What Is Normal?

[raesue]

I'm not sure of the correct place to pose a question about everyone else.

Kind of gross question:

Is it "normal" to have frequent, almost daily, constipation with cramps that rapidly transforms into extreme urgency and diarrhea?

Is it "normal" for this diarrhea to involve such things as undigested food, malabsorbed fat, mucus, and blood?

Do these things happen when there is nothing wrong with a person?

Was I lying when I told my daughter that she had to have blood work because most peoples tummies do NOT hurt everyday and diarrhea is NOT supposed to be the normal form of bowel movement.

Seriously, can we have all these issues without there being anything wrong with us?

[psawyer]

No, what you describe is not what I would consider normal.

[kareng]

I suppose you could have these things if they are a normal response to something like eating potato chips and soda all day. With a reasonablly healthy diet, this is not normal. Its not how the parts were made to function.

[Judy3]

I'm not sure of the correct place to pose a question about everyone else.

Kind of gross question:

Is it "normal" to have frequent, almost daily, constipation with cramps that rapidly transforms into extreme urgency and diarrhea?

Is it "normal" for this diarrhea to involve such things as undigested food, malabsorbed fat, mucus, and blood?

Do these things happen when there is nothing wrong with a person?

Was I lying when I told my daughter that she had to have blood work because most peoples tummies do NOT hurt everyday and diarrhea is NOT supposed to be the normal form of bowel movement.

Seriously, can we have all these issues without there being anything wrong with us?

What you have described is me before I was diagnosed with Celiac and went gluten free..

[IrishHeart]

I think you already know this is not how a normal GI system works...perhaps you want us to tell you that you are doing the right thing by having your daughter tested?

You are doing the right thing by having your daughter tested.

No one should have that going on every single day. (well, I did... but now I know WHY) And now, it doesn't happen anymore.

[raesue]

I'm wanting to be told something other than "its all in your head". i was even straight called crazy yesterday. my incredibly supportive boyfriend/father of the five year old child occasionally doubled over in pain from cramps thinks a negative blood test is sufficient reason to forget all of this. he even suggested I let him support us and.go back to school or at least begin socializing more with friends to get myself to stop creating health problems for myself and dragging our daughter into it. I'm making sure I'm not just missing something here in that my experiences are lesser or different than those of you who can actually prove something is really going on with you.

[raesue]

What I really want is scientific proof to throw in his face and scream STFU! or maybe I just want to rant. In his mind, no tangible evidence = nothing there

[IrishHeart]

I'm wanting to be told something other than "its all in your head". i was even straight called crazy yesterday. my incredibly supportive boyfriend/father of the five year old child occasionally doubled over in pain from cramps thinks a negative blood test is sufficient reason to forget all of this. he even suggested I let him support us and.go back to school or at least begin socializing more with friends to get myself to stop creating health problems for myself and dragging our daughter into it. I'm making sure I'm not just missing something here in that my experiences are lesser or different than those of you who can actually prove something is really going on with you.

Many people have negative test results. If you want statistics to present to him--I am sure it's on this site somewhere. My doctor told me it was almost 30% of the time.

That's why so many people remain sick and in pain--reliance on a test that renders false negatives all the time. I am one of dozens on here who will tell you horror stories of what happened to us because our tests were negative and people said it wasn't the gluten. But we knew better.

Some of the people who are seriously ill from gluten intolerance never get "proof"--i.e. any test results that shows positive--but ALL of us know that symptoms such as the ones you describe are NOT NORMAL--in a child or in an adult.

Do not listen to what others say to you. If you think your child is ill from gluten (or you, for that matter--I do not know your health situation) and you feel she may do well without gluten in her diet, then take it out and see if she starts to feel better.

That's all the proof you need.

I know you want the piece of paper with positive test results on it so you can say "I told you so!"...I felt that way once, too....and even WITH that proof, it did not change a thing. No doctor has ever "apologized to me" (except one) or said "Oh wow--you were right all those years and you're not crazy..gee, sorry!..." Seriously, who gives a rat's butt what others think?

Your daughter's health is all that matters. Proof or no proof--recovery from illness is the best "revenge"....then you can say "I told you so" if you want.

Do what's best for you and for her.

[raesue]

My daughter's symptoms aren't that bad.... yet. She sounds like I did at her age, though, and I'm pretty miserable at this point. By experimentation with diet, we both seem much better gluten free. When our results came in, I gave her the choice whether to adhere to the diet or not. She chose chicken nuggets from burger king. It was the first gluten meal for both of us in 4 days. She decided to go gluten free after her first trip to the bathroom. The next morning she still wanted gluten food the next morning, and we both had frosted mini wheats. The evening, we lined up at the bathroom at the same time. That night, she complained of hemorrhoid like symptoms. This was two days ago. She has since been with my parents for the weekend, and my mom is to be keeping a food journal for me.

I don't think she's seriously ill at this point, but I believe she is headed that direction. It's just so much easier to be angry and defensive over your child than yourself. I'm afraid it does seem necessary to have her diagnosed to be taken seriously by the school. I realise I could just pack her lunch in future years and be good, but she's starting kindergarten where I know there will be daily snacks in the classroom.

[IrishHeart]

There are chicken nuggets that are gluten-free. There are cereals that are gluten-free. You can eat the foods you love. As for snacks, there are Mommies on here that deal with these easily on a daily basis and I am sure they would be more than happy to share their ideas with you. Read under the sections on children, baking and cooking, and recipes, etc. and get yourself a few good books on living gluten free.

School administrators and teachers are used to dealing with kids with food allergies and food intolerances. They don't need a certificate or proof.YOU JUST TELL THEM SHE CANNOT HAVE GLUTEN. PERIOD. They HAVE to take you seriously!

Anyone she stays with? Just tell them the same the thing. You're in charge of her health.

It's not a big deal, really. Just tell them your daughter is on a gluten free diet and that you can send gluten-free cupcakes or whatever other snacks with her to school--for her and to share. I believe that play-doh is an issue as well.

This is not a difficult lifestyle. Fast food is an absolute gluten-filled landmine, however and you really have to stop eating at burger king.

You sound as if you have been living with illness yourself for quite some time, hon. Yet you keep eating foods that send you to the bathroom?...well, frankly, asking her what she wants and then watching her--and you--- race for the bathroom--is a lot like hitting yourself over the head with a giant hammer. Soon, you will realize that it feels good when you stop.

Best wishes.

[cahill]

I'm making sure I'm not just missing something here in that my experiences are lesser or different than those of you who can actually prove something is really going on with you.

It took me 40+ years of testing,unnecessary procedures, unnecessary drugs,unnecessary suffering and pain, 40 +years of doctors suggesting I was making things up.Some of the docs actually telling me I was crazy, a hypochondriac BEFORE I was FINALLY officially diagnosed by a wonderful,open minded GI doc.

Many here do not have a "official" diagnoses.That does not stop them from doing what they need to do to be well.

A gluten free diet does not need a doctors order nor do you need a prescription.

I would encourage you to have all the testing done on your daughter before she goes gluten free though,, it is much better to have all the testing done before she goes gluten free than having to do a gluten challenge later on