?

Any feedback is much appreciated - thanks!

(This site is awesome...some of the reading I've already done makes me suspect that my husband may be gluten intolerant as well...guess we'll have to do some more investigating!)

P.s....we're in Canada if that makes any difference.

Hi for starters, being in canada doesn't make any difference.. In fact, you will be able to identify

gluten-free foods easier than in the US..

I am sorry to say this, but dont take the gluten away from him!!! Because if you do they can not test him-- the results will be wrong!!!!!

The most basic is blood work, then an endoscopy that is what was done for my daughter. DO NOT LET THE DR SAY NO.. IF THEY DO THEN FIND ANOTHER DR. my daughter had the green bowls when she was a baby also, but it went away on its own.. in her case, it was they think the extra iron that was in the formula that caused it.. but she never had the black. also, she was cronically constipated very badly, to the point of anal fissure, and hemmroids as an infant. scarey.. let me tell you.. my daughter was below the 5% until after diagnosis.. now she is above the 25%. they are not worried, because i am a small person. but after diagnosis and diet she has gained 25 lbs and 5 inches in 1 year..

I hope this has helped a little.. next step a peds gastro visit and soon.. vvvvvglglgl

lynn

tj1604 Newbie
tj1604
Posted
  • Author
Hi for starters, being in canada doesn't make any difference.. In fact, you will be able to identify

gluten-free foods easier than in the US..

I am sorry to say this, but dont take the gluten away from him!!! Because if you do they can not test him-- the results will be wrong!!!!!

The most basic is blood work, then an endoscopy that is what was done for my daughter. DO NOT LET THE DR SAY NO.. IF THEY DO THEN FIND ANOTHER DR. my daughter had the green bowls when she was a baby also, but it went away on its own.. in her case, it was they think the extra iron that was in the formula that caused it.. but she never had the black. also, she was cronically constipated very badly, to the point of anal fissure, and hemmroids as an infant. scarey.. let me tell you.. my daughter was below the 5% until after diagnosis.. now she is above the 25%. they are not worried, because i am a small person. but after diagnosis and diet she has gained 25 lbs and 5 inches in 1 year..

I hope this has helped a little.. next step a peds gastro visit and soon.. vvvvvglglgl

lynn

Thank you for your reply...I never even considered the iron...he started on formula at about 4 1/2 months which coincides with the changes...constipation hasn't been a problem with him...also no diarrhea...so I guess we'll stay with the more 'normal' diet until we can see the doc in a couple of weeks. Thanks!

mouth Enthusiast
mouth
Posted
Thank you for your reply...I never even considered the iron...he started on formula at about 4 1/2 months which coincides with the changes...constipation hasn't been a problem with him...also no diarrhea...so I guess we'll stay with the more 'normal' diet until we can see the doc in a couple of weeks. Thanks!

Hi,

It could also possibly be something in the formula.. other than the iron. Her bowels smelled bad till about 5 or 6. Even when she went off the formula, she ocassionally had it.. She still does on ocassion, but not like b4. My daughter was never symptomatic- except the chronic constipation. Good luck .

LYnn

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,912
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    westman3d
    Newest Member
    westman3d
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Rogol72
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By Rogol72 · Posted

      @klmgarland, My dermatitis herpetiformis didn't clear up until I became meticulous about cross contamination. I cut out gluten-free oats and all gluten-free foods, dairy and gluten-free rice. Additionally, getting the right amount of protein for my body weight helped significantly in my body's healing process ... along with supplementing with enough of all the vitamins and minerals ... especially Zinc and Magnesium. I went from 70kg to 82kg in a year. Protein with each meal 3 times daily, especially eggs at breakfast made the difference. I'm not sure whether iodine was a problem for me, but I can tolerate iodine no problem now. I'm off Dapsone and feel great. Not a sign of an itch. So there is hope. I'm not advocating for the use of Dapsone, but it can bring a huge amount of relief despite it's effect on red blood cells. The itch is so distracting and debilitating. I tried many times to get off it, it wasn't until I implemented the changes above and was consistent that I got off it. Dermatitis Herpetiformis is horrible, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.  
    • klmgarland
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By klmgarland · Posted

      Thank you so very much Scott.  Just having someone understand my situation is so very helpful.  If I have one more family member ask me how my little itchy skin thing is going and can't you just take a pill and it will go away and just a little bit of gluten can't hurt you!!!! I think I will scream!!
    • Scott Adams
      Help I’m cross contaminating myself,

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It is difficult to do the detective work of tracking down hidden sources of cross-contamination. The scenarios you described—the kiss, the dish towel, the toaster, the grandbaby's fingers—are all classic ways those with dermatitis herpetiformis might get glutened, and it's a brutal learning curve that the medical world rarely prepares you for. It is difficult to have to deal with such hyper-vigilance. The fact that you have made your entire home environment, from makeup to cleaners, gluten-free is a big achievement, but it's clear the external world and shared spaces remain a minefield. Considering Dapsone is a logical and often necessary step for many with DH to break the cycle of itching and allow the skin to heal while you continue your detective work; it is a powerful tool to give you back your quality of life and sleep. You are not failing; you are fighting an incredibly steep battle. For a more specific direction, connecting with a dedicated celiac support group (online or locally) can be invaluable, as members exchange the most current, real-world tips for avoiding cross-contamination that you simply won't find in a pamphlet. You have already done the hardest part by getting a correct diagnosis. Now, the community can help you navigate the rest. If you have DH you will likely also want to avoid iodine, which is common in seafoods and dairy products, as it can exacerbate symptoms in some people. This article may also be helpful as it offers various ways to relieve the itch:  
    • Scott Adams
      My only proof

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      It's very frustrating to be dismissed by medical professionals, especially when you are the one living with the reality of your condition every day. Having to be your own advocate and "fight" for a doctor who will listen is an exhausting burden that no one should have to carry. While that 1998 brochure is a crucial piece of your personal history, it's infuriating that the medical system often requires more contemporary, formal documentation to take a condition seriously. It's a common and deeply unfair situation for those who were diagnosed decades ago, before current record-keeping and testing were standard. You are not alone in this struggle.
    • Scott Adams
      Methylprednisone treatment for inflammation?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Methylprednisolone is sometimes prescribed for significant inflammation of the stomach and intestines, particularly for conditions like Crohn's disease, certain types of severe colitis, or autoimmune-related gastrointestinal inflammation. As a corticosteroid, it works by powerfully and quickly suppressing the immune system's inflammatory response. For many people, it can be very effective at reducing inflammation and providing rapid relief from symptoms like pain, diarrhea, and bleeding, often serving as a short-term "rescue" treatment to bring a severe flare under control. However, experiences can vary, and its effectiveness depends heavily on the specific cause of the inflammation. It's also important to be aware that while it can work well, it comes with potential side effects, especially with longer-term use, so it's typically used for the shortest duration possible under close medical supervision. It's always best to discuss the potential benefits and risks specific to your situation with your gastroenterologist.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.