Daugher Is Sick, Any Ideas?

[Guest taweavmo3]

My little girl has been sick for about a week now, and we can't seem to find out why. She has been gluten free for about three months. I have called the food companies for any items that do not say gluten free right on the box, just to be sure. I can't seem to find any source of hidden gluten. She has had a full on gluten accident before when she ate a whole cookie at a wedding, and we didn't see much of a reaction at all. So I can't figure out what is wrong now.

About two weeks ago, she ran a high fever, and was vomiting. However, it only lasted one day. The next day, she was good as new so we never saw the doctor. Now, for the past 6 days, she has been listless, exremely irritable and has had some very dark stools, but normal consistancy. She does not have any other signs of being sick....she's just very listless and waves of pain seem to come over her. She'll cry for a few minutes, then go back to sleep. She's also not sleeping well at night, she wakes up constantly, tossing and turning, and crying out. Her poor eyes are so bloodshot.

I took her to the ped yesterday, but I should have known better. Of course, since she isn't running a fever, has no ear infection or sore throat, there wasn't a whole lot he could do. I called the pedi GI, but he apparently is booked up for three months. When I got a little upset, the nurse was very rude.

I am really frustrated, I have no clue what could be wrong. She is just laying around the house, not playing talking or eating. I can't find any hidden gluten, and have kept her diet very limited the past few days.

Why would she not have a strong reaction to a whole cookie, but may be having a strong reaction to a small amount now? If that's even the problem? The ped did say he will do some bloodwork if she is still like this by tommorow, so I'll bring her back if she's not better.

Any ideas anyone?

[Jnkmnky]

"Not playing, talking or eating", eh? Sounds like my son before he was diagnosed. My best advice for you would be to bring her diet down to the simplest level you can for a good week. Clean simple proteins- eggs, boiled chicken, naked meats cooked in a separate pan. Crackers and the like ONLY from gluten free specialty companies. Fresh fruits and vegetables. No sauces, dressings, flavorings of any kind. Butter-yes, spaghetti sauce-yes.

At the beginning of my son's gluten-free diet, he was glutenized by his vitamin. I'd called and confirmed they were gluten-free, only to call back a week later and be told, "We don't guarantee that our suppliers use gluten-free products, so there could be contamination". That was when I learned no one is going to protect my child from gluten exposure but me. Good luck. Nothing sucks worse than having a sick child and feeling helpless about it.

[cdford]

It is so frustrating when our kids are sick and we feel helpless. I agree with the dropping back on the diet. I might even go a little further for the first 24 hours or so and go back to clear liquids and let her system get totally settled down. You did not mention how long ago the cookie incident was. When glutened, you can have off and on symptoms for a while. Also, if she was sick with some virus when she had the fever, her celiac disease symptoms may have been triggered. I'd stay on that ped doc to check her out if it does not get better quickly. You mentioned verifying all foods. Did you also reverify any meds? If she is away from you at school or church, is it possible she got something there? That has been a source of trouble (rarely intentionally) for us.