Maybe My Expectations Were Too High?

[cdmom1]

Hi Everyone-

Well my 8 year old son has been gluten-free for 3 months now. Although he has adjusted well to the change in diet, nothing about him seems any different than before we started (he never had any visible problems, just short and thin). He has not gained any weight, and has not grown either. I have heard many people say how within a couple of months their children started putting on weight, and their kids shot up a few inches. I don't see any change. Our endocrinologist does not want to see him until he is a year gluten free to continue testing him for GH deficiency.

I guess I am just frustrated and probably need to be more patient. Guess I was hoping for some quick visible results but that clearly isn't happening. Anyone else have a child that took long to show some changes?

[precious831]

How much does he weigh now? How tall? Last year when my DD went gluten-free, she gained 3lbs in a month. So the GI doctor and us were very happy about that. Then after that not much. A whole year has gone and she's gained about 2 lbs. She's 3 now and weighs 28 lbs. Now they're concerned again. The doc said to try going grain-free, which is hard because she avoids so much foods due to food allergies, I feel like I'm gonna lose my mind. I'm worried too because she has not grown much. She's been grain-free for close to a month and I'm really praying this it the answer.

I'm also grain-free, I can't tolerate any grains.

Hope this helps.

[CeliacMom2008]

I don't remember exactly when our son's growth spurt hit, but I don't think it was in the first 3 months. In fact, I'm almost positive it wasn't that soon. And he really did grow a ton. I think it was more about the 6 month mark, because if I remember correctly it was between spring pants and fall pants that I noticed the huge change. He was 8 1/2 when diagnosed.

[T.H.]

My son was short, but not as thin as he was short.

His growth has not jumped up at all, but he's doing better in other ways. Emotionally more calm, less tired, etc... But he's still a little shorty, about a year later.

[cyberprof]

Hi Everyone-

Well my 8 year old son has been gluten-free for 3 months now. Although he has adjusted well to the change in diet, nothing about him seems any different than before we started (he never had any visible problems, just short and thin). He has not gained any weight, and has not grown either. I have heard many people say how within a couple of months their children started putting on weight, and their kids shot up a few inches. I don't see any change. Our endocrinologist does not want to see him until he is a year gluten free to continue testing him for GH deficiency.

I guess I am just frustrated and probably need to be more patient. Guess I was hoping for some quick visible results but that clearly isn't happening. Anyone else have a child that took long to show some changes?

You can see some info in my signature. My son went gluten-free/DF and has done great, but it was six months before he went into puberty (he was 15.5) and he began to grow after that. Prior to going gluten-free/DF his bone age was 12.5 and he looked like a 12 year old. At 15, he weighed 96 pounds and had only gained four pounds in the years between age 12 and 15.5. Now he's 6'1" and is still growing at age 17.

Just my (non-expert) opinion is that older kids (above age 5 or 6) don't recover their growth curve as fast as kids ages 3-5. But trust that he is getting healthier, bit by bit.

My son was always sick before going gluten-free. He "looked" sick all the time. He didn't sleep well. He also fell off the growth chart. The year before he went gluten-free/DF I told his pediatrician that something was wrong, I just didn't know what it was and asked him to test for leukemia, diabetes, thyroid cancer etc. The doc listened to my mother's intuition, but the doctor didn't consider or even mention celiac. I'm rambling but my point is that over then next few months you may see some good changes in your son as his body heals. The growth is just a part of that, and it will happen for your son. My best to you and your son.