Where Do I Go From Here?

[okgrace]

Hi All,

My family is still relatively new to the gluten free thing, since Dec/ Jan. My dd turned 4 at the end of Feb and has had issues with sleep all her life and in the last year or so behavior. As soon as she started solid foods we had troubles and we had to take her off food altogether and start again with veggies and didn't introduce grains until she was atleast 18mo. I thought she was fine until Sept 06 when she had loose bowels for a month and the docs did the IgA panel. The first doc read it as inconclusive but sent us to a nutritionist who suggested gluten-free. We tried it for a bit but the whole time the daycare was giving in to her and giving her gluten. I didn't realize at the time how destructive this was and of course I wouldn't see a differance this way.

My problem now is where do we go from here... She seemed better after a few weeks but in the last three weeks has started having loose bowels again. She does eat dairy and I am noticing that any sugar and she poops in her pants. In the last three weeks she has had a terrible time trying to make it to the bathroom and appears to have no idea when she is going. This is very unlike her and I believe that she doesn't know. The doc didn't seemed concerned about this and repeated the IgA panel, one of the numbers was like 83 when the outer limit is 19. Down a few points but still really high.

I am sorry I am so wordy tonight. Should I take her of Dairy? I am sure she needs the sugar removed from her diet. She doesn't usually have it, but it she does watch out! I have read in other posts that sugar can be a trigger also? Is it worth having more allergy testing done. We don't have insurance right now since I have decided to work per diem so I can be with her more and avoid trying to find a daycare that understands. One babysitter told me that she had pancakes, but not to worry they were made with flour. Apparently, it is not common knowledge that flour is made from wheat.

I am so concerned and have the nursery school ready to remove all dairy and sugar starting mon. I have also told them about play dough. Its hard because I had told them it was ok for her to play with flour in my stupidity. Will she ever be able to use the bathroom independently again?

[gfpaperdoll]

yes, as soon as her tummy gets better she will have regular potty habits.

Are you eating gluten in your house? Using flour to bake with? the stuff floats up & gets on everything...

nursery school is going to be hard - if other kids are playing with play dough they will then touch other stuff & when your daughter touches it & then touches her mouth... same with food if the other kids are not washing their hands after eating snacks then your daughter will stay sick. Most day care wash hands before snacks - but not after...

it is a learning curve, you will continue to learn & change the way you are doing things...

read all the cross contamination threads on here for potential problem areas...

[okgrace]

We don't eat gluten at out house. My husband's father is a diagnosed celiac but doen't follow a gluten-free diet. My husband has had troubles as long as I have known him and the doc had recommended a gluten-free diet for him as well. I had a hard time getting him to follow a gluten-free lifestyle, but when Grace was diagnosed he agreed and we all eat that way so it's not hard for her and cc is not an issue.

Well cc is a bit of an issue since my husband will cook with castiron if he gets a chance. I got rid of the teflon, and the castiron is out of here tomorrow when he goes to work.

Cc is also an issue at school. I am a consulting therapist at the school she goes to and today when I was in a classroom that she is not in, but they share equipment, the children were playing with flour in a tub and they had it all over the enitre room. Generally that type of play is confined to the tub, but this was on everything and then the children walked through the school and used the bathrooms touching everything on the way. It is a small nursery school with two classrooms and three bathrooms. I was really frustrated with the teacher for allowing the children to behave that way and not imposing greater control. I will have to approach the administrator on mon and ask her to remove the flour altogether.

Would any of you consider futher testing at this point or should we wait and see what happens?