gluten-free Now 3 Weeks, Symptoms Worse! Help

[webbydu]

Hi:

My 12 yr old daughter has been gluten-free for 3 weeks now and her symptoms are worse. When she eats she can end up with bad stomach pain , also her stiffness, joint and bone pain are worse. Help ... what is happening. She is going crazy with all these problems that are worse. Also, she really complains about pain with any vibrations. Going in the car is a mission for her. Does anyone know what is going on? What could be going on?

Help

thanks

Liz

[Mother of Jibril]

My guess... and I'm not a doctor... is that your daughter has something else going on that's related to celiac disease.

Maybe it's something simple like a vitamin/mineral deficiency. A good place to start would be to ask a doctor for a CBC, a CMP (complete metabolic panel) and to check her B-12 and ferritin... it's very common for celiacs to have deficiencies. Anemia can cause joint pain.

What symptoms bother her in the car? I used to get really nauseated riding in the back seat. Good thing seat belts weren't mandatory yet, because it helped to lay down. Sitting in the front seat was even better... I still get nauseated if I have to sit in the back for very long

[webbydu]

Thanks for your response. I've just found out how to get to my posts. I thought that email would notify me when I had an answer to my post.

We've had the CBC and it is all good. I willl ask for the CMP and b-12 and ferritin. (I think the ferritin is ok.) She is also having the itchy's after she eats. It is scarey - and so far we haven't got a solid diagnosis. Celiac and ... something else.

We are in New Zealand. I'm wondering if there is any forum member in Australia that knows of a good place in Australia to go for detailed, thorough allergy testing.

I'll ask in the overseas forum.

thanks

Liz

My guess... and I'm not a doctor... is that your daughter has something else going on that's related to celiac disease.

Maybe it's something simple like a vitamin/mineral deficiency. A good place to start would be to ask a doctor for a CBC, a CMP (complete metabolic panel) and to check her B-12 and ferritin... it's very common for celiacs to have deficiencies. Anemia can cause joint pain.

What symptoms bother her in the car? I used to get really nauseated riding in the back seat. Good thing seat belts weren't mandatory yet, because it helped to lay down. Sitting in the front seat was even better... I still get nauseated if I have to sit in the back for very long

[RiceGuy]

The suggestion of B12 is a good one. Another is magnesium. Keep in mind that deficiencies don't always show up the way doctors like to see before suggesting supplementation, so make certain you get a copy of all the test results, and do not just accept a plain "yes" or "no" from the doctor. There may be several nutrients which are "borderline", or just on the low side of what is considered normal. Most nutrients can be supplemented without problems even if the levels are in the normal range. Iron is one to be careful with though, as it is easy to get too much.

Something else which can cause all sorts of pains is a yeast overgrowth, commonly known as candida. This is also common for those with Celiac. Though there are some tests which can be done, most doctors don't believe in it, so you may be on your own there. An anti-fungal such as caprylic acid can be very helpful, and it is safe even if there is no infection. Look up candida on this board, and you'll see many threads on the subject. The symptoms your daughter is experiencing may or may not fit the typical symptoms, but you might see some correlating factors if she has an infection of this type.

If your daughter is eating gluten-free breads, it might be a good idea to avoid them and see if it helps. Some people cannot digest one or more of the ingredients. Also, other top allergens may have become problematic, which is very common when starting out on the gluten-free diet. So she may need to avoid dairy, soy, corn, eggs, nuts, nightshades, or some other type of food. Dairy is often not tolerated during the healing process, so it would not surprise me one bit if that's causing her discomfort.