The Miracle That Is The Gluten Free Diet!

[inskababy]

I cannot believe what a difference this had made for my oldest son! My youngest son had a celiac crisis and was diagnosed last month. I started to suspect that my oldest son might have gluten issues as well...after doing lots of reading, I realized he had very mild GI symptoms that could be linked to intolerance. He is almost always sick...lots of diarrhea episodes that have gotten increasingly worse, to the point of not being able to hold it after a taste of pretzel. He's also a very late talker, and while very sweet tempered, has some pretty crazy tantrums from time to time...ones that last for hours.

I got him tested two weeks ago and took him off gluten immediately thereafter, and I swear a different child is living in my house. He's chattering away all day now, with 10-15 new words a day -- he's sleeping 12 solid hours at night when I was lucky before to get 4 before he was crying for me to come get him -- not a single time out for two weeks -- no diarrhea and his first truly solid poop in 2 years. First time it didn't float either! It took forever to potty train him because he hated getting diarrhea in his big boy pants. He chows his dinner every night and has lost most of his pickiness issues. He willingly went shoe shopping and got his haircut without flipping out for the first time ever. He's gained 1/2 lb in just two weeks. Oddly enough I had to take his pants in on elastic despite weight gain because apparently his tummy has lost some swelling.

His blood tests came back two days ago as negative for celiac disease, but he was anemic which the dr said was a red flag regardless of the test result. The doctor felt strongly that he would still benefit from a gluten free diet (umm, duh) and thinks he does have celiac disease, given that my husband and youngest have it and he's gotten so much better. When we went to go get tested, he was scared of her, wouldn't speak and cried during the blood draw. When we went back for results, he bounced in, jumped on her lap and just started chattering away all while letting her actually examine him. She was blown away.

This is AMAZING. I'm just in tears...both in gratitude for the fix and that I'm sad that I didn't realize sooner that he wasn't just "delicate" or "high needs" or "sensitive" -- he was sick. I would be cranky all the time if I never felt good too.

[MySuicidalTurtle]

Congratulations!

[taweavmo3]

I'm so happy for you! I too have one child that tested positive after being very, very sick for a long time. Not too long after that, I ended up putting all my kids on the diet even though their tests were negative. We saw such positive results, we haven't looked back since! Hope you continue to see improvement, it's great to see the progress happen so fast.

[lizajane]

me, too!!!

i was diagnosed in March AND my father in law has it. so seeing some possible symptoms in my 4 year old was enough for me to try gluten free for him. We didn't even have him tested, just took him off gluten. he finally sleeps all night (i wish he slept past 6am, though!) and he is pleasant nearly all day every day. and the tummy is gone!

hooray for you and your family!!!

[CeliacMom2008]

Isn't it just amazing! We also saw dramatic improvements in so many areas of our son's life. And we too wished we'd known sooner. When I look back at all the Ibuprofen we gave him just so he could get some sleep at night (he'd complain of his ankles and legs hurting so much as a toddler), it breaks my heart to know that his little body needed Calcium to grow properly. Or how much of his little childhood he slept through, because "he's a sleeper, you know." And all the doctors that told us he wanted attention at night, his arches weren't formed yet, he might have juvenile arthritis so let's get him tested, his intestinal issues are because he eats so many fruits and veggies, etc...UGH!

He is soooo much healthier, happier, active, etc. I'm so glad your little guy is doing so well too!!

[ang1e0251]

I'm so glad you have found the solution for your little guy! A sick child is such a worry.