Should I Ask For Endoscopy?

[doulagrl]

Hi,

We've just had our 3.5 yr old tested for Celiacs. I was tentatively diagnosed during my pregnancy last year but was unable to have the blood test because I had already been gluten free for several months and they couldn't do the endoscopy because I was pregnant and by the time my other son was born I had been gluten free too long for the endoscopy to find anything. I've had huge improvements on the diet and asked to have my son tested.

His symptoms:

Runny stool

Anemia

Constant dark circles under the eyes

Fatigue

Very small for his age (9%) he's 3.5 and still wearing 24month clothes

Bloated belly

Weak immune system constantly ill with colds

He was a big baby until we started solids and gradually slid on the growth percentile

His blood test (IGA) was negative and I'm wondering if we should push for an endoscopy or would we be able to see a clear enough change on the diet. My husband wants a "medical" diagnosis not just one based on perceived improvements on a diet. With him being so young would an endoscopy even show enough damage to detect?

Thanks for any info

Mel

[Ursa Major]

If your husband wants to see an 'official' diagnosis with a paper to prove it, I'd go with Enterolab. But your son has all the classic symptoms of celiac disease and absolutely needs to be on a gluten-free diet, the sooner the better! He won't have to eat gluten for the Enterolab testing.

And with young children the absolute best test IS the diet! If his diarrhea clears up, the dark circles go away and his energy improves (which is almost guaranteed), then these will be obvious improvements, not just perceived ones!

You can go with a biopsy. But it is an invasive procedure, and he will have to keep eating gluten until after it is done. And it might end up negative, because in children so young often the damage isn't enough to show on a biopsy until they are near death. I hope your husband won't want to wait that long!

I would also eliminate dairy right away. If he has celiac disease, he won't be able to tolerate dairy, either, which will make him even sicker.

All the best!

[doulagrl]

Thans for the advice. The doctor called and suggested a elimination test as well so DH will listen since it is the Dr's idea not just mine.

By the way that cake in your profile pic looks amazing

Melody