Do Your Kids Have It, Too?

[GlutenNoMore]

I am still waiting on my results, but my doctor has already put me on a gluten free diet two weeks ago today. She's certain. Since then, I found out my sister does have celiac and now my mom and grandma are being tested. The majority of the immediate family members have 'stomach problems.'

I took my son in today to get tested, and I guess I was the 'paranoid' parent. Whatever. I'd like to know if he's gluten intolerant so he doesn't get as bad as I or my sister did. The doctor names of the 'typical' symptoms (limp, underweight, etc), and I explained to her that both my sister and I didn't have the typical symptoms. I am overweight (so is my son). She only drew blood for the one test, I forgot which one, and refused to draw for the vitamin deficiencies, as my doctor did for me.

After reading how unreliable just doing one blood test is, I am certain it's going to come back negative. Do many of you guys that are celiac/gluten intolerant have kids that are the same? I don't know how far to push it with this doctor, but, it may come down to just taking him to my doctor, a wonderful lady I found a month ago that actually listened to me. It is sad, as he has been seeing this doctor since the day he was born in the hospital, 13 years ago..

It would be easy for me to feed him gluten free and forget about all the tests, except his father won't follow it on the weekends unless there's doctor's orders.

[kareng]

Go to the univ of Chicago Celiac ct web site. They have Fact sheets you can print and show the doctor. They recommend every first degree relative ( bro, sis, parents & children) be tested and list the tests that need to be run.

My teen boys just tested negative. They have no symptoms.

[ravenwoodglass]

Both of my children showed a low positive on tests. Both were symptomatic. If your children have symptoms be sure to try them on the diet after all testing is done as children have an even higher rate of false negatives than adults do.

[kpryan]

Did you go to a gastro for yourself? If so, you could prob bring your child to them...that's what my gastro said. It sounds like you like your doc so I would go that route or ask them for a recommendation for your child. The fact that their doc seems reluctant would make me want a 2nd opinion esp with such a family history.

Good luck!! I am getting tested (and went through a gluten challenge) mainly for my kids. I know I do better without gluten but I want to know if I have Celiac so my girls could be screened too....good luck!!!

[GlutenNoMore]

  On 10/18/2010 at 11:43 PM, kpryan said:

Did you go to a gastro for yourself?

I recently found a wonderful family doctor. She sat down and LISTENED to me. I originally went to get my thyroid checked, but I was having so much abdominal discomfort for a couple of weeks preceding the appointment, she concentrated on that, and tested me. I am anxious to get my test results, for that and the thyroid.

I brought a list of blood tests with me, but my son's dr was not interested. He doesn't have any MAJOR symptoms, but he's where I was at his age stomach wise... minor issues. If there is anything, I'd like to know now before it gets worse.. if that's possible.

The dr said they are testing for the one thing, but they did take 3 vials.. so I don't know if she changed her mind later. I'll go up there and get a copy of the results once they're in.

[Emilushka]

  On 10/19/2010 at 2:06 AM, GlutenNoMore said:

I recently found a wonderful family doctor. She sat down and LISTENED to me. I originally went to get my thyroid checked, but I was having so much abdominal discomfort for a couple of weeks preceding the appointment, she concentrated on that, and tested me. I am anxious to get my test results, for that and the thyroid.

I brought a list of blood tests with me, but my son's dr was not interested. He doesn't have any MAJOR symptoms, but he's where I was at his age stomach wise... minor issues. If there is anything, I'd like to know now before it gets worse.. if that's possible.

The dr said they are testing for the one thing, but they did take 3 vials.. so I don't know if she changed her mind later. I'll go up there and get a copy of the results once they're in.

YAY! That doc is like gold. Don't lose her. :-)

[luvs2eat]

I was diagnosed at about age 48. Middle daughter was diagnosed about 4-5 years later at about age 26. Youngest daughter was diagnosed about 3 years after that, also at age 26. Oldest daughter (32) was just diagnosed a few months ago after 6 mo. of aggressive chemo for breast cancer.

Youngest is having the hardest time w/ it... she also had issues going on that have been thought to be interstitial cystitis, vestibulitis, and vulvodynia. She has many, many food intolerances... she was down to about 10 foods she could tolerate, but is very slowly finding answers (a hiatal hernia and several ulcers!) and is just starting to bring some foods back.

At least they all like to cook and were very familiar w/ celiac cooking, so it's been easier for them than others, I'm sure! We were never huge convenience food people, so they've not as upset about not being able to eat fast food.

[GlutenNoMore]

  On 10/19/2010 at 12:48 PM, Emilushka said:

YAY! That doc is like gold. Don't lose her. :-)

Unfortunately, soon as husband's deployment is over, I'm moving out of state to where he is stationed.. Already having anxiety about losing a great doctor..

[GlutenNoMore]

  On 10/19/2010 at 1:55 PM, luvs2eat said:

At least they all like to cook and were very familiar w/ celiac cooking, so it's been easier for them than others, I'm sure! We were never huge convenience food people, so they've not as upset about not being able to eat fast food.

You know, this transition has been fairly easy for me, too. Although I miss beer and have not tried the gluten free kind yet.

I rarely went out to eat in the first place, no fast food, and read the labels on everything I ate (no dairy, nothing artificial, no corn syrup or corn, soy, etc), so this is just another thing I have to watch for. Most of my meals get cooked at home from scratch, as always.

[T.H.]

My daughter tested positive after I was diagnosed, and her symptoms were exhaustion and difficulty with depression, low frustration tolerance, anxiety. I'd probably add in congestion and getting sick a lot on top of that. She was overweight as well.

My son tested negative, but he had a bloated belly, very small stature, and anger issues.

We took them both off gluten, and both of them showed improvement, so I'd say even if it tests negative, might be worth taking your little one off gluten to see if there's a change. Also, he should be tested periodically, if you don't take him off gluten, because it can trigger at any time, and a growing part of the celiac population is the asymptomatic celiacs.

And sorry that your doctor has never looked at celiac disease since he went to med school. The text books in the States were only changed a few years back to reflect the current knowledge. You may want to let him know that the previous knowledge on celiac disease - both the symptoms and the prevalence in the population - are different than there were about 5 years ago.

Not that he'll likely listen, sadly. Honestly, if your son tests positive? I'd still find another doctor. This one likely won't know what to keep an eye on, either.