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

Severely Swollen Eyelids In 12 Month Old

mommyoftwo

Recommended Posts

mommyoftwo Newbie
mommyoftwo
Posted

My youngest daughter, who turns one today, has been dealing with puffy eyelids upon wakening every morning for approximately 5 weeks now. We were brushed off by her pediatrician who stated that the edema would probably resolve itself. The start of the eyelid puffiness corresponded with her moving from breast milk to cow's milk (she has been eating solids, with wheat in them, since month 5). As my husband has severe food allergies to milk and eggs, we immediately moved her off both and then did a thorough cleaning of her room (removing all potential allergens, washing bedding with dye free and fragrant free detergent) to eliminate possible environmental allergens as the trigger for her eyelid swelling. I should note that the eyelid swelling only occurred/occurs when she lays prone in bed --- if she naps in her swing, her eyes (due to gravity and therefore fluid drainage) do not swell. After testing her kidneys, we then took her to an allergist (this was week four). She tested above normal for milk, peanut and wheat! Her blood work also showed that she was significantly anemic. Putting two and two together (which neither of our docs did) I guessed that she may be gluten sensitive. Finally at week five, and she still having severely puffy eyelids, we had a blood panel run on her yesterday and asked that a celiac panel be added as well. We are awaiting results.

So, my question to all you seasoned parents out there is...has your child ever experienced severe eye swelling as a result of eating wheat/gluten? If so, was this chronic and did the swelling go away after the gluten was eliminated from the diet? If and when the swelling did subside, how long did it take for this to happen? I removed gluten from her yesterday and this morning again she is puffy...not worse, but not any better. I am telling myself that I need to be a little bit more patient and I suppose you will all tell me this as well.

I really appreciate all your input. I'm going nuts trying to figure out what is wrong with my daughter --- I'm sure many of you have unfortunately been in the same situation.

Kind regards,

Mommyoftwo

and Mommy of birthday baby who looks like she got stung by 500 bees

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


elle's mom Contributor
elle's mom
Posted

Dear Mommyoftwo,

My 4yo diagnosed celiac dd HAS awoke with swollen eyelids for stretches (days not weeks), but not as a result of her consuming gluten (that we know of). She simply has "hayfever" and other animal allergies (started when she took a nap on a couch that a cat frequently sleeps on). I am an optometrist and I have NEVER heard of a 5 week stretch of this! The poor little thing. Have you tried Claritan? (it is gluten free) They also make liquid and chewables for little ones. It sounds like an allergy, but is she itching them, or are her eyes red inside, does the swelling subside during the day? You should definately take her to an eye doctor.

mommyoftwo Newbie
mommyoftwo
Posted
  • Author
Dear Mommyoftwo,

My 4yo diagnosed celiac dd HAS awoke with swollen eyelids for stretches (days not weeks), but not as a result of her consuming gluten (that we know of). She simply has "hayfever" and other animal allergies (started when she took a nap on a couch that a cat frequently sleeps on). I am an optometrist and I have NEVER heard of a 5 week stretch of this! The poor little thing. Have you tried Claritan? (it is gluten free) They also make liquid and chewables for little ones. It sounds like an allergy, but is she itching them, or are her eyes red inside, does the swelling subside during the day? You should definately take her to an eye doctor.

Hi Elle's Mom:

Thanks so much for your response.

Her eyelid edema has been identified as a response to low blood albumin (low blood protein), one of the markers of celiac, but, also a marker of a variety of other maladies and diseases (yikes!) We will get results on Wednesday at the latest. The 5 week stretch of edema, however, seems to be subsiding...and we are on day 6 of a gluten-free diet!!!!! My husband and I definitely think it is the gluten...her biopsy will hopefully confirm this or something else manageable.

Thanks again,

Olivia

P.S. We did try both Claritin and Benadryl. As the edema is a result of fluid retention not inflammation, neither had any effect

elle's mom Contributor
elle's mom
Posted
Hi Elle's Mom:

Thanks so much for your response.

Her eyelid edema has been identified as a response to low blood albumin (low blood protein), one of the markers of celiac, but, also a marker of a variety of other maladies and diseases (yikes!) We will get results on Wednesday at the latest. The 5 week stretch of edema, however, seems to be subsiding...and we are on day 6 of a gluten-free diet!!!!! My husband and I definitely think it is the gluten...her biopsy will hopefully confirm this or something else manageable.

Thanks again,

Olivia

P.S. We did try both Claritin and Benadryl. As the edema is a result of fluid retention not inflammation, neither had any effect

Hey, I haven't been on here in awhile but I just wondered what you found out with our daughter?

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      130,079
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Roderick
    Newest Member
    Roderick
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Wheatwacked
      Should I ask for more testing? Celiac vs. Gluten Sensitivity

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      It seems the "fad" diet is working for you.  
    • Mari
      Upset stomach

      By Mari · Posted

      Hi Vicky'  If you are hesitant to visit your medical provider and if this discomfort persists you may choose to do that. I do have some suggestions and how ai have delt with digestive problems not caused by gluten but likely a result of having the autoimmune reaction in my small intestine for all the years before going gluten free. Before I stopped eating gluten I had a leaky gut. The gluten inflammatory reaction let other food molecules get just far enough into the wall of the small intestine to be recognized as invaders so I began reacting to them at a very low level, not very noticeable.  When you eat a meal it goes into the stomach and is liquified in a highly acid environment. This may take up to 2 hours. This acidic fluid is then  released into the beginning of the small intestine where, as it is released, bile is squirted into it . The bile is very alkaline so it neutralized the acid.  Without that bile being available the liquid that is released from the stomach may remail too acid and cause discomfort. Many people use antacids to stop the burning but I don't do that because it did not get at the real cause. \\I wrote that I had developed other food intolerances or allergies that weren't noticeable when I was eating gluten foods. Except for hot peppers and all of the nightshade family.  I have mild reaction to other foods. Those reactions cause enough inflammation in my digestive system that impeded food from passing down the small intestine so that when the food was released from the stomach it had no place to go because the small intestine was still having difficulty pushing it along. When the stomach can't release the acid liquidified food down it tends to be forced up resulting in acid reflux.  I learned to do gentle massages of my abdomen and over the last 18 years eliminated many foods from my diet. What I did not realize, although many celias have reported this, is that once a person reacts to a food even tiny amounts of the food I have eliminated, will cause inflammation in my stomach and upper intestine I was getting these very small amount of reaction causing foods in supplements, by cross contamination  . Now if soy or corn, to name just 2, is on a label I don't buy it. Another suggestion is to drink enough water to keep yourself hylrated. That information is available online and depends on you height and weight. I am not a medical practitioner so what I wrote is only from my own experience and what I think about the causes of some of my digestive problems. 
    • Wheatwacked
      Is it common to develop a wheat allergy in addition to Celiac Disease?

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      Hi @Stephanie Wakeman, Get your vitamind D blood level checked and supplement to raise to around 80 ng/dl or 200 nmol/L.  This is the natural upper limit and provides the best immune system. Vitamin D plays a role in regulating the immune system, and low levels may impair the immune system's ability to control allergic responses.  Vitamin D deficiency may be linked to an increased risk of developing allergies and experiencing more severe allergic reactions.  Vitamin D is one of many vitamin deficiencies caused by small intestine damage so unless you get enough sunlight or taking large doses of vitamin D, you will be deficient.      
    • RMJ
      Damage after 13 years gluten free

      By RMJ · Posted

      I’m frustrated with celiac disease and my current gastroenterologist (GI). I’ve been gluten free for almost 13 years, with normal antibodies for almost 8 years - except for one excursion of my DGP IgA 5 years ago which returned to normal when I changed brands of gluten free flour. All 4 celiac antibodies were positive 13 years ago but I didn’t have an endoscopy for reasons unrelated to celiac disease.  I did have one 9 years ago. The DGP IgA was still slightly elevated, GI saw some blunted villi visually, biopsy showed “patchy mild increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes” and “focal mild villous blunting” (Marsh 3A). For the past few years I’ve had intermittent trouble with nausea and stomach pain so my current GI suggested doing a repeat endoscopy. He saw nothing visually, but biopsy showed “focal mild intraepithelial lymphocytosis” and “minimal focal villous blunting”.  All I got was a letter from the GI and his nurse that said there were mild changes consistent with celiac disease. I sent a message to the doctor asking where I go from here but just got an answer from a nurse saying it is better, less damage than 2016 so keep following the gluten free diet. So focal is better than patchy for increased lymphocytes and minimal focal is better than focal mild villi blunting? I feel this biopsy result after 13 years deserves some discussion, but this doctor never answers messages, his nurses just give out canned responses, it takes 6 months to get an appointment, and his only suggestion for nausea and pain was more soluble fiber. I’ve read that adults may not heal completely on a gluten free diet but with normal antibodies for years I was not expecting this result. I have made an appointment with a different GI who hopefully is more communicative. Rant over. Thanks for reading.
    • Pablohoyasaxa
      Is it common to develop a wheat allergy in addition to Celiac Disease?

      By Pablohoyasaxa · Posted

      I was diagnosed with gluten sensitivity and a wheat allergy as a child in the early 1960s, . which I inherited from my father's DNA. My mom tried the best she could with both of us, but in those times health and allergies were kind of brushed aside.  I grew out of it, or so we thought, but the rashes reared their ugly heads while I was in college. Keg parties (wheat & gluten in beer and youthful reckess eating led to an outbreak. To the point, I am a 65 year old and now living with full blown celiac with dermatitis herpetiformis blisters that are just beginning to receed after being gluten-free for over 2 years at least. The lesions are so unsightly that I need to stay covered. Ive been living in South Florida and would love to wear shorts but people see the sores and thing I am a leper. Ive lost a lot of weigh from  stomach cramps and frequent bowel movements. Will this ever end!
×
×
  • Create New...