New With Lots Of Questions

[klococo]

My 2 yr old daughter has been diagnosed with celiac disease about a week ago. We have been gluten-free since the biopsy because we were so sure she had it. She then got a stomach bug and fever a few days later. Since then she has been even more clingy, eats very little throughout the day, and is even less energetic (if that was even possible). She seemed to be better for the couple days between going gluten-free and the day she got the stomach bug. She always seems to wake up in a good mood, but 20-30 minutes after eating gets cranky and clingy. Is this just part of the healing process? still the stomach bug? lactose intolerant? We thought about if she is also lactose intolerant, at least for the time being, but we aren't sure? I guess what I'm looking for is people's stories of how long it took to get back to some normalcy? What did you find helpful in the healing process? Any good vitamins to put her on? I'm just so worried of her withering away down to nothing.

Thanks so much for your help!!

[JennyC]

It sounds like she still might be recuperating from the stomach bug. Pediasure says gluten free right on the package, but if her tummy is still upset I'm not sure that she would want that. Gummy Vites also say gluten free right on the label. According to a study that I read and also my son's gastroeneterologist it's not very common for young kids with celiac to develop lactose intolerance. I didn't know that at the time, and I had my three year old son on a low lactose diet for about the first six months after diagnosis. I used to buy lactaid milk and give him half of a chewable lactaid with meals containing lactose. It sounds like you just need to get her eating again which can be hard to do after a stomach bug. Rice chex is gluten free, and most other versions of Chex are transitioning to gluten free, so be sure to read the labels. Popcorn is also generally gluten free, especially if you buy plain! Yoplait yogurt will list any gluten in their ingredients, so might try some of their products. Popsicles might also be good to get her eating again. Good luck!

[swalker]

She would benefit from a good multistrain probiotic.

Smoothies are great when kids aren't eating. We make chocolate ones with coconut milk, cocoa, brown sugar and an avocado or berry smoothies with a big handfull of spinach and ground flax. We freeze the leftovers in popsicle molds.

[lizard00]

She could be temporarily lactose intolerant. It's pretty common for newly diagnosed celiacs to be lactose intolerant because the tips of the villi produce lactase, and they are damaged with celiac. In some, dairy can be reintroduced within a couple of months after being gluten-free.

Maybe she is eating too much too quickly after she gets up. I can't eat within 30 min to an hour after I wake up. And then it's usually a piece of fruit, or a light cereal with rice milk. Thankfully, kids bounce back pretty quickly, so things may just be temporary until her body heals itself.

I hope she feels better soon!