Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Should I Be Gluten Free Too?


kaleesmom

Recommended Posts

kaleesmom Newbie

Hi. I am new to this forum, but am very excited to tell my story. I feel like I, too, can help a lot of people through discussing what my family has been through. My daughter, now 2, was diagnosed with celiac disease. Knowing that it is genetic, I was tested and I encouraged my family to be tested as well. My mother, who has had GI problems since my sister was born (27 years ago) had negative blood tests. She tried the gluten-free diet anyway, and feels amazingly better. My daughter's blood tests were negative also (she was diagnosed by biopsy). My blood tests were negative as well, but I don't think I have experienced any symptoms, other than occasional fatigue. Given all of the complications associated with celiac, its hereditary nature, and the fact that my whole family has had negative blood tests, should I be on a gluten-free diet too?


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



Lisa Mentor

That's a good question. I suppose it depends on your health history. Many people have been diagnosed with Celiac as a secondary illness to arthritis, lupus, diabetes, thyroid issues... In addition, there are several people on this Board who are asymptomatic.

I believe 20% first degree relatives will develop Celiac.

But, if you are otherwise healthy, perhaps there is no need to be on the gluten free diet, although it is something to be aware of for the future.

heathen Apprentice

My paternal grandfather is diagnosed, and I am diagnosed, but my dad's blood tests are negative. The genetic link isn't really well understood, and there definitely is an environmental trigger that is also not well understood. The current thinking is shifting to think of gluten sensitivities on a spectrum (sort of like autism) with some people having a sensitivity (like lactose intolerance) and others having full-blown celiac disease with the antibodies. There's still so much more to figure out. You and your family might want to be vigilant of any unexplained health changes, and it might be great for the family to go mostly gluten-free if only for helping your daughter with the transition. Best of luck!

psawyer Proficient

Having the genetic factors means you have the potential to develop the disease, but the majority of those with the genes do not. Even with identical genes, such as in identical twins, there are examples where one has celiac disease but the other does not.

If you are concerned, you can avoid gluten. The gluten-free diet is not dangerous or harmful in any way. Because it keeps you away from fast food places, it can be much healthier in many ways. ;)

sugarsue Enthusiast

My 6 yr old is highly gluten intolerant (possible celiac) and can't have even a spec of gluten. My 7 yr old is not as sensitive but her symptoms have been greatly helped by going gluten free. I am allergic to wheat. I never restricted it before I learned about the girls, thinking it didn't really affect me. But I found now that I don't eat it, I get horrible itching, less weight issues, no more sinus infections, no unexplained rashes.....

If I eat wheat, I itch for 12 hrs or so. I could cheat if I wanted to but it's not worth it to me. But also, it helps me to see what my girls will go through when they get older, the decisions they will be faced with, the temptations, the situations. It's not always easy and I like really knowing what that is like.

Anyway, that's just my experience. Now that I see how sick it makes my 6 yr old, it kind of feels like posion to me anyway and I don't have any desire to eat it. Good luck to you and your family with all these changes you are going through!

Susan

kaleesmom Newbie

Thanks for all of the information! I know my wallet and my scale would both benefit if I gave up Subway and Chipotle. ;) As of now, I luckily don't seem to have any symptoms or medical problems (except for fatigue, but I'm pretty sure thats a result of my 2 year old). :rolleyes: I may try the gluten-free diet for a few weeks just to see how I feel. Thanks again for the help and the support!

Pattymom Newbie

It might turn out to be easier to keep a 2 year old gluten free is there isn't much gluten in the house for her to decide to want. It's hard enough to find time to prepare one meal for a family, let alone a second gluten free meal that you tr to keep from getting contaminated--we tried that for the first month or so when i was the only one off. s much easier ot just make meals gluten free for everyone, then if your toddler wants what you are eating, they can always have some.

Patty


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



ChemistMama Contributor

My son was diagnosed at 18 months, in the fall. After I was eating low gluten for about 6 months, it was spring, and me and the husband would sit on the porch and have a beer after a long day with the kids. Guess what? I increased my gluten intake, and lo and behold I got skin problems, which would eventually be diagnosed as DH. If I were you, based on your history, I"d go gluten-free too. Good luck!

PS...you can still go to chipotle, just make sure they change gloves and put everything in a bowl. Yum!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,951
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Malik
    Newest Member
    Malik
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      70.5k

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • growlinhard1
      I had the endoscopy with biopsy done. I have gastritis and duodenitis at this point. The biopsy should provide the cause of the inflammation findings. How common are these findings when Celiac is the ultimate culprit?
    • Wheatwacked
      Welcome to the forum @cookiesyum, I lasted on staton for about a month before getting so weak I had to stop.   Switched to Nicotinic Acid and I posted the results in a previous post.  Instead of getting sicker and weaker on the statin I feel I am improving day by day.  Nicotinic Acid was first used for cholesterol in 1955.  
    • Wheatwacked
      According to research, consuming gluten can potentially trigger sudden mood swings and increased irritability in children, particularly those with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, making them more likely to have tantrums or display behavioral issues; this is because gluten can trigger an immune response in the body, potentially impacting brain function and neurotransmitter levels.  When my son was diagnosed in 1976 when he was weaned his doctor told us that at 5 years old his kindergarden teacher would beg us to put him on Ritalin.  And so it did happen.  My son was on Ritalin though high school.  In the morning he was a devil who could not put on his socks. Half an hour after the morning dose he was an angel wanting to help mom get ready.  Talk about Jekyll and Hyde! Dr Danel Amen could be a good resource for you.   
    • MommaBear82
      Yes, it certainly can! My daughter has a reaction from just playing with Playdough. She doesn't get GI symptoms at first, just psychological mostly. It can get really bad. It's like night/day behavior. My daughter is eight, but started showing signs around 6.
    • cookiesyum
      The easiest way to remember the difference between the cholesterol types is HDL;   H=healthy equals healthy (omega 3, 7, limit 6 & 9 MCFA'S =Medium Chain Fatty Acids. 3= coconut oil, 7= sunflower oil, avocado. The higher your HDL the healthier you are & less likely to experience strokes, clogged arteries Etc. You can even use cold expeller pressed coconut oil on your skin and that is the best kind of coconut oil to eat as well. You want your HDL much higher than your LDL, it will help you stay healthy.   LDL;    L=Lousy. Meat fats, processed fats.  The higher your LDL is the more likely you will have strokes, clogged artery is, heart disease, fatty liver.   Then there's lipids... they are the culprit to be blamed for many heart attacks and things like that they are very small round particles that transport fats. You can have a low overall cholesterol reading and most of it be healthy cholesterol and have a ton of lipids and there's nothing you can do to change the lipid count. High number of lipids is very dangerous.   I'm going on statins is extremely dangerous if you ask me it's just completely my opinion, because I have seen so many of my elderly friends bleed to death internally because of the statins. I mean you wouldn't take all the oil and grease out of your car or a motorcycle and then try to drive it that way would you? You see that's what statins do they remove all of your bodies fats and it doesn't matter whether it's healthy fats or a lousy fats. It removes all of them and then your body can't function properly. You have to have fats to keep your skin supple and to stay warm. Your body also needs fats to digest & process certain nutrients, amino acids & vitamins.   Your brain is composed of fat so is that something you really want to remove with a pill every morning and night?   The thing about statins is that they also make the blood vessels and capillaries permeable. So this is how my friends who were on cardiac medication for a long time and statins ended up bleeding internally to death.   If you want to make sure that your heart is healthy, take odorless garlic at night and magnesium, vitamin K & calcium.     
×
×
  • Create New...