Loose Stools After gluten-free Diet For 8 Months

[conviviality]

I have had my 2.5 year old on a strict gluten-free diet for 8 months. He has taken many different strains of probiotics during this time. Occasionally he will have a formed stool, but most of the time it is not what anyone would consider normal. It is sometimes very acidic and gives him a bad rash. Most of the acidity has subsided, but he doesn't seem to be healing completely. I am sure there are times when we've traveled or eaten out that he's gotten contamination. However, even when I have him on a strict diet at home, he goes through bouts of poor stools. So I have to wonder if there is something else going on. I don't give him much dairy, but he occasional eats a little cheese. That doesn't seem to be the problem. He does not eat soy or corn.

Does anyone have a clue? I was wondering if it was bananas. He has been on and off of them. He can eat 2 or 3 large ones at a time and it seemed like a weird addiction. He seems to be better the last few days off bananas but I have always read those are supposed to help diarrhea.

I am going kind of crazy here. So many people seem to report that their child shows drastic improvement in just a few weeks on gluten-free diet. Mine is still having problems after 8 months and we are getting to the point where we really need to get him potty trained.

Help!

[dilettantesteph]

We need more information about what you mean by a strict gluten free diet. Many gluten free foods contain small amounts of gluten that are enough to cause a sensitive person to have a reaction. If you list what he eats people can tell you if it is a problem. Watch out for gluten free foods that are processed in a facility that also processes wheat. Most of them have small amounts of gluten in them from cross contamination. If he is still sick it is possible that he is one of the more sensitive celiacs and you have to be more careful about small concentrations of gluten.

You can get another blood test to see if it is still high. That would point to accidental gluten ingestion. You can also get him checked for other food sensitivities and lactose intolerance. I don't think that bananas are likely to be a problem. They are one of the few things I can eat when I am sick.

[Nancym]

Are you breast feeding at all? If so, are you eating gluten? It does transmit in breast milk.

Ok, if it isn't that then look at other possible food intolerances. Dairy is very commonly an issue. Soy, nuts, many others. I'd keep him on a simple diet of just a few foods you think he's ok with and slowly test out adding new foods.

[conviviality]

We need more information about what you mean by a strict gluten free diet. Many gluten free foods contain small amounts of gluten that are enough to cause a sensitive person to have a reaction. If you list what he eats people can tell you if it is a problem. Watch out for gluten free foods that are processed in a facility that also processes wheat. Most of them have small amounts of gluten in them from cross contamination. If he is still sick it is possible that he is one of the more sensitive celiacs and you have to be more careful about small concentrations of gluten.

You can get another blood test to see if it is still high. That would point to accidental gluten ingestion. You can also get him checked for other food sensitivities and lactose intolerance. I don't think that bananas are likely to be a problem. They are one of the few things I can eat when I am sick.

Actually I think bananas are definitely creating a problem. It is the one food that makes a noticeable difference.

As for his general diet, he eats fruit, meat, rice, rice milk, vegetables, potatoes. I do not give him processed foods like crackers unless they say they are gluten free. He does not eat soy or corn and only occasionally some cheese and no other dairy. But that is minimal and his condition does not improve if he's off all dairy completely, so I don't think that's it.

[dilettantesteph]

What kind of rice milk? I have read on this site that Rice Dream uses barley enzymes and although it says gluten free on the label, it contains enough gluten to bother all sorts of celiacs who come here.

[teacherwheart]

My 2 year old has been gluten free for 5 months and still has some loose stools. I asked his GI doctor a few days ago and she said its perfectly normal in toddlers. Hes thriving so she was not concerned. He gores for repeat bloodwork in a few days so Ill see then but He seems to be fine, never complains and I know hes not eating gluten since we are almost completely gluten free in the house.

[Debbie16]

I Truly feel your pain. My son is the same age, he turned two in november, and we have been struggling with things for over a year. He had been basically gluten free since July and then diagnosed in December and is more strictly gluten free now. However, he still doesnt seem to be doing great. I can share with you what has happened here and maybe it will help.

My son began a rice-based diet mid July and beginning in December he started the loose stools and stuff (they never fully went away but were less) and became irritable etc. Turns out his body was fighting off the rice as an allergy because he had too much of it over the past 6 months or so. So that was one. 2nd, i went for another opinion since he wasnt doing great and was told that they thing he may have eosinophilia which is close to celiacs. This is also something detected through stool and then a biopsy. He had a biopsy at 16m and it was negative but apparently biopsies taken at a young age at the beginning of symptoms may be falsly negative. I dont want to do the biopsy again of course (poor guy) so i found a holistic pediatrician (who is an MD) who treats kids like this (does your kid have eczema and a distended belly??) and she is doing a stool test that shows the degree of inflammation of the gut (not what causes it, just the level) and how much yeast, fungus, parasites, good/bad bacteria...all that stuff. She said go 6 months on these homeopathic rememdies and obviously stay gluten free and free of his other allergens and we should see a difference....

so those are just suggestions. If you ever want to email me and compare notes, feel free. It is such a struggle. In december when the rice started to turn against him, he also wouldnt eat his normal foods he loves, chicken, meatballs, etc.... i thought "Oh my, he is allergic to chicken now". turns out it was garlic....kids are so smart, they know what thier sources of trouble are if we are perceptive enough to pick them out. you seem to be on top of it. good luck!

[conviviality]

Thanks everyone for your responses! Yes, he does drink Rice Dream. I had heard that they weren't using the barley anymore, but I will investigate further!

It is good to know that there are others with similar challenges. Its hard for me to not blame myself, but I honestly just don't know for sure what the problem is and everything I try doesn't seem to leave me with a definitive answer!

[B'sgirl]

I had a similar story. I took him off gluten, he did better. After a little while he had trouble again. I took him off milk, he did better. After awhile he had trouble again. I took him off soy and he did awesome. Now he's having trouble again. You may want to consider that your child has multiple allergies, leaky gut, or gall bladder problems. I won't bore you with my story here, but if you click on my profile there is a link to my blog with the full story. I don't know if I'm allowed to post a link here so that's all I'll say.