Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

What About My Son?

Emilysmomma

Recommended Posts

Emilysmomma Rookie
Emilysmomma
Posted

Should I be concerned about him, since my daughter was just diagnosed with Celiacs? The only sign he shows is he's skinny, and has a hard time gaining weight - other than that, he doesn't have bowel issues or stomach problems. He is 11 years old. I'm just wondering if we should all be tested for it. Our dinners will all be Gluton free because I don't want my daughter eating something different from us - I will make her pizza seperate from ours with gluton free crust from the store, and spaghetti, I will get the gluton free pasta.

I just started wondering if my son should be tested as well?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


ShayFL Enthusiast
ShayFL
Posted

My daughter appears extremely healthy. Growing normally for her age. No major illnesses. No stomach problems or D (I have asked). Only 1 round of antibiotics in 12 years for an absessed tooth. Rarely gets a cold. Happy and healthy. So I am not testing her. But she knows that I have the genes. I told her that she doesnt need to be tested right now, but if she ever starts having health problems, it is the first thing she should check out. She accepts this. She is mostly gluten-free because my house is 100% gluten-free. Then now and again she gets gluten at a friends. No bad reactions.

If your son is old enough to understand, just talk to him. You can also casually ask him if he has tummy issues or D. At that age, he might not just tell you he has loose poop. That would be like.....sooooo embarrassing Mom. ;)

bbuster Explorer
bbuster
Posted

I think it would be prudent to test the whole family. My son was diagnosed with Celiac at age 10. He never had any GI symptoms. The reason I had him tested was that he was so short. His TTg bloodwork was positive, so we followed up and had an endoscopy, and that showed damage as well.

Now he has had negative bloodwork for 3 years, and it turns out the short stature was caused by something else.

So the point is, some people can have silent symptoms.

My husband, daughter, and myself all tested negative. But knowing that Celiac can develop at any stage of life, I would do future testing if any of us started showing symptoms.

Ursa Major Collaborator
Ursa Major
Posted

With his sister having celiac disease being too skinny should prompt you to have him tested also. Plus it is recommended that the whole family and all close relatives get tested anyway after somebody tests positive for celiac disease.

Being too skinny was the major symptom for two of my grandchildren, too. My daughter didn't have them tested, but put them on the gluten-free diet. They started to gain weight immediately, and other problems cleared up, too (like the emotional outbursts by my grandson).

Now those two will get diarrhea within half an hour after getting cross contamination (they didn't have D before they went gluten-free). They obviously have celiac disease.

WendyG Explorer
WendyG
Posted

I totally agree on having everyone in the family tested. I am s celiac and I had my three children tested for a base line and to just make sure for my peace of mind. My middle daughter who is 8 is positive. She was the one I was least concerned about. She is happy, healthy and no tummy symptoms at all.....

Good luck,

Wendy

RiceGuy Collaborator
RiceGuy
Posted

In my opinion, yes I think your son should be tested, but either way try the gluten-free diet. I had all sorts of odd symptoms when I was little. Looking back, I can see that there were all sorts of things which should (but aren't) thought to be indicative of anything important.

Besides, being skinny and not gaining weight ARE common symptoms, and do indicate malabsorption. That means intestinal damage, of which Celiac is a likely cause.

kbtoyssni Contributor
kbtoyssni
Posted

I would at least do the blood test. It's pretty harmless, and with his family history I think it's a good idea. If he tests negative, I wouldn't make him go gluten-free (aside from him eating the already gluten-free family dinners). I'd just monitor his health. A blood test now could also serve as a baseline. If he gets tested again in a year and his numbers have gone up but still aren't considered positive, you could assume he's reacting some to gluten.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Emilysmomma Rookie
Emilysmomma
Posted
  • Author

Thank you for all your replies. I guess since my daughter was having the issues, I was more focused on dealing with her symptoms. But my son is so much like my BIL that has Celiacs when he was younger he was skinny just like Tyler, we'd joke that he could eat everything and not gain an ounce, Tyler is the same way. He's 11 1/2 and weighs 70, all of his friends weigh more than him. I am going to ask about getting him tested, at least the blood test, to see what it shows. I know, at 11, he won't be happy about it, he really likes his food!!! But, I want us all to be healthy. We are pretty sure it is my husband that is the carrier since there isn't any Celiacs on my side of the family.

Again, thank you for your replies, it just confirms what I already knew in my head, he should be tested!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      127,454
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Lydis
    Newest Member
    Lydis
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121k
    • Total Posts
      70.2k
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • julie falco
      NEED TO READ ALL LABELS (FRONT & BACK)

      By julie falco · Posted

      BRAND NAME: NOT BURGER PLANT-BASED PATTIES  A product I came across labeled gluten-free bought it when I got home I read the back ingredients further to notice that it says gluten with a line going through it u will see in the attached pics.     The label says down below that it is processed in a facility that also processes "WHEAT".  I tried to put this on the Gov. website as false advertisement but couldn't do it.  Maybe on here at least the word can get out to others not to purchase anything gluten-free without throughly reading the whole label....It won't let me upload 2 pics.  says to contact manager.   The products name is Not Burger    INGREDIENTS: Water, Pea Protein, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavors, Bamboo Fiber, Less than 2% of: Methylcellulose, Dried Yeast, Rice Protein, Salt, Cocoa Powder Processed with Alkali, Psyllium Husk, Potato Fiber, Red Beet Juice Powder (color), Chia Protein Concentrate, Spinach Powder.   Manufactured in a facility that also processes wheat and soy.          MANUFACTURED FOR: The NotCompany, Inc, 438    Treat Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110.
    • jimmydee
      I think a UTI caused by Aspirin, made me a Celiac

      By jimmydee · Posted

      Let me start by saying that I am self- diagnosed Celiac. I didn't want to pay for tests, because I don't have health insurance and the doctor said I would HAVE to eat gluten for the tests and I am afraid it will kill me. I diagnosed myself by quitting dairy, sugar and gluten for a couple weeks and figured out the problem by process of elimination.  ANYWAYS.......here's why I blame "Aspirin low dose safety coated" for my Celiac Disease.  I started taking regular Aspirin for a couple weeks for back pain and decided to switch to low dose safety coated Aspirin because I thought a smaller dose was safer for regular use. Well about 3 days after starting low dose safety coated aspirin, I got a terrible UTI. I didn't know what to do (should have gone to doctor) I started taking cranberry pills and read Aspirin can cause UTIs, so stopped taking that. A week later, the UTI was getting worse but then my Dad gave me some probiotic pills and the next day I felt better, so I took those for a week and the UTI was gone. About a week later, I bought my family cake and pizza for a birthday party. I ate a whole bunch and there was some leftover the next day, so I ate a bunch again. Welp, that was my first Gluten attack. I was home alone and almost called an ambulance, my stomach was so full of gas I couldn't breathe, I was covered in sweat and thought I was having a heart attack.  Since quitting Gluten I haven't had the "gas attacks" or had the awful constipation that lasts 3 days. So I'm certain I'm Celiac and I absolutely blame low dose safety coated Aspirin, I think it's the time release binder that is the problem, because I was fine with regular aspirin, I was just breaking those into halves or quarters. Actually now that I think about it I may have even used the regular aspirin at other times in my life before that, just not the little low dose safety coated Aspirin, that's what I think caused it. What's weird is my Dad took the low dose safety coated Aspirin for years and years, for it's reported heart benefits, and he never got Celiac.  Anyways, I felt this was important to share, so they can find the cause of this disease, which seems to be affecting more people than ever before. At least Gluten Free Pizza exists, that's been my new staple food in my diet.         
    • knitty kitty
      Getting rid of the belly bloat

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      Welcome to the forum, @Karen Chakerian, We need more information, please.   What homeopathic remedies or medications are you taking now?  Do you still have the blood pressure and other symptoms?  What is included in your diet currently?  Dairy? Oats?  Processed gluten free foods?  Vegetarian?  Other food allergies?  Do you take vitamins?  When gluten is removed from the diet, the body stops making the anti-gluten antibodies that are usually measured in blood tests used to diagnose Celiac disease.  To measure the anti-gluten antibodies, you would have to consume 10 grams of gluten (4-6 slices of bread or equivalent) per day for a minimum of 2 weeks or longer.   A DNA test which looks for the most common genes for Celiac Disease may be a less invasive avenue to pursue.  Has your doctor checked you for nutritional deficiencies? Glad you're here!
    • knitty kitty
      Dangerously underweight, Perfect gluten free and insomnia

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @SaiP, Insomnia is listed as one of the side effects of Loratadine.   Niacin B3 in the form Tryptophan, Pyridoxine B 6, Folate B 9, Cobalamine B12, Magnesium, and Thiamine B 1 are needed to produce the sleep hormone melatonin.  Insomnia can also be caused by low Vitamin D and low Vitamin A.   A strict gluten free diet can be low in essential  vitamins.   Gluten containing products are required to replace vitamins lost in processing and milling.  Gluten free processed foods are not required to have vitamins added.  White rice is not a good source of B vitamins.  Brown rice is little better.  Exposure to light (even grocery store lights) and heat (during transportation) can destroy B vitamins.   B vitamins are easily lost in urine and diarrhea because they are water soluble.  If you have had diarrhea longer than two weeks, you are probably low in B vitamins.  Fat based vitamins, like Vitamins D and A, can be low due to fat malabsorption in Celiac disease, too.   Damaged villa in Celiac Disease do not absorb B vitamins and fat based vitamins and minerals well.  Supplementing with essential nutrients while villi heal boosts the ability to absorb essential vitamins and minerals.  Vitamins are stored and utilized inside cells.  Blood levels are not accurate measurements of vitamin deficiencies.  You can have normal blood levels while having deficiencies inside cells.  The brain orders cells to release their stores so the brain and heart can keep functioning.  This results in normal blood levels, but vitamin deficits inside cells.   Your indulgence in a little bit of bread is providing some, but insufficient amounts, of vitamins needed to make sleep hormone melatonin while keeping your inflammation and histamine production high.   In addition to a B Complex, I took 1000 mg of tryptophan before bed to correct my insomnia caused by high histamine levels.  Correcting my Vitamin D level to between 75-100 nmol/ml helped as well.  Also Passion flower extract is helpful in falling asleep quickly.   Please stop eating gluten bread as this will keep your autoimmune response triggering and your antibody levels won't go down and your histamine levels will stay up as well.   Celiac is a marathon, not a sprint.  P.S. I wanted to reiterate that insomnia and weight loss are symptoms of Thiamine deficiency.  Benfotiamine is a form of thiamine that promotes intestinal healing.  Thiamine is water soluble and nontoxic even in high doses.  High doses are needed to correct thiamine deficiency. All mitochondria in cells utilize thiamine.  The World Health Organization says to take 500 - 1000 mg per day of thiamine and look for health improvement.  Diets that are high in carbohydrates like rice and gluten require more thiamine.  For every 1000 calories from carbohydrates, we need 500 mg more thiamine.  Thiamine is found in meat.  Few veggies contain thiamine. Can you rise from a squat without assistance?  This is the field test for thiamine deficiency used by WHO.  If you cannot rise easily from a squat you may be thiamine deficient.
    • trents
      Dangerously underweight, Perfect gluten free and insomnia

      By trents · Posted

      Earlier, you mentioned the possibility of adding in sweet potatoes. Have you tried that? Have you tried sourdough bread? Some people with celiac disease claim they can eat sourdough without a gluten reaction. The fermentation process alters the protein somewhat.
×
×
  • Create New...