I Am New. Concerned Mom With Pics.

[MomToThree050607]

Thanks everyone. I wanted to update. When I took her in Friday she actually only weighed 19.2 pounds! They said she weighed more back in December and that she was not even on the percentile charts anymore. They gave her a catheter right then and she was screaming bloody murder, it was terrible. I also did find out that her great grandpa had celiac, so I was wrong when I said I didn't think anyone in her family had it. She is getting blood work tomorrow and they are supposed to test for celiac and other things it could be. I will update when I get results. I am pretty worried about her at this point. Her eating lately has been terrible I am lucky if I get 4 or 5 bites out of her. She still drinks her milk fine.

Hello! I'm new to this but your post actually made me join. I just wanted to maybe give you some good words of encouragement. My daughter threw up for about 3-4 months randomly when she hit about 9-10 months. Then when she hits 12 months it was constant up to 13 months. I kept telling the doctors there was something wrong with her. So angry they just kept telling me she was fine and as long as she wasn't loosing weight there was nothing to worry about. Finally one day she threw up all over herself in my car. I had it. I called the doctor and got her in the next morning. Different one that she saw normally cause it's a 3 pediatrian practice noticed it immediately. She called the GI at Children's and over the phone was positive what the problem was. Within 2 weeks I had my answer, blood work, and the bi-opt. done. She had Celiac Disease and it was clear as day. They say it's harder to detect in babies and kids but I completely disagree. When they hit those months of being on one complete diet (formula/breast milk) then switch to an open diet it's a clear warning. My daughter hasn't been on the charts since she was 13 months old and is now 19 months old. So don't let that get you down. She's 19 months now and is just now 20 pounds (and one ounce). It's really hard to go through this but it's well worth the heart ache and knowing.

Now hopefully this makes you at ease the most.. You say she eats very little and is only decreasing. This is what made me feel SOO much better about Lyla.. Would you want to eat if you knew what you were eating was going to make your stomach hurt? They told me the reason why Lyla didn't want to eat cause she was afraid. She was afraid of everything she ate and rather or not she was going to be in pain after it. As a reality check as that might be, it's very true. If you were allergic to something and swelled up as soon as you ate it, you'd completely avoid it all together. We can't expect our little ones not to defend themselves and that's exactly what they're doing. I can show you some pictures of my little girl when she was 13 months at her worse. You wouldn't even believe the size her stomach got. I was afraid of squeezing her cause I was afraid of popping her stomach. You'll get through this girl and it only gets better from then on out. Tons of reading, listening, learning, and practice will make perfect. They don't expect you the second you leave there knowing to go home and go completely gluten free. Everyone slips.. But you'll get it down and you'll get it a lot faster than you would have ever though. I'm here for you and I know exactly what you're going through. Good luck!

[ek327]

Remember that 5 % of kids are at the 5th percentile. Some kids are small. Has she always been at the 5th percentile, or has she lost ground in growth? What size are you and her father? Sometimes, small kids are just small kids. Also, she should be off the bottle by now. I would try switching her to a cup, and not giving it between meals. the extra calories in the toddler formula may be suppressing her appetite. same with the juice. Juice has no benefits--give her fruit instead.

[Chris0107]

Hello! I'm new to this but your post actually made me join. I just wanted to maybe give you some good words of encouragement. My daughter threw up for about 3-4 months randomly when she hit about 9-10 months. Then when she hits 12 months it was constant up to 13 months. I kept telling the doctors there was something wrong with her. So angry they just kept telling me she was fine and as long as she wasn't loosing weight there was nothing to worry about. Finally one day she threw up all over herself in my car. I had it. I called the doctor and got her in the next morning. Different one that she saw normally cause it's a 3 pediatrian practice noticed it immediately. She called the GI at Children's and over the phone was positive what the problem was. Within 2 weeks I had my answer, blood work, and the bi-opt. done. She had Celiac Disease and it was clear as day. They say it's harder to detect in babies and kids but I completely disagree. When they hit those months of being on one complete diet (formula/breast milk) then switch to an open diet it's a clear warning. My daughter hasn't been on the charts since she was 13 months old and is now 19 months old. So don't let that get you down. She's 19 months now and is just now 20 pounds (and one ounce). It's really hard to go through this but it's well worth the heart ache and knowing.

Now hopefully this makes you at ease the most.. You say she eats very little and is only decreasing. This is what made me feel SOO much better about Lyla.. Would you want to eat if you knew what you were eating was going to make your stomach hurt? They told me the reason why Lyla didn't want to eat cause she was afraid. She was afraid of everything she ate and rather or not she was going to be in pain after it. As a reality check as that might be, it's very true. If you were allergic to something and swelled up as soon as you ate it, you'd completely avoid it all together. We can't expect our little ones not to defend themselves and that's exactly what they're doing. I can show you some pictures of my little girl when she was 13 months at her worse. You wouldn't even believe the size her stomach got. I was afraid of squeezing her cause I was afraid of popping her stomach. You'll get through this girl and it only gets better from then on out. Tons of reading, listening, learning, and practice will make perfect. They don't expect you the second you leave there knowing to go home and go completely gluten free. Everyone slips.. But you'll get it down and you'll get it a lot faster than you would have ever though. I'm here for you and I know exactly what you're going through. Good luck!

Thanks for writing. Our little ones sound very similar and about the same size. I'd love to see her pics and see. My daughter also has thrown up in the car. I have had to pull over a few times and clean it up, fun stuff. I am still awaiting the results. I just know she must have it. She has all the classic symptoms. It does make sense that they would not want to eat cause it upsets the tummy, and makes me sad knowing I was hurting her and didnt even know it. I know what you mean about her belly looking like it's going to pop. It's so sad to see that little skinny body and big ol belly. Thanks so much and please check back for her results.

[Chris0107]

Remember that 5 % of kids are at the 5th percentile. Some kids are small. Has she always been at the 5th percentile, or has she lost ground in growth? What size are you and her father? Sometimes, small kids are just small kids. Also, she should be off the bottle by now. I would try switching her to a cup, and not giving it between meals. the extra calories in the toddler formula may be suppressing her appetite. same with the juice. Juice has no benefits--give her fruit instead.

Hi there

I understand about the whole bottle thing. The only reason I still allow it is because she doesn't eat and the only satisfaction I have knowing she is getting any nutrition is because of the bottle. It's hard to let it go cause I know it's something she will take. I don't give much juice. Maybe one cup a day. She isn't in the 5 percentile anymore she is in the -0. I am 5 4" and her father is 5 10" so we are both about average sized.

[Chris0107]

Hi, my dd was diagnosed last december at 2y9m

this is what her tummy would look like

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we didn't take her to the dr for another 4 months after that photo was taken and it was because she had a week of doing white poos.

now she's diagnosed we can see all the signs and symptoms looking back but at the time it was too easy to find reasons for them all:

* stunted growth, especially compared to her very tall brother & sister - our mothers & sisters are on the shorter side

* that tummy - people said it was normal toddler tummy

* vomits - they only happened occasionally and we thought maybe she'd eaten too much as it would just be once or twice and generally mucus filled

* very pale, especially compared to her sister - my sister has very pale skin (FWIW my sister is a suspected coeliac too)

* very sloppy, runny and frequent poos - same as her brother had had when young (he is now complaining about tummy pain and i am considering further testing on him too)

between blood tests and the biopsy she started complaining of stomach pain and was subconsciously avoiding gluten products.

at the very least i would have the blood tests done, and if they show negative, have the gene test done (if she doesn't have the gene you know it can't possibly be coeliac)

good luck.

PS: after 4 months on the GFD - which she LOVES - she has grown over 2cm (1") and put on over 2kg (1 lb) !!!!

Your daughters belly looked pretty much the same as my daughter's looks now. I also thought the vomitting was due to over eating, but I know now that's just not the case. Then I just thought maybe she was sensitive. People also tell me (esp my sister) that she is fine and just small, and they think I am dramatizing the whole stomach thing and say it's normal. As mothers I think we get a general feeling if something is off. I know they just try to help but I know deep down somethings up with her. I should get results of blood test soon and hopefully get some answers.