Another Poop Question!

[Guest taweavmo3]

How long did it take for your children to have normal (formed) stools after going gluten free?

It's been nearly 5 months for us, and Emmie still has bulky, sometimes runny stools. She has yet to have an actual formed stool. This is making potty training pretty much non-existent even though she's 3 1/2. She tried to wear panties the other day, but ended up pooping in them, which went everywhere, and it really scared her. Now I think PT is on the backburner for a while longer.

Her diet is pretty limited, so I am pretty confident she isn't getting gluten from a hidden source. My other children don't eat alot of gluten, and the gluten they do eat I try to limit to food w/ no crumbs. We did have a few accidents in the beginning, but it's been at least two months I would say since we've had any.

Does it really take this long for babies to heal? Her intestines were inflamed when she had her scope, so I'm not sure if that means she had significant damage, or if that is pretty common. I can tell she is on the mend, her mood has changed drastically and she has put on nearly 7 pounds. So, I'm doing something right I think! I just didn't think it would take this long to have normal stools again.

Oh, and it seems she still can't tolerate dairy. I tried again w/some yogurt a couple of days ago and she had 4 stools in one day. UGH!

[Wandering Hermit]

Don't know about kids, but in my case it has been 4 months and mine are still not normal.

[key]

Hi Tamara,

My son has been on the diet for three months and his stools are still soft and not really formed. We have had about two formed stools since he went gluten free. HE only has one or two a day now, which before it was way more and they were different then now. Very runny and undigested food. His still are strange at times and I don't know what is going on either. HOping no more allergies. He can't handle dairy either. He has improved dramatically and gaining weight. He still hasn't caught up to other kids his age, but hopefully in time. I am discouraged at times with his diet options too. I think he is probably tired of the same foods all the time.

Wish I could help, but I just thought I would add that his are still soft and not really formed, but I figure that he eats alot of fruit, veggies and having no dairy, etc., keeps them softer.

Monica

[Guest taweavmo3]

Thank you! That does make me feel better. I guess it will just take more time. I'm just surprised that so much damage can occur in such a short time span in some kids. We are still waiting on a growth spurt too, Emmie isn't even close to being on the growth charts for height yet. Her 15 month old brother is almost as tall as she is. Maybe when I start seeing signs that her gut is healed, maybe then we'll see her gain some height again. At this rate, we'll most likely hold her back a year before starting kindergarten. She is just SO small, and still so behind in speech and such, I don't think she'll be ready.

Anyway, thanks again. Guess I'll just have to be more patient!

[Guest Lucy]

It only took my son a week. But when he "accidently" gets gluten he has soft stools again. ( I don't know if its why, I just assume, I am SUPER careful and don't know where he gets his gluten from, but it is everywhere).

[key]

Tamara,

My son's still smaller too. He is in the 5th to 10th percentile for height now. He was like in the third before going gluten-free. He is in the negative 5th percentile for weight right now, but he was in the negative 15th before going gluten free, so we are progressing. Of course I think it should be even quicker. He has been gaining weight though and the doctors are very happy with his progress. He is 17 months old now and weighs 19lbs. 12 ounces. He is doing great though. Walking and he says alot of words. It is amazing how much better he is doing. We still depend on his formula alot though. The diet is pretty restrictive and i think he gets sick of eating the same foods all the time. I think it will get easier when he has more teeth and can eat more grown up foods.

It is definitely hard to be patient though. I figure that the damage happened for over seven months and it has been three months. His stools are so much better then they were and he is a different baby.

Good luck,

MOnica

[lisabp]

Thank you for asking this question! My son's BM's were actually OK when he was eating gluten (maybe enought passing though still whole acting as a glue??) but it's been 2 months and his BM's are all still pasty. I know that he hasn't gotten any gluten. My son is almost 2 and we talked to his pediatrician and she wasn't worried at this age as long as the BM's didn't have that "diarreah" watery look to them and were just pasty or muddy. Now my son has grown (almost 2 pounds!) in the last 2 months but his height is still was behind (dwon from 25th to 10th percentile).

[annasmom]

Just joined the message board, and I am glad you asked this, too. My 3 year old daughter was diagnosed with Celiac about six weeks ago and her diarrhea stopped pretty quickly - within about a week- after starting on the gluten-free diet, but her stools are still not what one would call 'normal' or formed, and she still has an occasional very loose stool. My daughter's pediatric GI doctor said it takes about 6-12 months for the gut to heal once she is gluten-free, so I'm guessing that once that happens, maybe her stools will be better. I am looking forward to seeing her gain some weight and grow - she's only 22 pounds right now and not even close to being on the chart for weight or height.

Again, thanks to everyone who replied, I feel better knowing that others are dealing with this, too, and that I need to be patient.