Question About Reactions

[kwcrnp]

I have a 9 yo DS who has had GI issues for several years but they were 4-5 times a yr. Usually required an ER visit for hydration. The past 8 months he has had cyclic episodes (every 10-14days) of abd pain, constipation or diarrhea, vomiting, extreme fatigue and irritabiltiy. He was always in the 95% for height and weight but the past 2 yrs, he only grew 2.5 in and is below the 50th percentile.

My question is can these episodes that wax and wane and only last 8-12 hrs then he seems fine for days be celiac? He is completely incapacitated when he is sick but when he isn't, he is active, healthy and eating gluten.

He is getting tested this week.

Thanks, Kristi

[Amyleigh0007]

It certainly sounds like it could be Celiac. Celiac has so many different symptoms. Your son dropping down the weight/height chart is a big warning flag. That was my son's main symptom. He dropped until he was no longer on the charts! You are smart to get him tested for Celiac. Let us know what happens!

[kwcrnp]

It certainly sounds like it could be Celiac. Celiac has so many different symptoms. Your son dropping down the weight/height chart is a big warning flag. That was my son's main symptom. He dropped until he was no longer on the charts! You are smart to get him tested for Celiac. Let us know what happens!

Amy- Thanks. I was concerned with his growth issues but everyone told me he was fine. I was still concerned. I know the symptoms sound similar celiac, I just didn't know if kids have periods of being symptom free even while eating gluten. From what I've read, once you remove the gluten they have reactions quicker. But he hasn't come off gluten yet.

[OBXMom]

Kristi, yes, celiac can be quite cyclic. My son seemed to have more tummy bugs than anyone else, and I thought, well some kids get sore throats, some get tummy aches. Then over the phone a nurse casually said to me during one episode, "That doesn't sound like a virus." The light went on, and I suddenly knew it couldn't all be viruses. I marched back to the GI doc we had been seeing for years and said we had to get to the bottom of this, now.

Whether or not celiac disease is your son's diagnosis, I wish you luck in getting answers quickly. I remember when I was pushing our doctor for answers, he asked, "How is this really having a negative impact on your son's life?" (This after being told he was missing a week of school each month.) Be prepared to stand firm.

Jane

[kwcrnp]

Kristi, yes, celiac can be quite cyclic. My son seemed to have more tummy bugs than anyone else, and I thought, well some kids get sore throats, some get tummy aches. Then over the phone a nurse casually said to me during one episode, "That doesn't sound like a virus." The light went on, and I suddenly knew it couldn't all be viruses. I marched back to the GI doc we had been seeing for years and said we had to get to the bottom of this, now.

Jane

Jane, your second sentence is EXACTLY how I felt - I kept telling him he had to wash his hands more often! I kept thinking that "this has to be the last time he'll get this sick", then it would happen again.

Getting the labs drawn tomorrow. We don't see the GI doctor til mid-July. By then I'll have even more episodes to report. I'm very curious what the outcome will be.

Thank you for your support!