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Wheatabix Effects - How Long After?


notanothername

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notanothername Newbie

Hi,

My 3 year old son has been on a gluten free (well, more or less with the odd very small slip up) diet for a few weeks. This is because he's in the process of being diagnosed as having ADHD and mild autism and has had gastrointestinal problems on and off for a while now and extreme anxiety recently. He had a blood test done after the first week but we haven't had the results yet. I thought I noticed a difference in the first couple of weeks with less of the constant noxious gas he's had in the last few months and he seemed less anxious. However I slept in the Saturday before last and my husband gave him breakfast - wheatabix! (aarrgghh - the clue is in the name!). He's now back to very smelly and had almost a week of hard pebble-like poos and now farm-yard smelling gas and mushy poos. It's been 10 days since the wheatabix - would it really have an effect that long after or should I now assume that gluten is not the problem?

Also, the paediatrician has told me that the blood test won't show anything if it's a case of being gluten intolerant rather than celiac. We think if anything, he's intolerant as apparently he'd be "failing to flourish" physically and very, very sick if he had celiac disease. Is this everyone's experience?

It's obvious to me that something is not right with his digestion and I'm getting frustrated at trying to find out what it is. I wish there was more I could do to find out as this may play a major part in his development and anxiety.


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Takala Enthusiast

Pedi is correct, this may not show up on a blood test, but your son could still be gluten intolerant.

Long reactions in the beginning, not uncommon until the gut heals.

Look out for cross contamination from toasters, cutting boards, colanders, rubber/plastic tupperware, etc. What about shampoos, lotions, pet foods if you have inside pets that drool/lick.

He may also need to go dairy and soy free. Dairy reaction is very common with autistic kids.

Get a big magic marker and mark anything in the pantry NOT GLUTEN FREE with it. Get him some milk substitute like rice, nut or coconut milk, or Vance's Dairy Free.

notanothername Newbie

Thank you!

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    • par18
      Thanks for the reply. 
    • Scott Adams
      What you’re describing is actually very common, and unfortunately the timing of the biopsy likely explains the confusion. Yes, it is absolutely possible for the small intestine to heal enough in three months on a strict gluten-free diet to produce a normal or near-normal biopsy, especially when damage was mild to begin with. In contrast, celiac antibodies can stay elevated for many months or even years after gluten removal, so persistently high antibody levels alongside the celiac genes and clear nutrient deficiencies strongly point to celiac disease, even if you don’t feel symptoms. Many people with celiac are asymptomatic but still develop iron and vitamin deficiencies and silent intestinal damage. The lack of immediate symptoms makes it harder emotionally, but it doesn’t mean gluten isn’t harming you. Most specialists would consider this a case of celiac disease with a false-negative biopsy due to early healing rather than “something else,” and staying consistently gluten-free is what protects you long-term—even when your body doesn’t protest right away.
    • Scott Adams
      Yes, I meant if you had celiac disease but went gluten-free before screening, your results would end up false-negative. As @trents mentioned, this can also happen when a total IGA test isn't done.
    • Seaperky
      I found at Disney springs and Disney they have specialist that when told about dietary restrictions they come and talk to you ,explain cross contamination measures tsken and work with you on choices. Its the one place I dont worry once I've explained I have celiac disease.  Thier gluten free options are awesome.
    • Churley
      Have you tried Pure Encapsulations supplements? This is a brand my doctor recommends for me. I have no issues with this brand.
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