I Need Advice And Help For A 3 Year Old!

[PattiB]

Hi! I am a new member and I really need some help. My daughter is 3 1/2 and has not been able to have a normal bm since she was 1 1/2. All of the doctors tell me that she is constipated and that it is normal. Believe me, this is not normal. She has contraction like pain while trying to poop and after all of the hours in severe pain she only has leakage that feels almost as though it is grainy and/or sandy. It absolutely breaks my heart and I don't know what to do anymore. She does not eat or drink dairy, I have not gotten rid of gluten yet. I just wanted to get this out there to see if anyone's child has been going through this heart wrenching situation! Please respond if you have any information.

Thanks!!

PattiB

[gfgypsyqueen]

One of my kids went through that for years. It was horrible. The Drs put her on adult doages of stool softeners. Warning labels of over dosage from the pharmasist and all. I got lectures on how to feed a growing child from the DR. Just terrible experience for everyone. In the end the problem was dairy. Once all dairy was eliminated, stools have never been a problem. She is now allowed some cheeses once in a while with a lactaid. This child is not a celiac, but does have food allergies. What helped until she became dairy free is over load the child with water and foods that cause diarrhea.

The next child had the opposite problem. Diarrhea for months on end. Once again Drs said not to worry. When she stopped growing they said she was petite. Don't tell me that when she is under 2 and not doing well. Finally forced a Celiac panel and biopsy. Inconclusive. She has a milk allergy among others. After making her strictly gluten-free/CF and everything else, she is growing and has normal poops.

So for your child, pursue Celiac biopsy and testing. Get gene test too. Sometimes the results are not accurate for young kids. Try an elimination diet. You said child was dairy free now. I would bet some other food is causing problems. (Allergist skin prick tests did not pick up the dairy problem for my oldest.) If nothing else fixes the problem, try the gluten-free diet. I assume someone else in the family has Celiacs which lead you here.