"hunger" Pains, What Do You Think?

[Breila]

Before DS was diagnosed, he would eat a meal and 15-30 minutes later start complaining that he was hungry. Once we got the celiac diagnosis, we figured that he had been misinterpreting a gurgly upset stomach for "hungry" this whole time and sure enough, once we went gluten-free, the constant "I'm hungry" stopped.

Now it has started up again. We haven't changed anything recently, so I can't imagine a regular source of gluten contamination, which was my first thought. Believe me, I've racked my brain and while there have been a few incidences (eating out, mostly) where cross contamination could have happened, there's nothing regular.

It'll work like this, he'll eat a meal's worth of food and announce he's full. 20 minutes later after I've put all the food away, he come in complaining that he's hungry, SOOOO hungry. I've tried to talk to him about it and I've suggested that what he's feeling isn't likely to be hunger pains, it is more likely an unsettled stomach, but from what source? And whatever it is, more food (which is usually gluten-free crackers or a bowl of rice, his fave comfort food) does seem to settle it. Maybe indigestion?

I'm close to calling the ped. and bringing him back in, but I have a feeling there are posters here who would have a better clue!

[ShayFL]

Have you had his blood sugar tested?

Sometimes when the pancreas doesnt work correctly, you can eat a meal, but the pancreas produces "too much" insulin for that meal. The extra insulin in the bloodstream triggers hunger to balance it out.

High glycemic foods are likely the cause (think sugars, rice, potatoes, corn, etc.)

Sometimes an organ will go into "overdrive" before it "conks". So you should get it checked out.

[aikiducky]

Too much stomach acid could also make one feel hungry, and eating something would relieve that for a while.

But if he's not been gluten free for very long, he could also be extra hungry right now. I was eating all the time when I first went gluten free, really insane, and I've seen other people report the same here. In my case it got better after a few months. Until then I had to eat every two hours or so or I'd almost faint with hunger. here's one current thread about hunger for instance: Open Original Shared Link

Pauliina

[curlyfries]

I would suggest keeping a food journal. If her really is, as you suspect, reacting to an upset stomach instead of actual hunger, then he may have another food intolerance. I know that before I went gluten-free, when my stomach was upset, I would want to find something else to eat that would settle my stomach. Eating just about anything would at least temporarily ease the pain. Of course, that is why I was overweight!

[slmprofesseur]

My son (9 y.o.) does the same thing! And this is on the gluten diet. It doesn't matter whether the food is Gluten-free or not. I am going to ask the ped to test him on Thurs. He constantly has loose stools also. Hopefully she won't brush us off...

[gfpaperdoll]

He probably really is hungry. When first gluten-free a lot of people have a huge appetite. It happened to a friend of mine - she is 83 & once gluten-free - a couple of months ago - her appetite picked way up & she would eat anything. She went from not eating anything except a little something once a day to eating 2 eggs, 2 corn tortillas, & grits with butter for breakfast, then she had juice & a midmorning snack, a hot meal for lunch & more fruit (usually a whole fruit plate) & nuts for mid afternoon snack & gluten-free soup for dinner with some mission brand corn chips or Lundberg Rice Chips, with maybe a deviled egg.

I would make sure he is getting enough fat & protein in his diet. Some almond butter on an apple slice is good, some cold sliced roast or chicken that you keep in the refrig is also good maybe with some fruit. That kind of stuff.

Just me, but I would limit the rice & potatoes to meal time - snacks would be meat or fish, nuts, good fats like avocado & olive oil, fresh veggies & fresh fruit. Dried fruit is also good. Make ants on a log, stuff celery with almond butter or peanut butter (I think almond butter is healthier) & sprinkle with raisins.

You can also check the SCD sites & get recipes for cookies made with almond meal - lots of eggs, some fat & fill with dried fruits, nuts, coconut, chocolate chips etc etc.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Could he be going through a growth spurt?