Please Help!

[inmyhead]

Hi, I have asked for help before for myself, and everyone was so nice and offered great advice. I have never been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, but I have been gluten free for three months and feel like a new person. I am afraid that my 17 month old daughter may possible be showing gluten sensitivity symptoms, but I am not certain. Her food goes right through her literally. I feed her and sometimes as little as ten minutes later she rids herself of it. Because it has not been digested I know it is the meal I just fed her. Even if she goes a few hours before messing a diaper after a meal, it is still not digested. This is her main problem. She really does not have a distended stomach or any of the obvious symptoms. I think she is still growing okay. Could this be the beginning of celiac disease or is this normal? My mom was basically shown the door when she asked her doctor to test her for celiac disease. I do not want to go through that with my daughter's doctor. Please tell me if it is worth asking the doctor to test her for celiac disease. Thank you.

[Boojca]

Fortunately, or unfortunately I guess depending on how you look at it, this sounds EXACTLY like the start of celiac disease. Have her tested now, before she does start to emaciate and have a distended belly, etc... I didn't have any warning with my son until he was literally wasting away and at 2 1/2 weighed 23 lbs!!! Now, 6 months later gluten-free, he is 3 and weighs 33 lbs!!!

Bridget

[hapi2bgf]

I would insist on going to a pediatric gastrointerologist to have your child tested for Celiacs. The reason is that it is genetic and you have it. She needs to be tested because she is showing symptoms. I love my pediatrician, but she used an older blood test and knew very little about Celiacs. As a result, my child had to go through TWO blood tests. She tested high on the first blood test and negative on the second - from the gastro).

FYI: There is a numbing cream that your pediatrician may have, or you can order at the pharmacy if the gastro does not have it. It numbs the areas for blood work so the child does not have the pain along with the fear.

Good luck!

[inmyhead]

Thank you for your responses. I will ask my doctor for a referral if he is unable to run the appropriate test. It is really comforting to know that there are other people out there who are willing to share their experiences. Thank you!

[cdford]

The only concern I have with a situation like yours is the reaction of the gastro doc. My experience with them has been that in the early stages of celiac disease, there may not be enough intestinal damage for the gastro doc to see it within his narrow view of the disease. Have your ducks in a row mentally and emotionally before seeing the doctor. On that day you will have enough on your mind dealing with a small child to have to also be concerned over everything the doc is saying. It may even be helpful to have another person such as your Mom go with you to help with the little one while you concentrate on discussions with the doctor.

Encourage your mom see another doctor or use one of the readily available tests. Too many other physicians are seeing the usefulness of testing all first degree relatives for her to stop with one poorly informed doctor. It may be helpful to find out who other celiac disease patients are using in her area. Usually the doctor is more open if they have seen the long term damage to other patients.

Just my experience after having my own family tested. Hope it helps.