Starting The Gluten Free Journey

[Jmedrew]

Hi all,

After 7 years of dealing with bad stomach issues with my daughter, we have decided to cut out gluten and see if that is what is causing all her issues. She vomits all the times. She will sit on the toilet with diarrhea and throw up at the same time. Her stomach always hurts, always. She poops all day. The vomiting comes out of nowhere and when its done, it seems to be done for a bit, she is back to normal. Of course I have taken her to the Dr multiple times. I was told she was allergic to milk which we cut out for a year and then was told, no, it was a false reading. She has been tested for Celiac a few years back and it was negative. So I never pursued it. But after doing my research, I believe she just has a gluten intolerance, not the disease. It has gotten bad over the last 3 weeks or so, worse than it has ever been. After talking with a new friend whose niece went through the same thing and it was a gluten intolerance, I have decided this is what we will try for 30 days and see how it goes.

Over the past 3 weeks, I had changed to a whole wheat oatmeal bread and she also started taking flintstone vitamins (she is looking so pale) and after my revelation today I think those 2 things are what has made it worse. When I picked up the bottle of vitamins and it said contains wheat, I was shocked! Today was the first day we have cut it out and so far, no stomach aches. I know this is premature especially since we have had other diagnosis that "work" for a while then she gets sick again but no stomach aches after having them everyday over the past few weeks is a big deal!

We are military and in Germany so I am limited to what I have available to us. Tonight we are going to head to the commissary and see what they sell that is gluten free and I will go from there.

Thanks for listening!

Jamie

[pricklypear1971]

Good luck to all of you. You may want to introduce yourself as "in Getmany" - I think there are a few posters here in Germany also. May be able to give you hints.

[Skylark]

I'm glad she is feeling better! Before you take her gluten-free, you might want to get her retested for celiac just in case. Celiac is progressive and she may test positive now.

Rice and potatoes are gluten-free and easy to find. There is an Italian brand called Sch

[Bubba's Mom]

Sometimes kids test negative because they don't produce a normal amount of IGA. It's hard to know if the original testing was accurate? It does sound like she's gluten intolerant at the very least?

I agree it might be a good idea to have her retested before going gluten-free. That's your call of course.

good luck to you all!

[Roda]

I would get the celiac blood panel done again before you start the diet. My youngest son(in hindsite probably had an issue with gluten as a baby) had negative tests when he was 3.5 years old after my diagnosis. Because of symptoms he had developed, I had him retested when he was 5 almost 6 and his blood work was positive. He has been gluten free now for 14 months and is doing great.

He does have some dental enamal defects in his permanant molars(6 year molars) as a result of the undiagnosed celiac.

[NHyogagirl]

My daughter's Integrative doc (trained under Andrew Weil) said many many people including kids get back a FALSE negative. Glad you are taking this into your hands to start her gluten-free.

[Skylark]

My daughter's Integrative doc (trained under Andrew Weil) said many many people including kids get back a FALSE negative. Glad you are taking this into your hands to start her gluten-free.

I totally agree. Lots of people who can't tolerate gluten come up negative. my mom included. It's still worth testing because a positive test can really help with teachers and school cafeterias.

[Jmedrew]

Good luck to all of you. You may want to introduce yourself as "in Getmany" - I think there are a few posters here in Germany also. May be able to give you hints.

Oh, thanks! I didnt realize there was a germany board.

[Jmedrew]

I'm glad she is feeling better! Before you take her gluten-free, you might want to get her retested for celiac just in case. Celiac is progressive and she may test positive now.

Rice and potatoes are gluten-free and easy to find. There is an Italian brand called Sch

[Jmedrew]

Sometimes kids test negative because they don't produce a normal amount of IGA. It's hard to know if the original testing was accurate? It does sound like she's gluten intolerant at the very least?

I agree it might be a good idea to have her retested before going gluten-free. That's your call of course.

good luck to you all!

I really dont trust the first test after thinking it over. I mean this test was the same one that told me she was allergic to milk and she never was. :/. The reason I do think its just an intolerance was her vomiting was so sporatic. She would go months with nothing. And then weeks with doing it all the time. If it was celiacs wouldnt she be sicker than she was and have failure to thrive which she does not? Maybe I am wrong in that thinking. But whatever is exactly is it seems the no gluten is working great so far. 3 days of no diaherrea or vomiting!

[Jmedrew]

I would get the celiac blood panel done again before you start the diet. My youngest son(in hindsite probably had an issue with gluten as a baby) had negative tests when he was 3.5 years old after my diagnosis. Because of symptoms he had developed, I had him retested when he was 5 almost 6 and his blood work was positive. He has been gluten free now for 14 months and is doing great.

He does have some dental enamal defects in his permanant molars(6 year molars) as a result of the undiagnosed celiac.

I already started it thought and we are still waiting for the referral to see the specialist. I actually didnt know that one cant be tested accuratly if they are avoiding gluten. Anyhow, she has had no episodes of vomiting or anything since we started!

So glad to hear that your son is doing so well after going gluten free!

[Jmedrew]

My daughter's Integrative doc (trained under Andrew Weil) said many many people including kids get back a FALSE negative. Glad you are taking this into your hands to start her gluten-free.

Thank you