16 Month Old Just Diagnosed With Gluten Intolerance

[beingmommy]

My 16 month old DS has been having some slowed weight gain issues and our doc (a naturopath) had us do a blood test for gluten intolerance. It came back yesterday and he was positive on two out of three antibodies. I do not have the results in front of me so I am not sure what test it was (but I am having the results mailed to me).

We have decided not to do a biopsy as my DS is so young and very sensitive. Our current plan is to go 100% gluten free (me too since I am still breastfeeding). We actually already started why we were waiting for the test results so it's been 12 days so far. It's been hard but okay. So far there have been no changes that I have noticed in my DS but I know it is early yet. My DS also is not that interested in solids so he is still mostly breatfed. He eats a little fruit and crackers now and then.

The main thing is that we do not know at this point whether or not he is merely gluten sensitive or has full blown Celiac. I have only just started learning about gluten intolerance but from what I have read, it seems important to know. If he has Celiac then we need to be really careful, get a new toaster and cutting boards, get new personal care products, be on him when he is around other toddlers who are eating gluten containing foods, etc . . . If he is just sensitive than we can be gluten free but do not have to be quite as anal about it. Is this true?

And is there any way to figure out whether he definitely has celiac without a biopsy?

[gfgang]

To my knowledge gluten intolerance is Celiac. My sons ped told us to keep him eating the gluten products until he had his biopsy that way they can tell for sure.. If you stop before you have more testing , it could possibly show up neg on the test. After we got the positive results for the Celiac , (gluten intolerance, wheat intolerance)..We all went gluten-free. If you have the funds to purchase new appliances go for it, but if you wash everything well I don't see any harm in what you have now. Good luck!

[ptkds]

There are blood tests to confirm Celiac or gluten intolerance.

If it is Celiac, you do need to get new small appliances (toaster, hand mixer, can opener, etc.) Cleaning those things won't do any good. Replace all of your scratched plastic, wooden tools (spoons, rolling pin, cutting board, etc), cast iron (debatable!), etc. And you must check ALL of the products that come in contact with your son. He is a toddler, and you never know what he will put in his mouth. My dd was diagnosed at 16 months as well, and her sister was diagnosed at 14 months. We don't allow any lotions, soaps, cleaning products, or anything of that nature that contain gluten in our home. Play dough is out, too. You can make your own, though. Paints can have gluten, too.

You need to give it more time. 12 days isn't very long. But if you aren't seeing ANY improvement, recheck EVERYTHING. Gluten hides very easily. Even check his carseat for left over cracker crumbs!

Some ppl with simple gluten intolerance can handle some gluten, but others cant handle any at all. You will get the hang of it and figure out what he can and can't handle. But you do want to know if it is celiac or not. Celiac can cause permament damage, whereas intolerance only makes you really miserable.

Good luck and welcome!