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Four Year Old With Chronic Stomach Aches?

jitters

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jitters Apprentice
jitters
Posted

Hi,

My daughter is four years old and has been complaining of stomach aches for at least a year. There is a definite history of celiac in the family and after numerous tests, etc. they have ruled out any food intolerances and diagnosed her as constipated. We've had her on Milk of Magnesia for about two or three months now. She poops regularly and when she doesn't take it she does have some harder stools but nothing that causes issues. The problem is she still complains of stomach pain right at her belly button. I've gotten tired of this and decided we're going gluten free because I know what the problem is and I'm not waiting for doctors to decide its worth a try. I cleaned out my kitchen at home and since she's so little the whole house is going to support her (I also eat gluten free, only hubby and baby don't). I also think she might have a dairy intolerence even though her tests for that were all negative. So I've had her limited on the dairy for the last few months but she's still complained of stomach pain.

Yesterday was day one gluten free but she was invited to a birthday party and she had cake there. I was so unprepared and didn't have any treats on hand, and it broke my heart to tell her she couldn't have it. I've prepared her and told her that we are going to have special cakes, etc from now on for her and she's handling it pretty well. I guess my question is I'm wondering if anyone else has had a child that complained of major stomach pain and had no D, but was more constipated? How long did it take to feel better on the diet? Did you have to go dairy free as well? How long did you give the gluten free diet a chance before you took out dairy as well? I really dread taking away dairy but I think I'm going to have to take that as well as corn out of her diet for awhile. This child is already SO picky I have no idea what she is going to eat!

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debmom Newbie
debmom
Posted

You've just described my daughter-- stomach pain and terrible constipation from birth. Unfortunately, we had never heard of gluten intolerance, so she was misdiagnosed by one doctor after another. At age 15 we finally hit on what was going on, but the pain had gotten so bad she was hospitalized 8 times before we found out that the gluten was the problem. In light of her diagnosis, my sister and I, both diagnosed with ulcerative colitis for 30 and 35 years, stopped eating gluten. Guess what?? we are both 100% better, too. It took my daughter 3 days on the diet to have some relief from the constipation, and 6 weeks for the pain to go away completely. But it hasn't come back.

The dairy is also a problem for her. she stopped eating it for about 2 months when she started the gluten-free diet, and then went back to it with better luck. she still can't eat ice cream or drink milk, but she can eat yogurt and cheese.

Good luck!!

jitters Apprentice
jitters
Posted
  • Author

Thank you so much for responding. I know I'm doing the right thing by taking gluten out of her diet because she has been almost a different child today- happy, talkative, and she is actually playing instead of begging to watch tv and lay on the couch. Yay!

Usually she is little miss attitude, today we have seen some attitude but its at least 90% better! She did have milk in her cereal today but I'm going to get some Almond milk or something to replace it if the stomach aches don't get better. I just have to remember that my mom and I are NOT the "typical" celiacs that doctors diagnose, and neither is my daughter. I really think I'm doing the right thing and its nice to have this board as support.

CeliacAlli Apprentice
CeliacAlli
Posted
Hi,

My daughter is four years old and has been complaining of stomach aches for at least a year. There is a definite history of celiac in the family and after numerous tests, etc. they have ruled out any food intolerances and diagnosed her as constipated. We've had her on Milk of Magnesia for about two or three months now. She poops regularly and when she doesn't take it she does have some harder stools but nothing that causes issues. The problem is she still complains of stomach pain right at her belly button. I've gotten tired of this and decided we're going gluten free because I know what the problem is and I'm not waiting for doctors to decide its worth a try. I cleaned out my kitchen at home and since she's so little the whole house is going to support her (I also eat gluten free, only hubby and baby don't). I also think she might have a dairy intolerence even though her tests for that were all negative. So I've had her limited on the dairy for the last few months but she's still complained of stomach pain.

Yesterday was day one gluten free but she was invited to a birthday party and she had cake there. I was so unprepared and didn't have any treats on hand, and it broke my heart to tell her she couldn't have it. I've prepared her and told her that we are going to have special cakes, etc from now on for her and she's handling it pretty well. I guess my question is I'm wondering if anyone else has had a child that complained of major stomach pain and had no D, but was more constipated? How long did it take to feel better on the diet? Did you have to go dairy free as well? How long did you give the gluten free diet a chance before you took out dairy as well? I really dread taking away dairy but I think I'm going to have to take that as well as corn out of her diet for awhile. This child is already SO picky I have no idea what she is going to eat!

Whenever I have been glutened I feel like am going to die.. most of time I get into the fetal position and rock and cry. It is the worst pain. I have never gone to the hospital for it because I know once I start vomiting that I have been glutened because soon after I get these horrifying stomach aches. I never complain when I am sick from something other than celiac because pain to most people isn't pain to me because that feeling in your stomach and the ache in your body is 10x worse than the flu, unless you have had it you just don't understand. For me, that is enough to make me ugly. I was not undiagnosed for long because I was 12 months old and 12 pounds, with a distended stomach and my pediatrician was dedicated to finding the diagnosis, we were very fortunate. I lost the distended stomach and became happier and gained weight once going gluten free. I was also very constipated, I had to visit a gi like every 6 months because it was so bad. The only time I have diarhea is when I have been glutened. Hope this helps!

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    • catnapt
      how much gluten do I need to eat before blood tests?

      By catnapt · Posted

      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I attributed it to other things like bread spiking blood sugar- or to the things I ate *with* the bread or crackers etc   I went to a party in Nov and ate a LOT of a vegan roast made with vital wheat gluten- as well as stuffing, rolls and pie crust... and OMG I was so sick! the pain, the bloating, the gas, the nausea... I didn't think it would ever end (but it did) and I was ready to go the ER but it finally subsided.   I mentioned this to my endo and now she wants me to be tested for celiac after 2 weeks of being on gluten foods. She has kind of flip flopped on how much gluten I should eat, telling me that if the symptoms are severe I can stop. I am eating 2-3 thin slices of bread per day (or english muffins) and wow- it does make me feel awful. But not as bad as when I ate that massive amnt of vital wheat gluten. so I will continue on if I have to... but what bothers me is - if it IS celiac, it seems stupid for lack of a better word, to intentionally cause more damage to my body... but I am also worried, on the other hand, that this is not a long enough challenge to make the blood work results valid.   can you give me any insight into this please?   thank you
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