Celiac Symptoms At 2 Weeks Old?

[Jen2]

My youngest daughter is almost 13 months old. Starting at 2 weeks old she started having bad colic and by 3 months had fallen off of the growth chart. (I did not think to take gluten out of my diet while breastfeeding her). On formula, she thrived - until introduction of food, when symptoms started returning. Dr's were not helpful but a nutritionist recommended that I try gluten free for myself for a solution to a lot of health issues and at 9 months old, I took her off of gluten too and she slept through the night for the first time.

We are still dealing with gut issues so it's not completely resolved, but her pediatrician suggested celiac testing twice - the allergist she sent me to told me she can't be tested because she's already off of gluten and that if it's working for us, that "common sense" is good enough.

Is it really possible for a 2 week old to show signs of celiac's?

We've also figured out she reacts to synthetic citric acid and dairy products. I also suspect soy.

[Di2011]

You have to get a letter from at least one of those specialist stating (at least) that she is gluten intolerant. You'll need it later in childhood. She will need it later in life - unless you/she is willing to take on the potential nightmare of a long (months) gluten challenge to get a diagnosis through bloods and endoscopy.

At sometime down the road you might be able to re-introduce the dairy etc as many of us have. But I, like many on here, will never have gluten again. I've been cc'ed this week and it has been the longest and hardest week. The two D's bad (diarrhea and depressed), the nerve pain shots I use to get in my left foot returned etc etc. I've barely done anything around the house. Lost my sense of humour along with the ability to have a sustained conversation (brainfog, stop listening all together and get sick of having to ask people to repeat themselves). A couple of weeks ago my son was cc'ed by the same rice product and spent about six hours power vomiting.

[Jen2]

In what circumstance would she need a letter stating that she is gluten intolerant?

[alex11602]

Is it really possible for a 2 week old to show signs of celiac's?

Welcome to the forum.

My youngest daughter had symptoms at birth although we didn't know that gluten was a problem until she was 15 months old so in my opinion it is entirely possible that your 2 week old could have symptoms.

[Di2011]

If you were digesting gluten then actually you should consider here gluten intake as being 9months +. We are what we eat. I am not medical scientist but if alcohol effects a baby during pregnancy and is born with those effects why would gluten be any different if gluten is the poison rather than alcohol.

[Di2011]

In what circumstance would she need a letter stating that she is gluten intolerant?

Preschool, kindy, primary school, high school, (this is where it seems to become more significant:) college, university, workplace.

When she decides it was something decided for her when she was young and experiments with 'cheating'.

If she considers joining the military.

Other experienced mum/dads can probably add to the list.

[Jen2]

I didn't think about her getting gluten during the pregnancy but that makes sense.

I'll ask her ped. about a letter next time we go in, If she wants to cheat as an adult, I'm not sure a letter will do much to prevent that but you're right, it's probably a good idea to have one on hand.

[Mom2J112903]

My son started at *birth* with GI junk. I ate a PB&J on whole wheat about 20 minutes after he was born. He nursed approx an hour after that and less than 20 minutes after that he started vomiting. I ended up stopping breastfeeding, he was placed on PPIs for severe GERD (dx via UGI) and then soy based formula at 5wks. When he started on table food at 9 months, things went REALLY bad.

[faithforlife]

My son too had symptoms since birth. He was born in a mess of meconium and had diarrhea until he was finally diagnosed 4years later. He was also a colicky baby and had gerds. He also didn't talk much till gluten-free.

[Sassy Cat]

I believe that my daughter has had symptoms since birth as well. I nursed her for the first 4 months or so. She had terrible "colic" that whole time. Looking back, I think it had to be celiac. She had terrible gas and explosive bowel movements. She would cry for hours at a time. I had never heard of celiac at the time so I believed everyone when they told me that this was normal for some babies. My husband was diagnosed with DH when she was 5. By that time, she was a gassy child who did have diarrhea frequently but for some reason celiac never clicked in my head until just recently. I know that I should have picked up on everything earlier now that she has tested positive.

Having some sort of documentation from a doctor regarding diagnosis has been very important. We needed that documentation from the doctor in order to put a 504 plan in place at her school. I made copies of the letter and bring it with me anytime we go to a place where they do not allow food to be brought in because they want you to buy theirs. Her school has monthly skate nights for example. We bring a bring a bag of gluten free snacks and the doctor's note and have not had any problems. We have a Six Flags in our area and I plan to use the note to bring snacks for my daughter into the park - since there is really nothing for her in the whole park as far as I know.

[mommida]

My daughter definately had some symptoms at birth. She was breastfedthings were fine. 2 days old she needed to be hospitalized for jaundice. Doctor told me to stop breasfeeding and ordered hypoallergenic formula. The hypogenic formula was projectile vomited. Back to only breastfed. Problems really started when she started to add baby cereal. She did well enough to have every doctor blow us off til she was diagnosed probable Celiac. I had tried gluten free for her and it really helped. Ped gastro said to do a gluten challenge for the Celiac testing. She had the blood drawn and then became soo sick she was hospitalized for dehydration~ no endoscope with biopsy was done (because I would not allow anyone to feed her gluten) She did have genetic testing done and is positive for both DQ2 and DQ8 Celiac genes. She went gluten free @ 17months old.

When she was 6 it seemed like she was having gluten reactions with GERD. It turned into vommitting 5 times a day. She had an endoscopy with biopsy and was diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitus (EoE). She was given a modified Flovent inhaler, Previcid, allergy testing, and promptly put on an elimination diet to identify "triggers". It is now proven there is a link between Celiac and EoE.

At this point you have 2 different paths...

A gluten challenge for Celiac testing. Blood panel and endoscopy with biopsy. (it has very serious risks)

Stay gluten free and opt for genetic testing. (with is not even 98% accurate as you will be told it is)

Either choice, you should keep a food journal as there may be more food sensitivities that have not been identified. At some point in the future you may still have to opt for an endoscopy with biopsy to rule out other disorders/ illnesses.

Good luck and keep us informed! People are always willing to help here.

[Jen2]

thanks! I might ask for the genetic testing, I have a GI appointment for her next friday