What's Your Opinion About Reintroducing Gluten?

[srall]

My daughter's blood test for Celiac came back negative. She had not been eating gluten for about 5 weeks but the pediatrician thought that antibodies would still show up. Well, having been down that road myself I wasn't surprised the results were negative.

Anyhow, in talking to the doctor last night he agreed that she had a positive dietary response to going gluten/dairy and corn free so she should remain on this diet for at least 6 months. He told me that often people, kids especially, outgrow their food sensitivities and I should try again after 6 months.

In all the research I've done, and granted a lot of it has been on this site, but I've also done some other reading, it seems as if once you determine gluten is making you sick, then you stay off gluten forever.

If she truly has a "sensitivity" to gluten, is it possible she may outgrow it? I'd worry that 6 months down the line after some healing that she may not have an outward response but could still be doing damage to her body. On the other hand, it sure would be nice and convenient to have a child who could eat gluten if it was healthy for her.

[salexander421]

I'm always a little bit worried when doctors just automatically assume kids will outgrow their intolerance's. Do you have a history of celiac disease in your family? I'm surprised that a doctor would take a negative test result, after knowing the patient is gluten free, as proof that it's not celiac disease. Have you thought about doing genetic testing? If your little one does have either or both of the genes it won't get you a diagnosis but it will at least let you know if celiac is even a possibility. If they don't have any of the genes then there's pretty much no way they have celiac. Even at that, people don't always outgrow their sensitivities. Many times the symptoms just change as you get older but they're still there.

[txplowgirl]

From everything I have read and researched she would still be doing damage to her insides even if she showed no outward symptoms. Later on in life she could develop all sorts of auto immune issues that a lot of us has had to deal with including cancer. Now, remember, this is just my opinion. But, I would keep her gluten free. Good luck

[Mizzo]

My daughter's blood test for Celiac came back negative. She had not been eating gluten for about 5 weeks but the pediatrician thought that antibodies would still show up. Well, having been down that road myself I wasn't surprised the results were negative.

Anyhow, in talking to the doctor last night he agreed that she had a positive dietary response to going gluten/dairy and corn free so she should remain on this diet for at least 6 months. He told me that often people, kids especially, outgrow their food sensitivities and I should try again after 6 months.

In all the research I've done, and granted a lot of it has been on this site, but I've also done some other reading, it seems as if once you determine gluten is making you sick, then you stay off gluten forever.

If she truly has a "sensitivity" to gluten, is it possible she may outgrow it? I'd worry that 6 months down the line after some healing that she may not have an outward response but could still be doing damage to her body. On the other hand, it sure would be nice and convenient to have a child who could eat gluten if it was healthy for her.

IMHO

Keep her Gluten, dairy and corn free for 6+ months. Then slowly introduce 1 back into her diet (start with dairy) and see how she does for a few weeks. It will be apparent if she is still intolerant to it.

It is unlikely a person will outgrow their Gluten intolerance but NOT impossible. The corn and dairy might be a different story. My girl had to be dairy-light for a month when we first went gluten-free but was fine having it ramped back up after that. I am not positive for Celiac but was Dairy intolerant for my first year of life and I outgrew that.

But for now if she is doing well, keep it up for 6 months to a year. Then reevaluate.

Good luck

[MacieMay]

How old is your daughter? My daughter is 21 months, she also tested negative, blood, biopsy and gene. We have been gluten-free since Sept. with GREAT results. GI gave her the gluten-intolerance diagnosis. What kind of Dr. suggested you reintroduce the gluten and is following your daughters progress? I think a lot of kids can outgrow food sensitivities, if they are young when they are diagnosed. In fact, i know a little boy age 3 who just outgrew a milk protien allergy. I think my daughter can outgrow her gluten intolerance but when to reintroduce it is another questions. I wondering if we should seek guidance from an allergist?