Stool Consistency change on GF Diet

[luminesce]

Sorry if TMI... our lives have been all about pooping for several weeks now so we're a bit desensitized.

We've been wheat/gluten, dairy, egg, soy, corn and (mostly) nightshade free for about 3 weeks. DS' stool consistency became firmer almost immediately when we cut out wheat/gluten (which was the last to go.) We were actually worried a little about constipation since he withholds stool due to the rash the intolerances caused.

For the past week, however, his stools changed to a pudding-like consistency. He hasn't had diarrhea and only a little redness/soreness (perhaps from Rice Dream). One caveat: the change did occur on the day my DH started running a fever. I also had a slight one (99.2) but only for a few hours. DS never showed any signs of being sick but I've wondered if maybe it played a part. In any case, he has no other symptoms and overall his diaper area is still remarkably healthier than it ever has been. The soft poop has also been a bit beneficial because he was withholding and now, even though he still resists, he has been letting it go on his own without us holding/comforting him.

BUT, I can't imagine this is how his stools are supposed to be or stay. I'm really not sure what to think at this point. I figured his stool would have started to firm back up by now if it was due to illness. If he did react to residual gluten in the Rice Dream, is it possible the reaction could already be significantly different than three weeks ago (stool consistency change) rather than diaper rash/soreness? How long does it take to get over gluten exposure on average?

[tanyalynn]

DD's poop firmed up after we eliminated gluten (which was a positive change) but still wasn't brown and formed. For her, she's needed significant amount of probiotics daily (we're doing kimchee, and she needs it 2x/day, not huge quantities but a few bites) in order to reach poop nirvana.

Based on how my kids' poop changes with illnesses, sometimes even ones that don't seem gastro-related, I'd probably say that was some stress and it threw the gut balance a bit out of whack. For some illnesses, we bounce back quickly, but some are more difficult, and at times when we're more marginal on gut health, I think more help is needed to get back in balance. That's my impression of how this works, anyway, after watching my kids' poop for two years. Yikes, that's not going on any future resume!

[deditus]

At this point, don't think about it day-to-day. Look at the trends over a month to six weeks or more, as changes in the digestive system take time to sort themselves out. Anything in the short term could be detox (dd and I both had strange, strange happenings when going gf, then again when we went cf, and when adding probiotics and enzymes) or a little virus or whatever.
We just got glutened (or dairied) at the beginning of this week and dd started eating again yesterday, but her symptoms were the same, ie, eczema flares in same place, gets constipated, rubs eyes/ears and scratches them, won't drink water.
I would really guess your ds just has a virus.