Celiac Disease and Toddlers

[pigget74]

My 16mth old is being tested for Celiac Disease. Just wanted to know from other parents of young ones how they do it by getting rid of glutin. We have been having issues her entire life and this past week was the worst. They are trying to get us in with a ped. gastro. specialist--until then we are on our own. Hopefully by the end of next week we should know something. If this is what she has I have no clue on where to begin. What is the difference between celiac disease and just not being able to tolerate glutin--or is there even a difference? Thanks for information and help with the foods.

 

[mechurchlady]

I have celiac and cannot give you a scientific answer.

Around the world children have diets. The kids adjust to those diets but some cultures have more peer pressure. The Jewish, Muslim, Buddist and Seventh Day Adventist kids grow up without eating pork. OMG how could you live without bacon but that is their religion. A child growing up in rural foreign lands may never have had a Twinkie, Moon Pie or eclair. I met someone who never had had a root beer and know Americans who have never eaten Dole Whips.

There are great stores like Whole Foods Markets but there are none in your state. They have them in Birmingham and in Georgia. I eat bread, buns, cookies, cornbread and tons of food made without wheat. I live a full and very rich life without wheat and soy and eggs. I cheat and still eat chocolate and dairy. There are many resources out there including organizations, clubs, cookbooks, recipes, meetings, and tons of food and ingredients.

 

[pigget74]

As of now we know that she can't have anything dairy. She drinks rice milk. Since we have started this she has improved, but a lot of issues are still there. Her skin has cleared up, bt we still have a lot of tummy issues.

 

[HuskerSarah]

I have three kiddos with eosinophilic esophagitis - and at one point for each one they were on a formula only diet. It is hard eliminating foods, but it CAN be done. The gold standard for a celiac disease dx is an upper endoscopy with biopsies.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Just as a note, you need to keep her eating gluten until after she's been tested. If she stops eating gluten prior to the test, she won't test positive regardless of whether she has Celiac's or not.

You'd be surprised how well kids can manage on special diets, even as young as your daughter. I believe there are gluten-free breads out there (although I have no idea if they're dairy-free or not). Sandwiches can also be made with rice cakes. I'm not a parent, but one of my good friends was allergic to wheat (not Celiac's, but allergic), dairy, eggs, shellfish, and I can't remember what else, at your daughter's age. Her family has managed fine over the years (she's in her 20s now and has grown out of the wheat allergy, but kept all the others and added on some since), but it's taken some balancing. Sometimes that means putting more work into foods, but sometimes you don't have to.

Good luck!

 

[daneenm]

I understand from lots of parent's on a Type 1 Diabetes list I am on (Celiac occurs in higher rates in people with Type 1 than the general population) that Trader Joe's and Whole Foods have a fairly wide selection of gluten free foods that they and their children find very enjoyable.

Hang in there!

 

[pigget74]

Just as a note, you need to keep her eating gluten until after she's been tested. If she stops eating gluten prior to the test, she won't test positive regardless of whether she has Celiac's or not.

You'd be surprised how well kids can manage on special diets, even as young as your daughter. I believe there are gluten-free breads out there (although I have no idea if they're dairy-free or not). Sandwiches can also be made with rice cakes. I'm not a parent, but one of my good friends was allergic to wheat (not Celiac's, but allergic), dairy, eggs, shellfish, and I can't remember what else, at your daughter's age. Her family has managed fine over the years (she's in her 20s now and has grown out of the wheat allergy, but kept all the others and added on some since), but it's taken some balancing. Sometimes that means putting more work into foods, but sometimes you don't have to.

Good luck!

We are not changing anything until we actually see the specialist. If this is what she has then he would probably want a biopsy and I certainly do not want to mess any of that up. I was really just trying to figure stuff out just in case this is what she has. If it is not-then I guess we are back at square one and then would really need to see the specialist to see what is going on.

We do not have a Whole Foods or Trader Joes. It is either Wal-Mart, Target, Shop-n-Save, Winn Dixie, or some local only stores. Really not much to choose from.

 

[mechurchlady]

There are online places to shop like Emeril's gluten free spices that I use. Annie's mac and cheese that is gluten free.

http://www.glutenfree.com/
Sales and links to celiac sites.

http://www.glutenfree.com/info/Bread_Doctor.aspx
Make your own bread tips.

http://www.google.com/base/s2?a_n0=recipes&scoring=ld&a_y0=9&a_s0=0&a_r=1
Google has a database of recipes from around the internet and you can search for specific stuff like vegan or gluten free.

Vegan stuff contains no dairy. Kosher stuff has to be labeled pareve if it has any dairy at all. If they add even a drop of dairy to something that is eaten with meat then Kosher laws are violated.

http://www.lundberg.com/
I LOVE THIS COMPANY.
Yes, Sue, caps are not to be abused but I LOVE THIS COMPANY.
I love the risotto that is gluten free. Some is dairy free but I prefer to cook my rice in butter.

Now for my ptui YUCKY UGH LIST
Mary's Gone Crackers are the strongest tasting crackers I have ever eaten. It was like I dumped a whole box of spices on one cracker. I use crackers with peanut butter or tuna. Crackers are like bread not the main starring ingredient.

http://www.lundberg.com/
Dairy, nut free, kosher, casein, potato, sesame and sulfites and gluten free
OUT OF MY WAY. Mom and I love these snack foods. Some are vegan.

If you want a long list of my loves like Larabars and other foods let me know. There are almond, hazelnut, hemp, oat, rice, and soy milks on the market instead of milk. Rice Dreams makes dairy free ice cream and novelties.

 

[syko]

My daughter has been on a special diet since she was 2 weeks old. (the Dr's where fast at working out what was wrong).
She can not have dairy, wheat, gluten, eggs, peanuts, bananas, honey, meat or fish!!!
She drinks soya milk and we spend a $$$$$$$ at whole foods each week!!! She is tall for her age (2 3/4) and does not go without, you can get almost anything know in allergy form, even whipped cream.
I get lot of things from the allergy grocer and the vegan store, both companies ship, so they would work for you.