G.S.
answers from
Chicago
on
Get your child tested for celiac disease.
-G.
-
Q&A
Get advice from millions of moms -
Timeline
See what’s coming up for your child
ALright Mamas. Could use some advice on this one. ALl of us have awful stomachs in my family. WE all are lactose intolerant, and myself, my mother, and sister all have IBS. In addition to IBS, I was diagnosed with diverticulosis at 31. Anyhow, that being said, my son who is 5 is also lactose intolerant, but can have some cheese and yogurt. My daughter who is two also turned out to be lactose intolerant, but seemed to tolerate cheese andyogurt well. Right now she drinks rice milk...soy also makes my kids very ill. THey also take supplements, and get plenty of sunshine to get the vitamin D they need. Anyways, I apologize if I groos anyone out here, but for about the last two weeks my daughters stools have been very mushy, almost like a 6 moth olds that you have just started giving solids to, to foul and very watery, or she has been constipated. Also she is passing a lot of undigested food. We just started potty training, my question is this, could it be related to potty training, do you think it is the rice milk, a flu, something else? My kids eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies, as did I as a child, but alas I was always plagued by tummy troubles. She has her two year well baby in two weeks, so obviously I will address this with her doctor, but in the mean time I just wanted some thoughts. She is not acting sick at all. Thanks all.
Get your child tested for celiac disease.
-G.
I agree with the other posters---I'd get the entire family checked for celiac, actually.
However, I have another perspective (I didn't think of celiac till I read the other responses) to offer.
I have IBS that stands alone. No food allergies/sensitivites or intolerances. I can eat whatever, whenever and for some reason "sometimes" (no predicting) the IBS leaps into action and kicks my behind!
What I have noticed is that my emotions trigger it. Mostly it's stress...the more stressed I am the more likely I am to suffer with it. It doesn't have to be a major event or a bad stress, just some sort of stress. (Before I had a hysterectomy it was much worse, so I know it was hormonal-based as well. My IBS is down to 1-2x a month rather than 1-2x a week.)
So maybe the stress of potty training is getting to her. Is she really and truly ready? It isn't worth the price of diapers to have the poor thing having bad poo and that won't help the potty training any either if her tummy's upset. I'd back of the potty training entirely unless she really is super-ready--meaning she's pretty much got it without you asking her 12x an hour "do you need to go potty? do you need to go potty?"
I'm in a different camp maybe with potty training...my kids (1 boy and 1 girl) both were 3 1/2 before they trained but they did it quickly, within a couple of days. I am not about the stressing and the cleaning of early training. It's just not my style. There's nothing wrong with pushing a child a little unless it's having negative results.
So I'd back off the potty training and see what happens. If it doesn't resolve then you know something else is going on.
Good luck!
Hi A.!
I just wonder if any of your family members have been tested for gluten intolerance/celiac disease? I have celiac disease myself and I know that doctors often misdiagnose celiac with a diagnosis of IBS. Me, my mother and my two brothers are all gluten intolerant so it definitely is hereditary. The symptoms you describe are very typical of gluten intolerance even switching from watery stools to constipation!
I hope you and your little ones feel better soon! I know it's hard to have to function with stomach issues!
N.
My daughter from 6mo on had tummy troubles, diarrhea, constipation, pain and cramping. She would react to milk so that was the avenue we took. I then found out the intolerance to milk and other foods can almost be "cured" when gluten is taken away(celiac). The intestines are damaged by the protein that binds breads, baked products, sauces together. The celiac doesn't have the enzyme to digest this. The body then goes into overdrive and attacks, in the process damaging the intestine and prevent absorption of all nutrients. However just because a person may have celiac doesn't mean they are stick thin, they may absorb only fats which will tend to make them hold fat due to the starvation mode their body is in. My daughter has celiac disease, the diet while at times can be challenging, can be a healthful change that will change your lives. She drinks milk and has all dairy without problems now.
Good Luck and let me know if you need any guidance. If your doctor won't listen to you about it University of chicago hospitals has a free testing day in October. They and Loyola have pediatric GI's that are well versed. However if there is a diagnonsis of Celiac disease I would recommend that if you are told to see a dietician that you ask if they are well versed in Celiac disease, and I mean well versed as my visit was worthless. I discovered what I needed to know through websites, support groups and books. Let me know if you need any help. ____@____.com Barbara
