Michi8
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That's interesting about the iron too. I was told they started running out of iron stores around 6 months.
Iron supplementation is a bigger issue for babies who are not breastfed. Breastmilk does not have tons of iron, but the iron it does have is very bioavailable, unlike iron fortification in foods or through supplements (which can be constipating/hard on the gut.) Babies who breastfeed past six months continue to get iron from mom. From what I understand, though, giving baby an iron supplement can interfere with absorption of the iron from breastmilk.
When I started solids with my eldest, I chose rice cereal. At that time, Healthy Times made a plain, unfortified, brown rice cereal that was perfect. A couple of years later, they bent to customer & industry pressure to fortify their cereals. I was not a happy mommy about that.
Michelle
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You have given some excellent info here. I also have DH and know it can take a very long time for an outbreak to heal. Some of mine have taken up to 5 months.
I do want to ask if you can tell me why buckwheat is included in the foods to avoid list. It has been my understanding that buckwheat is actually a grass. I consume it all the time with no gluten reaction. Have I been glutening myself without knowing it?
Buckwheat is not a grain, and is on the safe list. You can keep on eating it!
However, it is on the "avoid" list for those who have dermatitis that is related to nickel allergy...in that case, it may need to be eliminated from the diet for awhile and then introduced once symptoms have disappeared.
Michelle
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My naturopath Dr. Told me that Babies actually develop the enzymes to digest meats BEFORE grains. In fact, when I found out I had this gluten problem, I learned that the Chinese have a very low rate of it and they hold off feeding children Grains (including Rice) until about 2 years old. This gives the child's body an opportunity to develop properly to be able to digest. I think that avacado is a very good first food. Just smash it up. You can start at 4-6 months with that. It has the good fats for brain development. As with all people with food sensitivities, it would be a good idea to really rotate the foods. Give it once, then wait 7-10 days before trying another new food.
Also, Sweet potatoes are very high in vitamins and minerals and easy on the digestive system. Bananas, not too many because they can be mucous forming in excess. Home made green beans, squash, canteloupe. All of those are good. Peas are high in iron.
Interesting to hear about food introduction in China! I had no idea...I thought that congee (rice porridge) was a common first food.
In terms of introducing to foods to an allergic baby, avocado and cateloupe are fairly high on the allergen scale, and ideally should be introduced at a later age (avacado after 9 months, and cateloupe at 12 months or later, just as with watermelon.) Babies gets all the fat (and other important nutrients) they need from breastmilk or formula for the first year...introduced foods make up a small part of nutrition during that time.
Michelle
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Her symptoms definitely sound like celiac to me.
Her permanent teeth have all come in much darker than her baby teeth for example. (a weird sypmtom I've seen associated with celiac)It's possible for the discolouration to be from fluorosis. Is your tap water fluoridated?
Michelle
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My daughter, 4 1/2, was diagnosed with Celiac and casein intolerance at the beginning of Sept. She has since been gluten free and casein light (to the best of my growing knowledge). Her presenting symptoms were a distended belly, severe constipation, and irritability, and being over-emotional (even for a four year old girl How soon should we expect to see results? When is it reasonable to start cutting back on her meds (a daily adult dose of Miralax for constipation, as well as Fletcher's at night)? Her GI specialist is of no help in this area. My husband is anxious to cut back on her meds to make sure the new diet is "working" but she has had a fear of passing painful BMs in the past that can feed into the psychological issue of it all as well. What have other's experiences been? Are we talking weeks or months to see results? Particularly with the distended belly.
How did you get the celiac diagnosis? What clued the dr in to testing for celiac?
My son (8 yo) is being treated with Miralax (polyethylene glycol) now for chronic constipation. He's had bowel issues pretty much since he stopped breastfeeding (at about 20 months) that really became a problem earlier this year when he was passing the largest, most solid stools imaginable after a great deal of painful effort. This chronic constipation caused him to wet and soil himself, because he could no longer feel the urge to go due to the distention in his bowel. The Miralax has helped a lot, but if he does not take it regularly, he's constipated again. And he has stomach pain quite frequently. He has come home three times since the start of school this fall...in fact, he's home again today.
We just saw the paed. on Wednesday, and she maintains that it's just slow motility and he'll struggle with it for the rest of his life. I'm frustrated, because I think there is something dietary causing it. Of course, when I mention I want to rule out celiac, drs always ask if any family members have been diagnosed. No one has, because no one has suspected it. I've got a long family history of GI problems, but none of them are "classic" celiac, so of course no one's thought to test! Familial symptoms range from reflux, suspected colitis/chron's, manic depression, multiple allergies, diabetes, cancers, lactose intolerance, IBS, etc.
I brought up my son's emotional symptoms as well: sensitivity (quick to cry), lethargy, irritability. So we're going to do a blood test for thyroid, and run a celiac panel again (my celiac panel came back neg. too.)
I'm still waiting for my own biopsy...and hope that I get some clear answers so that I have "reason" to suspect it with my son (and two other kids...who have different symptoms.) My husband needs to be tested as well...he's got way too many bowel issues that aren't as normal as he thinks they are.
Michelle
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Thank you all for your encouragement and support.
Yesterday was a nightmare, I feel weak and tired to begin with but I went grocery shopping and by the time I got thru reading every single label on every product I bought I was exhausted and a wreck physically and emotionally and at times even wanted to cry...I know this pity party will be over some day but right now it is in full blown hats and horns party mode. I have never spent so much time in a grocery store in my life. My husband of 45 years is a doll, he is willing to help me cook, eat whatever I can eat and even re-reads the labels for me in case I missed something on the first reading, good thing I kept him all these years.
I am really having a problem with what to eat for breakfast...I don't want to find out that my cholesterol is sky high in a few months, so even though I love them, I can't eat eggs every morning as a easy, quick breakfast. I have never eaten grits in my life, just the thought of them is unpleasant, but I guess you have to do what you have to do...or maybe one of you angels out there will tell me what you eat for breakfast. Sissy
I wouldn't force yourself to eat things you don't like just because they are traditionally for breakfast.
You can try thinking outside the box and have "lunch" for breakfast, but if you prefer "breakfasty" type foods there are still lots of choices: yogurt, fruit and honey
eggs and homemade hashbrowns (eggs aren't as "bad" for you as once reported)
pancakes or muffins made with gluten free mixes
chicken & potato hash with poached eggs & salsa
fruit smoothies
etc
Michelle
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Normal breastfed baby poops (for an infant that is 100% breastfed with no solid foods or formula having been introduced) are mustardy yellow. AFAIK, orange is not a normal colour and mucous is definitely a sign of problems. Sometimes, though, teething or illness can affect the colour & consistency of poops too (my eldest son, when teething, would have poops that looked like he had eaten cooked spinach...even though he was still 100% breastfed.) He also only pooped once a week from 4 months 'til about 10 months or so, but still his poops were soft, mustard coloured and non-offensive smelling (well, until he started solids at 6 months that is!)
Michelle
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Another thought...have you ever tried Pho (vietnamese soup)? You can make it with rice noodles (precooked and added to the broth before serving), and the meats are thinly sliced and added to the (very) hot broth just before serving (the broth cooks the meat).
Michelle
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What about making "wonton" soup without the wrappers. I know it wouldn't really be the same, but you could try making "meatballs" of the ingredients without wrapping them up, and simply put them in the broth. It would look more like Italian wedding soup, but should have the same flavour of wonton soup.
Michelle
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brizzo, since you're having issues with your skin, have you done any allergy testing to see if there are other allergy triggers? What about patch testing for chemical sensitivities/allergies?
One of my major symptoms is skin itchiness & sensitivity...I get hives, eczema and what the dermatologist thinks may be psoriasis (have to go back during a flare up to confirm). I know I'm allergic to a number of things and just confirmed with patch testing that I'm allergic to nickel, chromium and cobalt. Those things are in all sorts of products we use daily, including vitamin supplements and foods. For the nickel allergy I was given info about which foods I need to eliminate if my skin isn't improving from avoiding obvious nickel products...that includes foods stored in metal cans, jars, etc (coffee is on the safe list in terms of natural nickel content, but pre-ground coffee is often stored in metal cans.)
Michelle
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You could also do a casein trial, using some soy cheese that has casein. Many of those do so it won't be hard to find. Lots of other stuff has it too, but that's the first thing that came to my mind.
Wow! I had no idea. I just checked out Yves Veggie Cuisine soy cheese slices and casein is the second ingredient listed...before soy!!!
They also warn on the package that there may be lactose as well.I'm absolutely stunned that a product that many of those avoiding milk may choose has casein in it. I guess it's yet another case where you have to read labels to know what you're eating!
Michelle
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Are there any tests for casein allergey vs lactose intolerance?
You can do a lactose challenge. Don't know if the lactose preparation is free from casein though.
Michelle
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Maybe one day in the future I'll try a little of those folgers again. I wonder sometimes what-all is in ground coffee...it might be better to just grind your own beans. But it's true what the others have said: I know lots of people (celiac or not) who just cannnot drink coffee without it tearing up their stomachs.
Coffee can just be hard on your system...it's quite acidic. It's one of the items doctors recommend cutting out of the diet when someone experiences stomach/GI or bladder ailments.
You could try a milder roast to see if it is any better.
Michelle
I've switched to organic coffees, but used to have trouble with certain brands of coffee... some companies actually dust their lines with flour to keep the beans moving along... (was told this after calling one company after being in the bathroom for two days straight after trying their coffee)If a company dusted with flour, wouldn't it need to be on the ingredients list? I doubt many coffee companies do that anyway...coffee beans don't have a tendency to clump together anyway, and flour would negatively affect the end product.
Michelle
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My 20 month old son is now gluten and dairy free. I have been watching for other food allergies and intolerances because of his eczema. I have noticed that when he eats peas, he often has stomach issues and recently is getting diarrhea shortly after eating them. I know peas are related to the peanut family. I have never given him peanut products yet. Do I need to be concerned about this or could it just be that he has trouble digesting peas? Thanks!
Peas and peanuts are both legumes. It is possible to be allergic to all legumes, and it's also possible to be allergic to only one or two. It's also possible to outgrown these allergies. I was allergic to peanuts (outgrew it as an adult) and disliked eating peas as a kid, but wasn't allergic to them and have always loved pea soup. I also have no problems with any beans.
I recommend getting allergy testing done eventually. I believe that, unless an allergy is severe, most allergists will want to wait until your son is a bit older. Definitely worth talking to your family doctor or paed. and looking into your options. And avoid peas in the meantime. Probably best to wait until about 3 yo to try peanuts.
Michelle
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I know from reading everyone's posting on here, that getting a negative blood result is normal. I had a doctors appointment today where my doctor told me that my blood work was inconclusive. What does that mean?? Now i have to have a biospy done, and i cant help but wonder, why do i even bother.
Has anyone gone through all the testing to still get a negative result?? And how long does is take to get results back from a biospy?? I am from Canada, so this may vary.
I wasnt expecting the news i got today, and I am just really fed up.
Also, she wants to order a Cat Scan... why??
Any feedback would be great.
Thanks
Don't know about the Cat Scan. I had negative blood results as well, but had sufficient symptoms and family history of GI issues to warrant a gastroscopy, biopsy and colonoscopy. I'm still waiting (impatiently) for my gastroscopy (scheduled for the end of November) and my colonoscopy is scheduled for March. The wait times in Central Alberta are quite long.
Once I have the tests, the results should be back in about 2 weeks. I'll be going gluten free the minute I'm done my gastroscopy...although now I'm wondering if I'd need to keep eating gluten until I'm done my colonoscopy?! Yikes! Michelle
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Greetings! I was just reading in this section for the first time, and found the posts regarding rice paper wrappers. I was wondering if the same was true for wonton wrappers. Does anyone know if they are gluten free too? My kids would be thrilled if we could make wonton soup. Perhaps even find a chinese food restaurant with wonton soup that has no gluten in the fillings. That would be very exciting for all of us!!
AFAIK, wonton wrappers are made with wheat flour.
Michelle
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Yep, I know. I was planning on nursing him until he turned 1, but considering our family GI issues, I may have to extend that a bit. I haven't decided yet.
I was planning on trying him on solids around 6 months (if he's ready - later if he's not), and wasn't sure what I should start with. Any suggestions ?
I'm a big proponent of extended nursing.
There are definite benefits to nursing longer than one year...especially for a child that has health issues (whether it's allergies, intolerances or what have you.)6 months is a fine time to start solid foods, but I know a few moms who waited until 9 months or later...it depended on their child's interest in food. My eldest loved all sorts of foods, my middle son hated anything mushy and all solids would come back up just like breastmilk did, my daughter preferred having whatever we ate (I used a baby food grinder to prepare foods.)
There is some controversy about starting with grains as a first food. Apparently all grains are hard on the gut, and that fruits and vegetables are a better choice for first foods...with grains coming into the diet much later. Of course, YMMV.
If you choose to start with a grain, rice is probably the easiest on the tummy. I liked starting with a cereal that had nothing but rice in it (not fortified with any iron, minerals or vitamins) and mixed with breastmilk.There is some info how and when to introduce foods to an allergic baby here (this is the guide given to me by an allergy nutritionist when I had my first baby):
Open Original Shared Link
Open Original Shared Link
Finally, try making your own baby foods and freezing portions in an ice cube tray. That way you get the best, freshest foods and you know exactly what goes into them.
Michelle
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For further information pregnancy & listeriosis, check out this fact sheet from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service: Open Original Shared Link It goes into good detail on what to avoid and how to prepare foods for safe consumption.
Michelle
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There are lots of deli meats that are safe to eat! I never buy prepackaged meat. I always just read the ingredient list for the meats in the deli, if you can't see it, have the attendant show it to you. If you are particularly sensitive, have them wipe down the slicer and put on new gloves. Don't deprive yourself!
The risk isn't gluten (although I'm sure that's an issue with some deli meats as well). The risk is listeria, and the general recommendation is that pregnant women heat/cook luncheon meat before consuming and avoid unpasteurized cheeses. Listeria can easily be spread from product to product through handling or even just proximity in the deli display case. There have been cases of prepackaged meats being recalled due to listeria contamination as well. This is a listeria recall from July 2006 for hot dogs: Open Original Shared Link
Michelle
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I really enjoyed the British version! When the US version started, I wasn't too keen on it, because it was pretty much just a copy of the original, but it's developed into a really good show now.
Michelle
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Should I be afraid to go to someone house where they have a staph infection?
the person is on antibiotics now, and the sore is almost healed. But I am afraid of catching staph from just being in a home where someone has it.
this person isn't the greatest with making sure she washes her hands, and I'd be very paranoid the whole time.
I know sometimes I scratch my skin. Well, I'm itchy still sometimes, and will accidently scratch an almost healed spot off of myself. Couldn't I easily catch staph then?
Staph germs are all around us, apparently it also frequently lives on the skin or in the nose of a healthy person. I doubt that you would contract a staph infection simply from being in the home of an infected person, but you need to go with your own comfort level...if it is a real concern, then wait until they are healthy again.
Here is some more detailed info on Staphylococcus aureus: Open Original Shared Link
Michelle
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If a man gets yeast in the foreskin, canesten cream is used to treat the area - same as the ladies. I would imagine the guys would steal some from their significant other rather than stroll into the drugstore and buy their own
A tip about yeast infection meds: the Canesten cream is exactly the same stuff as many other antifungals on the shelf...it's also sold as a jock itch med, or for treating athlete's foot. Clotrimazole is the active med in those creams...and the "men's" version is actually much cheaper than the stuff marketed to women. Look for a generic brand for the best price.
Michelle
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Remember too, that you need to avoid unpasteurized cheeses as well (same listeria risk) and any items (cheese, meats, etc) at the deli counter that may come in contact or be cross-contaminated...listeria can be transported from item to item as it gets handled. I don't know if it includes the salads too, but you may want to keep it in mind just in case.
Michelle
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A friend of mine has a 2-year-old who shows classic signs of celiac: fussy, watery bms, little to no weight gain, off the bottom of the charts for height, etc.
Of course, I've been suggesting a gluten-free diet. But she is looking into other food issues, and she may be on to something.
First, she took him off soy, and noticed some immediate improvement (but not all the way) with diarrhea and the cramping, and a small improvement in weight gain.
She took him to the pediatrician today, who asked how much juice the kid is drinking.
Apparently, he's been drinking about 30 ounces of juice a day.
Well. That would give me diarrhea, too! (Not to mention heartburn!) The pediatrician told her--no more than 8 ounces a day of juice, maximum.
The reason I'm posting this is, we are all so quick to assume that it's a gluten problem. I know I tend to forget that there could be other equally simple food issues going on!!!
Wow! Not only can that much juice be hard on the system, it's full of sugar (and somewhat empty calories) and a big risk for dental caries!
Michelle
How soon should we expect to see results? When is it reasonable to start cutting back on her meds (a daily adult dose of Miralax for constipation, as well as Fletcher's at night)? Her GI specialist is of no help in this area. My husband is anxious to cut back on her meds to make sure the new diet is "working" but she has had a fear of passing painful BMs in the past that can feed into the psychological issue of it all as well. What have other's experiences been? Are we talking weeks or months to see results? Particularly with the distended belly.
When Should We Start Seeing Results?
in Parents, Friends and Loved Ones of Celiacs
Posted
Thanks.
It's so good to know that we're not the only family going through this. I knew my son wasn't witholding either...but he would just scream and struggle with each bowel movement too. 
He's not classic celiac, because he isn't thin and hasn't suffered with diarrhea...the abosolute opposite instead: he's a big boned boy with healthy weight gain and growth. But he also projectile vomited breastmilk for 6 months as a baby. We're going to try an elimation diet for sure...starting with milk first. I'll hold off on gluten free until after my biopsy results.
Michelle